They sat on a bench outside the convenience store.Two spoons. One cup of vanilla-and-caramel swirl.No pretending. No roles. No labels.
Just Yuuki and Arisa.
The cold night air brushed past them, but Arisa's shoulder felt warm against his.
"You really don't like vanilla?" she asked, scooping a bite.
"I never said that."
"You made a face."
"I make faces when I'm nervous too," he muttered.
"Oh?" She smirked. "Nervous… around me?"
He didn't answer. But the blush on his ears gave it away.
Arisa leaned back. "I used to think I could control all this. Keep feelings locked up. Keep things clean."
"And now?"
She looked up at the stars.
"Now I'm sitting here with a boy who was supposed to be just a client. Eating ice cream I didn't want to share. Wondering what it would feel like to stop lying to myself."
Yuuki stayed quiet.
Because everything in his chest was screaming.And he didn't know how to let it out.
But when she looked at him again—
Not as Arisa the rental.Not even as Arisa the girl who kissed him.
Just her—walls down, eyes searching—
He finally said it.
"I want this to be real."
The ice cream was melting.
So was everything else.