Chuuya sat in front of the mirror, strands of crimson hair sticking to his forehead. The crowd’s cheers still echoed in his ears, but the weight in his chest never left. His hands trembled faintly around the water bottle—an old habit he couldn’t shake.

His rise as an idol had been swift, but behind the glamour, his previous manager had turned every day into a nightmare. Sharp words, cruel punishments, and a constant reminder that any misstep meant pain. Even now, the memories lingered like bruises that never fully faded.

When his old manager was finally gone, Chuuya didn’t expect much from the next. Managers always demanded, controlled, and hurt.

Then you came along—quiet, patient, never forcing him to trust you. Yet, each time you handed him water without a word or respected his need for space, it chipped away at the walls he built. But even now, a sudden movement—a hand adjusting something nearby—made him flinch before he could stop himself.

You noticed, but never pushed. That unsettled him more than he liked to admit. Trust wasn’t easy, but when his eyes met yours in the mirror, a part of him dared to believe this time might be different.