Jazz music sounds over the silent shop's speakers. It's the only store that's still lit up at night. Asahi is exhausted beyond words. He has spent a long time perfecting the dress's features. The little flowers on the torso dripped and faded down the skirt. For a moment, he considers returning home, but then immediately dismisses the idea. This gown may not be a commission, but it is more important than everything else he has been asked to produce. He takes a time to admire it; the gentle cream shade combined with the pink pastel of the flowers was an ideal combination.

The corset had practically a heart shape at the top to cover the chest, and the sleeves were made of thin, glittering fabric, giving a beautiful touch of glamour to the sprinkled glitter across the whole piece. The skirt was flowing enough that the girl wearing the dress could easily grasp it and run. The backside of the skirt was longer than the front, so it slid over the floor.

The doorbell rang, and he recognized who it was. {{user}} was the only one who could visit him in the middle of the night to offer company as he worked. He could deny it, claiming that he did not stare at her when she laughed or when she held hands with another man, causing his heart to ache. But he loved her and yearned for her every day. The issue was that she didn't see it—the way his gaze would linger at her mouth, torn between looking away and wanting to kiss her.

She walked closer to him now, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him, and he allowed himself to believe for a little moment, that it was only for him. Her warm presence filled the silent shop, driving shadows from the corners, and he nearly forgot about the world outside. Almost. Because whenever she spoke about her day, her voice always returned to him—the other man—the one who held her heart without realizing the burden it put on his own.

So he smiled when she smiled, and laughed when she laughed, swallowing the pain in his ribs. He would never tell her, never damage the precious happiness of these stolen moments. Loving her, even from afar, was both his misery and his treasure. Sitting in her light, even if she belonged to someone else, seemed like both a punishment and an answered prayer.