Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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"Please, Mother. You once informed me that if I found your request unpleasant or uncomfortable, I should feel free to decline it. I'm saying "no" to your request for the first time, but why are you rejecting it?"

"I genuinely apologize for this. But this is something you just cannot refuse, my son."

"Why?"

"Because everything has already been arranged. When everything is prepared, declining would be quite rude. "Don't you think so?"

"Deciding without first seeking permission from the person involved is also rude, Mother. Especially when it comes to such a huge issue as this."

"True, but let's look at the positive side. If you marry the CEO's daughter, our company might be able to partner with theirs. Remember that their company, like ours, is listed among Japan's top five.”

"You sacrificed your own son's life and happiness for the sake of business. It's difficult not to be disappointed in you, mother."

"Shuichi, I…"

“... There is no more negotiating, correct?"

"No, I'm afraid."

"When is it?"

"In 3 months…"

"In 3 months? Don’t you think it’s too soon? I don’t even know the face of the girl that I’m going to marry. Why did you agree to everything so easily, mother?"

"Shuichi, we'll meet the family once before the ceremony. They will inform me soon about the date, and we'll eat dinner together later. They will also introduce their daughter to us."

"Do whatever you want, Mother. No matter what I say, I don't think it will make any difference. Please allow me to leave early today; I'll see you at home."

Minamino Shuichi is a young, perfect man who adores his mother beyond everything else in this world. He did whatever his mother requested and never once complained because he only wanted to make his mother happy. He did everything sincerely, although he didn't enjoy it. He aspires to be the ideal son of his mother.

Of course, his mother would be grateful for her son's never-say-die attitude, but she couldn't help but be concerned. That's why she informed her son that he didn't have to do everything she asked him to do and that he should feel free to decline her demands if they weren't pleasing to him.

He eventually took advantage of the opportunity to decline his mother's requests. He could have taken all of the unpleasant feelings before, but it was too much for him this time. However, she just denied her statements, rejecting Shuichi's first disapproval. Shuichi felt horrible for behaving harshly toward his mother just now, but there is no way he did not get upset over what his mother did to him.

She once claimed it was acceptable to say ‘no’, but when Shuichi finally did it, she rejected it. Really? She made a decision and completed the necessary preparations without asking for his approval and consent first. This was the first thing Shuichi wanted to arrange and the first thing he wanted to do on his own.

Unfortunately, those opportunities will not be fulfilled. It would never happen.

A Marriage.

Everyone wanted to do it with someone they cared deeply about. No one would ever want to marry someone they don't know, especially when it's forced like this. He was certain that no one in the world would be pleased with their parents for forcing them into marriage. He had never been in a relationship until this day because he intended his first relationship to be his last, and of course, it was with the woman he loved. He had waited patiently until this day to find his true love, but this is what he received instead.

An arranged marriage.

"Shuichi dear,… Listen…”

He may have been disappointed with his mother, but he still loved her.

“No. I apologize, Mother. I apologize for being impolite to you, but... I need to get home. I need some time alone to process all of this. Please excuse me."

When his mother told him about the planned marriage, he questioned whether she was doing it because her son had never dated anybody since he was born or because of something else. Perhaps, as a mother, she was presumably anxious about her son being alone in his old age. But, no. He was completely wrong in this regard. His mother was doing all of this for business by making his marriage the first step in a partnership between two major corporations.

Funny…

He couldn’t believe we were marrying a stranger for commercial purposes. He couldn’t believe that his mother was the one behind all of these insane schemes. He couldn’t believe it was all happening to him. Well, everything had already happened. The only thing he could do now was trying to melt his heart and accept this marriage wholeheartedly.

___

It had been two months since his mother told him about the marriage. If he properly recalled, his mother told him once that there would be a gathering dinner with the other family before the ceremony. But the wedding will be here in a month, and they still haven't informed his mother about the appointment. It was not that Shuichi was expecting it, but he didn't want to give himself false hope by thinking that the marriage was canceled. For the whole two months, he did his best to accept all of this wholeheartedly, but instead, he found it harder to accept.

“Of course, I am very happy if the wedding is canceled,” Shuichi said to himself.

knock knock

“Shuichi?”

“Yes, mother?”

“I've just got a call regarding the dinner appointment.”

’Damn it’

“... What about it?"

“They said it's tomorrow. So,... Don't forget, okay?”

“… I,... I understand.”

___

24 hours had passed, and the appointment day has finally arrived. Shuichi and his mother had already arrived at the restaurant and were waiting for the other family to come. The other family hasn't arrived yet, but Shuichi already wants to go home very badly. He also didn't make any effort to hide the upset expression on his face. Truthfully, Shuichi wasn't ready to meet the woman who would very soon become his wife. He didn't even want to figure out how she would behave when she saw him. He was not attempting to portray himself as an attractive man, but this was all because of his fangirls out there, who made him have trauma with women. He was terrified, imagining that the woman who will become his wife is also going to be aggressive, wild, and crazy like his other fangirls out there.

Although it was an arranged marriage, he promised himself that it would be his first and last marriage. He will try his best to keep this marriage for as long as possible. He would prefer not to take the opportunity if they were allowed to get divorced someday. But if the wife decides to divorce first, then he's never getting married again. That's why, hopefully, ‘at least’ his future wife could control her behavior well. So he didn't have to avoid her by staying at the hotel or elsewhere.

"Shuichi, you need to remove that frown from your face right away; they are coming." The voice of his mother interrupted his thoughts.

Instead of responding to his mother, he closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing, trying to control his anger once more. When he opened his eyes again, he saw his future wife's family, who were currently on their way in his and his mother's direction. Shuichi turned his gaze and focused on the CEO and his wife, who were walking toward his mother with bright smiles on their faces. He rolled his eyes inwardly. What a wonderful appointment we have here. He said sarcastically inwardly. And then he changed his focus to the young lady who was standing behind the CEO pairs. A long-haired lady is walking slowly behind her parents while lowering her head and staring at the floor since they entered the restaurant.

’Is she the one with whom I'm going to marry next month?’ Shuichi talked with himself inwardly. He hadn't been looking forward to this moment from the start, but he couldn't help but want to see the lady he was marrying next month's face. It would be very nice if the parents stopped their conversations and started to distract their daughter from staring at the floor. He could have taken the initiative and approached her first, but there's no way he would do that. So, the only thing he could do for now was hope that the lady would raise her head and show her face to him.

Shuichi didn't realize that he had been staring at her for a few moments until his eyes met hers. Now, she was also staring at him with shocked eyes. In an instant, Shuichi regretted what he was doing; he shouldn't have stared at her from the start, especially when he was going to have a deep thought. He felt ashamed of himself because he'd been caught staring at her. It was awkward and embarrassing, but he couldn't break eye contact with her. And he was quite sure she also couldn't break the eye contact; perhaps it would be more awkward than this.

However, before they could say or do something to react, their parents interrupted them, making them break eye contact in an instant. They both, in sync, moved their gazes to their parents, who were looking very happy at both of them, the future couple.

"This is our daughter, who is going to get married to your son, Mrs. Minamino." The male CEO said this with a bright smile on his face and his hand pointing to the young lady who was currently standing beside him. Shuichi's mother, Shiori, studied her soon-to-be daughter-in-law for a few moments, then she took a few steps and walked toward the young lady with a gentle smile on her face. Then Shiori took both of the young lady's hands and squeezed them gently. "You are so beautiful, my dear,” Shiori spoke in a gentle, motherly tone.

On the other hand, Shuichi secretly agrees with his mother about how beautiful the lady is. But he couldn't deny that he felt something strange about her. He wasn't sure what it was. But he was sure about one thing: just because she was pretty, it couldn't make him change his mind about this marriage. No matter what happens, this is still an arranged marriage; there's no way he could accept it wholeheartedly.

The voice of his mother interrupted his deep thought once again. Shiori was now looking at him with a warm smile on her face. "Why don't you guys introduce yourselves to each other?" She said it gently. Shuichi sighed inwardly. Without trying to smile, he quickly bowed to the young lady and her parents, then said,

“I’m Minamino Shuichi."

After Shuichi raised his head and returned to his previous gesture, the lady also started bowing her head and introduced herself.

"My name is Imai Botan."

To Be Continued

Chapter Text

This chapter contains violence, sexual content, adult situations, and traumatic situations. The story, names, characters, and situations displayed in this chapter are completely fictional. It is totally for the content only; it is not intended to offend anyone.

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"What do you mean I have to get married in 3 months?!"

"Botan, please calm down. Let me explain…"

"Did you both ask for my approval before?! Have I ever agreed to participate in your crazy plan before?!"

"BOTAN! RESPECT YOUR MOTHER!"

"JUST ANSWER ME, DAD!"

"Stop it, you two. Sorry that we didn't seek your approval beforehand, dear… But,…"

"But what? Why did you two torture me like this?!"

"This is an excellent opportunity to work together with their company, Botan."

"If you love your business that much, then why don’t you just sacrifice your happiness instead of mine?"

"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO YOUR PARENTS?!"

"Parents? They never made a single trip to see their daughter while she was hospitalized. They have never been there for her when she needed them the most. They compromised her freedom and happiness for the sake of business. They have never considered her as anything other than a source of income! Is this how parents typically treat their daughters?"

"Dear, listen…"

"I am not done yet! Even after their daughter expressed all her grievances and cried in front of her parents, they did not feel sorry. It seems they just wanted to dismiss all their daughter's statements and continue their business talk. It appeared they wanted their daughter to forget and let go of everything… and It seems… they still have no intention of apologizing to her! You came to my apartment unannounced to drag me into your business plan without my permission, and now you expect me to respect you?!"

"BOTAN!"

"All I want from you is to treat me the same way you treat Itsuki. Is it too much for you? Why did you both treat me in such disparate ways? Is it because of our gender differences? or is it because he is the oldest child and I am the youngest? Is it because he knows how to run a business and I don’t? or…"

‘You and your illness are just a burden after all!’

"... Or is it because of my health problem? because I’m psychically weak? because I am a burden, so you want to send me away?"

"…"

"Did you know what happened to me eight years ago when you forced me to date the son of the CEO of another company...?"

"…"

"SAY SOMETHING BOTH OF YOU!"

"We knew."

"You were aware of it and did nothing about it?! You didn't do anything for my sake?! I've been living in hell for the past 8 years, and it still is because of what you two did to me! This is the best time for both of you to apologize instead of forcing me like this!"

"Botan, please… Let's discuss this again after the appointment with Minamino's family, alright?"

"… Get out…"

"But…"

"I should have accepted Itsuki's offer to go abroad with him, live there, and never return. I was so naive that I declined because I still cared about both of you… This will be the last time you involve me in your idiotic business plan. When the wedding is over, I won't bother with Imai's name anymore; I'll change it no matter how difficult it may be to drop it."

"You can't do that!"

"Get out! Don't you dare contact me until the appointment day, and don't you dare to come here ever again!"

"WE ARE NOT DONE WITH YOU, YOUNG LADY!"

"GET! OUT!"

_____

Botan had never treated her parents so cruelly before. She felt bad but didn't regret what she had done to them. Instead, she was glad she could finally let out all the anger she had held in for so long.

She couldn't believe herself, for she didn't see that coming. It was her naivety fault when she assumed her parents' unexpected visit was because they wanted to apologize or they missed their daughter and wanted to know how she was doing.

Unfortunately, they came over to announce that they had been arranging a marriage for her for three months. She couldn't stop wondering if her parents realized what kind of treatment they gave her. Although she was quite sure that they didn't realize it, it was shown on their faces that they didn't look sorry or ashamed at all. It was not the first time she had received this treatment from them. Now she couldn't stop blaming herself for being stupid. It happened before, and she couldn't believe she was caught in the same trap repeatedly.

She was certain that she appeared frustrated enough when she cried out loud, expressing her emotions, but she observed the elders and noticed that they did not try to listen to every word she said properly. Their only facial expression was an urgency to appease her anger and continue their discussion about marriage and business. It was supposed to come as no surprise to her, but she couldn't deny that she was offended, and it hurt her heart one more time.

Even after she slammed the door and sent her parents out, she still hasn't gotten an apology. Instead of an apology, her father insulted her once more. A harsh word was spoken gently from the other side of the door, which both of her ears caught from behind the door. 'such an ungrateful moron.’

Her lips erupted in a robust laugh. "Ungrateful, he said? Well then, thank you for being an ass, milord," she murmured sarcastically.

But, again, it was foolish of her to wait for her parents to change into better people. She couldn't change someone into the person she wanted them to be. So if she thinks about it again, it was her expectation that slammed her into the ground. She was the one who needed to change. She needed to remove that ‘naivety’ from herself and focus more on herself and less on others. because the only person who will always be there for her until the end of her life is none other than herself.

_____

Imai Botan is the youngest child of Imai Company's CEO, one of Japan's biggest companies. She has an older brother named Imai Itsuki, who is currently living abroad to take over Imai's Company's branch office in that country. Unlike the rest of the family, Botan was the only one who had no business knowledge, while her brother was quite famous among businessmen. Because of his ability to manage a large company at such a young age, he was mentioned everywhere. Everyone adored him; her parents adored him; all businessmen desired him to be their partner; and all women desired him to be their partner. She was completely the opposite of him. Her brother was a golden child, while she, was nothing but a burden.

‘That's right, I am just a burden, after all. He said that too.’ She thought as she suddenly recalled her ex-lover.

Eight years ago.

‘So, Botan, what do you think about it?’

‘I’m… Not sure…’

‘Why not? I want to get to know you better. And who knows, maybe we'll be a real couple one day. ’

‘I… I'm a girl who has had health issues since birth. This prevents me from going outside as frequently as others.’

‘Is there something wrong with it?’

‘Well,… Just a friendly reminder for you, sir. If you date me, then you can't have dates as often as other couples. We can't go to the movie; we can't go to the cafe. And worse, if there's a moment when my illness hits me, we will end up having a date mostly in the hospital. You don't mind about that?’

‘I'm fine with everything as long as you are the one who I am going to spend my time with.’

‘… Why are you insisting? Is your business really important to you?’

‘It has nothing to do with the business. Perhaps for now we are here because of our parents, but I want to get along with you. It's a personal matter.’

'Are you certain you will not regret it?’

‘I am sure.’

They became an official couple a few weeks later after their conversation. Everything about him was completely perfect. He was like a fairytale prince. He treated her like a princess, lavishing her with attention, affection, warmth, support, and anything else she considered necessary for her mental health. Her heart was overflowing with joy, which helped her get healthier; her illness didn't strike her as frequently as it used to. It was all thanks to him. That guy was successful in making her fall in love with him.

Unfortunately, that joyful moments did not last long. He began to visit her less frequently in the hospital and less frequently at home than he had previously. Despite his sporadic visits, he remained concerned for her and cared for her. Slowly, however, he began to demonstrate less interest in her by ignoring her frequently during his visits. His body was there with her, but his mind was elsewhere.

It seemed the day he reached his limit had come. He couldn't keep it up for much longer. He started blaming her, saying that she needed to stop using her illness as an excuse for not meeting him, he also started to hit her, insult her, and, lastly, he raped her. Botan remembered the humiliation when he touched her body lustily, and the agony she felt every time he forcefully pushed himself inside her. Perhaps he enjoyed the pleasure he experienced, but not for her. He became more brutal as she tried to defend herself; he laughed when she was crying and begging him to stop, and he just quietly continued what he was doing, ignoring all her begs.

She wasn't sure how she did it, but she had finally managed to separate herself from him. She couldn't flee because she didn't have the energy to defend herself. She anticipated that he would hit or punch her once more for defending herself, but she concluded that it would be much better than this kind of humiliation. She closed her eyes tightly, expecting him to hit her, but instead, she felt pain on her forehead as he yanked her bang harshly.

"Keeping this relationship is completely pointless; What did I see in you, anyway? you and your illness are just a burden, after all." After releasing his hold on her bangs, he gathered his clothes, dressed, and walked away without ever looking back. He left her alone in that room, and it was their final encounter.

_____

She never thought she'd be in a similar situation again, even eight years after that tragedy. Her parents were the cause of what happened to her eight years ago. Instead of assisting her in obtaining justice, they chose to remain silent and pretend they knew nothing. And sadly, even after that tragedy happened to their daughter, it didn't prevent them from involving her in their selfish business plans. She got those terrible treatments for dating a stranger; what would happen to her this time for marrying a stranger?

Six months had passed since the wedding. She always wanted to laugh every time she remembered that day, the day when she could see all the greedy smiles on her parent’s and the employees’ faces. She heard what they said to the reporters who came to the wedding; they were so good at lying. They told the reporters that they were happy for their daughter, who had met the perfect man for her husband. They were not completely wrong; this man who was standing beside her at that moment was indeed perfect. She agreed to that. But the words ‘As her parents, we want nothing but the best for her’?

'Hah, don't make me laugh.' Botan murmured sarcastically.

'I'm Minamino Shuichi' It was the first time Botan met him, the first time she knew his name, and the first time she met someone with a pair of beautiful eyes like his. She remembered how she had almost drowned in the pool of those shining emerald eyes of his when they made eye contact. He was extremely handsome, and his long vermilion hair made him more attractive. She didn't remember anything about the appointment day that they attended one month before the marriage. But she remembered one thing about this handsome man: he was good at acting. He appeared so natural that people believed him without question; somehow, it looked like he had worn that fake mask his entire life. He could fool anyone with that mask, but he couldn’t fool her.

Botan tried to study the expressions of Shuichi and his mother during the wedding. First, she was envious of him because he had a wonderful mother, and it seemed she was a very good person. His mother's expression on the wedding day was nothing but an expression full of regret. It seemed that she regretted what she did to her handsome son—she regretted forcing him to marry a stranger out of her selfishness and greed. And she seemed to feel sorry that she couldn't stop it because it had already happened. Botan did nothing wrong, but somehow she felt sorry for him and his mother.

She couldn't stop wondering what kind of expression or reaction her mother-in-law would have when she found out that she was forcing her perfect son to marry a woman who had a dark past. Botan suddenly recalled the warmth that she got during the appointment from her future mother-in-law. 'You are so beautiful, my dear.' The gentle and warm hand that held hers and the sincere smile she gave afterward melted her heart. "Is it Shiori...?" she asked, pausing for a moment to remember her mother-in-law's name. She mumbled. Maybe Botan and Shiori's son were not lovers, but Botan told herself that she wanted to protect Shiori no matter what happened. That was the only thing she could do for Shiori.

She was certain that Shiori was a good woman who was being manipulated by her parents. Her parents were so good at manipulating stories. They didn’t even invite her brother and her uncle to the wedding. Because her parents knew those two cared so deeply for her, they were probably worried that if her brother and her uncle attended, they would do anything to stop the wedding and throw her parents' plans into chaos.

After she had finished observing Shiori's expression, Botan returned her gaze to Shuichi, who stood calmly beside her. He didn't seem nervous standing in front of a large crowd, and he didn't seem bothered by the flashlights from reporters' cameras. Those reporters took numerous photographs of the couple and appeared elated to be spreading the news about their wedding. She caught him smiling a few times.

'Didn't he feel so wrong standing side by side with a stranger in front of a lot of people like this?' She couldn't understand, especially since those reporters and businessmen were equally enthralled by constantly photographing them. The situation at that time was nothing but bothersome for Botan; it didn't feel like a wedding. To her, it was like both of them were two animals that were getting ready to do some attractions in front of humans. She couldn't make an effort to smile in front of the camera, but he could. This man was such a good actor.

When the priest said, "You may kiss the bride," Botan didn't make any movement as she was trying to hold herself from running away in the middle of the ceremony. She wanted to scream very loudly, but she was still working hard to behave well in front of her parents and the reporters. She didn't care about them; she just didn't want Shiori and Shuichi to be embarrassed in front of these people.

At first, she thought that Shuichi wouldn't make any moves just like her, but she was wrong about that. Immediately after the priest's words, Shuichi grabbed her chin with his index and middle fingers, gently but firmly, and then kissed her. His lips made contact with the skin on her cheeks. She could tell that if either of them made a move, even if it was just less than an inch, their lips would meet.

He could have simply bowed his head and pretended they were kissing; there was no need for them to make physical contact. She knew that blaming and labeling all men as her ex was wrong. But she just couldn't stop... Did she look that easy in his eyes? Without any remorse or shame, he simply released the kiss and acted as if the prior kiss had never happened.

Shiori and both of her parents informed her and Shuichi that they would be living in a house that they had purchased for the newlyweds. Fortunately, it was a two-floor house, so Shuichi and she discussed who would own the first and second floors. Ultimately, she acquired the first floor.

If she was not mistaken, it was the longest conversation she had had with Shuichi in the previous six months. They had been avoiding each other since the first day they lived under the same roof, after the discussion, precisely. At the very least, Botan was certain she was avoiding him. She feared that the incidents that occurred eight years ago would be repeated. Besides, Shuichi seemed to not attempt to break the ice between them either. Botan didn't seem to mind at all.

She didn't understand the purpose of this marriage. She wasn't even working for Imai's company. So what will this marriage do for the company? Did they think they couldn't betray each other because their children were tied up in the marriage?

She didn't know how the business worked, but for now, she was satisfied with the current situation, where both of them were minding their own businesses.

Chapter Text

This story contains violence, sexual content, adult situations, and traumatic situations. The story, names, locations, and situations displayed in this chapter are completely fictional. It is totally for the content only; it is not intended to offend anyone.

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SHUICHI'S POV

It has been six months since the wedding. Everything appeared to be normal, as it had been the previous days. The only thing that changed is that I am no longer single. I've now married a stranger. This marriage was supposed to be the link between the two largest corporations, but from what I've heard, the young lady who is now my wife doesn't even work for her family's business.

I leaned back on the chair and sighed, "So what's the point of this marriage, then?" I never stopped wondering about it.

If this marriage was pointless, it would be great if we could just stop creating scenarios as soon as possible. It didn't feel right living under one roof with a stranger, especially since their gender is the polar opposite of yours. because it was very uncomfortable. as far as I'm concerned, anyway. It was awkward and felt inappropriate.

After our lengthy discussion about which room we should occupy, I had not spoken with that woman again. Aside from the fact that I never approached her, it appeared that the lady herself had always avoided me. I wondered if it was just my imagination or if it was true, but why was she acting so strangely? I didn't hurt her in any way. I didn't do anything to her.

Was she frightened of me? Was she truly that upset with me? Or did she behave like my other fangirls, who pretended to be cool in front of me because they thought if they suddenly changed their behavior, I'd get upset and start chasing them back? It'd never happen. To be honest, I'm not acting like a narcissistic jerk right now. I swore. My assistant observed a sudden change in my fangirls' behavior and overheard their conversations regarding their plans to make me chase them.

I pondered whether or not ‘my wife’ possessed the same qualities. I could say she didn't like me, and surely, she still doesn't like me. The question here is why she behaved in such a manner toward me. What exactly did she need? I was completely perplexed. I've never tried searching for information about women. So I was completely lost and clueless when it came to them. I didn't know how to deal with women when they act that way. Was that something women did all the time?

I sighed once more. It was only 9 a.m., and I couldn't tell you how many times I had sighed today, but I knew I had accomplished a lot. I turned on my computer and reached for the mouse to access the website I always visit on the internet. It is already part of my daily routine to gather new information from the internet every morning. My other hand reached for the coffee cup that my assistant had already made for me. He was such a nice person, and I've got to inform my mother to raise his pay on the next payday. I took a sip of my warm coffee while my other hand moved the mouse to open the internet website that I always use to gather information from.

I almost choked on my coffee when I saw that my picture had been posted on the website's home page under the heading for "hot news." I could feel my face heating up, likely because I was currently blushing.

Specifically, it was my wedding photo when I ‘kissed’ my bride. I've seen our wedding photos a lot in the last 6 months, every time I open the internet. Today, however, I have completely forgotten about it. I completely forgot about the kissing part. I also forgot the fact that I kissed her for real.

This photograph was the clearest, had the best angle, and captured the most perfect moment when my lips touched hers between her cheek and the edge of her lips, out of all the wedding photographs taken that day by the media.

Did I just say, 'I didn't do anything to the lady,' as I previously claimed? I actually did kiss her at the wedding. First of all, I had no idea why I did that. I mean, I could have just pretended to lower my head and kiss her. However, instead of faking it, I actually kissed her. My lips brushed against her cheek and the edge of her lips.

I wasn't thinking much at the time; all I wanted to do was get home as soon as possible. So, I told myself over and over, "Just do what the priest says to do, so we can get out of this situation as soon as possible." Therefore, when the priest said, "You may kiss the bride," my hand instinctively moved to grasp her chin, and I lowered my head to kiss her. At that moment, when my lips touched her skin, I came back to reality. I felt regret filling my body and anxiety rising. I was trying to stay calm after what I did, so I quickly controlled my face and let go of the kiss calmly, as if nothing had happened.

If I could go back in time, I would change my actions, specifically that one.

.
.
.

I suddenly had a thought that caused my eyes to widen.

…

Don't tell me that's why she's been avoiding me all this time...

If that was the case, then she was exaggerating the situation quite a bit. Just to be clear, I was not trying to imply that I considered that issue casually or without concern. I swore to you that I deeply regretted my action. But ignoring me for the whole six months just because we kissed... oh well. Was she truly disgusted with me? Did she find my kiss repulsive? I mean, it wasn't that I enjoyed the kiss, but... man, I was offended.

I sincerely hope that none of my assumptions were correct. Oh well, all I needed to do was apologize to her. Regardless of whether she remembered, I must apologize. Hopefully, she had a wise mind, so she wouldn't be offended by my words.

*knock knock*

I closed the website when the sound of a knock interrupted my deep thought.

“Come in,” I said.

“Sir, someone wants to meet you and hopes that you can talk in your office room.” My assistant said.

I scowled deeply as I made an effort to remember my daily schedule. I was pretty sure I didn't have any appointments today; even my mother didn't mention anything about having a meeting today. Who was this person, and why were they being so disrespectful? doing anything they want. Who was this guest who asked my assistant to have a brief conversation with me in my room without any remorse? As the property owner, it was my prerogative to allow or deny access to this space.

“Who?" I asked.

"Hey, Shuichi," There was a voice that didn't belong to my assistant that interrupted our conversation.

The man's head emerged from behind my assistant's shoulder. "My father-in-law" was the owner of that voice. He greeted me with a huge, cheery smile. He confidently entered my office and sat down on the sofa without first requesting permission. I was attempting not to be disrespectful to the elder, so instead of displaying my displeasure, I smiled as I sat on the sofa opposite him.

"I'm so sorry I came here without informing you first, Shuichi, but we're now family, so it's okay, isn't it?" He said it with a light laugh in front of me.

"May I know what brought you here, sir? If it's about your daughter, she's doing well," I said.

“Oh, no, I'm not here to talk about her." He said it nonchalantly.

I frowned slightly; I wasn't sure if I saw it right, but did I just see an uninterested expression on his face when I mentioned his daughter earlier? Did he not care about his daughter? It would be impossible if Botan was an adopted child; her hair matched the man in front of me, and if I weren't mistaken, her eyes matched her mother.

Never mind, I guess I saw it wrong.

“Then, may I know what your reason is?" I asked calmly.

"I'd like to show you a brand-new product that I've created. I think it would be better if we worked together to release this brand under our companies' labels. What do you think?" He uttered the statement with enthusiasm.

This man was a mystery to me. Wasn't he supposed to talk to my mother instead? Although I recalled that my mother instructed me to handle this type of situation as well because I am her son, I believe I will proceed without consulting her first. "It's a good idea, but we should talk to the CEO and other employees from each company first," I think I said safely.

Well, without any trouble, we talked about the product and the label for hours. I wasn't sure how long, but I believe we're getting close to lunchtime.

"That's wonderful! Then let's have a meeting this afternoon. I'll ask my assistant and a few members of my team to come along later! See you again later, Shuichi!" He said this as he rose from his seat and walked out of my office. He simply left without asking for my opinion. I was trying to be objective, but his behavior was unforgivable. He held a high position in his company, but he didn't appear to have a proper attitude toward people. This was truly offensive.

I may have said that I wouldn't take the first step to divorce my wife, but I don't think I'll be able to wait for her to divorce me first. I didn't want to have that kind of man in my family. I should discuss this with my mother. She regretted what she did to me, so I thought she would agree with my choice, whatever it was. That lady, Botan, seemed like a very nice woman, but if I looked at her father's behavior, I was not sure if she truly was a good woman or not. I had just remembered the idiom, "The apple won't fall too far from its tree." So, I just wanted to play it safe here; I didn't want to be involved with that kind of person.

I knew this company was very important to my mother, but she must have realized that her son has his mind. I never wanted to run this company; I never wanted to be in charge. I'd rather run a small botany shop or a small cafe.

But what if something bad happens to the company if I tell her that I want to divorce their daughter? Am I going to regret it if something bad happens and disturbs my mother's health? What if she became disappointed in me? I knew I was a grown-up man. I knew I could continue my life without my mother's help. But surely, as a son, being hated by their parents was the last thing they wanted in life.

"Damn it…” I cursed, then pinched my nose bridge. My assistant was correct about one thing: I worry far too much. I must have taken a few moments to unwind; being constantly serious is detrimental to one's mental health. I could sense that I was gradually losing my sanity day by day, and I believe that this marriage has accelerated the process.

I was trying to calm down by leaning my back against the sofa and closing my eyes. I wanted to clear my mind, even if it was just for a little while.

*knock knock*

"What now?" I muttered something. I swear, I haven't been able to relax my shoulders for 5 minutes, and someone has already interrupted my break. With a heavy heart, I got up from the couch and walked toward the door. When I unlocked it, I noticed my assistant standing in front of it. "Do you have any other work for me to look over?" I asked gently, trying my best to remain calm. I couldn't bring myself to be angry with someone who wasn't even responsible for my frustration.

"Sir, take a deep breath and relax, I just want to remind you that it's time for lunch. That's all." My assistant uttered these words while taking a small step back. I suppose that my ability to feign emotion is diminishing. I believed he took a step backward because he could feel my frustration from where he was before. So my prediction was correct; it was already lunchtime.

"Yes, I see. Thank you for reminding me; I'll eat something soon." I lied. I had no desire to eat anything. I wanted to use my break time to take a nap. I was aware that I would need to exert a great deal of self-control during the upcoming 'forced' meeting, so I must regain my strength.

I was about to close the door again when I was stopped by my assistant's foot. "Not so fast, sir; at the very least, take this sandwich; your mother asked for my assistance in caring for you," my assistant explained as he offered me a wrap sandwich. Everyone in this office appeared to be aware of how unusual it is for me to eat food during lunchtime, and as a result, I heaved an internal sigh of frustration. I accepted his sandwich and thanked him. "Thanks. Anyway, tell two or three of our team members to come to the meeting later," I said, and my assistant nodded in answer.

"I'll handle it, sir." He smiled as he said it.

I shut the door and sat in my office chair. I pressed the mouse button to wake up my computer's sleeping screen. The pictures from the wedding day were still displayed on the computer screen. I selected the image depicting me grabbing my wife's chin with my hand. I noticed the expressions we both had at the time; in this photograph, I appear extremely calm. I was pleased with myself for being a master at concealing my expression.

But,

Re-evaluating my expression in that photo, I couldn't help but frown a little. I've seen many of my photographs, and I've always been able to tell if I'm being honest or not. However, in this particular photograph, I didn't know why I appeared so natural, or perhaps too natural for someone who was faking his expression. I appeared as if I were attending my own wedding—not an arranged one, but the real deal. How come? That was strange. She wasn't even my real woman.

