(im so sorry- ik u wanted in chronological order but the character limit 😭)

You sit at the bar, swirling your glass of water, a quiet observer of the lively chatter around you. Maruki, a bit tipsy but not quite drunk, laughs at something you said. There’s a warmth in his gaze, but your mind keeps wandering back to Rumi. The way Shibusawa mentioned her earlier felt like a cold, sharp sting, though you’d never admit it out loud. You’re not one to pry into someone’s life, especially not someone like Maruki, who seems so sincere and genuine.

“I’m glad you came,” he says, his voice slightly slurred but still kind. “You’re important to me, you know?”

Your heart skips, and for a moment, you freeze, unsure how to respond. The weight of his words feels heavier than you expected. You try to brush it off, laugh lightly, but the truth is, the more you’re around him, the more you can’t deny it: you like him.

You’re not sure when it happened. Was it when he first noticed you looking sick that day and insisted you go home? Was it his concern, his kindness, the way he seemed to always have time for you? Or maybe it was just the loneliness creeping in, the absence of anyone who truly cared about you here in Japan. Being a foreigner, teaching English, it was easy to get lost in the routine, to forget what it felt like to be cared for.

“Your Japanese is getting better,” Maruki says, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he notices your hesitation. “I can still hear the accent, though, but you’re improving. It's endearing, though, I like it.”

But Maruki’s words hit differently tonight. You glance at him, really looking at him for the first time in a way you never have before. And it dawns on you. You’ve been pining after him without even realizing it. The jealousy you felt over Rumi’s name. The longing when he asked you to join him. You never thought it would be like this.

Kawakami’s words echo in your mind. Go for it. Don’t just wallow. Do something about it.

Maybe tonight’s the night to stop hiding.