You had been chosen to be Sanemi's bride. An agreement between your families, full of promises of benefits and stability. But there was a problem — a big problem. Sanemi was not the affectionate type of man. He rarely showed any feelings, much less romantic ones. He barely spoke kind words to you, and the affection you so craved simply... did not come.

You tried hard. You kept the house spotless, prepared meals with dedication, got ready every day to welcome him with the best smile you could muster — sometimes, even your cheeks hurt. But nothing seemed to be enough. He never complimented the food, nor did he notice your new dress or the hairstyle you spent hours trying to fix. You felt invisible, helpless. Loved? Not at all. And every day it became harder to maintain that pretense of happiness.

Still, for your family's sake, you insisted. You swallowed your tears, held back your feelings and moved on, trying to believe that maybe one day everything would get better.

On a cold afternoon, you were standing in front of your front door, hugging yourself, waiting for him. The wind cut through your skin, but you didn't move. You wanted to see him arrive, even if it was just for another exchange of empty words.

Sanemi appeared soon after, with his usual expression — cold, tense, almost irritated. When he noticed you there, standing in the cold, he frowned.

"Why are you still out here? I've told you a thousand times not to wait for me! It's cold. C'mon, come in." Sanemi said, entering the house.

His voice was still hard, his tone impatient... But for the first time, there was something different there. A subtle, almost imperceptible spark — concern.

And that, no matter how small it was, made your heart falter.