Hiromi came home much later than usual, the weight of an unexpected work issue dragging his energy down. He stepped into the quiet apartment, expecting darkness, but instead found Makoto in the living room, surrounded by her laptop, phone, and a small pile of documents.
Her voice carried softly across the room as she spoke into her phone, something about a visa for Saudi Arabia. Hiromi quietly approached, leaning down to plant a light kiss on her cheek.
Makoto glanced at him briefly, offering a distracted smile before refocusing on her screen. "Welcome home," she said after ending the call, her tone warm but still deep in concentration.
Hiromi wandered to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water as he silently watched her from a distance. The way her brows furrowed in thought, the subtle twitch of her lips as she typed—it was mesmerizing.
She was brilliant, a force of nature. Beautiful, strong, driven—so many words came to mind, but none seemed enough to describe her in moments like this. There was something utterly captivating about seeing her like this: fully immersed in her work, a powerhouse of determination and grace.
Hiromi leaned against the counter, admiring her silently, grateful for the simple privilege of having her in his life.
As Hiromi leaned against the counter, still watching her, Makoto spoke up without lifting her gaze from her laptop.
"It's creepy, Nagase, to watch me like that," she said dryly, her fingers still moving across the keyboard.
Hiromi chuckled, crossing the room to stand beside her. "I can't help it," he said, his tone soft but sincere. "You're just... amazing. I don't know how else to say it. I'm so grateful to have you in my life."
Makoto paused briefly, glancing up at him with a faint smirk. "Grateful enough to make me coffee?"
"Grateful enough to do anything," Hiromi replied with a grin. "But first, what's with all the talk about Saudi Arabia?"
Makoto leaned back slightly, rubbing her neck. "I got a sudden task dropped on me. There's an oil summit happening there, and they need coverage ASAP. Lucky me, right?"
Hiromi raised an eyebrow. "Sounds intense."
"It is," Makoto admitted, closing her laptop briefly and sighing. "But it's part of the job."
Hiromi reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Well, if anyone can handle it, it's you. Just don't forget to sleep—or eat."
Makoto smiled at him, appreciating his constant support, even in the chaos of her work.
Hiromi settled beside Makoto on the couch, stretching his arm out invitingly. Without hesitation, Makoto leaned her head onto his shoulder, letting out a small sigh of comfort.
"So, tonight's our last night together," Hiromi murmured, his voice low and gentle.
Makoto shifted slightly but didn't lift her head. "Don't make it sound so dramatic. It's not like I'm going away forever."
"I know," Hiromi said, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "But it still feels too short. I'll miss this. I'll miss you."
Makoto glanced up at him, her lips curling into a faint smile. "You're really laying it on thick tonight, huh?"
"Just being honest," he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I know you have your work, your goals, but I still wish I could keep you here longer."
Makoto's smile softened, and for a moment, she closed her eyes, savoring the quiet warmth between them. "I'll miss you too, Nagase. But we'll make it work, like we always do."
Hiromi tightened his arm around her, pulling her closer. "We always do," he echoed, his voice filled with certainty. They sat there in peaceful silence, knowing the night might be fleeting but cherishing every second of it.
As they sat quietly, the warmth of Makoto's head on his shoulder grounding him, Hiromi's thoughts began to spiral. He couldn't stop the feelings bubbling up—how much he wanted to ask her to stay. Not just for tonight or tomorrow, but longer. Maybe forever.
But the fear crept in, the same fear that once drove them apart years ago. He hesitated, unsure if voicing his desire would risk ruining everything again.
Hiromi glanced at her, seeing the excitement in her eyes whenever her work came up. She looked so alive, so fulfilled. It made him pause. Could he really ask her to give that up? Did she, deep down, even want him to?
The questions swirled, leaving him caught between his longing and his hesitation. He stayed quiet, pulling her just a little closer, as if that silent act could speak the words he couldn't bring himself to say.
Makoto suddenly swatted Hiromi's chest, breaking the silence. "Why are you so quiet tonight? That's not like you at all," she said, tilting her head to look up at him.
Hiromi snapped out of his thoughts, startled but quickly recovering with a chuckle. "What? Quiet? Me? Never," he said, feigning offense. "I was just thinking about how lucky you are to have someone as amazing as me keeping you company."
Makoto rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "Oh, really?"
"Absolutely. But if you're doubting it, I could give you a full list of reasons," Hiromi said, sitting up slightly and grinning. "Reason one: I let you hog all the space on the couch. Reason two: I didn't steal your snacks earlier, even though I wanted to. Reason three—"
"Okay, okay," Makoto interrupted, laughing more now. "You're back to your usual self. I get it."
"See? You'd miss this if I were gone," he teased, poking her side gently.
Makoto shook her head, her laughter settling into a warm smile. "I guess I would."
Hiromi grinned, relieved that the moment of tension had passed. Though the doubts still lingered deep down, he decided to let them rest for now, focusing instead on the light, easy warmth between them.
Hiromi, shifting into a more practical tone, asked, "So, have you got everything settled for tomorrow's flight? Need help with anything?"
Makoto stretched and leaned back against the couch, a small, satisfied sigh escaping her lips. "Everything's ready for tomorrow," she said, glancing at Hiromi with a soft smile. "So, we could just sit here, enjoy this quiet, lovely night together in each other's arms..."
She trailed off for a moment before her smile turned into something playful, her gaze sparking with mischief.
"Or," she added, moving suddenly to straddle Hiromi's lap, her arms draping around his neck. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a suggestive whisper. "We could make tonight a little... less quiet."
Hiromi blinked, caught off guard for a split second before a slow grin spread across his face "What is this Takamiya? "he asked, his tone mock-serious, though humor laced his voice. "Didn't your Dad just say we shouldn't cross the line? Your actions here is very...very inappropriate"
Makoto rolled her eyes but couldn't hold back a laugh. "Oh, is that so? Should I stop then?"
Hiromi smirked, his hands slipping around her waist "Too late for that now". With that he scooped her up effortlessly, making her yelp in surprise before laughing again.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice half-teasing.
"To a place where we can make tonight very inappropriate" he replied, carrying her towards the bedroom.
As the door clicked shut behind them, the apartment filled with laughter and other voices that indeed make that night very less quiet.