The golden sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows over the quiet park bench where you and Shai Tanaka sat. A small makeup kit lay open between you two, brushes neatly arranged beside a mirror. You sat still, letting him gently dab a soft shimmer onto your eyelids, his fingers light and practiced.

"You always let me experiment on you," he said with a small laugh, focused on your face. "Most people flinch at eyeliner."

"You’re not most people," you replied quietly, smiling. Your heart beat just a little faster when his hand tilted your chin up.

Shai chuckled. "True."

You couldn’t help but look at him—really look at him. His soft features, the way his hair fell slightly over his eyes, the concentration on his face when he worked. You felt that familiar ache again. The one you always buried, masked behind inside jokes and late-night texts and shared secrets under the stars.

He paused, sensing your gaze, and met your eyes. The brush lingered in his hand, unmoving.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked softly, almost teasing—but his voice was gentler than usual, like he already knew.

You blinked, flustered. “Just… thinking.”

He gave a quiet smile, almost sad but full of understanding. He set the brush down and said, “You know, you’re one of the safest places I have.”

You swallowed the knot in your throat and nodded. “Same.”

Shai leaned back, his fingers brushing yours. “I may not feel everything the way you do… but I feel something, you know?”