Then I turned my attention to the lady, who looked surprised when I grabbed her chin in that manner. But I couldn't blame her. It was an entirely natural reaction from someone who had been touched by an unknown person. Once more, there is something odd about this woman. I've noticed this since the first time we met, at a pre-wedding dinner appointment. But I couldn't figure out what was making her look odd in my eyes. I mean, she appeared normal; she was stunning, especially in that wedding gown. She probably appeared strange to me because she was not my real partner. Did that make sense? I assumed not.

I needed to find out the answer,…

But,

Why should I…?

She didn't do anything strange to me other than avoid me. So her demeanor and appearance were not the issues.

Whatever it was, I didn't consider it to be a problem of mine. I don't care about this marriage anymore, so I'll just get a divorce from her. I retracted my statement about waiting for her to make the first move. I just couldn't wait any longer; six months had been more than enough. Whatever the risks are to this company, I'll do whatever I can to help my mother's business recover. My mother has already permitted me to do whatever I please. She said it was fine if I wanted a divorce because she was sorry for everything she had done to me. She had no idea what was going through her mind when she agreed to this marriage.

Alright, it was decided that I would divorce her. I would first inform my mother of my intention, and then Botan's family. I promised myself I would never marry again. So that it wouldn't bother me every day, I needed to finish it as soon as possible. So I wouldn't have as many questions, and I wouldn't have to daydream about Botan's soft skin and beautiful pair of pink eyes ever again.

Wait, did I just…

"Your father-in-law, Shuichi Sir, and the team have already arrived." My assistant said this after knocking on my office door.

Excellent timing. That's exactly what I need. I was completely unaware that I had been in deep thought for two hours. I got up from my seat and went outside for the meeting. It took 3 hours for the meeting to talk about putting out a new product with the names of both companies on it. I told my assistant to look after the team and let them go home when they finished their work for the day. I needed to rest for a while; perhaps a walk in the park would be a good idea, or I could grab a coffee at the cafe where I usually go.

How many hours did I waste stressing about my marriage? I was sure I'd need another hour to think about it. So it would be preferable if I did it away from the office. I couldn't show this side of myself to my employees because it might have a negative impact on them. So I grabbed a cup of coffee and went to the national library, which is close to my office building.

What good fortune. I got a nice, comfortable seat in the corner of the room, where I could see a beautiful view of the city. I opened the book I had chosen earlier and began reading it, but I couldn't stay focused for long because I was daydreaming about this stupid marriage again. I wonder: If this arranged marriage had never occurred, would I ever marry? Could I meet my ideal woman? What would she be then? Could Botan and I meet by chance? Could it be possible for us to fall in love if we meet by chance? Who will Botan end up marrying if we are not forced to go through with this marriage? But most importantly, is it possible for us to love each other this way?

What did I just think?

Why on earth did I question that matter? I don't care how big the possibility is; I'm going to divorce her as soon as possible.

I laid my back down on the couch and shut my eyes. Because I couldn't stop thinking about it, I had to abandon the book I had chosen earlier, so I closed it and placed it on the table. Right now, I needed to stop thinking about anything. I didn't want to return to the office just yet; after all, they could survive without me for hours.

.
.
.

I dozed off, but I didn't know for how long because I hadn't brought my phone with me. Surely, the sky had already darkened, so I had to return to my office. Once I had arrived in front of my office building, I blinked several times when I noticed that only a few windows had their lights on. What was the time? Did I actually sleep for that long? There was only one way to find out: go to my office and check my cell phone.

I hadn't even moved my foot when I noticed my assistant hurrying toward me; he had worked very hard today. I hoped it wasn't about another meeting or paper to write.

"DAMN IT, SIR!" he yelled at me as he came to a complete stop in front of me. So, did he just curse me? His impolite conduct caused me to frown.

"Where have you been, and why didn't you bring your phone with you?! I've been trying to reach you since late in the afternoon!" He asked me with a half-shout as he handed me my phone. I took out my phone and looked at the time; it was 9 p.m. "I apologize; I forgot, but could you please explain what's going on here? You appeared to be irritated about something," I inquired.

"You must go to the hospital right now, sir! It's your mother! Just hurry up and get there; I texted you the hospital address, and you can look it up while you're on your way!"

When he mentioned my mother, my eyes widened, my heartbeat quickened, and I felt as if the world had ended. Not wanting to waste any more time, I didn't bother to look back to gather my belongings before making a break for it. My mother had also been hospitalized when I was in high school, and I had almost lost her. Please don't let me lose her for good right now. I could feel my legs getting weaker every time I took a step. No, I had to get there immediately; I had no time to rest here.

I didn't care about my tired legs or how hard it was for me to breathe now; what kind of son was I? My assistant had called me since late afternoon, which meant my mother had been alone in the hospital for hours. I wasn't there for her; I was such a horrible son. I was too preoccupied with my thoughts, thinking about trivial matters that should not be taken seriously, and I ignored the world and people around me as a result. What a fool I was. Now I was hoping that my mother would forgive me for not being available when she needed me.

When I got to the hospital, each step I took made my legs weaker. I think this was because I was tired or worried about my mother's health. I had no idea what had happened to my mother because I had fled before listening to the specific information from my assistant. He also didn't say anything in the message, only informing me that my mother had been admitted to the hospital this afternoon. I searched the administration and asked which room my mother was in, then rushed to the room where they had taken my mother after they informed me.

I stopped in front of the door where Shiori Minamino's name was written.

I couldn't hear anything from inside the room because it was so quiet. I was worried that something had gone wrong with my mother. I had no idea why my mother had ended up in the hospital. My breath and my body started to tremble as my mind started imagining bad scenarios about my mother's condition. With a trembling hand, I reached for the doorknob and opened it gently. My heart couldn't stop repeating the prayers for my mother's health in my mind. So, with my eyes still tightly closed, I opened the door.

I slowly opened my eyes once I felt I had opened the door wide enough for me to enter, hoping Mother would smile and tell me she was fine. However, what I was seeing in front of me astounded me. My eyes instantly widened.

There was Botan. She was sitting next to my mother's bed, holding my mother's hand with a soft smile on her lips and caressing my mother's hand as she tried to comfort her. She didn't seem to have noticed my presence in the room yet. I tried to observe my mother, who was sleeping soundly. I'm guessing my mother just took her medicine because there were some pills and a glass of water on the table beside her. I couldn't believe it, but I was grateful that Botan was there to accompany my mother. I was relieved to learn that my mother was not alone.

Thank goodness, I was so relieved.

"Botan," I called out in hushed tones. I didn't want to disturb my mother's sleep.

The moment I called her name, the grin left her face, and she looked at me intently. "Oh, Shuichi," Botan said, calling my name. Very funny... People called my name a lot, and it irritated me at times. I wasn't sure if it was because they had irritating voices or because I just disliked my name. But when Botan called earlier, I wanted to hear it again.

Botan stood up from her seat, one hand still clutching my mother's. She returned my smile, but I got the impression she was hesitant to do so. But never mind; I was being sensitive at the time when my mind couldn't function properly due to overthinking. I was pretty sure I was just imagining it.

"How long have you been here?" I inquired.

"Afternoon? I suppose," Botan replied. She gently took her hands off my mother's and motioned for me to sit in the chair she had been sitting in earlier.

"Get some rest, Shuichi. Your mother is all right. She had passed out from exhaustion. The doctor said she didn't need to be hospitalized, but he did it so your mother could rest completely without interfering with her work." Botan took the time to explain everything to me in a calm manner. How could I never realized how beautiful her voice is before?

I sat down, took my mother's hand in mine, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness..." I was so relieved to hear that my mother's condition wasn't serious. "And thank you so much for being here for my mother, Botan," I said sincerely as I looked at her. I didn't know what my expression was at the time; I had no intention of hiding anything because I was so relieved that my mother was okay. I remember that I gave her a grateful smile at the time.

She looked surprised when she looked at me, so maybe I looked like an idiot when I smiled at her. I don't like it when people laugh or make fun of me, but I don't mind if she does. But, once again, I was mistaken. She returned my smile, but it wasn't forced like it had been when I first entered the room. She gave me a warm smile and shook her head. She stated, "There's nothing to thank me for." My mother didn't appear to be waking up any time soon; perhaps I could talk with Botan outside the room for a while.

"So,..." That was all that came out of my mouth. I hadn't finished my sentence when Botan interrupted me, saying, "I guess I'll take my leave now because you're already here. Please inform your mother when she wakes up." She gathered her personal belongings and then bowed to me. Was she attempting to avoid me once more?

I wanted to apologize, but how could I if she continued to avoid me like this? "Are you going home?" I asked. I inquired because I didn't think it was appropriate to leave a lady alone at such a late hour. I think I should accompany her. "No, I have an appointment near here. So, I'll be home a bit late today," "she said. "Is that so? Then, allow me to take you there." I told her as I rose from my seat, but I halted in mid-motion when her hands blocked my way. As a result, I had to return to my seat. I frowned slightly. Did this lady truly hate me or something?

"I'm sorry... I mean, you don't have to do that. You just arrived here." Botan said that instead of looking at me, she focused her gaze in other directions. I followed her gaze and turned out, which brought my eyes to my mother. She checked on my mother with her eyes and put another gentle smile on her lips. "Just stay here with your mother. She surely will be glad to see her son is here." She said, as she slightly bowed at me, then continued, "So, I am sorry, again, and I will take my leave now." She walked away to the door without even looking at me or waiting for me to answer her.

Before she completely closed the door, I hurriedly stated, "Please be careful." But since I spoke in a low voice and the distance between my seat and the door was considerable, I believed she would not be able to hear me. It's the Nth time today that I've been proven wrong. She smiled at me again, this time with a gentle smile that I'd never seen from anyone else and gave me a nod afterward. "Thank you, I will be careful." she said as she shut the door completely. I had no idea what had happened here or to me. I couldn't take my gaze away from the door, even though she had already left the room.

Why? For what reason did she come to take care of my mother? Why did she avoid me but, at the same time, be nice to me in such a short time? And what the heck was happening to me? Why did I behave in this manner? Why did I want to keep smiling every time I looked at the door? Whatever the reason may have been, I was certain it was just due to my being so thankful that she was here taking care of my mother. That's what it was. This was the only explanation that made sense to me. I would like to buy something for her as a gesture of my gratitude tomorrow. I took my phone out of my pocket and made a note about it.

After I put my phone back in my pocket, I looked at my mother and smiled. I squeezed my mother's hand gently but firmly with one of my hands that was still holding hers. I was ashamed of myself because I, her blood-related son, hadn't been there from the start to care for her. Instead, a total stranger came here as soon as she heard that my mother had been taken to the hospital.

I grabbed her hand with both of my hands and put my forehead on it. I closed my eyes while attempting to calm my heart rate. I swore in my head and heart that there was such chaos due to the conflicting emotions. Relief, regret, guilt, and gratitude were all mixed up inside me.

“Shuichi...?”

I instinctively opened my eyes and turned around to see how my mother was doing. She opened her eyes gradually and adjusted the lighting by blinking several times. Soon after, she looked at me and smiled sweetly. "When did you get here, Shuichi?" She inquired.

"I've just arrived, mother. I apologize for my absence since this afternoon." I apologized, which prompted her to shake her head. "I am the one who should say sorry; I made you worried, didn't I?" She giggled slightly. I didn't say anything else and was only able to smile at her. "Knowing your condition is not serious is all I need to know, mother," I said. She smiled back at me, then moved her gaze to the right and left as if she were looking for something—or more precisely, someone.

"She has already left, mother." I voluntarily responded to my mother's unspoken query.

“I see. When did she leave?”

"Not too long ago. She was still here when I arrived, but she left a few minutes later. She asked me to inform you once you awoke." I decided to check on my mother's face because I received no response from her. I wasn't certain why, but she appeared surprised and speechless. I was able to tell because my mother's eyes widened and her lips hung slightly open.

“Mother, are you alright?” I inquired with a great deal of worry. I couldn't help but be concerned about her. I hoped she wasn't in any pain at the moment.

My mother smiled at me again as her hand cupped my cheek and stroked it gently with her thumb. “I’m fine, son. I was just a bit surprised because of what you informed me just now.” She said. I still didn't understand, so all I could do was frown and look at her curiously.

“I tried to convince Botan that it was okay for me to be alone here, but she insisted that she would accompany me here until you showed up. So, she really did keep her promise, hm?” she stated. It was my turn to be taken aback and rendered speechless. Botan spent a whole afternoon taking care of my mother at the hospital. What made her do that? Why was she concerned about my mother? It wasn't that I didn't like it, but I was wondering. In a normal marriage, it was normal for the young woman to look after her mother-in-law, but in our current situation, did she have to go this far?

“Do you,... Do you like Botan, mother?" I had no idea where I got the idea of such a question.

“I refuse to answer that, Shuichi.”

“But, why?”

“Because I know you very well, Shuichi. You will consider my answer, and you will compel yourself to continue doing whatever pleases me, even if you don't want to. You will keep the marriage if I tell you that I like Botan, even if this marriage makes you uncomfortable. Or, you will divorce her if I tell you that I dislike Botan, regardless of how much you love her.”

My mother's words slapped me right in the face. What she said was all true. No matter how much I hate Botan, I will keep this marriage if my mother likes her; or no matter how much I love Botan, I will divorce her if my mother hates her. Refusing to answer the question I asked earlier was indeed the right thing to do, but, at the same time, I only wanted to know about my mother's opinion of her. “I’m just curious, that’s all...” I said awkwardly.

“Shuichi, I already regret putting you in this kind of situation; I shouldn't have agreed to this arranged marriage in the very first place. So, my opinion about Botan is not your concern; whether I like her or not, I want you to choose whatever it is for your own sake. I will never again use my power over my son to fulfill my greed.”

My eyes softened as I processed everything my mother had just said. I was devastated when my mother forced me into this arranged marriage, but my mother is only human. She was driven by greed and made mistakes. Moreover, she felt remorse for her decision. That's all I needed to know. But first, I would like to know Botan's opinion about this marriage since she has kept avoiding me from the day after we chose our room until now. I would like to know what she has in mind about this marriage, about her parents and their goals from this marriage, about my mother and me, and her opinion about having a divorce.

"Have you discussed this matter with Botan too, today? Did she say anything about this?" I asked again.

“Yes, She did tell me some things.” She whispered. Wait,... Was that a sad expression on her face?

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

“Can you do me a favor one last time, son?”

“As long as it makes you happy, mother, I will do it.”

“I’ll tell you everything about what I discussed with Botan this afternoon, and after that, hopefully, I hope you don’t mind to have discussion about what’s the best for both of you in the end with Botan and make a decision together.”

I slightly frowned at my mother's request. I honestly didn't mind the request; what concerned me was how I approached her. She kept avoiding me, whatever the reason was.

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

___

BOTAN’s POV

I was making a cup of coffee at the cafe where I worked when someone from Minamino's company called me. At first, I didn't understand why they were calling me when I didn't even work at my parents' business. I was also certain that I had never precipitated Shuichi or his mother into any trouble. I, therefore, never once anticipated receiving a phone call from Minamino's. But still, I accepted their call and inquired as to why they were calling, especially during working hours.

I found out the one who called me was a man who was to be Shuichi's assistant. He told me that my "mother-in-law" had passed out during her meeting with her guest from another country, and her assistant was currently on his way to take her to the hospital nearby. I guessed that Shuichi's assistant sensed my confusion, so he told me the reason why he informed and contacted me instead of Shuichi was that Shuichi was nowhere to be found and he didn't bring his phone with him. I frowned after listening to the explanation, but I decided not to ask anything else. Instead, I told him that I would go there to check on Shiori's condition as soon as possible.

I knew I didn't have to do this since Shiori wasn't my real mother-in-law, but I remembered how nice she was, so I didn't mind giving her a hand. I knew how it felt to suddenly wake up in the hospital and find no one there for you. It felt alone, unwanted, unworthy, and forgotten. I hate that. And I would never allow someone with as generous a heart as Shiori to experience that. I'd like to take advantage of this opportunity to speak with her about this arranged marriage. Because I haven't been ready to have a discussion with Shuichi alone just yet.

So, after I finished making the coffee that I was currently making during the call, I immediately went to the kitchen to meet my boss, who was baking some bread.

"Koenma Sir, Is that okay if I take my leave a bit early today? Something urgent happened."

He was a very nice boss to me, and I considered him my second brother after Itsuki. He has always been there for me when I need someone to talk to. He and his girlfriend, Ayame, have always been there for me, especially when Itsuki and my uncle decided to take care of Imai's company in another country. Koenma and Ayame knew about this arranged marriage, and I told them that I wanted to take care of my mother-in-law. I thought they would scold me for being too nice or naive, but instead, they told me they would support every decision I made as long as the decisions made me happy.

"Are you leaving right now? Could you please tell me what is the urgent?" Koenma inquired.

"My mother-in-law is in the hospital. They couldn't reach his son, so they asked me to check up on her."

"Oh, then you should go now, but if you don't mind, while you're on your way to the hospital, please call Jorge to come here." He said this while giving a nod of approval.

"Oh, thank you so much, sir! I'll call him now." I grabbed my phone from my pocket and texted Jorge. Then, I bowed at him and immediately went to the staff room to grab my belongings, then walked quickly to the hospital. Shuichi's assistant already informed me which hospital they took Shiori to. I hope she didn't mind my arrival; I believed she was expecting her son to be there for her, not me.

‘Shuichi’

I couldn't believe it. No one in the twenty-first century leaves the house without bringing their cell phone with them. I hoped nothing bad happened to him out there, no matter where he was. Oh, my goodness, Itsuki was correct about something—I needed to stop worrying about other people and start worrying about myself. But I couldn't help myself. I couldn't physically assist people, so I did my best to assist them mentally.

I was too occupied with my thoughts, so I didn't notice that I had already stood up in front of the hospital's gate. I took a few quick steps to enter the hospital and looked around for the administration counters.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Shiori Minamino, who should've arrived here not long ago," I said to the administrator.

"May I know what is your relationship with the patient, miss?"

"I'm... her daughter-in-law," I said. It was okay to say that, right? I mean, our marriage was legal, although it was forced, but I was still Shuichi's wife, and Shiori is Shuichi's mother. So I didn't say something wrong, did I? "You can go to the 303 Room, miss. You can take the elevator in the right corner there." She said this as she showed me the way with her hand. I bowed at her and walked to the elevator.

I had already arrived in front of room 303. I couldn't decide whether to open the door and enter the room or to remain outside and wait for her discreetly. If I entered the room, I didn't know what to say to Shiori later. I didn't want to create a heavy, awkward, and uncomfortable atmosphere. I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable because of my presence. But if I didn't enter the room, I couldn't find out Shiori's current condition.

I tried to gather the courage to enter, so I took a deep breath for a few moments before sliding the door very gently.

"Excuse me," I said. In case she was already awake, and I definitely didn't want to scare her. After the door opened enough for me to get in, I saw Shiori, who had probably just woken up because her eyes were still blinking, adjusting the light in her room. And there was a doctor who had probably just arrived a few minutes before I did. Both of them directed their attention toward me.

"Miss, may I ask who you are?" The doctor inquired.

I knew I was doomed. I wasn't sure if I should tell the doctor I was Shiori's 'daughter-in-law', especially in front of Shiori herself. "I'm..." I tried to respond, but nothing came out of my mouth. I immediately regretted walking into the room. I hadn't done anything yet, but I had already created a dense atmosphere.

"It's okay, doctor; she's my daughter-in-law." Shiori broke the silence. My eyes widened in response to her reply, and I stared at her with a visibly shocked expression on my face. She looked back at me and smiled a warm, welcoming smile. As if her smile was telling me, "Thank you for coming,"

The doctor nodded and invited me to come closer, and he explained Shiori's condition and why she had passed out. When the doctor informed us that Shiori was only tired from overwork, I took a deep breath and sighed with relief. After the doctor excused himself, I took a seat beside Shiori's bed.

"I'm so glad you're okay," I sincerely said. This woman was such a sweet person; perhaps it was just her nature to have a warm heart and be kind to anyone without discrimination, but the kindness she showed me made me feel like I couldn't stop myself from melting. I could see her eyes soften because of my words, and then she held both of my hands and squeezed them afterward.

"Thank you, Botan. You are such a sweet girl. It's not like I dislike it, but may I know why you are here?" She asked without showing any signs of protest. Why? To be honest, I was unsure. Was it because I understood how it felt to have no one there for you, which led me to feel sorry for her? Or was it because she was such a sweet lady who warmed my heart so that I had no problem taking care of her? or was it because I received a phone call from her company asking for my assistance in checking on her condition?

I was a girl who couldn't lie, and I couldn't bring myself to lie to someone as nice as the woman in front of me. So maybe telling her every reason I could think of wouldn't hurt her feelings. If I said something that offended her, I would simply have to apologize to her. Thankfully, she didn't seem to mind my response, as she smiled at me much warmer than before.

"It doesn't matter what your reason is or which one it is; I'm touched and delighted to see you've come to check on my condition." She said this while gently giggling and lovingly patting my hands.

I didn't know what to say; all I could do was smile back at her. "The two of you, you and Shuichi, are sweeties. I apologize for putting both of you in this situation.” She said as she looked at me apologetically.

“You are so kind. Shuichi surely is lucky to have you as his mother.” I said. I couldn't help but feel envious.

“I believe your parents felt bad about what they did to you both." She spoke again, this time with a reassuring tone and a confident stare.

I frowned and unintentionally squeezed both of her hands tightly. "Shut up! How can you say that?! You didn’t know anything! They never once expressed regret for what they had done to me! They did not even consider me as their daughter!" I accidentally yelled at her; I didn't mean to, but her words hurt me truly and deeply. She didn't know anything; she shouldn't have said that!

“If they regretted it, this marriage wouldn't happen after all the bad things that happened to me a long time ago!”

I immediately gasped when I realized I had yelled at her and revealed a secret I had never intended to reveal to anyone. I quickly covered my mouth with my palms, automatically releasing my hands from her grip. “I... Forgive me, I didn’t mean to yell at you...” Stupid me, she was the patient here and I treated her badly. She didn’t know anything about my parents, so it wasn’t her fault if she said something so far from the truth. It was meant to be understandable.

“Oh my dear, I am the one who should apologize. I should have refrained from making any claims about things I didn't fully understand.” Shiori said, as cupped my cheeks with both of her hands, then she wiped my tears, which I hadn't even noticed had come out. Her hands were so warm, and she wiped my tears away—my parents have never done that to me, even once. She provided me with the warmth that I had never experienced from my parents. Even though I was being disrespectful, she still cared about me. Was that how the love of a mother felt?

Shiori hadn't yet released my cheeks, so I shook my head gently because one of her hands was infused. "No, It's natural to say things that are completely false when you have no knowledge of the situation. I'm sorry for being mean to you, and please don't apologize about this marriage." I said. The ones who should apologize for all of this are my parents. They needed to apologize to Shiori for manipulating her and taking advantage of her innocence.

“Botan dear, do you mind to explain everything to me? What do you mean they never considered you as their child? And what happened to you long time ago?” She looked at me, her eyes filled with guilt and concern.

“No,... You are tired, you need to rest. I am here to check up on your condition and accompany you until Shuichi's arrival. I am not here to consult on my problem.” It wasn't wrong, but the real reason I didn't want to tell her was that I couldn't get the words out of my throat. I was unable to spit them out despite my efforts. I only told Itsuki about this the day after the tragedy, and we hadn't talked about it again in 8 years, and I've never told anyone else. I wasn’t ready to talk about it again, and I didn’t want to be a burden anymore.

"I may not be your biological mother, Botan, but I am still a mother. I know you put too much pressure on yourself." Shiori said that she locked her arms around my shoulder, pulled me gently into her embrace, and patted my back over and over. "I'll be here for you, my dear. I'll wait until you're ready to speak up.” She pulled away, breaking the hug, then examined my face afterward.

“You know, I have always wished for a daughter, your presence here with me in this place, gives me the impression that my daughter is accompanying me to my annual physical examination. So, you can share anything with me; consider me your mother too if you want to. Share me some your problems to me, you don’t have to do all things by yourself. Let me help you." She showed me her warm smile again and then pulled me back into her embrace.

"You don't have to help me and waste your time on someone like me, but thank you for your kindness. Besides, Shuichi and I are not lovers. I am not your real daughter-in-law. You do not need to do this far." I said this as I tried to pull my body away from her warm embrace. I would not make the same mistake again. People were always nice to me in the beginning, but they threw me away like trash in the end. I wouldn't fall for it ever again. Shiori sighed heavily and looked at me incredulously.

"Then allow me to ask you the same question. Botan, what brings you here? I am not your real mother-in-law. Even though Shuichi's assistant has asked for your assistance, you have the option to decline. You did not have to come here." She asked.

“I felt obligated to take responsibility for what my parents did to you and your son. Since I met you for the first time at our dinner appointment the night before the wedding, I've made up my mind that I wouldn't escape from the wedding. I was aware that you are a nice woman who has been manipulated by my parents. This isn't the first time I've seen them exploit others to feed their greed. That is why I am still here: I am sorry for you and your son. I wouldn't be the one to initiate a divorce; instead, I'd let Shuichi do it. This is the only thing I can do for the two of you.”

I paused, and I could see Shiori was urged to open her mouth to protest my statement. But, I wouldn’t let her, because I was not done yet.

“Perhaps, when you complimented me, smiled at me, and held my hand during our dinner together, it was routine for you to be generous with new acquaintances. However, those simple things warmed my heart. My mother never complimented me, held my hands, or smiled at me. Meanwhile, you gave me all of those even though we just met that day. That is why I am here to repay your generosity. My parents never treated me as their daughter. It was probably because I was just a burden for them. I had health problems since I was born, and I knew nothing about business, so they had no reason to love me. I was only visible to them when they needed something from me. They unexpectedly visited my apartment and informed me that I had to get married in three months.“ I noticed my voice cracking in the middle of the story, and I couldn't hold back my tears any longer, so I stopped talking and cried.

I couldn't look Shiori in the eyes with my crying face, so I lowered my head and covered my eyes with both of my palms. I was ashamed of my life. I couldn't share good stories with others because I didn't have any. The love from my big brother and uncle was the only thing in my life for which I could be thankful. I no longer expected happiness to come to me.

“Oh, my dear, I'm truly sorry for what you've endured, and I'm also sorry for the previous words I said. And I'm glad to know that I can provide you with the warmth you've never received from your parents. I'll gladly provide you with more warmth and love in the future. You are a wonderful young lady who did not deserve all of those treatments.” She hugged me again, and I could feel the warmth around my body. I hadn't turned my head to look at her yet, but I could hear that her voice was cracking.

I haven't told her the worst part of the story yet, and I'm debating whether I should. I didn't want to use her rest time because her health was more important than the story of my past.

"Thank you for your consideration, but you don't need to do that. What you're giving now is more than enough." I said that as I raised my head to look at her. She was crying, and she felt sorry. My hand automatically moved and tried to reach her face to wipe her tears away from her cheek. How I wished that she was my mother. “You need to rest now, Shiori. I’ll be here until your son come. Thank you for listening to my story that I never shared with anyone else before.” I said as I smiled slightly.

She gave me back the smile and changed into her serious expression once again. “May I know what happened to you long ago? What did your parents do to you?” She ignored my prior words. She held my hand between both of her palms as she tried to protect me and gave me comfort.

"I don't know if I should tell you; the previous one already made you cry, and this one is way more painful. I don’t want to make you cry more, and I don’t know if I’m ready to share this or not."

She cupped my cheek and gently stroked it with her thumb, giving me a smile afterward. "My dearest, if it can reduce your pain, I don't mind crying for 24 hours."

This woman, How come there was someone as kind as her in this world?

“Well,... 8 years ago, They forced me to date the son of a CEO from another big company at that time, and the guy... insulted me, telling me that me and my illness are burdens, he also abused me, and,...” I bit my lips hard, I didn’t want to say it, I couldn’t say it... All of those memories came flooding back to me, one by one. Everything remained crystal clear. Every detail was still there, and I could feel the humiliation in my body, the pain when he hit me, the insults in my ears, and his satisfaction when he did all of those horrible things to me. I closed my eyes, attempting to keep those dreadful images from entering my mind as much as possible.

I have been unable to escape this nightmare for the past 8 years. No matter how hard I tried to forget it, accept it, or forgive myself, I still had struggles because of it, and they're still happening. Once again, I couldn't hold back my tears. I cried again, this time harder than the previous one.

“He... He raped me. I thought my parents were unaware of the tragedy, but they were aware of it! They didn’t do anything for my justice! Worse, they still forced me to do this arranged marriage, and not a single apology had come from their lips until now! I'm sorry, but I haven't talked to Shuichi since we both moved into the same house. I've been avoiding him all this time. I had no intention of comparing him to that guy, but I couldn't help myself. I was scared. I dated someone and experienced that tragedy; what sort of tragedy would I experience if I were to marry someone?” I finally said it.

“I’m... sorry...” My voice began to crack, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. I clenched my eyes shut and covered my face with my palms again. I wasn't prepared to see Shiori's reaction. She was probably upset and hurt because I compared and considered his son the same as that jerk.

“That’s... terrible...” Shiori finally said something after staying silent for a few minutes after I finished my story. I could hear that she was also crying a lot, just like me. I couldn't trust my voice just yet, so I bit my lips and didn't say a word.

“Oh sweetheart,... I didn't expect all of this... I could not have imagined that someone as kind as you had endured such terrible things. You must have been through a lot... I'm sorry for everything that happened to you, and I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I apologize for not being able to assist you. I'm sorry I couldn't alleviate your suffering. But I want you to know that I'll be there for you starting right now, so you don't have to go through this alone. I'll always be by your side.” She cupped my cheeks with both of her hands, and raised my head to face her.

She was crying a lot; both of her cheeks were wet because of her tears. You didn’t have to waste your energy to protect me, you didn’t have to waste your attention to me...

"Shiori, I'm begging you. Please tell Shuichi to divorce me. Let him marry his true love, and give all of your warmth and love to your real daughter-in-law." I begged; I just wanted to be alone, just like I used to be before the marriage. So I wouldn't be a burden to anyone.

“That's something I can't do. Although I can probably advise him to think about divorcing you, I can't force him to do so. That means Shuichi is once again under my control. What if he has feelings for you? I have no right to stop him.”

“No, he will not. He can't do that. I'm not worth it; I will be just an extra burden for him and for you. Your son deserves someone better, someone who is free of health problems, has stable mental health, and Someone who can take him and someone he can take to several beautiful places to spend time together. Shuichi will only be able to waste his time in the hospital if he ends up with me.” I tried to assure her.

"..."

Please, answer me. ‘please’

“Very well. I’ll talk about this with Shuichi. But I need you to make me two promises. One, if Shuichi agrees to divorce you, I want us to still be friends; I don't want us to stop talking to each other. And two, if Shuichi doesn't agree to divorce you, I want you to talk to Shuichi about it. I know my son well; he is a gentleman. He will not do anything inappropriate like what that guy did to you. So, can you promise me those two things?” Shiori asked and her expression seemed silently telling me that she wouldn’t accept ‘no’ as the answer.

