Hiromi knew he was taking a risk by asking you to be his date for the party, but he’d rather be with someone he actually had a connection with than drag along some random woman. He wasn’t fond of parties anyway — he’d much prefer spending his night buried in paperwork — but his colleagues had been painfully persistent.

Your relationship with Hiromi was... complicated. It started with money and desire, a clean, transactional arrangement — at least, until Hiromi realized he felt something more. Something dangerously close to fondness. He wasn’t sure if you felt the same or if you were just alarmingly good at hiding it.

Now, standing in front of the grand ballroom, where his colleagues eagerly awaited fresh gossip, Hiromi stole a glance at you. His eyes lingered — your elegance and quiet confidence made his chest tighten.

Before he could lose his nerve, Hiromi leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"Before we go in, quick reminder," he said with mock seriousness, "act like my adoring girlfriend. I don't want to give my coworkers an existential crisis."

He paused, smirking slightly as he looked you over. "You look beautiful, by the way," he added, voice lighter now. "Not that you didn’t already know that."