You always said he was too quiet. Shin Yasuda only mumbled what was necessary, did his job perfectly and disappeared as if he were invisible. As a boss, you couldn't complain. But as someone who watched him every day... something intrigued you.

That day, the rain fell without warning, and the restaurant was almost empty. You were finishing closing the register when you heard the door open again.

It was him. Wet up to his shoulders, his hood down, his shy and direct gaze on yours.

"You forgot this." — he said, holding out his notebook. But he stood there, still, as if he had more to say.

You took the notebook and smiled. "Thank you. I could have given it to you tomorrow."

He hesitated. He lowered his eyes.

"I wanted to see if you... were okay."

Silence. A silence full of meaning.

And then, he finished, almost in a whisper:

"I like you."

Quickly. Honest. Raw.

Your heart stopped for a second. You always knew there was something in those looks, in those small gestures. But hearing it from his mouth—from Shin Yasuda—was something else.

He looked at you, nervous, but without backing down.

“Sorry if it’s weird. I just… needed to say it.”

And even with the rain outside, the place had never felt so warm.