“I promise for the 1st one, and for the 2nd one,... I’ll try.” I said. I was scared but I would like to try but I trusted Shiori’s words. Her solemn expression changed to a contented smile as soon as she heard back from me. She placed her head against my temple and embraced my shoulder as she drew me closer. "My dear, you are not a burden. You are beautiful, and you are a very nice girl. They simply don't realize what they've done to such a wonderful person as you. You are such an angel."

I wanted to stop pretending to be strong this time, if only temporarily. I lied every time I told myself that I didn't need anyone. I needed someone but was too afraid to get hurt again. I've been craving this kind of care and affection. I was always hoping for someone to sincerely persuade me that I am not worthless, and this woman gave me everything I needed in one day. Even after she knew everything about my past, she didn't judge me. Instead, she accepted me and gave me comfort. She was taking care of me.

I slowly put out my hands and wrapped them around her, gently but firmly hugging her. "Allow me to be as clingy to you as if I were your real little daughter just for today. Allow me to hug you this way so I can feel your warmth for a little longer. I promise that I won't bother you anymore." I said. I didn't want to leave this warm embrace just yet.

I was so glad, instead of pushing me away, she hugged me tighter and pulled me closer. “You know what? When I regained consciousness today, I was a bit disappointed to see that Shuichi was not present. The doctor came in and told me that my employee was unable to contact him, so they contacted you. Having given up all hope and resigned myself to spending my time alone in the hospital, you surprised me by showing up just a few minutes after I had begun to wallow in my own misery. You actually came for me. You have no idea how happy I was to see you here.” She said.

“Because I understand how it feels to open your eyes and find yourself alone. When your son's assistant told me he couldn't reach him, I was honestly unsure whether I should come or not. But I recall feeling unwanted, worthless, and forgotten because no one was there for me whenever I was hospitalized. I do not want you to experience all that. That's why I am here. And also to repay your kindness.” I said as I tried to free myself from her embrace so she could take a rest. But, she quickly pulled me back to her embrace again.

“Thank you; you are such an angel. I'd like you to remember our first promise: If Shuichi agreed to divorce you, please don't cut off our relationship. Please do contact me, or respond when I contact you. I've already considered you my daughter, and I hope you also consider me your mother. We don't need to be blood relatives or have any other kind of connection to be a family, do we? You are not a burden; don't listen to them. I want to bring you out of your sorrow. Just like what you said, we both are strangers, but it didn't change the fact that we care for each other.” She stated.

I didn't know what to say; I was pleased to hear it, but my heart was hesitant to believe it. What if she treats me as others have treated me? They were nice to me at first but eventually tired of me, and then they abandoned me afterward. I wasn't sure I could handle it if Shiori did the same to me. But I already promised her. There’s no turning back. So, I think, I just needed to enjoy what was in front of me and worry about the future later.

"If you promise me that you won’t hesitate to ask my help when you need it, Anything—I'll do my best to help. If you promise me that, I will keep my promises too," I finally said something after staying quiet for a few moments.

“Okay, I promise.”

“Good then,”

Shiori let go of me so we could turn around and face each other, but her hands stayed on my shoulders. She was smiling at me, and it was the biggest smile she had ever given me. I couldn't help but smile, so I gave her my smile. Suddenly, the doctor and nurse entered to change her diffuse fluid and bring her medicine to eat, and I received a notification message. During Shiori's conversation with the doctor, I checked my phone. When I finished reading the message, my eyes widened, and I was about to cry again.

‘No way, Itsuki,...’

I was unaware of when the doctor and nurse departed, so Shiori returned her focus to me automatically. She examined me with concern. “Are you alright, sweetie?” She asked.

I nodded, despite my tears streaming down my cheeks. “My big brother, is in Japan. He finally came back! He wants to meet me!” I said without hiding my excitement from her. Oh my goodness, how much I miss my big brother very much.

“Oh, really?! Then you have to go now.” Shiori said, she was happy for me.

“No, I already told him to meet later tonight. I promised you to be here until Shuichi came.” I said, and frowned when Shiori was trying to against it.

“It's okay, Botan. You can go; you need to eat something and take a rest. I don't want you to get sick because of me. Besides, I will fall asleep very soon; the medicines have already made me sleepy.” She said, I observed her face and could tell that her eyes were getting heavy.

I gently pushed her to lie down and raised the blanket to cover her body. "If I get sick, you'll take care of me, right?" I said it in a playful tone. I giggled then took on of her hands and squeezed it gently, when she frowned at me.

“Of course, I will. But still, I don’t want you to get sick.” She squeezed my hand back.

“I won’t. I've heard that a joyful heart is the best medicine. You made me very happy today, so I'll be fine. So just go to sleep okay, you are the one who need to rest.” I said as I tried to assure her.

She smiled, then rose from bed again without releasing my hand, and then she looked at me. She then gave me a loving, motherly kiss on my forehead. I was so surprised, and I didn't know what to do. I only felt my face warming—probably from blushing. I've never received this treatment before. She looked at me and laughed slightly, lay down again.

"I am so glad that I met a sweet girl like you. You also made me extremely happy today. Thank you for coming here. But I’m okay. You can leave when I’m sleeping. I bet Shuichi already here when I woke up." She said with a very warm smile on her face.

She finally dozed off. I gave her a nod earlier, but I had already promised her that I would remain until her son's arrival. So I stayed even after she had fallen asleep, holding her hands and watching her sleep. I couldn't stop grinning, believing that she was my savior. She made me so happy that I forgot how good it felt.

I didn't notice Shuichi had already arrived when he called my name. When I looked at him, I noticed that he was trying to adjust his breathing. He was probably running as fast as he could. He looked at me with a shocked eyes but in a second replaced by a grateful gaze. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he regretted not being here in the first place. I was hesitant, but I didn't want to be rude, so I returned a slight smile. I got up from my seat and motioned for him to sit on my seat so he could be close to his mother and take a rest there.

He kept thanking me, which made me quite happy. It felt great to be appreciated. So now I could leave without worrying about Shiori being alone, so I told him I'd leave right away. I could tell he wanted to talk about something with me, but I couldn't. I'm not ready yet; I'll let Shiori talk to him first, then, as I promised, I will talk with him afterward, someday.

Shuichi was about to stand up from his seat to walk me to the place of appointment that my brother chose. I disliked the idea. Again, I didn't want to be a burden; 2nd, he just arrived and he looked extremely tired; 3rd, if he accompanies me, then Shiori will be alone. So I blocked his way, which accidentally made him fell back on his seat. I noticed that he frowned and seemed slightly pissed off because of what I did.

Botan, you're a moron! I didn't mean to irritate him, I swear. I immediately bowed and apologized to him. Shiori was still sleeping peacefully when I looked at her. We didn't know when Shiori would awaken, and I was afraid she'd awaken while Shuichi was escorting me. I didn't want to make her sad if she awoke alone again.

I gave her a slight smile, recalling all wonderful things she gave me today. Before leaving, I turned my gaze to Shuichi again and bowed at him and then walking away quickly. I thought Shuichi was still mad, but before I closed the door, Shuichi said, "Be careful." Oh my goodness, it was just another simple thing, but I felt ecstatic; it was wonderful. This time, I did not hesitate to smile at him before closing the door behind me and exiting the room.

As I walked out of the hospital, I kept thinking about how kind Shiori had been. She spoiled me so much that I was genuinely happy, despite the fact that I was still terrified to believe and accept everything.

No.

Immediately, I shook my head and reminded myself to focus on what was in front of me instead of dwelling on the uncertainties of the future.

I was on my way to meet Itsuki right now, After years apart, I finally reunited with my older brother. I was too excited, so I moved my legs to move faster. He said he'd meet me in the park, which was only 5 minutes away from the hospital. My heart rate increased as I got closer to the park. I was nearly at the park, and I could already see Itsuki's back from where I was standing. That's right, that deep aqua hair belonged to my brother. He was here for real.

"Big brother!" I had to scream his name to get his attention because I could no longer conceal how excited I was. I was aware that I couldn't be too exhausted or too energized, but I wouldn't care. For once, I wanted to be happy without having to worry about anything. He turned around immediately after I called him, looking surprised, as evidenced by his widened eyes.

“Botan!”

I missed hearing my brother's voice when he called my name. I dashed up to him as he did the same. I could feel moisture forming on my cheeks because I was unable to contain my tears. Once we were close, I wrapped my hands around his waist and squeezed his shirt tightly.

I pressed my face against his chest and tried to hug him tighter, silently telling him how much I missed him. Then I felt him hug me back tightly, and one of his hands was on the back of my head. "I miss you very much, Botan. I apologize for not being able to assist you sooner. I'm sorry I left you by yourself," he muttered.

He released the hug and then moved his hands to cup both of my cheeks. His thumbs gently wiped the tears away from my eyes. I automatically shook my head, denying his statement, "There's nothing you should be sorry for. If only I had listened to you, if only I wasn't so naive, this marriage would never have happened." I said.

“How have you been for the past 6 months? Nothing bad happened to you, right? Tell me everything.” Itsuki moved my head to the left and right as he tried to observe me. Yes, this is my big brother. The protective brother. I giggled at his behavior and said, "I am okay. I've been avoiding the man as much as possible. And it seems he doesn't care at all."

He smiled and gave me a nod, “Did you surprise that I am here?”

“Of course! You don’t know how happy I was when I received your message this afternoon!” I hugged him again after showing him my excitement. “Itsuki, I miss you! I miss you, brother!” I kept repeating the words.

He gave me a bear hug and squeezed me gently, saying, "I miss you very much too, I wish I could come sooner and help you free yourself from this marriage."

“Forget it, you are already here, after all.”

“That’s right. I still have another surprise for you, Botan.” Itsuki pulled me out of his embrace then he smirked at me. I didn't understand—why did he give me that look? One of my eyebrows lifted as I silently expressed my confusion.

“Hey there, Botan.”

A voice that didn't belong to either of us appeared from behind me.

Wait,...

This voice...

No way...

Could it be...?

I sharply turned around to look at the owner of the voice.

I gasped.

“Uncle Bui?!”

_________

NOTE:

Hello there, I've never written in POV before, so I don't know if I did it right or not. I write fanfiction for fun, though. I hope you don't mind the grammar mistake I made because English is not my first language; it's my third. So, I hope that everyone will still be able to enjoy the story.

Chapter Text

!!This story contains violence, sexual content, adult content, and traumatic situations. The story, names, locations, situations, and all the content displayed in this chapter are completely fictional. It is totally for the content only; it is not intended to offend anyone!!

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*Itsuki’s POV*

I had been a single child in the family for 6 years before Botan was born as my younger sister. I never once felt like a normal kid during those years. I saw those kids around my age running around, laughing with their friends, buying candy, and playing in the park with their own kids. My parents disciplined me from the time I learned to write and read. or, more precisely, they forced me to learn to write and read when I was far too young. They gave me numerous business books and stories. I did not comprehend why they were so fond of these dull things. So I began to rebel and told them how much I despised it.

Then, my mother shared the news of her second pregnancy. They were overjoyed to welcome a new member to their family. They expected this new child to be useful and capable in business. Since then, my parents had never treated me the same way as they had in the past. They stopped paying attention to me; they ignored me as if I did not exist in the family. I told myself that I hated whoever that child inside my mother's womb was because I was so envious of the baby. It took my parents away from me.

I swore to myself that I would never consider the child to be my little brother or sister, and I vowed to exact revenge by treating them the same way our parents treated me during the second pregnancy. I began to force myself to enjoy business-related books and videos to regain their interest. Of course, it wasn't easy. Initially, they were apathetic and informed me that it was too late.

However, guess what? As soon as they discovered that their second child was a girl with a physically frail body, they resumed treating me kindly as before. They expressed regret for informing him that he was late, and they resumed treating me as the prince. I was ecstatic; they did not care about my younger sister, only about me.

She has smiled at me since the day she opened her eyes. She had a very bright smile that I'd never seen before, and she kept smiling at me even after we'd grown up. She always greeted me with a friendly smile; despite not receiving much attention from me or our parents, she was a cheerful little girl. I found it disturbing, so I ignored her and pretended she wasn't there.

Then, when I reached my tens and was old enough to think logically, I realized that I had treated my toddler-aged sister very poorly. I understood that none of these were her faults, yet my parents and I still punished her by treating her in this manner. We did not care when she was ill, even though she was a fragile child. I recalled Uncle Bui, my father's younger brother, as the individual who cared for her and showed her much affection.

I felt like I was being eaten alive by shame and repulsion from head to toe. I knew what it was like to have my parents not pay attention to me, to not make me feel like I mattered to them, and to treat me badly. It was dreadful. which I also repeated with her. I did those heinous things to a defenseless little girl who was simply trying to live her life. Despite my treatment of her, she still managed to flash me a pleasant expression. I had never realized that she had always been there for me whenever I felt lonely, wanted to run away, or wanted to give up on my parents and their business. She has always been there for me, but rather than expressing my gratitude to her, I have pushed her away and chosen to ignore her because I find her smile to be incredibly irritating.

She has been there for me every day, whereas I have never visited her in the hospital every time she was ill. I despised my parents for their cruel treatment of me, but I did not realize that I had also become them. As soon as I realized what had transpired, I asked Uncle Bui to accompany me to the hospital to determine Botan's condition.
I opened the door and observed a toddler sleeping peacefully in a hospital bed. I frowned at how pale and frail her face appeared. Then she slowly opened her eyes and turned her head towards us, and a smile formed on her lips behind the oxygen mask. It was a very feeble smile, but it contained the same warmth that she usually displays toward me.

"Uncle, you bring older brother today." She spoke to me, but her voice sounded weak and happy at the same time. She was still welcoming me. That time, I rushed to get closer to her, I sobbed heavily while hugging her, and I apologized to her repeatedly. My sister, who always greeted me with a cheerful smile and was always active, was now lying in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask on her face and was in a fragile condition. It appeared as though I could lose her at any moment. I couldn't believe a person's condition could change so drastically in a short time; yesterday she was still active, and the next day she appeared to be dying.

I yearned for my vivacious sister's return; I did not wish to lose her. I want to love her, I want to take care of her, I want to spoil her, I want my sister to give me her once-cheerful smile again, and I want my sister to give me a second chance, even though I didn't deserve it. Don't make me lose her just yet. I wouldn't mind if I had to sacrifice myself for her health, as long as my sister could survive and find the happiness she deserved in this life.

But instead of accepting my apology, Botan told me that she was the one who needed to apologize for disturbing me every day. I could not believe how angelic my sister was. I was ashamed of myself; I was such a monster for treating such a pure and innocent child in such a manner. What have I done to this innocent girl?

Since then, I've vowed to protect her at all costs. I will be protective of her, assuming the roles of older brother and father. I decided to work with my parents in their business in the future so that I could use the money to support Botan. And I will buy her whatever she desires, even if it is something unimportant.

My parents were proud of me because I was skilled at business. Although I wasn't particularly fond of it, I decided to do it for my sister. I never sought out what I wanted to do and instead chose to dedicate my life to this family's business so I could take care of her and shield her from my parents' disrespectful treatment. They could treat me as their business slave so that they would no longer harm my sister.

That's why when my parents told me to start a new friendship with that CEO's son, I thought it would be more than enough. So that they would not use my sister to satisfy their greed. I had been naive. Even though the CEO's son and I were already very close friends, my parents continued to force Botan to date him. I went to see my parents and attempted to discuss this matter with them, but from the doorway, I overheard my uncle and my parents discussing Botan and me.

I didn't recall the conversation very well, but I remembered that my parents told Uncle Bui that they didn't care about their children at all; they told Uncle that they treated me well because I was useful to the company; meanwhile, they didn't care about Botan because she was just a burden and useless. They forced her to do this and that because they wanted to make her useful to the family.

I couldn't take my rage any longer, especially after they told my uncle that Botan was a burden. If they do not want children, they should refrain from having sex. We never desired to be born into this life; we were unable to choose our parents; why shouldn't they be held accountable for their actions? They brought us into the world but did not care about us. Why?

I violently opened the door and was prepared to punch my father in the face. However, my uncle quickly intervenes and tells me to calm down. Calm down, he said? They treated my little sister like garbage; they hypnotized me to despise my little sister, and they displayed no regret or shame for their actions, and he told me to calm down?

Why were our biological parents so cruel to us? Why was it our uncle, rather than them, who gave us love? Affection? Why was he the one who genuinely cared about us? Why was he the one who treated us as if we were humans? Was it because Uncle Bui felt bad for making my parents, especially my father, behave like this?

It wasn't his fault at all. Our grandparents, particularly our grandfather, had chosen Bui, his youngest child, to be the next CEO of Imai's company, and my father, who was the eldest child, believed that this was an unfair decision. And as a result, he did everything he could to make our grandparents happy, even though they had to do dirty things and give up their children's lives. Our grandparents did not alter his decision in any way. He couldn't trust his eldest son to handle the company because he knew how greedy his oldest son was.

Uncle Bui politely told my parents that he would do anything they asked as long as they gave me and Botan freedom. Uncle Bui pleaded with them to allow him to care for the two of us as if we were his own children. Obviously, my parents took advantage of this opportunity to obtain the CEO position. They asked Uncle Bui to step down from his position, and he didn't seem to mind. In exchange for his position, he requested that I and Botan not be forced to do anything against our will, to which they agreed. He sacrificed his position for children who weren't even his.

I told Uncle Bui that I still wanted to continue working in the company so that I could earn a lot of money for Botan, and he said he would do the same for me and my younger sister. Therefore, I asked Botan and the CEO's son to meet with me and discuss their relationship, telling them they could stop pretending to be a couple.

Then they sat in front of me and asked me to bless both of their relationships. They wanted it to be a reality. My little sister appeared to be very happy, and his expression indicated that he was serious about dating my little sister. He told me that he was the one who insisted on making everything real in the first place, while my sister was willing to give him a chance. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but my little sister seemed happy about it. I could not have asked for anything else. That was the only thing I desired. My sister's happiness.

It was my fault; if I hadn't been so naive, my little sister wouldn't have had to go through those ordeals. A few months after they requested my blessing, I watched as my little sister grew progressively weaker. I noticed blue-purplish bruises on my sister's skin and wondered why they were there. Botan informed me that she had an allergy to new medications or that she was careless when performing a task. I trusted every argument she presented to me at the time.

And one day, I found her naked in her room, sitting on the floor, crying, holding a knife, with her skin covered in cuts and blood all over the floor. It was the most terrifying moment in my life. I sprinted towards her and demanded to know why she was acting in such a manner. In her tears, she informed me that she had just been raped by that man. Now she was attempting to injure herself so that she would never again feel that revolting sensation on her body. If only, I could get home sooner, I could prevent him from harming my little sister.

Once again, I failed to protect her. I couldn't protect her when my parents forced her to date that man, and I failed again; I couldn't save her again. I should not have relied on that jerk's words simply because he was my best friend. All she did was give him a chance because he was the one who begged her to date him for real, but why did he have to punish her that way?

That was also the time when Botan revealed the truth about everything she went through while dating that man, including the true cause of the blue bruises on her skin. He abused her. I could feel my blood boiling with rage and offense. I was enraged at her for protecting him by lying to her brother. I was frustrated with myself for being naive. I was furious at my parents for forcing her to date him. I was enraged because that jerk failed to keep his promise. I was frustrated that there was nothing I could do to reverse time.

Botan was already weak, and what happened to her made her became depressed and made her became way weaker than her prior condition. There are two memories of her that continue to haunt me. and both had the same situation, where I found her passed out in the kitchen. The first time was when I almost permanently lost her. She had been hospitalized for days, and one day the doctor told us that they just administered an electric shock to my sister because she stopped breathing. Fortunately, they were able to resurrect her.

And the second one, She fainted in the kitchen again, after attempting to ingest an entire bottle of medication. Uncle Bui and I were in a hurry to get her to the hospital, but luckily she lived because we found her early. My uncle and I waited for her to regain consciousness for nearly the entirety of the day. Even the doctor and the nurse compelled us to return home and rest. They were correct; it was not good if we were also tired when Botan awoke, because she would probably blame herself again for being a burden. After taking a few steps away from her room, however, we heard loud slamming sounds emanating from within the room. We opened the door and saw my sister throwing and slamming hospital property everywhere. There was blood on her hand too; we assumed that because she pulled the infusion out of her skin brutally.

Uncle Bui tried everything he could to stop her, but Botan avoided him, hitting him repeatedly when he caught her. She screamed, yelled, and grumbled about how difficult it was for her to die. She complained about why Uncle and I had saved her. She questioned what she had done to deserve such cruel treatment from everyone.

I couldn't even move a muscle to approach her. I desperately wanted to hug her, but I couldn't. I was still ashamed of myself for mistreating her when we were younger. I knew she deserved none of those horrible treatments, and no matter how nice I was to her now, it didn't change the fact that I was one of those who mistreated her. My sister was becoming rebels right before my eyes. I observed her every action and listened to every word she said. I watched her without even trying to hold back my tears.

The nurses behind me were telling each other that they needed to give my sister an injection to make her calm down. I growled and yelled at them to get out of my sister's room right away. My sister became this way as a result of the terrible treatment she received from us. Treatment that was both physically and mentally damaging to her.

She wasn't insane, she wasn't ill, and she wasn't a test object for the doctor's experiments. She became this way out of a desire for self-preservation; she simply sought to avoid dangerous people and situations. All she wanted was to be free and feel loved.

I moved closer to her, asking Uncle with my eyes to let me hug and comfort her. Botan tried to flee after Uncle let her out of his embrace, but I caught her. She tried to pull away from me, but I squeezed her even tighter. I kissed her forehead, her temples, and the top of her head.

"Let's go home now, Botan."

She eventually stopped fighting back and sobbed in my embrace. She had no desire to ever return to that area. I knew it was likely because she could still meet him elsewhere when she walked outside. Then, Uncle Bui informed us that he had purchased an apartment three blocks away from our current location and that we were welcome to stay there for as long as we desired.

It was for his late wife, who, before she passed away because of leukemia, told him that she always wanted to have an apartment in that area, living happily with him and their future children. But it was all too late because she died three months after their wedding. Botan and I never met her because it happened a long time ago before we were born, and until now, he has refused to find a new woman. I could tell he was still deeply in love with his late wife. He bought the apartment only in memory of his late wife. Because of that, I wasn't sure if I could accept his offer to stay at the apartment he bought for her.

"You both are also my family." That was the only response he gave to our unspoken concern.

I was overwhelmed by his generosity. He gave up his CEO position so that Botan and I could be free. This time, he gave us the apartment that was supposed to be dedicated to his late wife.

Someday, my parents eventually dispatched Uncle Bui and I to another country to manage Imai's international branch. I told them that I would accompany Uncle Bui but we would also like to bring Botan with us. I couldn't understand why, despite our parents' horrible treatment of her, she still cared for them. Botan refused to accompany us, saying,

"No one can take care of them if they're both sick."

Even after witnessing all the negative events that occurred to my younger sister, I still left her alone.

Then, all of a sudden, I heard that Botan had wed the son of the CEO of the largest company in Japan at the time, the Minamino company. My parents didn't inform us of anything so when I found out, the wedding has already happened. I saw the wedding photos on the Internet and noticed that the groom kissed my younger sister. Was this the wedding Botan had hoped for? Was this the wedding that my parents had planned?

Naturally, Uncle Bui and I could easily fly back to Japan the day after the wedding to visit Botan. However, a few months before her wedding, both of us were involved in a car accident that caused me to break a rib and one of my legs. Uncle Bui, meanwhile, had been in a coma for months, and he got quite big scars on his face. So, because we both still require treatment to recover, we were only able to visit Botan six months after the wedding.

Of course, I did not inform Botan of this. I also didn't tell her we were coming to Japan to see her. Honestly, I was terrified when I saw my sister's condition. I was afraid I'd see her in her frail state again. I was afraid I'd see her in tears again. However, at the same time, I was curious about her reaction when we finally met after years apart. Uncle Bui remained hidden inside the coffee shop near the park where I was waiting for Botan. I knew the real reason he was hiding. He would assume that if Botan saw him first, she wouldn't greet us with a smile; instead, she would likely blame herself for not being able to visit them and feel regret. or was probably sorry because she was unaware of our accident.

“Big brother!”

That was a voice I hadn't heard in years. I terribly missed hearing that voice. According to what I heard, her voice sounded joyful and vivacious. I hoped her physical condition mirrored her voice. I didn't want to see her condition; when she smiled, the smile didn't reach her eyes, and she appeared to be extremely lifeless.

I turned around to observe my sister from head to toe. She appeared to be in excellent condition, and if my perception was correct, she appeared to be quite happy. She resembled a newly-blooming flower. Whatever the reason that made her happy, I was extremely grateful. I was very glad to see that my sister was healthy.

Then I motioned for Uncle to come out of the coffee shop to join us, and as I had predicted, she immediately attacked him with a barrage of questions after seeing the scars on his face. Botan hugged both of us and cried, apologizing for not knowing what had happened to us. Fortunately, she stopped crying when I told her that both of us had already recovered.

It was my turn to ask her about her wedding this time. It was, as expected, one of my parents' plans. Even after becoming CEO, it appeared that they did not stop torturing their children. It appeared they had forgotten their assurances to Uncle Bui that they could obtain the CEO position if they agreed to release Botan and me. But knowing my parents' behaviors, they didn't forget; they just didn't care.

Tomorrow, I could discuss this matter with my parents. It would be a pleasant surprise for them to see our unexpected arrival. I'd also like to speak with Minamino's family regarding this marriage. I had thought that Botan was in the hospital for a routine checkup, but she was actually caring for the mother of her fake husband. I was about to complain and wanted to tell her to stop being so naive, but she explained that her fake mother-in-law brought her joy. I was bewildered and terrified. I just didn't want to make the same mistake again. I didn't want Botan to go through those ordeals again.

I was planning to have meeting with Minamino to discuss terminating the two companies' partnership. So that it could end their sham marriage and Botan would be liberated. Because all what I just wanted to take my little sister away from this marriage, leave this country, and never come back. I would take care of her and shower her with a lot of happiness that she had never felt before.

___

Shiori persuaded Shuichi to go home and get a good night's rest, even though it was already past midnight. Shuichi, who insisted on staying, finally conceded defeat and returned home to rest. But even after he returned home, he couldn't sleep well because his mind was preoccupied with his mother and Botan.

Shuichi was in the kitchen with his fists tightly clenched and resting on the kitchen counter, causing his palms to bleed because his nails had penetrated the skin. His head was bowed as he directed a murderous glare toward the sink in front of him. He was in a foul mood, or rather, his rage was boiling, after discovering what had happened to Botan from his mother.

"May I know what brought you here, sir? If it's about your daughter, she's doing well."

"Oh, no, I'm not here to talk about her."

Shuichi closed his eyes and thought back to Botan's dad's casual reaction when he volunteered to tell the old man about his daughter's condition. So what he saw was not a mistake; he saw it correctly. Botan's father lacked true concern for his daughter. That explains why he seemed uninterested in his daughter's condition.

‘How could they treat someone so disrespectfully? How could they treat such an angel as Botan in that way?’ He thought.

“Shit...” He murmured. He finally got why Botan looked so scared when he offered to take her to her earlier appointment. No wonder Botan avoided him despite having no reason to do so. Moreover, it is no wonder that she appeared so shocked when he kissed her during their wedding ceremony. The fact that he was a man contributed to her fear of him. She was afraid he would do the same bad things to her as her ex did to her.

He was not offended by this. When someone was harmed in such a cruel manner by a person who was supposed to be their trusted ally, making them scared of anyone else, he viewed it as normal. However, this was unforgivable. He had no interest in forming a business relationship with someone who lacked self-control and respect for others. Perhaps people in Imai's organization would do anything to achieve their goals, including betraying or destroying their partners' businesses. He did not wish for that to occur. Shuichi was fully aware of how difficult it had been for Shiori and her parents to establish this company.

'Botan...'

Shuichi had never been so confused and felt unsure like this before. He told himself that he would make the first move to end this marriage, but he was completely lost now. He didn't know what to do anymore. He wanted to stop this fake marriage very badly, but after knowing all that happened to her, divorcing her didn’t seem right.

Shuichi sighed deeply and then recalled the smile of the blue-haired girl in the hospital when we were leaving. A smile formed on his lips as he remembered how beautiful her smile was. He wanted to see that smile again.

But then, the smile on his lips suddenly disappeared, then he shook his head in panic.

'What was I thinking?' He asked.

He raised his head to check the time on the clock as he questioned himself about the current time. He discovered that it was 1:05 a.m. It was already past midnight, and Botan wasn't home. His mother informed him that Botan had an appointment with her older brother, if he wasn't mistaken. As soon as a question entered his mind, he frowned.

'What kind of person her elder brother is?'

If her brother cared about her, he wouldn't need to be concerned, but what if he was just like their parents? What if her older brother mistreated her? Shuichi was incapable of preventing his mind from generating inquiries. Shuichi was in the midst of a battle between his heart and mind; he didn't know which was which, but he knew he had to decide between picking up Botan and bringing her home or just staying at home and waiting for her arrival.

He desperately needed to sleep, but he couldn't. How could you possibly expect him to sleep well when his mother was hospitalized and while his wif-... he stopped. Actually, what did Botan mean to him? Leaving aside the fact that they are in a fake marriage, he wanted to know what Botan means to him personally. Why was he so concerned about her? He noticed that instead of thinking about his mother in the hospital, he was thinking more about Botan, who hadn't returned home in a while.

Shuichi looked at both of his palms and heaved a small sigh when he noticed the blood he hadn't noticed before; this indirectly answered his unspoken question as to why his palms were so painful. Again, he sighed; this was recurring whenever he contemplated Botan in depth. He lost track of everything around him, including himself. He turned on the sink and washed his hands carefully, removing the blood from the skin of his palms.

“Alright then, for the sake of my sanity, I'll look for her to make sure she's okay once I've finished cleaning up this blood.”

However, before Shuichi could finish washing the blood from his hands, the front door of their house opened. Shuichi immediately turned his head around to determine if Botan had just arrived. Judging from his observation, Botan appeared unaware of Shuichi's presence as she placed her shoes on the shoe rack. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized nothing bad had happened to her. Moreover, she appeared to be presently surrounded by happiness. He couldn't stop himself from smiling.

“Oh, Shuichi?” Botan said with a hint of surprise.

“Hello, welcome back.” Shuichi said gently, with a warm smile formed on his lips.

Botan responded with a slight smile and then asked, "Why are you still awake at this hour?" However, before Shuichi could respond, Botan's eyes immediately shifted to the sink, where she noticed a mixture of blood and water. "Was that your blood? Why are you bleeding? What happened to you?" She inquired, worried.

“Ah, this...” Shuichi murmured. He honestly didn't know how to respond to that question; he couldn't tell Botan that he was lost in thought, thinking about her.

"I'll look for the first aid kit box in a moment," Botan said, and then, turned around and was about to walk when she was stopped by Shuichi.

"Wait, Botan. It's okay." Shuichi quickly grabbed Botan's wrist. Botan suddenly swung her hand, accidentally slapped his hand and forcibly releasing her hand from Shuichi's grasp. Her eyes widened in concern, and she began visibly trembling. Botan's unexpected movement also startled Shuichi, but he quickly brought himself back to reality.

"I’m... I’m sorry... Forgive me, Botan. I apologize if I scare you." Even though he was in a panic, he still managed to say it gently.

Botan immediately stepped back as she attempted to avoid Shuichi, who had moved forward to approach her. Botan squeezed her eyes shut tightly and gripped the collar of her shirt with both hands. She still didn't respond to Shuichi's apology.

