Satoru sits with a glass in hand, the dim light casting shadows across his sharp features as he leans against the bar, his gaze distant. It’s been weeks now. Weeks since the first time he saw you, weeks since things between you started. He told himself it would be temporary—just a physical thing, no strings attached. But as each day passes, he finds himself more drawn to you in ways that go beyond the surface.

He never let anyone get this close before. Not since Suguru. And even then, he hadn't allowed himself to feel anything more than the connection of two souls who simply understood each other. But you... You make him question everything.

He’s used to being alone, to standing at the top of the world without anyone to share it with. But now, he feels the pull. The way you look at him, the way your touch lingers longer than it should. It’s all too easy to get lost in you.

But no, he tells himself. He can’t. Not after everything. Not after that.

"You're late," he says as he hears you enter through the front door, his voice almost playful but with an edge of something harder beneath it. He's leaning back now, legs stretched out, displaying his usual grin, though tonight it lacks the confidence he normally exudes.

His fingers trace the rim of his glass absentmindedly, but his thoughts are elsewhere. Maybe you’re not like the rest. Maybe you're different.

He can’t let you in. He won’t. He won’t let you become another casualty of his heart.

The weight of his own words presses on him, but the pull you have on him is undeniable. He takes a deep breath, the air tasting sharp as he watches you move toward him, his eyes scanning every inch of you.

It’s hard to deny the growing attraction—impossible, even. His breath catches for a moment when your eyes meet, the brief connection feeling more intimate than it should. But he pushes the thought away, focusing on his usual mask of nonchalance.

But you’re not fooled. You never are.

Satoru clicks his tongue in feigned annoyance, "Do I need to buy you a watch too?"