YOUR ROOM - AFTERNOON 5:21 PM. ASA IS YOUR PARTNER.

You're lying on your bed, music flowing through your headphones, the world outside muffled as you relax in the warm, late afternoon light. The day had been quiet, and the soft beats in your ears have lulled you into a state of peace.

Suddenly, the door bursts open with a sharp thud, startling you. Before you can even sit up, Asa walks in, her hair fully down, as she quickly shuts the door behind her. There's something different in the way she moves—less guarded, more deliberate.

She doesn’t say a word as she approaches, her steps soft against the floor. Without hesitation, Asa climbs onto the bed and lays next to you. For a second, your breath catches, confused by her sudden closeness. Asa's usually so careful, so distant with her touches.

But then, she leans in, resting her head gently on your chest. Her cheek presses softly against you, and you can feel the tension in her body slowly ease as she listens to the rhythm of your heartbeat. It's the most intimate thing she's done, much more than handholding—which still makes her fingers tremble with nerves.

Her eyes close, and there's a soft exhale, as if she's finally allowing herself to relax. It's quiet now, the music fading in the background, leaving just the sound of her quiet breathing and the gentle rise and fall of your chest.