"Oh, Botan, I truly apologize... I'm so sorry... I’m so sorry." Shuichi continued to whisper the words. He delicately and carefully placed both hands on her shoulder. He felt Botan's body react instantly to his touch. Her entire body tensed. “It’s alright...” Shuichi said again, with the same gentleness.

He gently drew her tense body closer to him. As soon as their bodies collided, he wrapped her in a tender embrace. "Botan, I promise you are safe with me. I will never cause you any harm.” he said while stroking her back gently. “I apologize; I had no intention of frightening you." Shuichi attempted to persuade her repeatedly as he patted Botan's back slowly and very gently, as if he was carefully handling a fragile glass.

When he felt Botan's body begin to slowly relax, he felt a sense of inner relief. Botan finally spoke once she discovered her voice. "No, it was my fault... You did nothing wrong..." She spoke softly, but Shuichi noticed her voice was trembling. Both of Botan's palms rested on Shuichi's chest, and then, she pushed him away gently. She was trying to release herself from his embrace. Meanwhile, Shuichi tried his best to hide his disappointment, but he still didn't complain.

"It was entirely my fault. After learning what had happened to you, I should have been more cautious and controlled my actions." Shuichi said as he cupped one of her cheeks and stroked it gently with his thumb afterward. he looked at her apologetically. He cursed himself inwardly for being reckless.

Botan lowered her head, her bangs concealing her face. “Oh, so, your mother has already informed you about everything...” She paused. "I hope you've already decided what's best for both of us," she continued.

Shuichi couldn't stop frowning. He was perfectly aware of what Botan was talking about. She wanted him to make the first move to divorce her. He couldn't respond because he wasn't even sure whether he wanted to divorce her or not. "We can talk about it later, Botan. Let's discuss it at the appropriate time; I'm certain that now is not the right time. It's already past midnight, and we both need to sleep." He spoke calmly.

Botan looked at him for a few seconds before she nodded. She honestly was about to complain but she noticed how tired her body was. So she decided to agree with him this time. “Okay, good night, Shuichi. I’m sorry for slapping your hand.” She smiled, then started walking away to her room.

Shuichi was still standing in the same position as his eyes followed Botan's movement. He gave Botan a loving smile without even realising it and then he said, "Good night, Botan. Have a sweet dream." Before Botan closed the door, Botan froze at the sight of his smile. She attempted to disregard it by stating, "You too, and don't forget to take care of your hands." She then slowly shut the door, leaving Shuichi in the kitchen alone.

After ensuring that Botan had entered her room, it was Shuichi's turn to return to his room, and he cursed himself for what he had done to Botan earlier as he closed the door behind him. Botan was already afraid of him because he was a stranger, and his actions will likely increase Botan's fear. He prayed in silence that Botan would not avoid him further than she already had.

Meanwhile, Botan, after closing the door, leaned her back against it. She closed her eyes as she tightly grasped the chest portion of her shirt with slightly trembling hands. After recalling how Shuichi gently stroked and hugged her, her cheeks became flushed and her heart began to race. And did he give her a loving smile before she closed the door?

‘No way. Why would he smile affectionately at me?’ Botan abruptly shook her head.

‘It was just my imagination.’

Botan's heartbeat began to accelerate more rapidly than before. She didn't realise it or just didn't want to admit that, from the bottom of her heart, she was quite pleased if what she saw was not her imagination.

'Stop... Please stop... You can't... Don't be such a fool!' Botan instructed herself in silence while punching her chest repeatedly. She wished for her heartbeat to slow down a bit. She closed her eyes and sat down on the floor after tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks. She pressed her knees against her chest and hugged it tightly. No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she ended up crying even more.

'I thought I'd learned something from what happened to me eight years ago, but it appears I'm still such a fool... She muttered to herself. Botan hid her face behind her knees and sobbed. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with Shuichi after this day. She didn't want to constantly avoid him, but she also didn't want to be too close to him.

She began to consider running away from this house and staying with her brother and her uncle, but she was tired of running; she needed to be able to save herself and not rely on them every time. Besides, this marriage was one of her mistakes because she refused to accompany her brother when he moved abroad and she refused to divorce Shuichi first.

She had no idea what to do or what she wanted. Should she just keep doing this, living with a stranger every day, until she doesn't know when? Or should she first get a divorce? Should she accept and love him? She had no idea. She only knows that Shuichi deserves a better partner. Shuichi deserved to find a woman who could bring him true happiness. She was certain she wasn't the one.

So, how about her? Did she have the right to be happy? After what had happened to her, did she deserve to meet another man? Would someone accept her completely? Was that even possible?

After tiring herself out from crying and overthinking, she fell asleep in the same spot and the same position, leaving all her unanswered questions behind.

Chapter Text

!!This chapter contains violence, sexual content, adult situations, and traumatic situations. This chapter's story, names, characters, and situations are completely fictional. It is totally for the content only; it is not intended to offend anyone!!

______

"I thought you'd already agreed to give your children freedom once I gave you the CEO's position," Bui stated.

"Oh really?" Botan's father a.k.a his elder brother, asked nonchalantly.

Bui clenched both of his fists tightly in an attempt to control his anger. He was incapable of understanding his elder sibling in any way. Although he was married, he never had the opportunity to have his own children. Meanwhile, his older brother, who did not deserve to be a parent, had been blessed with two children. Bui was always envious of his elder brother for having his own family, and the way his brother treated his own children pissed him off.

His older brother should have been appreciative by providing his children with care and affection rather than using them to make money for himself. But again, he was intimately acquainted with his older sibling, who had always been selfish and materialistic.

He decided to treat his niece and nephew like his own children because he felt bad for them having such a greedy father. He would gladly offer them anything to make sure they were happy and safe. It did not matter that he was only their uncle; if their father refused to take care of them, he would do so himself.

"Besides, Botan could have refused this marriage, but she accepted it. So, this isn't my fault entirely." His elder brother said it again, which interrupted Bui from his deep thought.

"No matter how hard she resists, you will not heed, and you will continue to force her to carry out your orders by any means necessary, including physical force. That means, arguing with you is just wasting time." Bui said, as he was still trying his best to control his anger.

"Say anything you want about me; I don’t care. I will do whatever it takes to keep my position as CEO of this company and make it the best in Japan, even if it means using my children to accomplish my goal." His elder brother smirked.

Bui stared his older brother in the eyes with a menacing gaze. "Have you ever considered your daughter's mental health? You knew what happened to her many years ago, yet you still forced her into this marriage. Have you lost your mind?"

Botan’s father rolled his eyes and then stated, "The past will remain in the past; we can do nothing about it. Botan should move on with her life and forget the incident."

‘I am wasting my time...’ Bui thought.

"This is why our father chose me to take over as CEO instead of you. Because he knew that his oldest son is just a greedy fool." Bui remarked as he walked out of the room. Before he closed the door, he warned, "I’m warning you. If you ever do something to Botan or Itsuki again, I'll make you regret it."

"Are you threatening your big brother right now?! Well, I'm not afraid of you! I'm their father! I have the right to control my children! Hey! Where are you going, bastard?! I’m not done with you!"

Bui slammed the door shut, disregarding his older brother's words.

After closing the door, he stood in front of it, leaning back for a few moments. ‘And he just called himself a father.’ Bui stated this silently and let out a deep exhalation afterward. Talking with his elder brother was not just wasting his precious time but also giving him a bad headache. He began to move his feet and walked back to his room once he felt more at ease.

When he arrived in front of his room, he opened the door and discovered that there was someone inside. "Why are you here, Itsuki?" Bui gazed at his nephew with a puzzled expression. When Bui entered his room, Itsuki was sitting at his desk, his gaze fixed on his computer, as if Itsuki controlled the place.

"You have arrived finally. We need to discuss a multitude of issues." Itsuki said, looking at his uncle, who was still standing in front of the entrance. Bui remained silent and stared intently at his nephew's gaze that full of rage. He gave a little frown before nodding.

"And why are you using my computer if the reason you are here is to discuss something?" Bui inquired as he closed the door and approached the sofa.

“Ah, sorry about that. I'm transferring certain files so you may read those documents after our discussion.” Itsuki said as he approached his uncle and took a seat in front of him.

“Alright, then. Let’s talk now.” Bui ordered.

___

The morning had come, and Shuichi, who didn't sleep well, awoke very early because of the guilt that consumed him from head to toe for what he had done to Botan the night before. He wasn't sure if it would be okay for him to appear in front of her today. He wasn't sure if he just didn't want to make Botan scared again or if he didn't want to see Botan avoid him. Perhaps waking up at this hour was a sign for Shuichi to leave for work earlier than usual.

And after work today, he would apologize to Botan once more and give her a gift in appreciation for caring for his mother in the hospital. Shuichi hoped Botan wouldn't be afraid when she faced him later. Before he got up from his bed, he sat on the edge of it, glaring at his own reflection in the mirror in front of him while he clenched his fist and squeezed the blanket sheet on his side tightly.

‘This is frustrating,...’ He sighed. Then, he got out of bed and took a shower after fretting about a lot of things.

He wasn't surprised that he didn't see Botan when he was getting ready to go to work. Despite the fact that he expected this to occur, he still secretly hoped he could meet Botan at home before he left for work. He truly wanted to apologize for what he had done the night before.

Once he got to his workplace, he went to his room and sat down. He did nothing except zone out as soon as he sat down. His empty eyes were fixed on the computer's black display in front of him.

He was thinking about Botan once more. He could feel himself getting pissed off once he recalled what had happened to Botan in the past. To him, Botan looked like a very nice woman who completely didn't deserve all of those horrible treatments. He clenched both of his fists tightly as he tried not to let out his rage. He locked his gaze on the sofa, where Botan's father had previously sat. He really wanted to punch the dude.

“Shuichi Sir?” The arrival of the assistant surprised Shuichi, but he was appreciative for the interruption.

“Since I have something to say to you and the team, I appreciate your presence. Let’s have a short meeting today, and after that, could you please arrange for the next meeting with Imai's company as soon as possible?” Shuichi asked gently.

The assistant somewhat frowned, perplexed by the hurry. “What’s going on, Sir?” he asked.

"I'll tell you everything in the meeting. Tell everyone to gather in the meeting room now." Shuichi gave his order.

The assistant nodded hesitantly, “Wait, Sir... I apologize, but before I arrange our next meeting with Imai’s company, I suggest you check your email, sir. I sent a message to your email earlier. And please inform me your answer, as fast as you can.”

Shuichi lifted one of his eyebrows after he listened to his assistant’s words. “It’s an email from Imai Itsuki.” He answered his boss' unspoken question. “So please let me know your decision after you check the email, Shuichi sir.”

Shuichi nodded, “In that case, inform the others to meet in the meeting room in one hour.”

“.... yes, sir.” The assistant bowed and left Shuichi’s room hesitantly.

Shuichi switched on his computer and opened the email provided by his assistant earlier. After meticulously reading every word of the email, he was rendered speechless.

After he woke up from his deep thoughts and chose his decision, he rose from his seat and walked toward the entrance door. He walked toward his assistant's desk. "Have you told our team to have a meeting in one hour?" Shuichi asked.

His assistant shook his head gently and said, "Not yet, I think it would be better if I received your reply to the email first." the assistant said. Shuichi slightly smiled and gave a friendly pat on his assistant's shoulder.

"Impressive. I didn't say anything about what I was going to talk about in the meeting, but it appears that you already knew." Shuichi said sincerely.

Shuichi’s assistant slightly laughed at his supervisor’s words. “Well, Sir, from the expression you gave, I deduced that you were going to discuss anything related to Imai's business and the project. Probably about complaining or cancelling the project.” He said.

"How much do you know about it?" Shuichi asked after he recovered from the slight shock that his assistant caused.

“Not much. But I caught you a few times, throughout the duration of the meeting yesterday, you displayed an awkward expression or became irritated.” he explained calmly.

Shuichi laughed at how accurate his assistant's words were. “You know what? I'm glad to have you as my assistant.” Shuichi said as he patted his assistant’s back gently.

"haha Thanks... So, what's your decision, sir? Have you decided yet?" The assistant asked, which got a nod from his supervisor.

“Alright, I will inform your decision to Imai Itsuki right away, Shuichi sir.”

“Thank you.”

a few hours had passed. It was a dull day for Shuichi since he had already finished all the tasks a few days earlier than his other team members. He contacted his mother and requested permission to leave work early today to visit her in the hospital, but she denied his request. So Shuichi had no choice but to stay in his workplace room all day without doing anything.

He kept staring at his wrist clock, quietly hoping for it to move faster. It would be 5 p.m. in 10 minutes, the earliest time when individuals may call it a day. He decided to find a way to occupy the remaining ten minutes.

*Tring Tring*

But before he could start looking for it, the phone rang. He grinned, silently thanking whoever had called him. His smile widened once he read the name of the person who called him on his phone's screen.

“Hello, mother.” Shuichi greeted his mother warmly.

“Shuichi, are you still in your workplace?” Shiori asked.

“Yes, I am. What’s wrong, mother? Are you alright?” He asked carefully as he started to worry if something bad had happened to his mother.

“Oh, nothing’s wrong, dear. I just want to make sure, that’s all. Please don’t worry about me.” She said it with a gentle giggle at the end.

“I understand, mother. I will go home in a few more minutes, so please wait for me. I will bring you a dinner.”

“Shuichi, you don’t have to come here. The doctor told me that I could leave tomorrow in the afternoon, and you don't have to pick me up tomorrow. I will go back home all by myself.” Shiori said it gently yet firmly.

“Mother...” Shuichi called with a tone of disagreement.

“Honey, you may use your time tomorrow working on the partnership project with our colleague company.”

“We already took care of it.” Shuichi said it quickly.

“Then, you should remain at home and discuss your marriage with Botan.” Shiori said again. This time, Shiori's comments rendered Shuichi dumbfounded. Thankfully, instead of doing a video call, they were currently only having a phone call, so his mother couldn't see how hard he was biting his own lips.

“It’s 5 p.m already mother, I will leave work now.” As soon as Shuichi noticed that it was already 5 p.m., he took advantage of the opportunity to evade his mother's statement.

“Oh my, you are right! Okay, we talk again tomorrow, honey! Be careful on your way home! Don’t forget to take your dinner!””

“Yes, mother. I will come to your house after work, tomorrow. Good bye.” Shuichi said. “Okay, dear!” He closed his phone after making sure his mother had already turned off their calls.

Shuichi ultimately departed, but instead of leaving in a happy mood, he walked while immersed in deep thought. He couldn't get his mind off what Imai Itsuki mentioned in the email. Itsuki invited him to meet and discuss face-to-face something 'important' in the email.

When Shuchi read it, he knew right away that something was wrong and that he needed to know what it was as soon as possible. Fortunately, Itsuki instructed Shuichi to pick the date and location. In the end, Shuichi responded to the email by telling Itsuki to meet on the weekend this week, which was in three days. Somehow, Shuichi feared that Botan might be involved in this.

Once Botan's name appeared in his mind, he abruptly returned to reality and observed that he was standing in front of one of the most well-known bakeries in town. He decided to enter and purchase some cakes for Botan with a faint smile. He felt profound gratitude for what she had done for his mother. He didn't even mind spending his money on the most costly cake in the shop for her.

"Thank you for coming; please come again!" the cashier girl greeted.

Shuichi bowed and left the shop after he got the cake in his hand.

__

It was 6 o'clock in the evening, and it was time for Botan to get ready for her night shift. Her brother and uncle had already cautioned her not to take a night shift, but Koenma and Ayame had been so kind to her ever since her brother moved abroad. Since Koenma and Ayame required additional assistance during the night, she volunteered to assist them. Moreover, regardless of how hectic the situation was, they both permitted Botan to rest if she began to feel ill.

She was referring to the fact that not every employer respects their employees' health, particularly during stressful periods. Furthermore, not every employer will offer a vacant position to someone as frail as she is. So, she really appreciated it. They cared about her; they had never complained about it, nor had they terminated her employment. As a result, she would gladly assist them whenever they requested it.

Botan reached the doorknob of her room as she prepared to depart for work, but before she could open the door, she heard the entrance door of their apartment opening. Shuichi was at home; it was the first thought that sprang to her mind. Botan gripped the doorknob tightly as a recollection of the previous evening resurfaced in her consciousness. This strange sensation he caused the night before accelerated her heart rate significantly.

She was compelled to choose between the two choices that suddenly appeared in her mind. She was prepared to wait until Shuichi entered his room before fleeing the apartment, or she was about to greet him as if nothing had transpired between them the night before. She desired to make the initial decision, but she was weary of evading responsibility.

As she opened the door, Botan inhaled deeply and gently exhaled. No matter how reluctant she was to do it, she had to deal with him now because she had to do so sooner rather than later. Finally, she stepped out of the room and into the hallway. Shuichi was still on the first floor, and more specifically, he was in the kitchen. She chewed her lower lip before saying, "Good evening," to Shuichi.

Shuichi, who was in the position where his back was facing Botan, suddenly turned around to look at the owner of the voice. He smiled and replied to her greeting with, "Good evening to you too. Are you going somewhere?" He asked without erasing the smile from his face.

"Actually, I have a night shift. So, I'm currently heading to work." She responded in a voice that was nearly a whisper yet loud enough to be heard. "Night shift? When do you intend to return home, then?" Shuichi asked. Botan could swear that Shuichi's voice and gaze were filled with unease. Her heart was on the verge of dissolving at the time.

"Hm... three... a.m I think?" Botan said hesitantly.

"Are you okay with that? Isn't it dangerous for women to work that late?" He asked.

"Technically, It is. But I'm working with my boss and his girlfriend. They are close friends of mine, like family. So, I think I'm safe with them." She said this without any space to breathe. She was nervous or scared—she didn't know which one—about everything, including standing face-to-face with him like this. Besides, she didn't want to make him worry, although she wasn't sure if he was truly worried about her or not.

"Let me take you there. It's dangerous for you to walk alone." Shuichi said it bluntly.

"Eh? What?! No! It's okay! You don’t have to do that! I will be alright! I swear!" Botan exclaimed loudly as she rapidly shook both of her hands in a state of distress. She didn't want to cause him any more difficulty, or maybe she didn't want to make that strange feeling come back to haunt her, or maybe she just didn't want to face the awkwardness the whole way.

"Then I'll pick you up from work." Shuichi said it again.

"No, please. You have work in the morning. Don't tire yourself." This time, Botan shook her head, looking into his eyes with a firm gaze.

Shuichi sighed silently. He put both of his palms on the table's surface in front of him, and he lowered his head, closing his eyes. Meanwhile, Botan bit her lips while watching Shuichi nervously; she wanted to leave so badly right now. She suddenly felt guilty for rejecting his kindness for a selfish reason. “Shuichi, I’m so sor-”

"Very well.” Shuichi said, cutting Botan’s words. “I have something for you, and this time I'm not taking 'no' for the answer." Shuichi handed her the medium-sized box quickly. Botan examined the box silently. Her eyes widened when she saw the shop's name written on the top of the box. "It's a famous bakery in town," Botan murmured.

"Yes, I bought you a cake from there. I wanted to get you something to show my gratitude for taking care of my mother in the hospital yesterday. Don't think about the price or anything else; just accept it." Shuichi said this after Botan gave him a questioning look and was about to open her mouth to complain.

"Shuichi,..." Botan was going to complain, but she realized she couldn't because of Shuichi's stare. Her lips softened into a smile, which she followed by nodding. She'd take it with open arms. She hadn't gotten a present from anyone in a long time until she got this one.

"Thank you; I'll enjoy this cake, but it's too much for me; please cut it in half so that you can enjoy it as well." She stated with a grin that she could not conceal it anymore. Shuichi froze when she beamed at him, and without realizing it, he smiled back, but it appeared slightly wider than Shuichi's typical smile.

"No worries. Sweet foods don't appeal to me. You can share the cake with your supervisor and his girlfriend, as well as the other employees." After shaking his head and declining her offer, Shuichi replied.

"Thank you again, but please don't buy me anything else next time. I'm just glad I could help.” She spoke softly. To her, a simple thank you was more than enough because she felt she was genuinely being useful to someone else. It made her happy enough.

"I will take note of that." Shuichi nodded.

“How is your mother, anyway?” Botan asked with concern.

“She’s fine. She told me earlier that she can go home tomorrow.” Shuichi uttered it while smiling slightly. Botan breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the excellent news. “Thank goodness,...” Botan murmured with a relieved smile.

She was so happy for both, Shuichi and Shiori.

Shuichi said nothing but silently smiled at her. Looking at how concerned Botan was about his mother warmed his heart.

They had stared at each other for a few minutes in silence, which made Botan began to feel uncomfortable. "So,... I have to go now, I can't be late. Thank you once again for the cake," Botan said as she slightly bowed and drew her gaze gradually away from the man afterward. She truly wanted to avoid the awkwardness as soon as possible.

Shuichi stood there patiently, watching Botan who walked to the entrance door and prepare herself to leave. However, before Botan could close the door, Shuichi called, "Botan."

Wait,... What-?

Damn...

Did he just call her name out loudly earlier? Even what Shuichi had just done stunned himself. He was concerned about her working the night shift, but he didn't intend to call her name out of the blue. He secretly hoped Botan would not hear him.

Oh,...

Well,...

Too bad,...

Botan had perfectly heard him called her name. Botan turned her gaze to Shuichi while one of her hands was still holding the doorknob and the other held the cake box. She made a subtle head tilt after blinking. "Hm?" was the only word that came out of her mouth as she glanced at Shuichi with a confused expression.

"Are you certain you'll be fine going alone?" Finally, Shuichi permitted himself to show Botan his concern for her. He couldn't see his own face, but he could tell there was a worried expression on it.

Botan's eyes softened as she noticed Shuichi's anxious expression. Having someone escort her would be extremely nice, but she did not wish to place an unnecessary burden on Shuichi. Botan smiled at him before responding, "I'll be alright. This is not my first time working the night shift, you silly." She stated that with a faint giggle behind her.

Ah, That was right; he had not given it any thought. Botan was most likely already working in her current position before they met and married. Botan was in front of him right now, which indicated she had been fine the entire time she had been working the night shift. Shuichi returned her grin, and despite his anguish, he nodded in understanding. Even though he had expected Botan to reject his offer until the very end, he was still a bit disappointed. He was kinda hoping that Botan would alter her mind and allow him to accompany her to work safely.

"Then, if there’s something unfortunate occurs, do not hesitate to contact me." Shuichi commented on this with a calm yet firm intonation. He had to make her pledge to do so in order to alleviate some of his concerns.

Botan blinked a few times while observing Shuichi's facial expressions, unsure if she was hallucinating. Was Shuichi really concerned about her? Or were her senses simply deceiving her? "Sure. Just take a break for now, okay? Have a good rest, Shuichi." Botan stated this while smiling at the man. After that, she bowed and softly closed the door without waiting for a further response.

Botan rested her back against the door that she had just closed and exhaled profoundly before staring at the box that remained peacefully still in her arms. Shuichi's kindness made her feel joyful and special. The fact that he appeared to be very concerned about her made her heart extremely warm and beat very quickly.

...

Botan frowned and sighed deeply before closing her eyes. She was being foolish once again. She merely believed that Shuichi had provided her with special treatment. Shuichi's affection for his mother was sufficient evidence that he was a good person. Botan predicted that Shuichi would treat her as he normally does with others. Being polite to everyone was the norm for a pleasant person. Shuichi did not care about her; he was merely being kind to her because he was a good man, he was a gentleman. Botan held that opinion in her mind.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that it was wrong, she could not deny that Shuichi's generosity filled her heart with pleasure. It had been quite some time since she had received a gift from someone. It had been quite some time since someone had expressed gratitude for her efforts. It had been a while since someone cared about her well-being and offered her substantial assistance for her protection.

She vowed to hold this cherished memory in her heart until her final breath. Even her brother, uncle, and Shuichi himself have no need to know any of this. Botan pledged that she would continue to pray for Shuichi's happiness and support him even after their divorce.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she began to move slowly while keeping her eyes fixed on the night sky.

‘Whoever becomes Shuichi's true love will be the luckiest lady on earth.’

Botan wasn't aware that she had already arrived at the coffee shop, where she had been working. She was too focused on her thoughts. Although she was present in physique, her thoughts were elsewhere. She was considering how well Shuichi had treated her. She was glad he hadn't done anything inappropriate to her, but she also thought this was not fair, at least for her. She would be more likely to develop feelings of romantic attachment towards Shuichi if he continued to treat her kindly. What prevented him from divorcing her right away? His mother should have explained to him why she kept this marriage. He should have understood that discussing it with her was pointless.

"Earth to Botan!!!"

"AHH!" Botan let out a scream. She quickly jumped backwards and returned to reality. She experienced an abrupt increase in heart rate and widening of the eyes as a result of the shock. She was currently fixated on her supervisor, Koenma, and his fiancée, Ayame, who was positioned in front of her and directing inquisitive looks in her direction. "W-what?" Botan asked nervously.

"I called you a hundred times already, my goodness!" Koenma yelled.

"Something seemed to be troubling you. Would you mind explaining? Could it be that you're not feeling well?" Ayame inquired in a worried tone.

With a wide smile on her face, Botan shook her head. "Undoubtedly, I am in good health! Everything is super fine!" Upon hearing Botan's remark, Koenma and Ayame exhaled with relief.

"Well, earlier, we were almost feeling bad for asking you to work at night with us today, you know." Koenma spoke softly. Botan, meanwhile, raised an eyebrow and frowned as she studied her boss's face. "What exactly do you mean? Haven't I previously informed you that I would be delighted to assist you in the event that you require additional assistance?" Botan said this to her supervisor.

"You should let us know if you are not feeling well. We can ask Jorge to take over your place for today." Koenma stated once more that his attention was drawn to Botan, who was strolling past him, and she placed a box she had been holding since entering the cafe on the table. "What do you have there?" He asked casually, dismissing his prior statements.

"Let's eat this cake together before we open the cafe." Botan grinned at them while opening the package, and then moved away to retrieve three spoons and plates for them.

"Ahh? Isn't it the cake from this town's well-known bakery?" Asked Ayame.

Botan gave them their plates and spoons after giving them a nod. Koenma and Ayame were simply gazing at Botan in silence while awaiting an explanation. "What's the occasion?" Since Botan had not provided any indications to clarify the matter, Koenma inquired once more at this time.

"There is no occasion. I received this cake as a gift from him." Botan spoke in a hushed tone.

"Him?" Koenma suddenly frowned. "Your brother?" he asked.

Botan shook her head.

“Then, it’s from your unc-” Koenma guessed again but was interrupted by Botan, who suddenly said, "Not my uncle too." She focused her gaze on the cake as she was slicing it for them.

"Is it... from your husband?" Ayame asked nervously.

Botan came to a halt while cutting the cake, her hand tightly gripping the knife. Her response was consistently uncertain whenever the word 'husband' was mentioned. Neither could she reject nor embrace the title. Shuichi was her husband, yet he was also not. In the end, Botan simply smiled at her companion instead of responding to her query. Koenma and Ayame were well aware of why Botan reacted in this way; nonetheless, it was also difficult for them both to think of an alternative title for that man other than Botan's husband.

However, they had other things on their minds, so for now it was not important. What was the significance of his gift to Botan? What exactly did he want from her? If his intention were to engage in light flirtation with her, they would make every effort to ensure Botan's safety. They would not allow him to cause harm to their dear friend.

"Stop frowning, you two. He was merely expressing his appreciation to me for looking after his mother that day." Botan gave an explanation after observing her companions' looks. They were such amazing companions; it was evident that they were just concerned that Shuichi might be playing around with her. Her heart once more became suffused with warmth.

"Sorry, we are both just worried about you, that's all." Ayame said.

‘Worried’ Of couse, she knew that perfectly.

But again, she was a foolish woman. Because her parents and her ex-boyfriend had treated her badly, she had grown accustomed to believing that no one was on her side. So her mind instinctively assumed that anyone else was also hurting her. It was her own foolishness to consider her parents and ex as everything to her. This prompted her to make numerous suicide attempts over the course of years. She was too blind to notice how many people who still adored and loved her.

Every time she awoke after passing out after the suicide attempt, the first thing she saw were the faces of people who cared about her. Her doctor, uncle Bui, Itsuki brother, Koenma, Ayame, and Jorge, who cried out in glee and exhaled with relief each time they saw her, got her consciousness back. So, she would try her hardest not to bother them anymore.

She desperately wanted to wake up from this nightmare, but she couldn't since it still bothered her and still felt like it just happened yesterday. It was sufficient evidence that she still had the ability to inflict harm on herself. To be honest, Botan continued to injure herself every time she suddenly recalled that awful sensation all over her body. So, in an attempt to replace that sensation, she injured herself with sharp objects. She would rather endure the agony of the scissors or knife cutting than feel the humiliating sensation she had experienced a long time ago once more.

She hasn't glanced at her body since. She would always close her eyes during her showers, and when she used the bathtub, she would create a great deal of foam with the soap. She subsequently wrapped herself in the kimono towel without delay. She had never seen her body, but she was confident her skin was riddled with cuts.

She apologized for causing concern for everyone, but she wasn't sure if continuing to live would be the wisest course to take because it would continue to burden everyone. Isn't it better if she died? They could be heartbroken at first, but they gradually move on and forget about her. They would no longer have any reason to be concerned about her.

Okay, Stop.

She really needed to stop creating her own scenarios...

If she kept going on with this kind of thoughts, Botan would cry in front of her boss and his girlfriend. Of course, it would only make them worried again, and surely she didn’t want that to happen.

Immediately abstaining from her previous thought, she greeted the two companions seated in front of her with a broad grin. She had survived to this day, thanks to both of them. "Thank you very much, you two. You both are providing excellent care for me. You have no idea how thankful I am to have met you." and got smiles from the two of them. They have been together since she moved to this town. Koenma and Ayame were her only friends at the moment. Honestly, she ran away after ‘that’ happened, leaving her home, school, and best friends behind and moving to a totally different town.

Not only did she abandon her closest friends, but she also cut all ties with them. Until now, despite her regret, she had no intention of attempting to communicate with them once more. She was probably frightened of being faced with the "why did you leave without saying anything?" question from her friends. She was scared, or perhaps embarrassed to discuss her dark past with them.

Koenma examined Botan's expression silently. In fact, neither he nor Ayame knew any specific information regarding her past. They simply knew Botan had a toxic relationship, and that was it. They didn't know the details at all. They didn't dare to ask how toxic it was, but by observing how she constantly felt afraid when he playedfully surprised her, how she avoided some male customers, especially those who showed interest in her, and how frequently she attempted suicide several times, he could tell that whoever that man was, he hurt Botan so badly.

Now, he had something on his mind. There was something he wanted to ask her. He knew he had no place to ask or control her, but he needed to know. Since he had already considered her his younger sister, he wished for no further misfortune to befall her. “Botan, may I ask you about something?” Koenma broke the silence.

Botan shifted her focus away from the cake towards her boss, who sat across from her. After a few blinks, she stated, "What is it, Koenma?" She was secretly hoping that the query would not be unsettling.

"I apologize if my inquiry makes you uncomfortable, but I'm curious. A simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response will do." Koenma said. Meanwhile, Botan remained silent for a moment to think about it before nodding.

"Do you harbour romantic feelings for him?" Koenma asked.

Botan replied, "No," without thinking twice. 'But if he doesn't stop being nice to me, I might end up falling in love with him.' Botan said inwardly. She bit her tongue inside so that she didn't spill out the words to her boss.

