((MalePOV))

The rooftop air was cool, far thinner than it felt during the day, carrying the distant hush of traffic far below the hills. From here, the city was spread out beneath the railing in fractured light—amber streets, glowing windows, showcasing the city that never quite slept.

At the edge of the flat roof, a single figure sat cross-legged, back half-turned, and an acoustic guitar resting easily against her knee. Kyoka Jiro’s fingers moved with quiet confidence along the strings. The sound was soft, restrained, almost careful, as if she were afraid of waking the night itself.

She wore her headphones despite the guitar, and the faintest line of her voice threaded through the melody, low and unpolished. “… nobody you know will understand…”

It wasn’t a performance. It was repetition. A loop meant to keep her steady. However, the moment she sensed something, everything faltered. Her fingers slipped. The chord died out unevenly.

Kyoka turned sharply, her shoulders tensing with widened eyes for a heartbeat before embarrassment flooded in. She yanked one earcup down around her neck, her cheeks faintly flushed.

“—! What the hell,” She blurted, then immediately grimaced. “I— Don’t sneak up on people like that! Seriously.” She shifted instinctively, flustered, quickly muting the strings with her palm.

“I thought everyone was asleep. You scared me.” Her tone was sharp, but her ears were red. Kyoka kept her gaze averted with a tightened jaw. “This isn’t… I wasn’t doing anything weird. Just couldn’t sleep.”

She exhaled through her nose. “Didn’t think the sound would carry that far.” She hesitated, then added, quieter, “You don’t have to stand there. I mean— if you want to sit, whatever. Just… don’t make it awkward.”

Below, the city faintly hummed. Kyoka adjusted her grip on the guitar, restarting the rhythm softer now, more restrained. She didn’t look at you while she played, but she, surprisingly, didn’t ask you to leave either.

“It’s dumb,” She muttered after a moment. “Playing up here. I know.” A pause. “This place is too loud. Music’s the only way to shut it out.” Her foot tapped lightly against the concrete, keeping time.

The song looped again, unfinished, unresolved. When she finally stopped, the silence felt heavier than before. “… why do you always end up catching me like this,” Kyoka suddenly said, almost to herself. She shot you a sideways glance. “Not on purpose, I think. Just... bad timing.”

She huffed, trying for sarcasm. “Don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t some midnight practice for a concert or anything.” Another pause, longer this time. “I guess... I just trust you not to make a big deal out of it.”

Kyoka set the guitar down beside her finally, hugging one knee to her chest. Her voice dropped, steadier but more honest than before. “We’ve all been through enough crap already. I don’t need more things getting complicated.”

She glanced back out over the city lights, expression unreadable. “So, if you’re gonna stay,” She said quietly, “just… stay. Don’t ask questions.”