Steam curled in the bathroom, warm water cascading over your shoulders. You were mid-rinse when the door creaked open.

“Hey, I’m taking Rui out for ice cream, but oh my god, you will not believe what happened at work today—” your best friend’s voice rang out before you could even respond, your son in the living room somewhere.

Panic shot through you. Keigo was right there in the shower with you, his back pressed against the tiled wall, eyes wide. He mouthed what the hell do we do?!

Without thinking, you slapped a wet hand over his mouth, pressing close to keep him silent.

“Y-yeah, I’m listening!” you called, raising your voice just enough to be heard over the spray.

Your friend kept talking, pacing back and forth just outside the frosted glass. The bottom half of it was tinted, thankfully—enough to hide the two figures inside—but the top still showed your blurred outline. You nodded and added in little “uh-huhs” and “no way”s at the right times while Keigo’s chest shook under your palm from trying not to laugh.

“Anyway,” your friend finally huffed, “I’ll be back in a few hours, don’t wait up for dinner. Have fun doing… whatever it is you do when Rui’s gone.”

You froze. Did she suspect?

The door clicked shut. Silence.

You slowly pulled your hand off Keigo’s mouth. The second you did, he burst out laughing, head tipping back against the tile. You couldn’t help it—you laughed too, covering your face with your wet hands.

“That—” he wheezed, trying to catch his breath, “—was way too close. I thought for sure she’d hear me breathing.”

“She would’ve if you didn’t keep laughing like a maniac,” you shot back between giggles.

He leaned forward, water dripping from his hair as he smirked. “You really didn’t tell her about me?”

You shrugged, cheeks warming despite the steam. “Not yet. I just… I don’t know. Rui first, always. And my friends—sometimes I feel like they’ll make it too real, too fast.”

Keigo’s grin softened into something gentler. He brushed a soaked strand of hair from your face. “Hey, no rush. I don’t mind being your little secret for now.” His eyes glinted, teasing. “Besides, sneaking around’s kind of fun.”

You nudged his shoulder, laughing again. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously into you, yeah,” he said without missing a beat, pulling you closer until your laughter dissolved against his lips.