She honestly hadn't been sure about her sentiments for several months; Shuichi had made her heart race a few times. She presumed that her expression simply conveyed gratitude that someone had recognized her efforts. But she wouldn't lie; Shuichi almost made her fall for him last night when he mistakenly grasped her wrist, particularly after he brought her into his embrace and tenderly patted her back to comfort her.

Koenma studied Botan's facial expressions, looking for any signs of lying. He didn't locate any, but the response didn't entirely ease his concerns. "Alright then. Thanks for the cake, by the way." He simply dismissed their conversation. He was surely just worried about her. Besides, even if Botan truly liked or fell in love with her husband, who was he to oppose her decision? Even though they were close, almost like family, they were still just friends.

Koenma took his first bite of the cake that Botan brought without uttering a word. "Oh my! This is so good!" He said it excitedly. At the same time, Botan and Ayame stood up, each holding an empty plate. "It is good, but finish your cake quickly; we need to open the cafe in one minute." Ayame spoke as she made her way to the kitchen.

“What?!”

“40 seconds!”

“Wait!”

“20 seconds!”

“Alright! I finished!”

Botan, who had been watching the duo silently, laughed at their hilarious relationship. She was quite thankful for these two. She made it this far, thanks to both of them.

___

Shuichi, in the meantime, saw that the digital clock next to his bed said 12 a.m. at midnight. He tried to sleep for hours but couldn't even close his eyes for a minute. He continued replaying the earlier conversation between himself and Botan. He was so disbelieving that he was on the verge of losing control of the situation when Botan repeatedly declined his offers. He was in fact furious—extremely furious with her. He was trying to be courteous to her, but all she did was turn down every offer he made. It was irritating and somewhat offended him. He was on the verge of yelling at her. It was true that some women had successfully irritated him, but he had never felt insulted like this before.

However, those uncomfortable moments paid off when Botan giggled at him earlier. Though it was only a soft chuckle, he found it to be an exceptionally lovely sound coming from her. The fact that Botan didn't run away from him and the way she smiled at him were all he needed. It was more than he could ask for. He couldn't deny that Botan was stunning when she smiled. Unconsciously, a grin appeared on his face as he thought on Botan's expression from earlier that evening.

His smile, on the other hand, did not last long. The moment he remembered the email he'd received from Itsuki, the smile vanished from his face. He instantly switch on his laptop and reread the email again and again, wondering what this man wanted to talk about. Was it about the project? or about his sister? Furthermore, was Botan aware of this? What would he do if she hadn't been informed by her brother? Would he tell her or just remain silent and let her brother inform her?

‘Marriage’ was the first word that came to mind. It had slipped from his mind for a second that he and Botan were currently trapped in a fake marriage. Itsuki would probably want to talk about this issue with him. Itsuki would definitely question him why he hasn't divorced his sister yet, or direct him to do so.

Actually, Shuichi genuinely had no idea why he remained in this marriage. He was aware of Botan's decision to stay in this relationship because she felt obligated to take responsibility for her parents' wrongdoing. He fully comprehended that he didn't need to talk with Botan because she was waiting for him to divorce her. He was impressed by Botan's generosity. She didn't relate to the company at all, but she still had the thought of needing to be responsible for this marriage. Even after all of the horrible treatment she received, even though she was afraid of men because of what happened in the past, she still chose to face this marriage, for her parents' sake.

It wasn't her responsibility to shoulder all of this since her parents were not the sole culprits; his mother was also to blame.

Then why? Was he afraid something bad would happen to his company if he cut off this marriage? Was he afraid it would affect his mother's health? Or perhaps, he was afraid that he couldn't see Botan anymore?

Why would he be afraid that he couldn't see Botan anymore? It was not like he fell in love with her. He wasn't sure if he was in love with the woman, but he couldn't lie that he truly cared about her. Yes, maybe that was the case. He kept this marriage because he cared for her. They had been living under the same roof, and they had spoken a few times. They were no longer complete strangers. It was natural for them to be concerned about someone they knew.

Shuichi checked the time again. It was 2 a.m., which meant he'd been drowning in his thoughts for the two hours. Shuichi then grabbed some of his paperwork and his laptop with him after he chose to go downstairs and do his work in the living room. He gave up on sleeping since he knew that no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn't be able to sleep.

It would probably be better if he stayed home and rested properly. He has been working extremely hard for several years. Taking a vacation day tomorrow to rest shouldn't be a problem since he hasn't used his vacation days in years. The company was surely able to survive without him for a day. He could, in the end, deliver the documents to his assistant via email. He only wanted to get some rest so he could go visit his mother in the afternoon.

____

"What's with all these students?! I mean, it's 2:30 a.m! It's still dawn, but all of the tables are occupied by them already! Aren’t they supposed to have a proper sleep at home?!" Koenma murmured at himself. He was dissatisfied about the scenario since he was certain that he, Ayame, and Botan would be unable to return home at 3. A multitude of college students filled the coffee shop, occupying every available table. Additionally, a considerable queue formed outside the cafe, patiently awaiting an empty table. It was confirmed that they couldn't close the coffee shop at three a.m. like they'd planned.

"It's because college students are in the midst of exam term. You know they'll study extremely hard, especially if they're from one of Japan's most prestigious universities." Ayame spoke after clearly hearing Koenma's protest.

Before Koenma could respond to Ayame's statement, he turned over to Botan, who was occupied taking orders from the customers. "Do you think Botan will be alright? Shall we simply send her back home at three, as we promised?" Koenma enquired. Ayame nodded without hesitations, and then said, "I agree. I don't want to see Botan faint ever again." Ayame also turned her gaze to Botan as she watched her blue-haired friend with a sad smile on her lips. "But we know what kind of person our Botan is. She would probably be against the idea and choose to stay with us until the end." Ayame added.

"I can see that." Koenma agreed.

After a few minutes, Botan approached them with the order notes in hand. "Here are the orders. Goodness, I don't think we'll be able to close the shop in 30 minutes."

"Yes, but you can leave at 3 a.m., Botan. You don't need to worry about us since we asked for your assistance only until three." Koenma stated.

“No. I will help you until we close.” Botan said again.

“But-”

"I promise I will tell you immediately if I start feeling unwell." Botan interrupted the conversation since she was already aware that her boss and his girlfriend were concerned about her health. "Just let me help you."

Koenma and Ayame exchanged looks before sighing in defeat. Then Ayame pointed out her index finger before saying, "One condition: don’t lie to us. Tell us right away if you need to rest; There is no need to worry about us and force yourself for our sake. Understand?"

Botan nodded. “Okay!”

An hour later, Botan finally began to feel ill and exhausted. As what she had promised before, she immediately informed her supervisor to take a rest. Koenma and Ayame, who were concerned that Botan might faint while returning home, permitted Botan to stay in the guest room located upstairs to sleep.

Botan had been lying on the bed for thirty minutes with her phone in her hand. She had been staring at Shuichi's phone number for some time, unsure if it was necessary to inform Shuichi about her coming home late or not. She was afraid that Shuichi might be worried about her, but at the same time, she also doubted it. However, he was expected to be sleeping. He wouldn't be able to read her message at all. Botan placed her phone beside her pillow and began to close her eyes. She'd reached her limit, and the side effects of the medicines she'd recently consumed were also about to kick in. Her eyes felt heavy. She needed to sleep so she could get up early and be home early.

___

Botan awoke feeling fresh after a good night's sleep. It was brief, but she felt refreshed enough to face the new day. Since it was the coffee shop's off day, Botan decided to clean some parts of the area as a gesture of gratitude. Despite the fact that it was a hectic period, her supervisor allowed her to rest and he even allowed her to stay over at the guest room that her boss usually used after finished his night shift.

Her urge to accomplish something on the way home had delayed her arrival, so she had finally reached her house at almost lunchtime. She stepped inside and her eyes fell on the shoes on display at the front door. Botan directly laid her eyes on Shuichi's shoes.

That was unusual. Wasn't Shuichi supposed to be in his office at this point? Did he have a new pair of shoes? She was startled to hear a soft sound coming from the living room. Botan frowned and made the decision to investigate. It was, hopefully, not a thief.

Botan moved carefully towards the living room, her gaze searching for anything unusual. Her body began to relax after she found Shuichi, who was currently lying on the sofa, sleeping. The sound she had previously perceived was simply the snoring of Shuichi. It wasn't a loud snore, but he was clearly sleeping peacefully. She harboured an inner hope that Shuichi didn't fall asleep on the sofa because he awaited her arrival. Then, Botan discovered a laptop and several documents on the table upon examining the area. Assuming Shuichi had exhausted himself at work, she exhaled a breath of relief.

She disappeared into her room and returned, holding a blanket. Returning to the living room, she gently covered Shuichi’s body with the blanket so as not to wake him. She remained still next to the sofa while silently observing the sleeping Shuichi. Shuichi's evident dark circle under his eyes told her how exhausted he was. As she watched Shuichi, an unconsciously pleasant smile appeared on her face.

Botan carefully wiped Shuichi's bang away from his face. She really admired Shuichi's hair. His lengthy hair did not make him appear feminine at all. She found him to be an extremely attractive man, which made her wonder how many women out there who were attracted to him. Even while asleep, he was still incredibly attractive. It made her quite envious of him.

Botan had blinked for a few seconds before blushing. Then she rapidly shook her head, bringing herself back to reality.

‘What am I doing, daydreaming about him and even absentmindedly touching his hair like that? I wasn't supposed to stay this close to him.’ Botan thought.

Botan decided to leave Shuichi alone so that he could rest without interruption, but before Botan was able to move, Shuichi began making a sound. It made Botan's heart race. Right now, she was sitting on the floor next to Shuichi's sleeping sofa, which meant she was sitting right next to him. She was worried Shuichi would assault her with questions once he awoke, looking at how close both of them were. If Shuichi questioned her later, she would be unsure of how to respond, considering that it obviously looked wrong based only on their current positions.

Botan stood up slowly and observed Shuichi's face. Instead of finding Shuichi awake, she discovered Shuichi, who was still sleeping, murmuring about something. Furthermore, his forehead furrowed intensely and he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Shuichi seems to be having a nightmare.

"Shuichi...?" Botan called his name reluctantly, unsure whether it was appropriate to interrupt his sleep. Botan saw the shift in Shuichi's expression quickly. His expression has changed from one of worry to fear in the last few minutes. Not to mention how soon he became soaked in sweat. It was enough of a clue for Botan to wake Shuichi up. She reached Shuichi's shoulders, and this time, Botan called his name louder while giving him a gentle shake.

"Shuichi, open your eyes!" Botan half-screamed.

A lot of things happened in a short period of time. "Mother!" Shuichi screamed as he opened his eyes right away; his upper body rose up, making him accidentally slam his forehead into Botan's.

It was really a hard slam and, obviously, extremely painful as well. Shuichi lowered his head and covered his forehead with his palms as soon as he felt the pain. He slowly opened his eyes once more and attempted to find out what had happened to him and the reason behind the pain in his forehead. He looked around and noticed Botan, who was seated on the floor next to him, both palms on her forehead. Her body trembled, as if she were in pain.

“Goodness, Botan...” Shuichi, in an instant, cried out loud. Hastily, Shuichi removed himself from the blanket, rose from the couch, and kneeled before Botan, who was still lowering her head and covering her face with her hands. His nightmare was completely forgotten.

"Are you alright?" Shuichi asked with concern. Shuichi's worried tone prompted Botan to raise her head and make eye contact with him.

Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, "That's really hurt..." with one hand still covering her forehead. Shuichi gently placed both of his hands on Botan's shoulders and guided her to stand up from the floor and take a proper seat on the sofa. Botan, thankfully, instead of rejecting his touch, simply let herself be led by him.

"I'm sorry. Let me see your forehead. Is it really hurt?" Shuichi said as soon as both of them took a seat on the sofa. Botan had blinked several times before frowning slightly. "Don't you feel hurt, Shuichi?" Botan asked unbelieveably. It was impossible if she was the only one who felt the pain here.

“Well, it does hurt. But it seems you feel the pain more than I do. So, may I see?” Shuichi said. Botan gradually lifted her hand off her forehead. Her split bangs made it easy to spot her slightly flushed forehead.

“It’s okay. It will be gone soon.” Botan said.

Well,...

For one thing,...

In Shuichi's opinion, Botan looked adorable with the red mark on her forehead. Botan's red mark on her forehead reminded him of a baby who was attempting to take its first step but failing to do so. Shuichi softly covered his lips with his palm, then turned his head to the side to conceal his face. He was trying not to laugh out loud in front of the lady, which caused his body to shake slightly.

Botan remained silent as she watched Shuichi confusedly. It took Botan a few moments to realize that Shuichi was making fun of her. She grimaced, and a vein on her forehead popped. "Hey! Are you laughing at me, mister?!" Botan growled. Shuichi answered, still trying very hard not to laugh, "No, of course not." It was a lie. Botan wasn't sure which irritated her more: Shuichi's annoying tone or the fact that he didn't bother to hide the untruth at all. Botan's eyes twitched at whatever it was.

“Shuichi!” Botan pouted and punched Shuichi's arm lightly. “You are so mean!” and then she crossed her hands over her chest, she glared at him. Shuichi turned his attention back to Botan. Now Shuichi portrayed Botan as a young girl who was upset because she wasn't permitted to consume sweets. Shuichi burst out laughing this time. Goodness, she was adorable.

"Could you please, at least, tell me what's so funny here?" When Shuichi eventually let out a loud laugh, Botan stated it again. The fact that Shuichi was laughing at her annoyed her ‘slightly’, but she was also taken aback by the scene in front of her. For the first time, Botan saw Shuichi openly expressing his emotions. It was the first time she had seen Shuichi laugh freely. A small smile formed across Botan's lips. She had never thought that she could make someone laugh like this, even though she had no idea what was so amusing here... Well, maybe Shuichi had a peculiar sense of humor.

“I apologize, Botan. I just think you are cute.” Shuichi said after he was done laughing. He smiled at Botan warmly while saying it.

“C-Cute...?” Botan flushed slightly because of the smile that Shuichi gave her and hastily turned away to hide her blushing face. She muttered, "You are weird." half-heartedly.

Botan wasn't facing him, but Shuichi could tell that she was blushing at the moment based on the redness of her ears. He considered teasing her and wishing they could be closer together, but ultimately he chose not to. He simply watched her back with a smile on his face, waiting for her to turn to face him once more. Thankfully, it didn't take a lot of time. Botan turned back to face him again, with a small blush still lingering on her cheeks. She pouted and shot, 'Are you done laughing?' look at Shuichi.

Shuichi greeted her with the same smile he had given her just moments before. "I sincerely apologize. But, if you don't mind, can you tell me what occurred to us earlier? How did we manage to bump into each other's heads?" He asked gently. Botan blushed as she heard the question and instantly lowered her face to conceal it.

‘Was Botan, perhaps, observing me from such a close distance while I slept? If she was really observing me, why would she do that?’ Shuichi thought.

However, instead of waiting for Botan to respond, he was captivated by the unfamiliar scent and texture of the sofa. He'd just discovered that he was sitting on a very soft blanket that wasn't supposed to be there before. He has no recollection of owning or seeing this blanket before.

‘That means,...’

Shuichi's gaze softened, and an affectionate smile formed on his lips as one of his hands stroked the blanket tenderly. "You gave me this blanket when I was sleeping." He stated.

Botan's heart had melted as she heard Shuichi's affectionate voice. She wasn't looking at him, but she was certain that Shuichi was smiling at her with his typical gentle smile. She didn't dislike Shuichi's smile; in fact, she loved it a lot, which was why she preferred not to see it. She was frightened of falling further and further in love with this man. She felt butterflies in her stomach, making it difficult for her to speak. So, while she waited for her voice to return, she nodded, silently confirming Shuichi's remark.

Shuichi studied Botan quietly. He could sense Botan's nervousness and noticed that Botan's face had reddened once more. Shuichi could tell that, despite being afraid of him, some part of her still cared for him. The fact that they were both discreetly caring for each other pleased him. Shuichi was positive that Botan had also noticed the connection between them.

"As soon as I gave you the blanket, you started talking in your sleep," Botan said, breaking the silence surrounding them. "You were shivering and sweating heavily, as if you were having a nightmare. So the accident happened when I was attempting to wake you up." Botan clarified.

Botan's clarification instantly brought back memories of his nightmare. Shuichi dropped his head, entwined his two hands, and gave them a firm squeeze. When the scenario from his nightmare replayed clearly in his head, he began to feel uncomfortable. Botan stared at Shuichi and noticed that he was slightly trembling again. The dream he experienced appeared to be extremely horrible since it scared him a lot.

"I'm not sure what kind of dream you had, but I can promise you that your mother is perfectly fine. You need not be worried." Botan said it with a firm tone. She remembered Shuichi mentioning his mother just before the forehead accident.

Indeed, her postponement in returning home was due to an encounter she had with Shiori on her way home from the coffee shop. Botan was astonished to see the elderly woman, who had recently been released from the hospital, strolling alone while carrying a heavy bag. She insisted on escorting Shiori home because it was simply impossible for her to allow Shiori to return home alone. However, it became difficult at first as Shiori grew increasingly insistent on returning home by herself. So they got into a minor argument for a few minutes.

Shuichi raised his head, his eyes widening, as he turned to face the woman sitting next to him. He was perplexed at how the lady knew he was having a dream about his mother. And how did she know his mother was fine? And how could she seem so certain of it?

“How...?” The only thing that Shuichi could say.

"How?" Botan repeated him. Although she was unsure about the question, she just stated, "I met your mother earlier on my way home. I was wondering where you were, but it turns out that your mother was the one who had told you not to pick her up from the hospital. As a result, I insisted on accompanying her home."

Botan was truly envious of this mother-son relationship. They didn't want to worry each other, yet they ended up making each other worried. It was amusing and stressful at the same time, but Botan was relieved; they have a great relationship and cherish each other.

Botan let out a light chuckle before saying, "I made sure she arrived home safely. I waited for her until she had fully entered the house." She grinned at Shuichi, who was still staring at her with widening eyes.

“I hope this information eases some of your concerns.” Botan stated again with a more gentle tone.

Botan's presence alongside his mother, as well as her attempts to guarantee his mother's safe return, startled him. He was utterly speechless, knowing that this was Botan's second time assisting his mother. And it melted his heart when he observed Botan's expression while she was sharing this information. He could tell that Botan completely had no intention to impress him or his mother or anyone else. It was Botan's genuine desire to assist others without expecting anything in return.

"It does,... It does, indeed. Thank you so much, Botan." Shuichi responded with the same tenderness. “Goodness, I don’t know how to repay your kindness.” he added.

Botan shook her head and hands quickly in panic. "Oh, No! No need to repay me at all! I'm just glad that I was able to help! Really!"

It felt like Shuichi was having Deja Vu. Shuichi held his chest playfully, a fake hurt expression on his face. "You are so bad, Botan. You keep rejecting my offers without any hesitations." He said it in a humorous tone.

Botan slightly laughed at Shuichi for acting silly in this kind of situation. Even though she was laughing externally, she wasn't pleased on the inside. Botan perfectly knew that Shuichi didn't mean to attack her, but she felt attacked by his words. She had the impression that she had been shot right in the heart. She knew she didn't have the right to be upset because it was the fact. It made her feel guilty and quite ashamed of herself for doing such a thing to a nice person.

It simply made her realize how much she hurt Shuichi by keeping his generosity down. Botan smiled apologetically at Shuichi afterward. "I'm sorry, Shuichi. It's just... Being appreciated for what I've done, even if it was only for something simple, was utterly new to me. So, somehow, I was afraid to accept it. It doesn't feel right to accept things when I do something without expecting anything in return."

Botan briefly bit her lip before saying, "I’m truly sorry if my actions hurt you."

Shuichi sighed without removing the smile from his lips. "You don't have to apologize for that. I was upset last night, but come to think of it, everyone has their own reasons for their acts. So all I need to do is attempt to understand you."

Knowing that there is someone out there who wants to comprehend her made her very happy. She merely gave Shuichi a broad smile before saying, "Thank you."

Shuichi grinned back at her without saying anything. They were sitting next to each other on the sofa, not saying anything. Comfortable silence enveloped them. After a few moments, Botan decided to break the silence. She asked Shuichi, "May I know why you are not at work today?"

"I was planning to rest today and visit my mother after lunchbreak." Shuichi simply said.

“Oh.”

‘That’s it?’

Shuichi turned to face Botan after frowning at her response. However, he immediately raised his eyebrows when he noticed the woman, who was chewing her lips and looked apprehensive. It seemed that Botan wanted to tell him something but wasn't sure whether to voice it or not.

“Did my mother instruct you to inform me that I'm not allowed to visit her today?” Shuichi guessed.

Botan nodded uncomfortably and quickly added, "Believe me, I told her that you would not be pleased about the idea and I also tried to persuade her to give you permission to visit her! But your mother still insisted," She stopped, had an uneasy giggle, and added again, "She kept pleading with me to stop you from going to visit her. So, I had to grant her request in order to get her to quit pleading."

Shuichi, on the other hand, who had known his mother personally, couldn't help but laugh out loud after listening to Botan's explanations. His mother certainly successfully manipulated Botan. She probably used any kind of beautiful words to make no room for Botan to reject her reasons, which undoubtedly also made Botan feel bad if she rejected the elder's quest. Not to mention his mother was very good at faking sad puppy eyes. Of course, he was also one of her victims a long time ago.

"To keep you safe from my mother's wrath. I promise to behave well and do as she says." When Shuichi said it in a lighthearted manner, the blue-haired lady laughed right away. Oh well, he would accept his mother's command this time because Botan had already assured him of his mother's condition earlier. He could give her a call or send her a text later on, or maybe he would visit her later in at night.

It wasn't so bad, spending his day off with Botan. Instead, he was thoroughly enjoying his moment with her. Botan didn't seem to be terrified of him anymore. She wasn't as tense as she used to be whenever he came near her, and she could even laugh with him as well. He definitely made the right decision by taking today off. He didn't expect this, but he's glad it happened, considering that he wasn't sure if he'd be able to find this moment again in the future. Especially since he'd meet Botan's brother in two days. It also might be the final two days that he and Botan live under the same roof.

Though he had been anticipating this moment, he suddenly became overwhelmed with grief in his chest as he imagined never being able to see the blue-haired lady ever again. All he could hope for was for Botan to feel the same way he did. He wished they could have spent more time together. He wanted to get to know her better. Shuichi began to regret wasting the last six months complaining over this fake marriage. He was supposed to make use of those opportunities to make friends with Botan.

Meanwhile, Botan, who was still seated next to him, became aware of Shuichi's changing mood. Shuichi was smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes. She somehow could see the sadness in his eyes. Botan wondered if she saw it correctly. If it was true, hopefully it wasn't because of her.

“Shuichi, are you alright?” She decided to ask.

Shuichi promptly forced himself to ignore his feelings and act as if nothing had happened. He smiled at her and shook his head. "I was just thinking, have you eaten your lunch?" he inquired, trying to change the subject.

Botan gave him a stare, attempting to terrify him and get him to reveal what had disturbed him earlier. Shuichi, on the other hand, appeared to be stubborn; he merely laughed rather than answering her. It looked like, he completely had no intention of telling her what was going through his head earlier.

“So, the answer is?” Shuichi asked again, still smiling at her; a smile to annoyed Botan.

Oh great, he was stubborn just like his mother.

Botan sighed, indicating her defeat. She was completely aware of the feeling of being coerced into doing something against her will. It was annoying. Shuichi informed her previously that he attempted to understand her, so she would reciprocate.

"No, I have not eaten anything today. You're not going to buy me anything again, are you? You promised not to buy me things anymore." Botan tried to remind him.

Rising himself off the couch, Shuichi turned around, facing Botan, who remained seated. He smirked at her before saying, "I promised you not to buy things, but I didn't make any promises about not making something for you."

Botan raised her brows, questioning Shuichi through her gaze. Shuichi removed his smirk and smiled once more. Before responding to her question, he rolled up both of the long sleeves of his shirt until they reached his elbow. "I haven't eaten anything, either. So I would be extremely delighted if you join me."

"Hm, Only if you allow me to help you prepare the meals," Botan said.

Shuichi's grin widened for various reasons. First, Botan's insistence on cooking with him meant that she was no longer terrified of him. And secondly, for him, cooking together with Botan sounds more fun than cooking alone. They hadn't done anything together since they moved in. "I would appreciate your help." Shuichi nodded.

Then they both began cooking together for the first time. Surprisingly, they both worked really well together. They were able to understand and help each other without difficulties. Not only that, but they also had fun. not only during cooking, but they also laughed a lot while taking their meals. Both of them felt they looked like a real married couple during those moments.

"I can't remember the last time I enjoyed eating my meals like this. It was very good! Shuichi, you should pursue a career as a chef." Botan said with a big smile after finishing her meal. "I appreciate your compliment, but I don't deserve to receive the whole credit here. You also prepared these meals, by the way." Shuichi answered. Oh well, to be precise, Botan was the one who seasoning all of these meals, and while he eventually became her assistant, he focused on washing, and cutting the ingredients. Alright, he was actually also cooking one or two dishes, while Botan took the rest.

"Then we both did an excellent job!" She said it again, cheerfully. It was the best lunch that Botan has ever had, and she absolutely enjoyed every bite of it. Usually, she struggled with eating foods. She had trouble eating most of the time. For the previous few years, she would vomit immediately after swallowing meals. But she could suddenly finish her meals and even eat a lot more than her normal portion.

She had finally been appreciated for everything she did. She had finally been able to feel loved by a mother, thanks to Shiori. She could joke around, laugh, and smile along with Shuichi. This was also the first time she could enjoy her meals after years of struggle. She has now had the opportunity to experience what it feels like to be treated like a normal human rather than a parent's property or a moneymaker. Despite being strangers, Shuichi and Shiori treated her with plenty of affection and compassion. For the first time, she finally felt accepted.

All of these good things happened after she met Shuichi. The seemingly disastrous first meeting turned out to be the most exquisite gift. Not to mention that her uncle and older brother also traveled back to Japan on her behalf due to her marriage to Shuichi. The two most important people were finally here with her. She would most likely consider this to be the happiest moment of her life. She was probably unable to return Shuichi's generosity in the future, but she truly wished nothing but the best for them.

Botan abruptly felt a warm, unfamiliar hand caressing one of her cheeks; she blinked a few times before turning to face the owner, Shuichi, who was caressing her cheek with his thumb and was staring at her worriedly. It's funny; normally she would slap or turn away from people who touched or tried to touch her immediately, but for some reason, this time, she felt no need to do so.

It seemed that Shuichi had noticed that she was concerning about something.

Although it was awkward when their eyes met, neither of them attempted to break the contact. Shuichi appeared to have no intention of removing his palm from her cheek, and Botan did not appear to reject or avoid the touch either. And neither of them made an effort to speak to break the awkward silence that enveloped them.

Botan's gaze softened as one of her hands gripped Shuichi's palm that was still touching her cheek, and she slightly leaned her face against his hand. "Why are you being so nice to me, Shuichi?" Shutting her eyes, Botan questioned.

"Am I not allowed to?" In a whisper, Shuichi inquired. He chewed his inside cheeks, feeling apprehensive. He wasn't prepared to hear Botan's response, or, more precisely, her rejection. He did his best to keep his expression as calm as he could, as he refused to show his weakness in front of other people.

“It's just,... If you're doing this because you expect or need something from me, I'd like to apologize now for having nothing to give you.” Botan hesitated before saying it. She couldn't think of any better words to ask, but she was hoping Shuichi could understand that she was not intending to distrust or doubt him.

She inferred that her question might have upset Shuichi, given his immediate lack of response. She was too scared to open her eyes, and she was too embarrassed to face him. "Please forgive me; I know you're such a wonderful man. Really, I didn't mean to..." She tried to apologize but stopped as soon as she felt Shuichi's other hand touch her other face. Shuichi was lightly brushing both of her cheeks.

It was not at all what she expected.

The gentleness of his caress encouraged her to open her eyes and glance at him.

The fact that, rather than frowning at her, Shuichi still smiled warmly at her made her speechless. "Do not stare at me like that, Botan. I think I've already told you that I'm attempting to comprehend you. So there's no need to be concerned about whether I'm being offended by your question or not." Shuichi stated.

"Though there are many plausible reasons, I have come to the conclusion that you are genuinely worried about troubling me. You are concerned that you might burden me." He wasn't asking a question; he was simply confirming that his intuition was correct.

Botan's eyes widened. How was it possible that a man she had known for merely half a year could comprehend her so profoundly, as if they had been acquainted for ages? How was it that, despite her evasion, her suspicions, and her repeated refusals of his assistance, he was still able to treat her nicely?

"Why do you know me very well, Shuichi? I believe we haven't met before." Botan asked, confused.

Shuichi grinned at Botan's question. "I still don’t know you well, but surely it was all written on your face, Botan."

“... Because I meant it. I really don’t want to burden you, you know..." Botan mumbled.

Shuichi took both of his hands away from Botan's cheeks as soon as she stopped mumbling. Botan, once she felt the heat leave her face, shifted her attention to the man silently. Shuichi made another hand motion, but this time he was targeting Botan's forehead. Botan, who appeared to observe Shuichi's hand movement, clenched her eyes tightly and bit her lips slightly. Shuichi observed it along with Botan's body's little quivering. Exactly the same reactions occurred when Shuichi gripped her wrist for the first time on that particular day. She responded with the same frightened response, as if Shuichi intended to harm her.

Shuichi's eyes softened as he glanced at Botan's terrified reaction. Why did she suddenly become afraid of him? She wasn't scared when he touched her cheeks with both hands a short time ago. However, Shuichi frowned as he remembered what had happened to Botan years ago. If Botan was frightened about having her forehead touched, it was probably,... that her former partner had abused her by cruelly pulling on her hair. Then it caused her pain, stained her heart, and caused her to become traumatised.

Shuichi let out an internal roar as he imagined it. It suddenly filled him with wrath. He desires to identify that man in order to arrange a meeting with him and kill him with his own hands.

Despite his ongoing anger, he was capable of smoothly caressing Botan's forehead while attempting to wipe her bang from her face. The moment his fingertip touched her forehead, Botan's body stiffened. Shuichi sighed, attempting to calm his temper.

Nevertheless, he knew Botan would not like that idea. As much as they hurt Botan and treated her badly, Shuichi bet that she still didn't or perhaps couldn’t hate those people completely.

Instead of wasting time wondering about that man, he should’ve focused more on the woman in front of him. He genuinely cared about her now. It broke his heart to see her spend her life in constant fear. His wish was to ease Botan's suffering and help her move on from her trauma. It didn't matter how long or hard it would be. He would do anything to make her free from agony.

‘If you allow me to.’ Shuichi stated it silently.

"Isn't it normal to be kind to anyone you care about?" said Shuichi.

Botan opened her eyes and gave Shuichi a questioning stare with a slight frown on her brow. "Why? We are not even close enough to be called friends." In a demanding tone, she said.

Botan's eyes widened after she realised how awful her behaviour had been earlier. She instantly began to feel awful for uttering such harsh things. This time, she was completely aware that it had been part of her fault, or maybe, it was all her fault. She was terrified, but she was also the one who broke the line she set up for herself. Not attempting to remove Shuichi's hand from her forehead was sufficient evidence that she had crossed the line. Her hard work to build a wall between herself and Shuichi for the past six months was wasted, thanks to her soft heart.

