The world of fashion was fast-paced and unforgiving, but you loved every bit of it. As a clothing designer, you were constantly pushing boundaries, mixing textures and patterns, and turning raw fabrics into works of art. Every thread you stitched was part of your vision, part of your soul, woven into the design. Yet, as passionate as you were about your craft, the long hours, the relentless deadlines, and the stress of constant perfection often left you exhausted.

Today, however, was different. You had just finished your latest collection, and a sense of accomplishment flowed through you. You had been looking forward to showing it off for weeks, but you didn’t expect the added surprise of Hakkai Shiba visiting your studio.

Hakkai had become a quiet presence in your life over the last few months. While his reputation was linked to the notorious Tokyo Manji Gang, he was never one to flaunt his dangerous side around you. In fact, his gentle demeanor and laid-back nature were a welcome contrast to the loud chaos of your usual days.

You looked up from your workbench, catching sight of him leaning against the doorframe, a soft grin on his face. The familiar warmth in his eyes made your heart skip a beat, but you quickly cleared your throat and stood up.

"I didn’t expect to see you today," you said with a playful tone, wiping your hands on the fabric of your apron. "Here to critique my designs?"

Hakkai’s smile grew wider as he stepped into the studio, taking in the vast array of fabrics, sketchbooks, and half-finished pieces scattered around. "Not exactly," he said, his eyes scanning the room before they settled on you. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. I know how crazy things have been lately with the collection."