However,...

Isn't this exactly what she had wanted all this time? Meeting someone who cared for her, someone who knew how to appreciate her, provided warmth, and made her feel loved and valuable. Shuichi had given it all. Furthermore, even Shuichi's mother showered her with the maternal affection she had been craving since she was younger.

So why did she continually push them away? Why did she continually turn down people's help even though she knew she needed it? Despite being aware of her loneliness, why did she persist in avoiding people?

‘I said I don’t want to do it! Stop making me do things against my will!’

‘Shut up! You are a completely useless child! You should have been thankful that we were attempting to make you useful for this family!’

Her mind wandered to a recollection from her childhood, back when she had an argument with the elderly guy she called father. It was the first time, he labelled her a worthless child. It was the very first time he abused her physically. And also, for the first time, he stared at her with disgust, as if he were staring at something dirty. Everything started off with that battle. Following that conflict, he started to enjoy hitting her, calling her 'useless child' instead of calling her by name, and bossing her around more often than before. Moreover, since that day, he has continued to give her a disgusted look each time he looks at her.

‘You and your illness are just burdens, after all.’

Another voice that had been troubling her for the past few years returned to her head. The insults and abuse he directed at her, the tone of his voice, and the disgusted expression on his face that resembled her father's—she recalled everything very clearly.

She was remembering why she couldn't extend her heart to others. She feared experiencing pain once more. She was scared of being subjected to those unpleasant treatments and insults. She was fearful of being rejected. She feared others would once again cast their disgusted gazes at her. The pain she had been through, both physically and mentally, was much worse compared to being alone. That was why she preferred being alone rather than opening her heart to new people.

It wasn't as if she had chosen to be born in this kind of condition in the first place. If given the option, she would prefer to be a strong, healthy woman with an exceptional intellect. Nobody desired a feeble body like this. However, everyone blamed her for everything, as if she had done something wrong.

It was possible that Shuichi would become like them too. He may care about her in the beginning, but when he gets tired, he will most likely do the same things to her as her father and ex-lover did. Shuichi would blame her for anything and he would abandon her in the end. Botan was unsure if she could handle the pain if Shuichi and his mother hurt her as well.

If, on the other hand, even Shuichi and Shiori would never cause her any harm, would it be alright for her to maintain this marriage? Didn't that mean she used other people for her own benefit? Didn't that prove that she was no different from her father? She hated her father for exploiting others for his own benefit. She didn't want to be compared to her father.

Shuichi slowly removed his palm from her forehead as he noticed the change in her expression. Her eyes reflected a melancholy he had never seen before. Botan seemed too heartbroken to see people's generosity, no matter how genuine their concern and affection for her were, she probably saw all of those acts of kindness as staged. Of course, Botan probably couldn't trust him as well, but surely he would not give up easily. Yes, he did harbour a small amount of hatred for her at first, but he never intended to hurt her. Now that he deeply cares about her, he definitely will not hurt her.

"Indeed, it is true. We may not yet be considered friends, but you did care for me as well, correct? You offered me a blanket while I was still asleep earlier, you tried to wake me up from nightmare, and when you noticed my hands bleeding, you rushed to locate the first aid kit box the other day. You even assisted my mother twice, despite knowing you did not have to." Shuichi explained as he tried to remind her.

Botan was filled with emotions beyond words as Shuichi recalled everything she had ever done. Again, Shuichi was the first to remember what she had done and to always appreciate her, no matter how insignificant her act was. Yes, she cared about him, but she wasn't sure if she genuinely cared about him or if it was just her habit to aid others. Instead of reacting to Shuichi's statement, she inquired, "What are you implying here, Shuichi?"

“What I'm implying here is to remind you that you are not alone anymore. Remember that you have me now and I would be happy to assist you; don't hesitate to ask for or receive help. Concerning how you might be a burden, it is unnecessary.” Shuichi mentioned it in a soft yet firm tone. Botan glanced at him, or more accurately, through him, as if she were seeking lies. Botan couldn't help but melt inside when she realized in his eyes that he was honest about everything he said.

"But,.. Aren't you supposed to divorce me instead of care about me?" As she turned her head away, Botan inquired, preventing the man in front of her from seeing her expression.

"Do you want me to?" was the concluding question that prompted Shuichi to speak after a brief minute of silence.

Botan wasn't looking at Shuichi's face, but his calm voice somehow gave her the impression that he was miserable. Probably because he believed that she was attempting to shove him away and did not require his assistance. Botan certainly did not intend that in any way. They weren't lovers. In order to marry his real love, Shuichi needed to get a divorce from her first.

She felt a pain in her chest as she pictured Shuichi marrying someone else. However, Botan was certain that she had no choice but to let him go, despite her deep affection for him. Because he was a hardworking man who deserved happiness. If Shuichi stayed with her, she would be the only one who found happiness. Shuichi could make her the happiest woman on earth but she couldn’t do the same to him. It would be unfair to him. A woman who cherished him more than he cherished her was the woman Shuichi deserved.

“You are aware that I have no authority to make such a decision. I know my parents are very good at manipulating people. I have no doubt that they exploited your mother in the first place, dragging both of you into this mess. I'm here to take responsibility for their wrongdoing. My side of people started this, so it wouldn't be appropriate if they were also the ones who ended it.” Botan stated and then turned around slowly to looked Shuichi right in the eyes.

Botan smiled sadly before saying, "I'm sincerely apologize about what my parents did to you and your mother, Shuichi."

Shuichi approached her without displaying any emotion, which caused Botan to feel apprehensive. Instead of fleeing, Botan froze and shifted her focus away from him. Shuichi paused for a few moments before flicking Botan's forehead. It was gentle, but it did create a slightly tingling sensation on her forehead. "Foolish girl," he remarked flatly.

Botan was about to give him a straight-faced yell. She was trying to apologize sincerely here, but rather than accepting her apology, he insulted her further by calling her "foolish" and giving her that forehead flick. Botan turned back to face him, about to yell, but she quickly pursed her lips. She had expected Shuichi to smirk after making fun of her, but he proved her wrong. Shuichi looked at her with a pleasant smile.

In a blink, her body collided with his. Shuichi wrapped both of his arms around Botan's waist and locked her in his embrace by intertwining his fingers behind Botan's back. Meanwhile, Botan felt something on her forehead and blushed as she realized Shuichi had kissed her forehead. Her lips quivered slightly when she realized it was Shuichi's lips that she had felt a moment before.

Shuichi, who had already broken the kiss, was now watching her blush. With a neutral expression, he gazed at her. He actually tried his hardest not to make fun of her.

"Wh--what a-a-are you-u-u- doing?" Botan asked nervously, still blushing. She was too focused on the fact that Shuichi had kissed her forehead, which made her forget about the fact that Shuichi was hugging her. If they had previously been talking about anything humorous, Shuichi would love to tease her. But they were currently having a really serious conversation, and he couldn't shift the subject just yet.

Shuichi rested his chin on Botan's head while his arms tightened the hug. "Don't you remember that you are also a victim here, Botan? If it was your parents' fault, then I would love to hear it directly from their lips." He said. For Shuichi, Botan's parents and his mother were the ones who should apologize, not her.

“But, they will never apologize to anyone, so someone has to step in and apologize on their behalf.” Botan stated.

Shuichi instantly thought at how lucky he was to have an angel as his mother. At least Shiori realized her mistakes and immediately apologized to him. “You don’t have to apologize for them, Botan. You did nothing wrong here.” He repeated.

“I know, but I...” Botan was unable to finish her words yet, but Shuichi had already cut her.

“Anyway, about our marriage here...” In an attempt to return to the main topic, Suichi cut her. He thought this was the best time to talk to her about the marriage since he has her in his arms now. Botan had no choice but to listen to what he had to say. Besides, he wasn't sure he'd be able to hug her like this again in the future.

“... What about it?” Botan said it calmly, although her heart showed exactly the opposite. She was terrified Shuichi would hear her heartbeat because they were standing very close to each other. That's when Botan realised Shuichi had been hugging her. Her face quickly turned red as she blushed. She attempted to break free from Shuichi's arms, but he quickly tightened the hug.

Since Shuichi was, in all honesty, also extremely anxious on the inside, he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly prior to speaking. "Is that okay if I keep this marriage a bit longer...?" Shuichi asked.

Botan lifted her head to gaze at him, frowning. She looked at him, questioning him with her eyes.

"Look, if you are concerned about my actions, I assure you that I will not harm you. I promise you, there is nothing to be afraid of or concerned about. I guarantee you can rest and sleep well in this house." Shuichi stated it firmly. He clarified without giving Botan a chance to speak because he knew Botan would be against the idea.

"That’s not it..." Botan mumbled. She was completely aware of it. If Shuichi wanted to harm her, he could have done so over the past six months, but he never did. He was also a man who greatly loved and respected his mother, which made him respect women in general. It appeared that Botan could put her faith in his word for the time being.

However, it was not her main concern.

“I am simply wondering. Don't you want to find your true love and get married? You know you can't do that if you stay in this marriage.” Botan said as she tried her best to keep calm as much as she could.

"Not really. I made a self-promise to never get married again, even after we ended up divorcing," he simply stated. Then he continued, “Are you probably the one who had another lover?” He asked calmly, but he suddenly felt that he was filled with rage and jealousy on the inside. He still wasn't prepared to be apart from her. He wanted to stay with her a little longer. He wasn't ready to see Botan with another man.

As long as they were still married, Botan belonged to him alone.

“Don’t be silly. Look at me right now. Despite my knowledge that you are a good man, half of me wanted to fully trust you, but the other half was still terrified to open my heart. I've spent my life like this after that accident, and 8 years isn't a short time. So, having a new partner would be impossible for me.” She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

Shuichi said nothing since he was too preoccupied with the 'impossible' word. Was it genuinely impossible for her to find a new partner? He wasn't sure if he should be relieved or not. To him, somehow, Botan's previous statement implied that he had no chance to be her lover and that they would have no future together. Well, they did meet in such terrible circumstances. They were completely strangers who were now living together as a phoney husband and wife. They were not actually lovers.

But,...

what if Botan is the woman whom he had been waiting for? What if Botan is his miss right? What if Botan and he are meant to be soulmates? What if this arranged marriage was the beginning of their love journey? What if this arranged marriage was the start point of their love's journey? What if this arranged marriage was supposed to happen with the intention of meeting them? To think about it, it was almost impossible for them to meet in natural ways after knowing about Botan's past. If he met her in public, if he was interested in her, then decided to approach her; she would undoubtedly be terrified of him, and she would never set foot in that location ever again just to avoid him.

There was a clear difference in this arranged marriage. They were both involved in a fake but legal marriage, which prevented her from escaping. If they decided to get divorced, that would be the only way for her to be free. Now, he cared about her, and also, she wasn't afraid of him anymore; He would not divorce her anytime soon. Shouldn't it be better for them to use this opportunity to learn about each other more? Or would it be better if they kept to their current divorce plan and then looked for true love elsewhere once the company's project was finished?

"Has your inquiry been related in any way to the company? Would you mind explaining what's going on?" Shuichi was interrupted from his deep thoughts by Botan's calm inquiry.

Shuichi scowled in response to Botan's question. Was she really implying that he valued his company that much? Was she hinting that he was a selfish man? He didn't love his job at all; he simply worked there because he wanted to help his mother, not because he liked working there. Besides, he would never take advantage of people, despite how much he loved his job. However, the moment he caught a glimpse of Botan's face, he knew without a doubt that all his presumptions were wrong, as she was gazing at him with concern.

"What are you concerned about?" Shuichi inquired, trying to confirm his assumption.

Botan felt Shuichi's body tensing up, which caused her to blink several times before replying to Shuichi's question. "If this is what you wanted, I'm happy to give in, but if the reason behind this request was because my father had threatened you, I would have to think again carefully. I don't want to make you feel trapped by my father's threats." She explained.

Shuichi gave her a weak smile. Her capacity to be worried about someone else, despite the unpleasantness of her condition and situation, warmed his heart. Botan most likely cared about others more than herself. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. “You should be more concerned about yourself, you know.” Shuichi said it without removing his smile.

“I know. That's what my brother always tells me, too.” Botan replied, also with a smile. “I’ll try to remember that.” she added again.

“Good.” Was the only word that came out of Shuichi's lips.

They paused to converse for a few moments while Botan remained in Shuichi's arms. It seemed that they both had no intention of separating themselves from one another.

"Shuichi, Is this hug necessary...?” Botan eventually chose to break his silence. The atmosphere was too awkward for her to handle, not to mention the fact that she was also still in Shuichi's embrace. Her head was also leaning on Shuichi’s chest.

"Why? Do you like it? Do you perhaps want something more than a hug?" Shuichi asked, slightly teasingly.

"N-no... I'm... you know... I'm nervous and extremely embarrassed okay! Stop teasing me!" Botan responded with very slight irritation. Unfortunately, rather than releasing her, Shuichi answered with a laugh. She could feel Shuichi's body tremble as a result of the laughter.

"Shuichi..." Hoping Shuichi would stop making fun of her, Botan called his name in a menacing tone. Sadly, he didn't. He laughed even harder than before. Botan stared at him silently, a little smile forming on her lips afterward.

The hug was nice, actually. She felt more secure than scared. Moreover, Shuichi appeared to have no intention of doing anything inappropriate to her, allowing her to relax a bit.

"I apologize, Botan. I'm laughing because you're adorable," said Shuichi. He loosened his hold slightly as he indirectly provided Botan with the opportunity to flee. Fortunately, she stayed, and Shuichi was ecstatic about that, since that indicated Botan had trusted in him. It did not matter if it remained below 100 percent; Even if there was only 0.00001 percent of trust that Botan had in him, he would definitely be satisfied enough with that. "I will release you as soon as I receive an answer," Gently, Shuichi said it.

"This is entirely my own wish. It has nothing to do with either your father or the business itself." He continued. Shuichi gave her an assuring grin upon Botan's hesitant glance in his direction.

Botan bit the inside of her lip a little. She was relieved, but also disappointed that she would have to leave the warmth of his arms so soon.

Hold on; it wasn't the appropriate time to focus on that. How could she think about that now? Damn Shuichi for making her feel so comfortable in his arms like this. She needed to know why Shuichi made this request. It was the most important thing here!

"If you wish to extend this marriage, that is fine with me." At last, she said.

"Are you certain?" Shuichi inquired once more, trying to ensure that he heard the answer correctly.

Botan smiled and said, “Yes. I don’t mind, but I would like to know your reason."

"..." Suddenly, Shuichi could not speak. He was expecting her to ask him this at some point. His true motivation for maintaining this marriage, however, is a matter of concern. How to express the information to Botan without reinstating her fear of him. If he told her he wasn't ready to be apart from her, Botan would undoubtedly be against him, and she would attempt to offer him a thousand reasons to leave her. He certainly did not wish to once more hear her mock herself.

Shuichi wished for Botan to be able to see herself the same way he saw her. She was attractive, compassionate, precious, and sweet. She was perfect in his eyes.

Some people might see her as a burden. But to him, her feeble body, her health concerns, her trauma—every aspect of her weakness—were not burdens; rather, they made Shuichi want to protect her even more. He wanted to support her. He wanted to make her happy and be the reason behind her smile. He wanted to be by her side for as long as possible.

It was the first time he had this kind of feeling for a lady. It was the first time he truly cherished someone, as well as the first time he felt jealous and protective of anyone other than his mother. He wasn't sure, though, if this emotion qualified as love or not. To be honest, he was worried that this feeling he had certainly wasn't a sign of affection but rather that he was just pitying her.

However, he was somehow certain that he wouldn't ask for an extension of their marriage if it was just out of sympathy for her. He believed that there were some reasons why he cared about her, and he assumed that a small part of it was most likely gratitude for caring for his mother.

"I need time... I’m not sure what for, but I surely need it." That's all Shuichi could say.

Botan tilted her head slightly as she attempted to digest his response. She grew more perplexed by Shuichi's response. She wanted to question him again, but Shuichi appeared to be bewildered as well. Botan sighed lightly and smiled. Whatever the cause, she would try to comprehend everything about him. He made every effort to understand her, and she would like to reciprocate. Furthermore, she had survived the previous six months without fleeing, so another few months didn't sound too bad.

"Okay." Botan simply said.

"Okay? Is that all? No more questions?" Shuichi enquired. It was too simple and easy, which made him nervous because he anticipated Botan would give him several reasons for dropping his plan.

Botan shook her head. "I'll try to understand you too, Shuichi. I know you are a man who always makes wise choices. So, I believe you actually have a good reason behind it." She said it sincerely.

"Thank you." Shuichi said it warmly. It was more than he could wish for.

"But, in one condition, tho." Botan added.

Shuichi observed through her eyes. He could tell how serious she was based on her expression. Afterwards, Shuichi nodded.

"I want you to promise me that you'll be more expressive. You know, express your feelings more. From what I have observed, you have consistently concealed your actual emotions, pretending to be fine all the time," she stated with a serious expression.

Botan frowned when Shuichi, rather than responding to her, simply gazed at her with an unreadable expression. "Since you've been helping me, I'd like to help you too. I'm not sure whether I can help, but all I want is for you to be more honest about your true emotions. If you can't show it to others, show it to me. I do not mind seeing you upset or crying. I simply want you to be free and be yourself. I believe that pretending all the time is tiring." Botan spoke rapidly. She was, honestly, very nervous saying all these things. She was scared Shuichi would think she wanted to interfere with his business.

Shuichi, on the other hand, had completely different thoughts. Shuichi couldn't convey how thankful he was for what she said. He was impressed by Botan's ability to recognize the mask he had been wearing his entire life. The thought that Botan cared for him as much as he cared for her melted his heart.

To think of it, even though he was still confused about loving her, he actually didn't mind falling in love with her for real in the future; he didn't mind having her as his real wife and spending his entire life with her.

Because he knew she was different.

Botan was very different from those women he referred to as his ‘fangirls’. She treated him and looked at him in completely different ways. She treated him like a normal man, an imperfect human being, not like the other people who saw Shuichi as a perfect man because he was never upset, never complained, always smiled, always calmed, and excelled in everything. Of course, he was mad and complained a lot, but he just never showed it to anyone.

Despite being proficient in every aspect, Botan perceived him as a man who still possessed emotions and a normal man who still needed assistance from others. People only sought him for assistance; they never offered it to him. Only the blue-haired woman in his arms offered him some assistance. She could see things that others couldn't.

For the first time in six months, he was truly grateful for this arranged marriage.

"Shuichi...? Did I,... ask too much?" She asked again, worriedly.

“No.” Shuichi shook his head and then tightened the embrace once again.

“So, will you promise me?” Botan asked one more time.

One of his hands reached Botan's nape as he gently pulled her head to his chest, and then he laid his chin on top of Botan's head. "I promise." Shuichi continued to repeat the words, occasionally giggling.

It was an extremely sweet voice. Her heart rate increased as Shuichi drew her closer, and it became even faster as she realized how warm and genuine his voice was. Unfortunately, Botan did not return his hug; somehow, she was still unable to do so. Instead of hugging him, she snatched Shuichi's shirt on his hips and gripped it tight.

At the very least, she felt the need to keep some distance between them. Botan understood it was pointless, but it was still way better than not making any at all. She did, however, need to be cautious.

She couldn't decide if she should push him away or not. She was very happy with this, with Shuichi, with Shiori, and everything. She had the sensation of desiring to be egocentric for once; she desired to retain this warmth. She wished they had spent more time together. She pledged that if he became tired of their marriage, she would wholeheartedly let him go, no matter how much it wounded her heart. For now, though, she intended to indulge her ego. She did not want Shuichi to look at another woman while he was still involved in this marriage.

As long as the marriage persisted, Shuichi was hers and hers alone.

Shuichi had finally let her out of his grasp. Despite obtaining her response, he was about to hold her for a little longer, however, before he could say anything, Botan informed him that she needed to rest since she hadn't had enough sleep the night before, and she also informed him that she was planning to skip dinner.

It became their last conversation that day.

However, after Botan awoke and was about to take a glass of water in the kitchen, she never would have thought that there would be a bounty of food waiting for her at her door. A foldable table stood in front of her door with various foods on top. There were some breads, two boiled eggs, some cheeses, a medium-sized bottle of milk, some strawberries and grapes, and a glass of tea visible to her. Shuichi also left a message below the plate:

‘I've prepared some food in case you wake up hungry. There was also cream soup in the kitchen that you could reheat for a few minutes.’

She questioned why Shuichi didn't leave these foods on the kitchen dining table, so she stepped outside her room to find him. She wanted to thank him for preparing these for her. She did, however, notice that the house was unusually silent, as if no one else was present except herself. She merely recalled that Shuichi had earlier mentioned that he might pay his mother a visit in the evening; therefore, she assumed that he stuck to the plan and has not yet returned home.

But then she checked the clock in the living room and discovered that it had already passed midnight. Then Botan reconsidered, claiming that Shuichi had most likely already fallen asleep in his room. She returned to the kitchen and carefully switched on the stove, beginning to reheat the soup. She was extremely interested in trying the dish that Shuichi had prepared. She couldn't say how grateful she was for the food he had prepared for her. She was hungry when she woke up and wanted to eat something not too heavy for her stomach, and Shuichi had prepared the perfect meal for her. He probably placed the food in front of her room to ensure she didn't miss her dinner.

She needed to express her gratitude properly in the morning.

_____

Shuichi awoke when he felt sunshine strike his eyes through the small space between his curtains. It felt like he just started to fall asleep and had to wake up a minute later. Actually, it was his fault. He arrived at his mother's residence somewhat late. He was too concerned about his mother to remember the time, so when he looked at the clock, it was already 2 a.m.

He turned down his mother's invitation to let him stay for the night, informing her that he would just cause a ruckus if he stayed. He couldn't tell her the truth of his reason—that he was actually concerned about Botan skipping her dinner. That was why he desperately insisted on returning to the place where he and Botan currently live. He wanted to see if Botan had eaten what he had prepared for her or not.

So he arrived at his and Botan's residence at 3 a.m., then quickly checked the kitchen as soon as he entered the place. He smiled when he discovered that some of the meals he had prepared were gone. It was leaving some grapes and bread behind. Botan didn't skip her dinner, and he exhaled a sigh of relief.

Not that he meant to come across as a pervert or anything, but he noticed that Botan had seemed to be losing weight steadily since their first meeting, up until last night. She was not even chubby when they met for the first time. He felt as if he were cuddling a skin-covered skeleton. Botan's weight did not worry him; rather, it was her health that alarmed him. Was she not eating well? Or perhaps her body was unable to absorb all of the nutrients from the meals she consumed?

He could have easily fallen asleep after taking a 5-minute shower when he got home. However, much like the prior times, he once again lost track of time while thinking about Botan. He eventually slept until nearly 5 a.m. It ultimately put him to sleep for two hours, as he woke up at 7 a.m.

He wished he had more time to sleep. All that he wanted to do was stay at home; however, he was too nervous to do so because tomorrow he and Botan's brother were going to meet. He had to divert himself from his uneasiness by working at his workplace. He got up half-heartedly, took a shower, and prepared himself. Also, he was hoping to see Botan before heading off to work.

Luckily, Botan exited her bedroom when Shuichi was still at home; he was currently sitting by the entrance door, putting on his shoes. Botan spotted him and smiled, joyfully calling his name, "Shuichi!" Even Botan was surprised by her own voice due to the overwhelming level of excitement in it.

Shuichi was also astounded by the excitement in Botan's voice when she shouted his name and turned around with wide eyes. Was she truly excited to meet him? That was unusual. He didn't dislike it, though. His eyes reverted to their original size, and he laughed softly at the flush that appeared on her cheekbones. "Good morning, Botan. Did you sleep well?" He greeted her warmly.

Botan approached him and picked up the blazer Shuichi had placed on the ground next to him. After putting on both shoes, he rose up and turned around to face her without removing his smile. Botan smiled back and replied, "Good morning, too. I apologize for the noises." Botan giggled nervously, which made her unconsciously hug the blazer tightly. Shuichi shook his head, attempting to reassure her that he didn't mind. Being able to see her face in the morning made him happy. He had a horrible morning before, but it was all gone thanks to Botan's joyful smile.

"I slept well. I'd like to thank you for the meals you prepared last night. The soup you prepared was also delicious," stated Botan.

"I'm glad to hear that, but too bad you didn't finish them all." Shuichi pretended to be disappointed. It would be great if Botan finished them all, but the main point here was to ensure Botan would not skip her dinner. She ate the things he had prepared for her, which was the most important part. Whether or not she finished the meal was a completely different story.

"It was too much for me to finish it by myself." She laughed. "I ate a lot last night, though. I finished two full bowls of the soup you made. Thank you so much." She repeated it and then slightly bowed at him. When Botan said something about the soup, Shuichi's heartbeat quickened. Even though it was only a simple thing, he was extremely delighted to know that Botan liked the soup he made. Not to mention that she had the second bowl of soup, something he had truly not expected.

"Just let me know if you want to have that soup again. I'll make it again for you," said Shuichi.

After blinking a few times, Botan happily said, "Oh, I'd loved to! But make sure you join me next time!"

Did she just imply that they should eat dinner together in the future? It was relieving to discover that Botan no longer avoided or was terrified of him; it was officially that Botan began to feel comfortable around him. She didn't seem to mind having him around her any longer. He would absolutely use the opportunity to learn more about her. "Sure." Shuichi said it sincerely.

"Here." Botan stated this while handing him his blazer, which he had placed on the floor earlier. After accepting the jacket, he thanked her. Shuichi examined Botan from head to toe and saw that Botan appeared to be getting ready to go outside based on the current outfits she was wearing. Shuichi approached the door and pulled it open. He frowned somewhat as he noticed Botan did not take a single step away from where she stood.

"Won't you be joining me? Let's go together." Shuichi inquired while one of his hands was on the doorknob.

"I need to get my things in my room; you can go off first," stated Botan.

"Is that so? I don't mind waiting."

Botan had blinked, then scowled. "What if you’re late? I do not want to get you into trouble because of me." She said it with concern.

"I'm fairly certain I won't be late. I can promise you that I still have plenty of time to wait for you and that you will not make me late." Shuichi said firmly. He assumed Botan was once again attempting to avoid him.

Meanwhile, Botan, who was unaware of Shuichi's doubts about her, smiled broadly and nodded cheerfully. "Okay, then! I'll go get my stuff right away! Be right back!" Botan dashed to her room without waiting for Shuichi's response.

Shuichi gently smashed his face against the wall after ensuring that Botan had entered her room. He instantly felt deeply terrible for doubting Botan. Considering her previous behaviour, the manner in which she rushed towards her room earlier was sufficient proof that she did not intend to avoid him. He was grateful that Botan appeared to be unaware of his doubts about her earlier.

Shuichi shut his eyes and took a deep breath. After that, he silently chuckled as he recalled Botan hurrying back to her room. He did mention that it was still early for him, didn't he? or Botan disregarded what he had said earlier. Regardless, he was relieved that she had no objection to the two of them walking off together. This would be their first outside walk together, then.

Hopefully, he wouldn't run into any of his crazed fangirls along the way. He did not want his time with Botan to be ruined. It was an exceptional circumstance that Botan wanted to come along with him on a walk, and he undoubtedly did not wish to waste this chance. He wouldn't forgive them, or himself, if they hurt Botan.

"Thank you for waiting." Botan's voice broke his deep thoughts. Botan noticed Shuichi contemplating something and questioned, "Shuichi, are you all right? Is there a problem?" Botan looked at Shuichi in concern.

Shuichi smiled at her once again and shook his head. "Nothing important. So, ready to go?" He asked as he tried to change the subject.

Botan smiled back at him and nodded, "Ready!"

____

They had been walking in comfortable silence for around 10 minutes before Botan broke the silence with a laugh. Shuichi frowned as he gave Botan a questioning glance. He inquired, "What are you laughing about?"

"You!" Botan said it as she was still laughing.

"Me?" Shuichi inquired once more. Botan's response left him even more perplexed. Did he have something on his face? Did he miss something here?

"Didn't you notice the women who were drooling over you? or are you used to receiving admiring glances from all the women you pass?" Botan enquired. She had been looking around because she sensed people were watching her, and her assumption was true; more specifically, the women who were passing by with them were adoring Shuichi, while they looked at her with a terrifying, threatening expression. Somehow, Botan considered it normal. Shuichi was a handsome man, after all. It seemed inconceivable if there was a woman who did not fall in love with him.

If she did not have any traumatic experiences with males, she might develop a crush on and fangirl over Shuichi just as much as they do.

His lack of response perplexed Botan, so she turned to face him. She observed that Shuichi had his gaze fixed on her, oblivious to her own explanation. Shuichi's bewildered expression caused Botan to chuckle again, this time louder. "So you're completely unaware of it! You're such a bad guy, Shuichi!" Botan joked as she placed her hands on her chest, pretending to be heartbroken.

To be honest, he did notice it, he could tell they were being watched but he just simply didn’t care. Besides, why would he look at another lady when he had her by his side? He had been suppressing his fury when he noticed the majority of the men they passed on their walk staring at Botan with lust. How could they dare to think about Botan, in such a nasty way? And how dare they glare back at him after what they did to his wife? He only wanted to shield his wife from the filthy glances they gave her.

Shuichi abruptly walked faster, passing Botan for a few steps before turning around to face her, causing Botan to stop walking. She suddenly stopped laughing and became apprehensive. She assumed that Shuichi thought her laughter at him was an insult. She gulped and hesitantly opened her mouth to apologize, but then closed it again as Shuichi began to talk. "Then you are also as bad as I am, Botan." Shuichi smirked as he spoke.

"Eh? What?" Botan lifted one of her eyebrows. What? Did she miss something here?

"I'll tell you something, sweetheart." Shuichi paused and laughed lightly at Botan, who was blushing. "You seemed also unaware that those men we passed were staring at you." Shuichi continued on.

"They did...? I don't think so..." Botan looks a little taken aback. She indeed detected some men looking in her direction sometimes, but she always assumed that they were looking at another woman behind her rather than herself or perhaps they were considering her unusual hair color. She was unaware that those males were directing their attention towards her because of her beauty.

Well, for Shuichi, however, this was better this way. Botan would undoubtedly be terrified of men again, including himself, if she witnessed those lustful looks those men gave her. He had already arrived at a stage where he and Botan could spend time together without any worries. They'd officially become friends. Surely he did not want to start over again.

"Shall we make them jealous, then?" Shuichi said it playfully.

"Huh?" She was going to question what he meant by making them jealous when Botan noticed Shuichi grasping her hand and interlocking their fingers. She felt Shuichi giving her a gentle squeeze. Botan was frozen and blushing as a result of his rapid movement. Despite the fact that he had already held her hand, Botan somehow sensed that Shuichi was actually still being extra cautious, and she had the impression that he was implicitly still giving her the opportunity to take her hand off of his.

His hand was warm and comforting, even though his intention was to provoke envy in those bystanders, not to convey his emotions towards her. It made her sad for various reasons, but it was best for her if Shuichi had no feelings for her. For now, she simply wanted to make the best use of their time together. She wouldn't run away from him again; she'd do whatever it took to be a good wife to him. So that when it came time to divorce, she would not have any regrets.

Botan chose to squeeze Shuichi's hand back, although she felt slightly embarrassed. She lowered her head, unaware that her actions had caused Shuichi to blush as well. The two of them kept walking hand in hand without speaking to each other. Luckily, neither of them felt awkward. Yes, they were shy and nervous, but those did not make the atmosphere surrounding them unpleasant.

"You are such a bad guy, Shuichi." Botan spoke up after noticing that Shuichi's aim to make those people jealous had been successful. She overheard some of the women criticizing Shuichi for choosing an ugly woman like her as his partner, while some men expressed disappointment that she had been taken by a feminine-looking guy.

She had accepted those women's description of her as an unattractive lady, but she could not forgive those men for referring to Shuichi as a feminine man. Yes, Shuichi had long hair, but for her, that was what made him more appealing. Shuichi, in her opinion, was an incredibly handsome man rather than feminine. Just because they were jealous, they didn't have the right to insult people.

‘Jealous, huh? If only they knew what kind of relationship Shuichi and I have.’ Botan thought.

"It is their problem to be jealous. It is natural for both of us to hold hands like this because we are husband and wife." Shuichi answered. Botan turned to face him, which made him feel nervous on the inside all of a sudden. He expected Botan to scold him, lecturing him and reminding him that their marriage was a fake. Of course, he did remember that very well; but, he didn't want Botan to bring it up again and point it out to make it more clear.

Botan just gave him a naive stare, said nothing, and blinked a few times before laughing once more. The response he received was genuinely unexpected. Not that he disliked it, though. Her laughter was wonderful, and it sounded like melody to his ears. He would gladly listen to such a voice every single day.

"Now you are blaming them after successfully making them jealous! You are so bad!" Botan spoke while still laughing out loud. Shuichi could see tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Shuichi glanced down at their hands. It appeared that Botan had no intention of releasing her hand from his grasp. Not wanting to let her go just yet, he was glad about that. However, he soon discovered something else. He was currently holding Botan's left hand, and he noticed no rings on her fingers. It caused him a bit of pain because he wore their wedding ring whenever he headed outside. He couldn't blame her because no one forced him to do so, but it would be great to see Botan wear their wedding ring as he did since they were tied up in a legal marriage. He was worried that some guys might assume Botan was unmarried, so they made the decision to approach her.

...

Once more, he was becoming excessively preoccupied with something that was unnecessary. Furthermore, he was still unsure of the true reason for Botan's decision to wear their wedding rings. She might have just wanted to avoid losing it or getting it dirty. He was certain it had nothing to do with her feigning single status in order to meet other men. Botan most likely did not have such a concept in mind.

He was acting childishly because he was jealous. Shuichi Minamino had finally developed a sense of jealousy. Shuichi took a deep breath and released it silently.

He needed a distraction.

"Botan, where are you going? Let me walk you there," he stated.

"Ah, I'm going to my uncle's apartment." Botan frowned and asked, "How far is your office, by the way?" She simply did not want Shuichi to arrive late. It would certainly be a pleasure to spend additional time with him. She was already at ease holding his hand; she wanted to hold him a little longer, but she couldn't be selfish in this position. Shuichi had to work, she refused to cause a nuisance.

"It's not too far from here. I promised you I would not be late. I always arrive at work before most other people. Allow me to escort you to your destination." Shuichi smiled.

"But my uncle's apartment is three stations away from here by train. It'll be better if I walk you to your workplace since it's near." Botan refused him.

"I don't think so. Because your uncle's house is far away, it would be better if I walked you there. Just to keep you safe." Shuichi answered. He wouldn't let a woman escort him. It was his job to do so, not hers.

Despite the fact that it was still early, Botan's safety was uncertain. Danger might show up anywhere and at any time. Yes, Botan had been travelling here and there all by herself all along, and it was already too late for Shuichi to be concerned about her safety, but it wasn't a crime to be concerned about her now. Just making sure she got to her uncle's house safely was all he wanted.

Botan frowned deeper before screaming, "That's ridiculous! It doesn't make sense at all!"

A vein appeared on Shuichi's forehead as Botan yelled at him. How could he have forgotten Botan's stubbornness?

"Whatever you say, sweetheart, I will still walk you there." Shuichi grinned and began heading towards the closest train station. They were still holding hands, thankfully, so he could easily drag Botan with him.

Botan now had to deal with Shuichi's stubbornness. It also caused a vein to appear on her forehead. She put all of her weight on her legs, preventing Shuichi from dragging her anymore. It stretched both her hand and Shuichi's. "Oh no! We are heading straight to your office now!" She successfully stopped Shuichi's step, and they were now pulling each other's hands.

"Oh, being stubborn, aren't we?" Shuichi stated it with a threatening tone.

Strangers were staring at them because it appeared as if they were competing in a rope game. They didn't care about other people's judging stares; they wouldn't stop what they were doing because neither of them was going to give up. They both had discovered something new: they shared the same level of stubbornness.

"Come on, Botan. Just give up and let me walk you there." Shuichi warned her again, hoping that Botan would give up and just allow him to escort her.

"No way! I have a reasonable explanation here while you don't!" Botan still refused him. She refused to give up this time.

“I don't see why I couldn't be concerned about your safety.” Shuichi stated.

Botan said nothing but sighed. To be very honest, Botan inwardly melted, knowing that Shuichi was worried about her safety, but for the sake of love! It was still morning and the sun was shining brightly above them! She was perfectly sure there was nothing to be worried about. "Shuichi, I'll be totally fine. You worried too mu-"

knowing what Botan would say, Shuichi interrupted her by asking, "Very well; may I change my reason, then?"

Botan blinked, "Excuse me? Change your reason?"

"Sorry, let me rephrase that," Shuichi said. "I actually have several reasons why I want to escort you. Concern about your safety is one of my reasons."

Botan tilted her head, staring puzzledly at Shuichi. "Okay, let's hear to those various reasons of yours."

Shuichi looked Botan in the eyes with a serious gaze and softly gripped her hand before speaking. His sudden action made Botan bit the inside of her cheeks out of nervousness. "I want to continue holding your hand for a little longer." Shuichi expressed it solemnly. "I hope you don't mind that." As Botan was unable to respond, he proceeded to offer additional remarks.

Botan said nothing, but it was not because she disagreed with Shuichi's reasoning. She didn't expect that kind of response from him. She felt heat on her face and knew she was blushing again. Botan honestly didn't expect that Shuichi shared her desire to hold each other's hands longer. She was, after all, the type of person who would never have the courage to say what she wanted. Botan thought that Shuichi and she were different, however, when she spotted the flush on Shuichi's cheeks, she figured that he was just like her, but he still chose to express it no matter how shy or embarrassed he was. She greatly admired his bravery in speaking up.

"I don't mind... Honestly, I'd like to hold your hand for a little while longer, too. Even so, I don't want you to go any further when your office is already right in front of you..." Botan said it softly, and she could feel herself blushing for the Nth times. She was glancing elsewhere, attempting to avoid making eye contact with Shuichi.

Did Shuichi hear that correctly? Did Botan just say out loud that she wanted to hold his hands for a little longer, exactly as he desired? He had never expected Botan would desire exactly the same things as his. Botan's admission with her own lips gave him butterflies in his stomach. It brought him great joy.

“Well then, how about I walk you to the nearest train station then we wait for the train together?” Shuichi asked. This time, he would give in, seeing that Botan was genuinely concerned about him.

With a beaming smile, Botan turned around to face him. It was most likely the biggest and brightest smile Botan had ever given him.

"Sounds good!" She stated it excitedly.

____

When Shuichi got to his office, he locked himself in his room right away. He was sitting on his desk with the computer in front of him, covering his face with one of his palms. He was attempting to remove the blush from his face.

Earlier,...

He waited for Botan's train for around 5 minutes. He was too disappointed to let go of her hand, so he kissed Botan on the forehead before the train arrived at a complete stop. There was no reason for him to do so; he just did it. He'd probably be unable to concentrate on his work, or worse, he'd regret not doing it.

As he expected, Botan's cheeks went bright red immediately after he kissed her. Botan, however, surprised him with a short peck on his cheek before quickly leaving and entering the train as soon as the door opened. She didn't face him; instead, she turned her back on him, but he assumed that Botan was blushing as a result of what she had done. Botan had never turned around to face him, even after the train door closed and it began to head off. People were staring at them—some disgusted, others filled with envy and jealousy—but he didn't care about any of that. The blue-haired lady had recently blessed him with joy after opening her heart to him a little.

He hoped this happiness would last for a bit longer. However, the day he actually wanted to skip very badly had arrived. Shuichi scheduled a meeting with Itsuki for tomorrow. He had no idea what they would talk about, but he knew it would include Botan. Regardless of the fact that Itsuki was Botan's brother, he wouldn't let him take Botan away from him. He refused to allow Itsuki to take his happiness away.

"Shuichi, are you inside?" The familiar voice outside of the room woke him up from his deep thought. He was certain that he had already advised the voice owner to take a day off and rest properly at home. Well, it probably proved where he got his stubbornness from.

"Yes, mother. I'll open the door." He got up from his seat and walked towards the door.

"I apologize for coming into the office today. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to take too much time off as the company's CEO, would it?" Shiori chuckled softly as she said it.

"I promised to take care of everything. There's no need to worry." Shuichi responded. He had allowed his mother to enter and sit across from him. "Do you have something to discuss with me, mother?" Shuichi inquired calmly.

"How is Botan?" Shiori simply asked.

"She's doing fine. What is it about?" Shuichi enquired once more. His mother's unexpected question regarding her caused him to be puzzled.

"I didn't give her the proper thanks for taking me home yesterday. If I ask her to go out to dinner someday, do you think she'll agree? Should I just make her something instead?" Shiori appeared extremely serious and deliberated intently as she stated, "However, I have no idea what she likes."

Shuichi gave his mother a smile. It pleased him to learn that his mother had the same concern for Botan. "I am confident Botan will appreciate anything you make. Don't you also have Botan's phone number? Why don't you just ask her directly?" Shuichi enquired.

"No; Botan might reject it. Undoubtedly, her response would be, 'You don’t have to do that. There's no need to thank me.' or something like that. I believe she did that to you at least once." Shiori stared at her son and smiled sadly.

Shuichi laughed at the accuracy of his mother's words. "She did it several times, actually."

"Okay, that's settled, then. I'll get something ready for her without her knowing. May I ask for your assistance in figuring out what Botan likes, and then inform me afterward?" Shiori asked.

"Sure, Mother. I'll try to obtain the information as quickly as possible.” said Shuichi. He was delighted to assist his mother because he could also learn something more about Botan.

Once Shuichi had agreed, Shiori smiled and got up, getting ready to leave the room.

"Mother, wait," Shuichi proclaimed before his mother could even begin to move. "I have something to inform you." he continued.

Shiori noticed the seriousness in her son's voice. She couldn't help but wonder what he wanted to discuss. "What is it, dear?" She asked, then returned to her seat as she calmly waited for her son to go on.

"I decided to extend this marriage for a little longer," said Shuichi.

Shiori's eyes widened because of the unexpected news. She never expected her son to discuss the marriage she had established for him by mistake. She had so many questions in her head that she couldn't express them. She was very perplexed. Her son's statement left her unsure of how to react. Happy? Guilty? Worry? She didn't know.

Shuichi grinned slightly as he sensed his mother's anxious feelings. "You don't have to feel guilty or anything. This is entirely what I want. It has nothing to do with you or the companies." He said as he tried to assure his mother.

"Have you discussed it with Botan?" That was the very first inquiry that slipped from her lips.

"Yes, she had agreed to it." Shuichi said while smiling.

Shiori felt immense joy. Having affection for both Botan and her son, she naturally desired for them to become a real couple. She did not, however, have the authority to rule their lives. She had made a mistake once and would not repeat it.

Shiori said nothing but gave her son a smile. The moment for her son to find love had finally come, and she was somehow kind of unable to believe it. She noticed it the night before, when Shuichi refused to stay the night, despite the fact that it was already late. At that moment, he seemed eager and desirous of returning home, as if he was missing someone so badly. Of course, Shuichi had not told her about his fondness for Botan, but she was not blind. She could see and feel her son's affection for the blue-haired woman, although she was still unsure how big it was.

"For how much longer are you planning to remain in this marriage?" Shiori inquired.

"I'm not sure; I haven't thought about it yet," he replied. Shuichi merely intended to keep this marriage going for as long as he possibly could without worrying about the specific time limit.

Shiori blinked for several minutes. She fixed her gaze on her son, who appeared perplexed by his own emotions. "Please don't hurt her, okay?" Shiori enquired. She wished for her son to grow into a gentleman who treated all people with respect, especially women. She definitely did not want her son to cause harm to Botan. She was incredibly fond of the young woman. Botan was like a daughter she never imagined she would need. At one point, she even thought about asking Botan to do shopping, go to the coffee shop, and visit beautiful places with her. Most likely, a date between a mother and her daughter.

"I swear to you that I will never cause Botan any harm, either mentally or physically." Shuichi said as he gave his mother an assuring gaze.

After hearing that, Shiori knew that her son truly meant it with every single word he said.

___

Botan had already left the train station and was going along the street of her uncle's apartment complex. She had been hiding her face with both palms since getting on the train. She could not properly bid him farewell since she was too afraid to check up on Shuichi's reaction after she gave him a kiss on the cheek. As soon as Botan kissed him, she dashed into the train, not turning back to look at Shuichi until the train left the station. All Shuichi could see was Botan's back.

It was Shuichi's second kiss on her forehead. She had absolutely no idea how to react to his action, which is why she kissed him on the cheek. Actually, even if he hadn't given her a kiss earlier, she had already formed the intention of kissing Shuichi's cheeks in the first place. However, she never imagined that she would actually do that. She expected herself to be afraid to do it and simply abandon her plan, like she always did in the past.

She couldn't notice the strange people who were staring at her since she was still shielding her flushing face with both hands. She felt a little bad about what she did, but she was also glad that she did it. She probably could not have maintained concentration today if she had not kissed Shuichi earlier.

Indeed, that had already happened. She couldn't change the circumstances. The only issue here was how to deal with Shuichi later, while they meet at home. Was Shuichi angry with her because of what she had done to him earlier? Was he upset because she didn't turn around to say her last farewell before the train left? Or did he mind what she did to him? Her mind was racing with questions, and she started to feel guilty.

She was already standing in front of the entrance to her uncle's apartment, as she was on the verge of ringing the doorbell. However, before she could accomplish it, someone on the other side opened it and caused it to bang Botan on the forehead quite hard. "Ouch!" Botan cried. All of her thoughts related to Shuichi were quickly forgotten.

The moment Bui, who had just opened the door, noticed his niece kneeling, hiding her forehead using her hand, and groaning in agony, he was overcome with sudden panic. "Botan!"

Somehow, Botan felt like she was having deja vu.

“I'm sorry. Does it truly hurt?" Kneeling next to her, Bui placed a gentle palm on Botan's head.

“I’ll be fine...” Botan said this while continuing to wrap her forehead with her palm.

"Let's go inside." Bui, who was ready to throw out the garbage bag, quickly stopped what he was doing and assisted his niece in entering his apartment. After he had cleansed both of his hands, he prepared an ice bag for Botan to compress her forehead. He handed her the ice bag and asked, "What brings you here?"

Botan fixed her attention on her uncle's forehead scars; to her, they were more invisible than before she met him in the park with her brother. She was relieved that it had already gotten better, but she couldn't help but wonder what the scars looked like when they were fresh. Botan clenched her hand fiercely. She almost lost him, the guy who had cared for her since she was born. Thankfully, he was fine now since he was standing in front of her in good health; however, what if he did not survive that time?

Botan closed her eyes, attempting not to sob in front of her uncle's face. She opened it again, smiling slightly at him. "I'd like to give you this medication. Koenma recommended this to me. According to him, it effectively removed some scars in just a few weeks. Perhaps you could give that a shot." She said this as she handed over the cream medicine to her uncle.

After accepting the medication, Bui thanked his niece. "So you came here just to give me this? You can contact me so that I can have my assistant grab it, you know," he said. He honestly didn't mind Botan's visiting his apartment. He was nevertheless concerned about Botan's well-being. He simply did not want Botan to exhaust herself by coming here.

"No. That would prevent me from seeing your face. The reason I want to give the medication directly to you is because I miss you as well." Botan pouted as she spoke. Did her uncle just reject her? Did he fail to notice her absence the way she did? The thought of her uncle not missing her as much as she did almost made Botan cry.

Bui chuckled. He approached Botan and gently stroked her head. "You know that isn't what I'm trying to say." Bui spoke again after noticing the shift in Botan's expression. "I was worried about you, that's all." He continued.

Botan smiled once again. "I hope that I'm not bothering you by coming over without informing you first," she stated.

"You are always welcome to come here." Bui said it warmly.

Botan embraced her uncle tightly before stating, "I'd like to thank you and be sorry for everything. You gave up your CEO position for my freedom. I really love you, uncle Bui."

Bui returned Botan's hug immediately. "I did it for you because I love you, Botan. There's no need to apologize.” He stated. Bui adored Botan more than most people could imagine. He and Botan were probably just uncle and niece, but he loved and cherished her as his own daughter. It was possibly because he and his late wife had hoped to have a daughter after they married, but that did not happen because his late wife died three months after their wedding.

No, he first felt sympathetic to Botan actually. He recalled his older brother's complaints about having a fragile baby girl. His brother had anticipated having a new baby boy because the eldest child, Itsuki, showed no interest in business. Bui remembers his elder brother telling him he didn't want the baby girl.

Then Bui decided to pay a visit to the baby at his brother's place. He couldn't believe his older brother meant what he said about not wanting the newborn baby. When he walked into the house, he could hear the baby's weeping voice from the door. Nonetheless, the fact that nobody ever came to pay the newborn baby a visit broke his heart greatly. His brother and his wife simply ignored the crying sound, and Itsuki, the elder brother, walked past his baby sister's room without even looking at the door. How could they torture a helpless baby so cruelly? It was not the baby's fault for being born with a fragile body.

Entering the baby's chamber, he stepped over to see how the child was doing. Once he went into the room, he moved closer to the chamber, intending to make her stop crying. He fell in love with the infant the moment he laid eyes on her. When he arrived, the baby stopped crying and began to giggle. Bui lifted her up while staring at her innocent, round pink eyes, which were also looking back at him. The baby then giggled as her hands wandered around, attempting to touch his face. He pulled her closer so the baby would be able to touch his face easily; however, instead of touching it, the baby hugged his face.

It was the very first time they had met, and it also happened to be the day he began to cherish Botan and consider her his own daughter. He had no prior experience caring for a newborn, but he promised to try his best. He was willing to do whatever it took to make her happy.

When Botan grown enough to be able to walk and talk, Bui took her away from the house to bring her to live at his apartment. He couldn't let her stay in that house any longer because everyone was rude to her, even though she was only a little child.

Two years after bringing her home, Itsuki unexpectedly paid a visit to his uncle's house and kneeled in front of him once he opened the door for the little boy. Itsuki repeatedly pleaded with him, stating that he desired to meet his younger sister in order to express his remorse. Bui had hoped that Itsuki would accept his younger sister and started caring about her, but he didn't expect it to happen for real.

He was relieved to know that someone other than himself cared for Botan.

Bui let go of the hug before peering at her and saying, "You appeared to have lost weight; come have breakfast with us; Today is Itsuki’s turn to cook breakfast."

After hearing what Bui said, Botan frowned a little. She had forgotten that her brother had chosen to live with Uncle Bui after they returned to Japan. "Where is he anyway?" Botan asked.

Before Botan could respond, her brother appeared from behind her in the corridor. He had already dressed up in the white shirt and long black pants, but his hair remained drenched, and a towel clung to his shoulder. "Uncle, it's time for you to take a bath." He remarked this while still attempting to dry his front hair with a towel. He was closing his eyes, oblivious to the presence of his younger sister.

Bui said, patting Botan's head, "I'll take a shower now. Feel free to do anything you want here."

Itsuki ceased his activity immediately in an attempt to determine with whom his uncle was speaking. His eyes opened as he stared at Botan, who was smiling broadly at him. "Wow, there's a monster here." He said it with a humorous tone.

Botan's grin vanished in an instant, replaced by a profound frown. She grabbed a cushion off the sofa and tossed it to her brother, which Itsuki easily avoided. His younger sister's rage made him chuckle out loud. He repeated, in a playful manner, "And as wild as ever."

"Shut up!" Botan screamed. She crossed her hands in front of her while maintaining a pout on her lips as she sat down on the sofa.

Bui shook his head and walked by Itsuki, who remained standing in the corridor, saying, "Cook extra foods for Botan, okay?"

Itsuki gave a confident nod. "Don't worry. Just take your time." Itsuki stated. He approached Botan, who was glaring at the television in front of her. He sat down next to her. “So, everything okay?” he asked.

After giving a nod, Botan stated, "Everything is fine. I just want to give Uncle some medicine, and I miss you both. I hope my presence didn't bother you both."

Itsuki gripped Botan's shoulder and gently pulled her closer, causing her to collide with him. Itsuki gently kissed his younger sister's temple and then laid his chin on the top of her head. "You're the most pleasant interruption. Aside from that, we are just getting ready and still have plenty of time to get to work." He explained.

Botan smiled and shut her eyes. Her nose detected Itsuki's scents, and she suddenly felt nostalgic. She embraced her brother often when she was younger before her uncle took her away, which reminded her of how badly she missed him. He was indeed rude to her when they were young, but she never hated him.

This time, she didn't need to hesitate to hug him back because Itsuki was her older brother. She clutched him firmly, not wanting to let go. "I'm glad to know that," she added kindly. Allowing his sister to give him a hug, Itsuki simply stayed there silently and repeatedly gave Botan a gentle pat on the shoulder.

Itsuki inwardly wondered if Botan had already found out his plan for meeting Shuichi tomorrow. He didn't instruct Shuichi to keep it a secret from Botan, so he anticipated that Shuichi would inform her, prompting Botan's visit. However, it appeared that Botan was still unaware of the plan, or perhaps she was reluctant to discuss it with him. He needed to know, "Is everything alright there? Between you and that Minamino guy, I mean." Itsuki decided to ask.

"Yes, everything is okay." She casually uttered this with her eyes closed and her head resting on her brother's shoulder.

That’s it? It was too easy. He was hoping for more justifications. Just knowing that everything was going smoothly wasn't enough for him. He stared at his sister, who was shutting her eyes and putting her head against his chest. "Look at me, Botan. You're not hiding anything from me, are you? I do not want you to remain silent in order to protect him. If he has done something wrong with you, please inform me this time." Itsuki spoke in a worried tone.

The girl opened her eyes and lifted her head so she could look at her brother. She had blinked several times before breaking into a broad smile. "I appreciated you worrying about me. But this time, I am telling the truth. Everything is fine. Shuichi and his mother treated me quite well. I got a lot of help from him." Botan had eventually disclosed to Itsuki the small snacks that Shuichi had made for her the night before, despite having already informed Shuichi she would not be eating dinner.

Itsuki intended to ask more since he felt suspicious about Shuichi's attitude. He was grateful that his sister didn't skip dinner thanks to Shuichi, but it didn't ease his worry at all. He was afraid Shuichi was being very nice to Botan because he wanted something from her. However, he couldn't even voice his thoughts. Botan looked comfortable with the situation. In the past, Botan always appeared cautious, scared, and uncomfortable, as if stalkers were watching her. However, this time, she looked more comfortable, and finally she could feel the fresh air around her. Itsuki wanted to meet Shuichi so badly, but he had to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully, he could get every answer to satisfy his curiosity.

He would do anything to see how serious Shuichi was with his sister. But if he found out that Shuichi was using his sister for his own benefit, he would be glad to teach him some lessons. He didn't care, even if he needed to use violence. He would protect Botan this time; he wouldn't let other people hurt her again.

"Brother, please don't hurt Shuichi." Botan spoke up out of nowhere. Her brother's unexpected silence caused a shift in the atmosphere. She sensed a menacing feeling surrounding her.

"Why did you say that?" Itsuki asked.

"You were quiet all of a sudden." Botan said.

Itsuki said nothing but sighed. Of course, as long as Shuichi didn't hurt Botan, he wouldn't do violent things to him. But, if he saw him do something inappropriate to his sister even once, he would forget Shuichi's thousand acts of kindness and would undoubtably kill him with his own hands.

He gave Botan another peck on the top of her head, and he stood up from the sofa afterward, breaking Botan's hug. "It depends on the situation. If he hurts you, I'll kill him." He said it firmly.

Botan laughed before rising in the same manner as her brother. "All right, all right. Please do not hurt him for now. He treated me very nicely."

Itsuki said nothing more until he inquired, "How long are you intending to keep this marriage?" as he raised his eyebrows.

"For however long Shuichi desires. You are aware that I had no other choice," stated Botan. She couldn't inform her brother that she had decided to extend her marriage to Shuichi.

Itsuki scowled. "What about him? Has he made any progress on it yet?"

Even though Botan had to inform her brother, she was too terrified to inform him about Shuichi's request from last night, so she said, "No, he hasn't shown any signs of moving toward divorcing me." Actually, it wasn't completely a lie. Shuichi has not made any moves to divorce her; instead, he chose to extend the marriage, which wasn't what Itsuki asked for.

This irritated Itsuki greatly. Shuichi was undoubtedly plotting something surreptitiously. He felt uneasy about it, like he wanted to throw up. He fears that he will be unable to shield his younger sister once more. He did not want to witness his sister's self-harm. He could no longer bear to see her own blood on the floor once again. Itsuki must have interrogated Shuichi about the plans he had. No matter how good Shuichi was to his sister, he would never be easy on him.

"We'll talk about this again later; For now, I have to make breakfast. You sit here, watch television, or read magazines." Itsuki chose to change the subject. He hurriedly approached the kitchen without waiting for Botan's response, desiring to conceal his displeasure from her.

Botan had planned to spend time with them for a while but ended up staying until late afternoon. She had no idea what to anticipate upon entering an apartment filled exclusively with males. Upon entering the restroom after breakfast, Botan was shocked to discover a multitude of soiled garments strewn across the room's floor. Then she went straight to her brother and uncle's bedroom and witnessed something that caused her to scream loudly. She was at a loss for words to describe the things she had seen. The word "messy" still appeared to be a very too nice word to use for this situation. It was most likely that the abandoned house was more orderly and cleaner than their rooms.

Botan immediately pushed them out of the apartment, ordering them to get to work right away so that she could clean those rooms. Both of them tried to convince her that they could take care of their rooms on weekends, but their attempts were fruitless. She understood they were busy because they still held an important position in the company, and as a result, they were unable to tidy their rooms. Moving on, she was certain that they would run out of energy to organize their rooms and would rather lay down and sleep with all of the filth around them.

She would not allow them to rest in such places. She knew they did not want to tire her out, but it was the only thing that she could do after everything they'd done for her. Her desire was for them to have a cozy place to sleep. Of course, Botan could have completed the cleaning at least two or three hours sooner, but she needed to rest when she became tired. She acknowledged that some people were still concerned about her well-being, so she stopped pushing herself too hard. She did not want to cause any concern.

Botan was astonished to see the sky turning dark; this meant she had to leave the apartment as soon as possible before her uncle and brother returned. Both of them were undoubtedly going to give her a long, boring lecture about cleaning the entire room. Fortunately, being a brand new apartment, they could automatically lock the door, enabling her to leave without any issues.

Botan was heading to the railway station now. She had been walking for several minutes when she became aware of an anomaly. It appeared that someone was following her. She was too terrified to glance back; all she could think about was how she needed to go quicker toward the subway or somewhere else with a lot of people. She started running but was quickly stopped by three males who barred her path. After a moment, she turned around and saw the man who had been pursuing her from behind. Botan's heart was racing, and she was chilly and sweating. They terrified her a lot.

"Don't be afraid, sweatheart; we just want to talk with you for a minute." a man before her, said.

Botan opened her mouth, slightly trembling. "W-what do you want?" she asked as if she were trying to be calm.

Instead of responding, one of the men who was standing behind her grabbed Botan's wrist and smirked when he observed her startled reaction. "We simply would like to chat; how about we have our conversation there?" He said this while pointing to a dark, empty alley nearby.

Botan instantly yelled, "No! Help-" Before Botan could finish her screams, a hand covered her mouth. They forcibly marched her to the dark alley, as they had previously indicated. They shoved Botan, causing her back to smash into the wall. They were all standing right in front of her. Botan stood frozen, her body trembling.

"We can't just let you leave, dear. We'll probably think about releasing you if you give us something," one of the men remarked. A different man who had successfully taken Botan's bag was unhappy to discover that there was no wallet inside. Of course, Botan didn't need her wallet because she never bought things outside unless she had an appointment or had a plan to buy something. Today's plan was to make a visit to her uncle's place and then return home.

“Damn this woman has no wallet inside her bag.”

"That's too bad. Then we ought to make an agreement; what do you think?" One of the men muttered this as he grasped Botan's chin and forced her to look at him. Botan glared at him before opening her mouth, saying, "No! Let me go!"

"Shut your mouth." The individual stated, He let go of Botan's chin and quickly choked her neck firmly.

Botan screamed because the man's actions reminded her of something that had occurred to her a long time ago. It brought back memories of all the horrible treatment she had gotten from her ex. Botan shut her eyes firmly and tried her hardest to shake this man's hand off her neck. "Please let go..." Botan spoke softly. Please do not let her go through this again. Tears gathered on the corners of her eyes.

"Look, Boss! Her necklace appears to be of high quality; why don't we take it?" Among the three men positioned behind the boss, one raised his voice. While maintaining his grasp on Botan's neck, the boss removed the necklace using his free hand. "This is not enough. We should have some fun with her first."

The man tightened his grasp on Botan's neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. Botan's only option was to pray for help. She was terrified to open her eyes, as she was able to sense the man's breathing near her face. His free hand was clutching Botan's collar, trying to take off her shirt.

Then Botan heard something slam into the floor and some screaming of pain before realizing the hand that had been choking her was gone. She fell down and sat on the floor without opening her eyes. Her whole body was trembling violently. Botan lowered her head, trying to stop crying, while her hands struggled to hold her shirt closed.

The boss looked behind him and found out that his three friends were already lying down on the ground with their hands and legs broken. "What the hell?! He screamed, "What are you,... Aarrghh!!!!" as the sound of a cracking bone and the slam of something or someone's body into the ground filled the air.

"Arrghh! Stop! Please stop!!" another screaming, followed by another cracking bone.

"Stop? Why should I?"

Botan slowly opened her eyes after hearing a very calm voice that did not belong to the men who had attacked her. Her eyes grew wide as she met the voice's owner's face.

‘Shuichi...’

Shuichi was standing in front of her, clutching the collar of the man who had suffocated her. She wasn't sure whether she saw everything correctly, but Shuichi appeared really upset. She had never, it seemed, seen anyone else so furious in her life.

Shuichi appeared to have broken both the man's face and arms. Behind them, three men lay on the ground, unconscious, with shattered limbs and legs, and Botan believed that Shuichi was the one who did all of this. He did all of this to save her.

"With these broken arms, you will no longer be able to harm women ever again. However, breaking your legs seems fun as well."

"Please! Stop! Let me go! I'm begging you!"

"You refused to let her go when she asked you to, didn't you?" Shuichi asked coldly.

"I apologize! Please, I'm... You have my word that I will never again corner women!! Please!!” The man begged once more but was immediately punched in the face, causing him to collide on the ground again. Shuichi moved closer to the man, grabbing his collar once more. The man's face was already in terrible shape; he'd probably die for another punch.

"Not convincing. You and people like you deserve to die." Shuichi spoke with his free hand clenched, preparing to deliver another blow to the man.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Please have some mercy..." The man said it weakly.

"Mercy?! After what you did to MY WIFE?! If you had messed up with another woman, I might punch you once, but you've been messing around with my woman!" Shuichi shouted.

Botan swore she just heard Shuichi growl. Botan's heart rate increased as she heard Shuichi's remarks and actions. She had never seen someone so enraged for her sake before. She wasn't sure how, but Shuichi had rescued her just before those men did something worse to her.

"How dare you ask for mercy after you did?!" Shuichi stated it as he simply gave him another punch on the nose. This time, he delivered his most powerful punch.

"I'm truly sorry! I apologize! Please! I apologize for messing with you, ma'am. I'm so sorry! Please stop him!" He stated it again in fear after watching Shuichi get ready to punch him again. He kept apologizing to Botan, who sat on the floor.

"Shut up! I will kill you!" Shuichi exclaimed, starting to swing his fist toward the man once more.

Botan, who had fallen with her legs trembling, promptly stood up and immediately hugged Shuichi from the back. "Shuichi, stop..." In a whisper, she said. She was relieved to hear that Shuichi had done this for her justice, yet killing the man who had attacked her did not seem right.

Shuichi paused when Botan hugged him. Without taking his attention away from the man who had attacked her, he murmured, "Don't you dare stop me, Botan. I have to teach this guy some lessons." He said this, still staring deathly at the man.

"You already did. That's more than enough, please." Botan tightened the hug.

"He attacked you." Shuichi said it coldly.

"But Shuichi, you saved me... You came before he could harm me..." Botan pleaded. "Please, Shuchi... That’s enough... Let him go..." She pleaded as her body started to shake once more. She most definitely didn't want to be the reason behind someone's death.

"You took something from her. Where is it?" Shuichi asked.

"It was in my shirt's pocket..." The man said.

Shuichi promptly pulled the necklace from the man's pocket and remained in his current posture for a few moments before deciding to toss him to the ground. The man collapsed near his unconscious buddies on the floor and eventually lost consciousness.

Shuichi took a long breath, attempting to keep his temper under control. He couldn't turn back his current emotions since they would scare Botan. He didn't want Botan to feel terrified of him, especially since he was already so close to her. He chose to examine the item in his hand before he turned around. Shuichi's eyes widened the moment he realized what it was.

As soon as Shuichi sensed Botan had loosened the hug, he turned around and immediately embraced her back, concealing his face in the process. He was still really angry. He was angry with the individuals who had harmed her, and he was angry at Botan for preventing him from killing those men. Shuichi grabbed Botan tightly and kissed her temple as one of his hands rested on her nape. Botan's scent made him feel at ease, and he was gradually able to let go of his rage. He began to slide his lips down Botan's temple and onto her cheeks. "Next time, don't stop me, Botan." he murmured softly.

Botan closed her eyes tightly, feeling her cheeks heat up as Shuichi kissed her temple and cheek. She was positive that her face was currently as red as a tomato. Moreover, the kiss was so tender that it nearly rendered her legs weak. She placed her head on Shuichi's shoulder while placing both hands on his waist and tightly squeezing his shirt. "You arrived before they had the opportunity to hurt me. Thank you for helping me." Botan spoke softly.

Shuichi stayed silent, as he could feel Botan's body trembling. He figured Botan was still in shock over what happened. "You're safe now. I will not let anyone touch you." He stroked Botan's nape tenderly as he stated this. Botan, concealing her face on Shuichi's shoulder, merely nodded silently to him. She was certain she wouldn't be able to talk since Shuichi's words and touch caused her stomach to flutter.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Botan had finally spoken up; she kept thanking Shuichi several times.

Shuichi had finally let go of the embrace. He took hold of Botan's hand and returned the necklace to her. "This is our wedding ring, isn't it?" Shuichi inquired gently.

Botan gazed at the necklace Shuichi had placed on her palm. She gave a small smile and nodded in answer.

Shuichi asked, "Have you been wearing this ring as a necklace all this time?"

Botan simply nodded again. This time, she had a hint of blush on her cheeks. "I tried to put it on my finger, but it no longer fit. The ring was now too large for my finger, and it appeared that I had dropped a lot of weight." She explained.

He remembered how heartbroken he felt this morning when he discovered that Botan did not wear their wedding ring like him. However, it turned out to be a misunderstanding. He was happy now but at the same time, he was also remorseful for making a false assumption about Botan.

_____

Shuichi and Botan had finally left the dark street and walked into the park. Botan sat on the bench as Shuichi purchased a drink from the nearby vending machine. Botan lowered her head, her body still obviously trembling. Shuichi could tell Botan was still startled by what had occurred.

"Botan..." Shuichi gave her a gentle call.

It prompted her to open her eyes and raise her head. Shuichi seemed extremely concerned about her. It wasn't her desire to worry him, but what did she expect from herself with such a frail body where she could not even protect herself from harm?

Shuichi kneeled in front of her, holding both of her hands. It was such a gentle touch, like if he was holding something very fragile. When Shuichi felt the tremble in Botan's palm, he frowned. "I am sorry, Botan." He stated.

Botan had blinked innocently several times before frowning. "Shuichi, you saved me. Why are you apologizing to me?"

With a sorrowful smile, Shuichi tightened his hold on Botan's hands. "If only I had arrived earlier, they may have had no opportunity to touch you."

Botan bit her lip as Shuichi finished speaking. She was to blame for being so helpless. It was her own fault for not being able to protect herself. She often caused everyone to be worried, and as a result, many people made sacrifices for her. She was the one who needed to apologize; why him? "Shuichi, you are not my bodyguard; you can't protect me all the time. You don't have to feel sorry, apologize, or take responsibility if I get hurt." She spoke with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You saved me. I am extremely appreciative of that, and I'm the one who needs to apologize to you for causing you to fight. You put yourself in danger because of me." Botan firmly squeezed Shuichi's hands.

"Botan, I did not put myself in danger." Shuichi refuted. To be honest, he had no idea what she meant by danger.

"Yes, you did. Do you know why I got involved? I can't let you kill him, even though I want to exact revenge. I do not want you to go to prison because of me. I was already happy knowing that someone fought for me. So do not apologize." As she spoke, Botan started to weep. "I am a burden here, which means I'm the one who needs to apologize to you, to my brother, to my uncle, to everyone."

Shit. He made her weep and made her feel like a burden. He hadn't thought about it until then. He didn't consider the possibility of going to jail for killing those men. He was impressed that, even though she was in danger, she was still concerned about him and his future.

"Botan, we care about you. That is why we are eager to protect you whenever we can. You are not a burden, and you did not burden us." Shuichi rose to his feet, sat down beside her, and embraced her, causing one of her shoulders to collide with his.

He kissed her temple gently once more. "I'm not sure about other people, but I really meant it when I said you're not a burden. I truly meant it when I said that I cared about you. I really meant it when I stated that I wanted to protect you." He smiled when Botan raised her head to face him.

Botan who was still sobbing, suddenly turned pink, which Shuichi thought was very cute.

"I hope you stop calling yourself a burden. There are probably plenty of people who consider you a burden, but you still must keep in mind that there are also a number of people who consider you valuable and important." Shuichi stated this with sincerity. 'Including me.' Shuichi uttered a silent word.

He hadn't gotten Botan to answer his comment, but that didn't bother him. Because he knew Botan, she paid close attention to everything he said. She was not the kind to readily dismiss or forget everyone else's words so easily. And to top it off, Botan hid her face on his chest the moment after he finished his words. He couldn't see her face, but he could see how red her ears were. Shuichi remained silent and then wrapped his arms around Botan.

After releasing the hug, he handed Botan the warm canned tea he had purchased earlier. "Don't forget to drink this; then let's head home after you finish it," said Shuichi.

“Thank you, Shuichi.”

They were both oblivious to the fact that someone was observing them from behind the tree, a few meters away from their current spot, because they were too engrossed in each other's company.

____

Finally, the day for Shuichi and Itsuki's meeting had come. Shuichi was heading to the cafe, where he was scheduled to meet with Itsuki. When he entered the coffee shop, he went straight up to the rooftop and observed the view of Itsuki standing and gazing at the sky, his back facing Shuichi.

Itsuki turned around once he heard the doorbell on the rooftop ring. He was now facing Shuichi, who had recently arrived. "Thanks for coming." Itsuki spoke in a neutral tone before silently gesturing toward the table, instructing Shuichi to take a seat there.

Even after taking a seat, Shuichi and Itsuki stayed mute because they hadn't spoken yet. It made Shuichi nervous on the inside.

"I believe you're aware of precisely why I arranged for us to meet up." Itsuki eventually spoke up, breaking the silence.

"About the partnership project and perhaps about Botan as well." Shuichi said calmly.

"Are you certain that you want to pursue this collaborative project? Do you still want to work with Imai's company?" Itsuki enquired.

Shuichi scowled as he attempted to comprehend the meaning behind his query. "Do you mind elaborating?" He chose to inquire after being unable to figure out the answer.

Itsuki took his glass and sipped tea before responding to Shuichi's question. "You endanger everyone in your company. You'd just let my father make you his slave. You needed to do everything he ordered you, and if you objected, he'd definitely get rid of people who objected to him."

Shuichi clenched his hands tightly under the table. "Has this happened before?"

Itsuki stated, "Yes, it happened before, but that's not important now," as he laid his back on the chair. "I'm here to warn you regarding how dangerous my father is. So, I want you to carefully consider whether to accept this project before it officially starts."

Shuichi was unable to react to Itsuki's statement. He actually had a plan to reject this idea already. But still, wouldn't it be bad for him and the company if he called it off? He remembered how eager Itsuki's father was to seek a collaboration with Minamino's company.

If he abandoned this plan, the man would most likely harm his mother. What about Botan, then? How would he treat his daughter? Would he be upset and blame her for not being able to keep the marriage? Would he force her to remarry someone from a different company? Whether to continue or stop the project, either choice was equally dangerous.

Shuichi discovered his voice and made the decision to speak. "Aren't you supposed to convince me to continue the project?" Shuichi asked.

"I don't work in that company for my father's sake. Besides, I discovered a severe issue within the company. We're actually still looking for the truth, however, we aim to exercise caution to avoid drawing your company into this issue. If the whole truth comes to light, we don't want to take the blame." Itsuki explained.

"Don't worry. I actually already planned to cancel this partnership project," Shuichi remarked.

Itsuki gave Shuichi a direct glance before saying, "Isn't that lovely? You'll be able to protect your people and get away from this fake marriage."

Shuichi sent him a sharp glance in return. "I apologize for disappointing you. The decision to abandon the partnership business is unrelated to our marriage. I may have agreed to drop the project, but that doesn't mean that I have agreed to divorce your sister." Shuichi spoke calmly.

Itsuki turned to face Shuichi again and gave him a deadly glare. "Your marriage serves as a bridge for the partnerships between both of our companies; considering that we decided to end it, this marriage is no longer necessary."

"Indeed. However, it is still up to Botan and me to decide—not the company," said Shuichi.

"What are you implying here, Minamino?" Itsuki enquired. Shuichi believed that he heard a growl from the man before him.

"Do you think you are able to guarantee Botan's safety? I'm not convinced you can adequately protect her, that's all." While tilting his head, Shuichi spoke.

"Are you telling me her safety is better with you than with me? Do you even know who you are? You're merely a stranger who was getting forced to marry my little sister." Itsuki exclaimed after pounding the table hard enough to spill their coffee.

A devious smirk appeared on Shuichi's face. He softly leaned back against the chair, crossing both hands across the front of his chest. "You really have no idea exactly what I'm trying to say here, do you?"

Itsuki squeezed his fists hard, hoping to get rid of Shuichi's smirk. "I'm not in the mood for some jokes." With a menacing tone, he said it.

Shuichi remained silent and fixed his confident gaze back into Itsuki's eyes. "If you can protect Botan, explain why you allowed all of these awful things to happen to her. Why did you let this marriage happen? Botan would not have had to go through life with the trauma she received in the past. Most importantly, whatever happened eight years ago would never have occurred. You are telling me that you have the ability to protect Botan?"

Itsuki's eyes widened upon being directly hit on the chest by Shuichi's comments. Shuichi was correct. Unfortunately, he had to admit that he couldn't adequately protect his younger sister. Even the argument that he was unable to defend her because he was still young was not acceptable. It was the reason he wanted to shield her this time. He wished for Botan to be able to enjoy the happiness she genuinely deserves. Itsuki lowered his head and shut his eyes firmly. He felt his own shame and sorrow for what he'd done to her surge in him again.

Shuichi observed the guy in front of him intently. His eyes softened as he sensed Itsuki's guilt. He wasn't sure what Itsuki did to Botan, but Itsuki seems to have regretted it. Shuichi understood Itsuki was only a human being like him. He was fully aware that humans sometimes make mistakes. He didn't mean to assault Itsuki in that way, but he wanted Itsuki to know he was on his side. His goal was to shield Botan from harm as much as possible. Wouldn't it be preferable if there were more people protecting Botan?

"I'm sorry, Itsuki. I sincerely apologise for offending you." Shuichi spoke to break the silence. "Please let me protect Botan as well. I promise you that I am on your side. I don't intend to cause her any harm. If I wanted to harm or offend her, don't you think that I might've done it over the past six months? I swear to you that I won't ever hurt her." Shuichi said this right into Itsuki's eyes.

In an attempt to uncover deceit in Shuichi's eyes, Itsuki turned to face him back. Even though he failed to find one, he still very much doubted him. "How can I know if it isn't an empty promise? That man provided me with the exact same promise, but he seriously harmed Botan in the end."

Shuichi smiled miserably. "I cherish my mother in the same way that you cherish your sister. My assistant rushed my mother to the hospital after she passed out while attending a meeting. I didn't know about it because I didn't have my phone with me. But later, when I arrived at night, I noticed Botan there. She had been with my mother for nearly the whole day. Botan also accompanied my mother on her discharge from the hospital yesterday. I'm still very grateful for that."

Shuichi lost his smile and replaced it with a stern and confident expression. "I couldn't hurt her, even if I really wanted to. For the time being, you must concentrate on investigating the matter with your father, and I will remain here to protect Botan. I'll keep this collaboration going until you discover the truth. You're not responsible for everything; I've prepared for both the best and worst."

"So, does that mean you have no intention to divorce her anytime soon?" Itsuki simply asked.

"I am uncertain whether Botan has already informed you of this, but I intended to extend the duration of our marriage. Botan has accepted my request." Shuichi said calmly.

Itsuki took a long breath and then let it out. He closed his eyes and placed his palm on his forehead. No wonder Botan appeared to be concealing something yesterday. She most likely didn't tell him because she was afraid it would upset him.

Was it finally time for her to let someone new into her heart? Did she do so because she was content with Shuichi? Or could she do so because she had been careless again?

What's he supposed to do? All he wanted was to keep his younger sister safe. All he really wanted to do was separate her from this man, but what if his actions made her unhappy? And what if he committed the same mistake again by allowing his sister to continue this marriage for a little longer?

"Why?" was the only word that came out of Itsuki's lips.

"I need time," Shuichi answered.

"What for?" Itsuki asked again calmly. He was inwardly doing his best to be calm for as long as possible.

Shuichi remained silent for a few minutes before he answered, "I... I want to know her better."

"Know her better? Are you in love with my sister, Minamino?" Itsuki inquired once more, but this time his tone was icy.

"I don't know..." Shuichi said it hesitantly.

"So you decided to stay married in order to help yourself figure out how you feel about Botan? Does that imply that you will throw her away if you have come to the conclusion that you don't love her? Didn't you think Botan might develop feelings for you during the process? What would you do if she eventually fell in love with you but you didn't? Are you playing around with my sister's heart?" Itsuki peppered Shuichi with questions.

"That's not what I'm trying to-"

"Shut up." Itsuki abruptly interrupted him. "You weren't even aware of your affection towards my sister, yet you dare enough to make the request to remain in this marriage going for a bit longer?" He asked.

No. That was not Shuichi's intention. In reality, he actually had no plans to divorce Botan. In order to qualify as a trustworthy person for Botan, he desired to gain a deeper understanding of her. He wanted to remain by her side until she was able to open herself up to someone new. He wanted to help Botan recover from her tragic past. He genuinely cared for her.

"If someone harmed her feelings again, I don't think I'd be able to save Botan this time. Have you ever witnessed her self-cutting with a knife, leaving her completely covered in her own blood? Have you ever envisioned her taking too much medication and causing herself to overdose? Have you ever thought that she required an electrical shock because she had stopped breathing? Do you know how frightening those views are in reality? I witnessed those things multiple times, right in front of my eyes, Minamino. I didn't want to mess up again, and that's why it was extremely hard for me to trust you, no matter how sincere you are. I want to avoid losing my sister once more. I never want to see such scenes again. I want to be a helpful big brother to her this time." Tears were streaming down Itsuki's cheek as he spoke.

Shuichi's eyes widened in response to what Itsuki had informed him. He couldn't imagine how agonising it must have been for Itsuki to witness all of those horrifying things with his own eyes. It was already hard for him every time he watched Botan smile without reaching her eyes. It was already painful for him to listen to Botan constantly criticise herself.

After listening to what Itsuki had said, a vision of Botan passing out, bleeding, and dying entered his thoughts. He was unaware that tears had also trickled down his cheeks. He gripped his shirt collar tightly. The image of Botan dying caused him to shiver and struggle to breathe. He would never allow it to happen again. He would always make Botan happy, no matter how difficult the situation would be.

Once Shuichi regained his confidence, he resolved to speak: "My sentiments for her are uncertain because I am unfamiliar with the concept of love. I've never experienced love before. If thinking about someone on a daily basis, worrying about someone when you don't see them, wanting to be the reason for someone's smile, wanting to make someone happy every day, and always feeling like you want to be by someone's side forever are all examples of love, then yes, it means I love Botan." At last, Shuichi admitted it.

He could no longer deny it. He had been in love with her from the first moment he met her. He hadn't realised it, or he had simply ignored it all along since he believed Botan would turn down him. He instantly remembered why he was telling himself something odd about Botan every time he looked at her. Botan was not the problem. It was the way Botan made him feel. Shuichi felt a butterfly in his stomach whenever he thought about her, made eye contact with her and saw her smile each time she smiled at him. She was the very first and only woman who could provide him with that kind of experience. He had never felt anything like this before.

It was proof that he cares for and loves her very much.

"I want to extend this marriage because I want to be with her for as long as possible. I would love to take her as my real wife if she feels the same as I do. However, if Botan simply doesn't feel the same, I will let her end this marriage. I haven't told her about my actual reason. I couldn't tell her any of these because I didn't want to hear her badmouthing herself again in order to make me change my mind about loving her." Shuichi continued.

Itsuki remained silent as he considered how to react to Shuichi's confession. Surprisingly, Shuichi abruptly rose from his seat and bowed before him, before he could even begin to consider the situation.

"I'm begging you, Itsuki. I promise you that I will protect Botan with all of my heart. You need not be concerned about your inability to protect her; I will provide assistance. Please allow me to love and protect your little sister. I won't hurt her." Shuichi spoke in a reassuring manner.

Itsuki shut his eyes and said nothing while he considered something. "One chance." Itsuki said, making Shuichi raise his head and look into Itsuki's eyes after hearing what he said.

Itsuki was genuinely reflecting on what had transpired the night before. He was the one who hid behind the tree and saw everything from the beginning. He was just getting off the train when he noticed Botan being surrounded by those men; nevertheless, after he was running a few metres from the train station to save his sister, Shuichi came out of nowhere and arrived at the scene quickly, saving her, which made him stop his moves. He could sense how enraged Shuichi was when they threatened Botan, and he observed every move Shuichi made as he smashed every one of the men for Botan's sake.

Most significantly, he noticed Botan comfortably accepting Shuichi's hug. He noticed Botan looking at ease in Shuichi's hug. He noticed the gleam in Botan's grin as she talked to Shuichi, who was comforting her. It was the first time he had seen his sister look so happy and at ease around a stranger. He hated to admit it, but from the bottom of his heart, he felt that his sister would be healthy and secure with Shuichi. He even remembered Botan telling him how determined Shuichi was to ensure Botan ate her meals.

"I give you one chance to express my gratitude to you for saving Botan from those men last night." Itsuki continued.

Shuichi's eyes softened, and he bowed again respectfully afterward. "Thank you."

Itsuki waited for Shuichi to raise his head once more and began to talk when their eyes met. "Nevertheless, if you harmed her, I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't do anything terrible to your mother." With a menacing tone, he said it.

Itsuki's threats against his mother should have terrified Shuichi, but he didn't. Because he understood himself, he was able to preserve his own words. "Of course," he responded calmly.

Their meeting was done after they exchanged phone numbers and reached an agreement on several things.

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NOTES

Hi everyone, I really apologize for going on break without providing any information. After a long break, I chose to start writing again, and this chapter will be my warm-up. I hope you enjoyed all of KuramaxBotan's interactions in this chapter. I'll probably include Botan's ex-boyfriend's appearance in the following chapter and the story from his point of view.

Oh, and perhaps some of you might be wondering why I picked Bui and Itsuki as Botan's relatives. My original plan was to use Chu as Botan's uncle, but to me, Chu looked to be an irresponsible man. He would undoubtedly love Botan, but he definitely would choose alcohol to solve everything. He would most likely get drunk, accidentally murder Botan's parents, and end himself in jail. So the blue-haired man who arrived in my mind to take Chu's place was Bui. He appeared to be a calm man, so I felt like he was able to protect Botan properly and solve all the problems elegantly.

And my original plan for Botan’s brother, I actually had two candidates in mind for Botan's older brother position. Shishi Wakamaru and Shunjun were the candidates, but I wasn't sure they were capable of developing into suitable brothers for Botan. Botan needed calm individuals around her who could guide her gently, while Shishi and Shunjun appeared to be short-tempered men to me. Shishi and Shunjun may have loved Botan, but they looked easily get annoyed, and when they became furious, they might use harsh words a lot. Worried or annoyed, they probably even yelled and cursed at Botan as well. I need a mature man who can accept Botan's conditions in a cool manner. That's why I decided on Itsuki—he was ideal for the role of Botan's brother at least to me.

What's your opinion of Itsuki and Bui? Do you think they were perfect to be Botan's brother and uncle? Not at all? Okay, sorry~ Everyone has different tastes, after all~ xD

Also, if you asked me about the type of disease Botan has, I'd say I don't know. I just randomly selected a few symptoms only for the content. So, I'm not sure if there is an actual disease with such symptoms, and I'm not sure whether the symptom combinations make sense. Let's just pretend this all makes sense. So, doctors, nurses, and anyone who understands about disease and medicines, please don't judge me. lol

I may be slow in publishing new chapters and not sure how long it will take, but I intend to finish all of my stories. So, don’t worry. I will never abandon them~ Thank you for waiting patiently for the updates!!

Once again, I would love to apologize for the grammatical error I made since English is my 3rd language.

Chapter Text

The story, names, characters, and situations displayed in this chapter are completely fictional. It is totally for the content only; it is not intended to offend anyone.

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Shuichi was on his way home after the cold meeting with Itsuki when he found himself drawn to a quiet park near the cafe. He wandered in without thinking, the weight of the conversation still pressing heavily on his chest. Spotting an empty bench beneath the shade of a gnarled tree, he sat down slowly as if his body carried too much sorrow to move any faster.

Leaning forward, Shuichi buried his face in his hands. The tears came without warning, slipping through his fingers as the sharp ache in his heart grew unbearable. Itsuki’s words echoed in his mind, Itsuki words he couldn’t silence no matter how hard he tried.

Botan had hurt herself, more than once.

She had nearly died.

The image seared itself into his thoughts: Botan lying motionless on the floor, her body slick with her blood, her chest no longer rising with breath. The horror of it strangled him, made the air too thick to breathe. He clenched his fists, trembling, caught in the agony of a past he hadn’t known, and the helplessness of not having been there to stop it.

If only they had known each other back then... He would have done everything in his power to stop her from hurting herself... to protect her from her ex...

she was a very kind woman, lovely, gentle, and beautiful.

But why? Why had people—including her own parents—treated her so cruelly?

Shuichi’s shoulders began to tremble again, the weight of his emotions finally overwhelming him. He could no longer hold back the tears or the anger that burned inside him. He loved her now—truly and deeply. He wanted to protect her, to be the one who made her feel safe. He longed to love her with all he had, to cherish her for the rest of his life.

Itsuki had given him a single chance, and he had no intention of wasting that chance.

He had already told Itsuki—her brother how he felt.

Maybe now... it was time to tell her.

Shuichi wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket, then made his way to the nearby public sink to splash cold water on his face. He stared at his reflection, trying to wash away the evidence of his grief.

What whould he even say when he got home, if Botan noticed this swollen eyes?

What kind of answer could he give if she asked why he had been crying?

He knew her too well. If she found out the truth—that his tears were for her, she would only blame herself all over again.

On his way home, the sky suddenly turned gray and without warning, rain began to pour. Shuichi didn’t have the strength to run. He didn’t care about getting soaked. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Botan.

He wanted nothing more than to hurry home and wrap her in his arms, to hold her close and never let go. But he knew, doing that so suddenly would only frighten her. He couldn’t risk it. He couldn’t risk her putting up walls between them again.

Botan had finally begun to smile and to laugh with him.

He didn’t want to lose that. He didn’t want to start over... not again.

Shuichi finally arrived home, his steps heavy, his clothes clinging to him from the relentless rain.

____

As the front door creaked open, Botan turned from the hallway with a warm smile, ready to greet him.

“Welcome back, Shui—“ her words caught in her throat the moment she saw him. Completely drenched, his hair dripping, his clothes soaked through, Shuichi stood in the doorway like a ghost.

“Shuichi!” She gasped, rushing to his side without a second thought.

She cupped his face with both hands, her palms trembling at the touch of his icy skin.

“You are freezing...” She whispered, voice tight with worry.

Without waiting for a response, she spun around. “I’ll be right back! I will get a towel for you!” she said over her shoulder, already sprinting down the hallway.

Rainwater pooled at Shuichi’s feets as he stood in silence, his gaze following her. Despite the cold seeping into his bones, he felt a flicker of warmth stir in his chest—not from the heat of the house, but from her. From Botan.

Botan returned quickly, a soft white towel clutched tightly in her hands. Her footsteps were quick but light, filled with urgency and care. She slowed only when she reached him again, heart still racing from the sight of him soaked and silent.

Without saying a word, she gently placed the towel over his head, her movement careful. For a moment, her hands paused—hovering—before she began to rub the towel over his hair with tender, circular motions. She ruffled his damp locks gently, drying them with as much care as if she was handling something fragile, something precious.

Shuichi remained still, utterly unmoving. He didn’t speak, didn’t lift a hand. He simply stood there, head bowed slightly under her touch, letting her take care of him.

His eyes, though, never left her.

He watched her quietly through the veil of wet hair and towel, his gaze soft yet intense. Her expression was focused, lips parted slightly, brows knitted with worry as she worked the towel through his hair. She didn’t even notice his eyes on her. Her attention was fixed entirely on making sure he was warm, on drying every strand before the chill could sink deeper into him.

She tucked a strand of his wet hair away from his forehead and whispered more to herself than to him, “You will catch a cold if you don’t dry yourself properly..”

Still, he said nothing.

But in that silence, something passed between them—something wordless and heavy. Shuichi felt his chest tighten at the sight of her face so close to his, her gaze so tender. His heart ached. Not from the cold, not from the rain, but from the quiet realization of how much he needed her.

Botan finally looked into his eyes, her hands still on the towel, her voice barely a murmur. “Why didn’t you take cover? You are shaking...”

Shuichi’s lips parted, but no words came. He couldn’t explain the storm inside him, the reason he had walked through the downpour without flinching. All he could do was keep looking at her, as if trying to speak through his gaze alone.

Shuichi continued to watch her in silence, his gaze heavy with unspoken thoughts. The gentle rhythm of her hands drying his hair slowed, but her touch never left him. In that quiet moment, the past rose in his mind like an unwelcome shadow.

He recalled what Itsuki had told him about Botan’s past. About the ex-boyfriend who had twisted a little affection into something suffocating and cruel. That man had insisted on continuing the relationship she never wanted... forcing something false to feel real. And in the end, he had been the one who hurt her, to leave her broken and alone.

A pang of guilt struck Shuichi’s chest. He had never forced her into this marriage... but still, he had asked her to stay in it. He had requested they maintain this marriage just a bit longer. Now, all he could think about was whether or not that request had stirred old fears within her.

‘Had he reminded her of her ex?’

The thought made his heart ache.

His eyes dropped for a moment, shame pressing against his ribs like a weight. He swallowed hard, then slowly raised his gaze again to meet hers. She was still there in front of him, so close. Her fingertips brushing against his damp hair, her brows gently drawn together in concern.

“Botan...” His voice was barely above a whisper.

She blinked, looking up into his eyes, sensing the shift in his tone.

“About my request..” he continued, his voice tight with nerves. “About... keeping this marriage going a bit longer...”

he hesitated, throat dry, the words clinging to his tongue like thorns. But the forced them out, because she deserved to hear them.

“Are you... scared?”

The question hung in the air, fragile and raw.

Botan froze for a moment. The towel in her hands stilled. Her breath caught slightly. Not enough for anyone else to notice, but Shuichi did.

Shuichi watched her eyes, searching for the truth in their depths. He didn’t care about his damp clothes and hair anymore or the cold that still clung to his skin. All that mattered was her answer... and whether he had unknowingly caused her pain.

He didn't want to add a new scar to her heart.

Botan didn’t answer right away.

The towel hung loosely in her hands now, forgotten, as her eyes locked with Shuichi’s. The softness in his voice and the vulnerability in his question shook something inside her.

Was she afraid?

She wanted to say no. She wanted to shake her head and tell him it was silly to even ask. But the truth... was more complicated than that.

There was a part of her that was afraid. The part that still carried bruises from the past. The past that flinched at the idea of staying in something that had started without love. Yes, both Shuichi and her ex-boyfriend insisted almost about the same thing—to keep the fake relationship they had with her. Her ex wanted to make it real, while shuichi wanted to keep it longer.

However...

Her ex was demanding a lot, while shuichi didn’t.

But now...

Another part of her stirred. A quieter, warmer part.

The part that remembered a few nights ago, when a group of men had cornered her in that dark alley. How Shuichi had come running without hesitation, placing himself between her and danger, as if her safety meant more to him than his own.

And last night... she had told him she’d skip dinner, too tired and unbothered to eat. However, when she went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, there it was on the folding table—her favorite tea, and a small plate of fruits, breads, cheese and another simple snacks in front of her bedroom’s door. Nothing extravagant, but it was thoughtful. Quietly thoughtful, like he always was.

That part of her—the part that had begun to heal. Didn’t feel afraid anymore.

“I... I don’t know...” She finally said, voice soft and uncertain. She looked down at the towel in her hands, fingers fidgeting with the edge of the fabric. “Maybe... a little,” She admitted. “But... not the same way as before.”

Shuichi’s eyes searched hers, worry still lingering.

Botan gave him a faint smile, hesitant but sincere. “It’s different with you.” she added, almost in a whisper. “You... you don’t make me feel trapped, or small. You didn’t demand anything from me.” her eyes softened.

“You ask. You wait. And you protect.”

she reached up again, gently brushing his damp bangs away from his forehead. “So maybe, i am a little scared... but i think there’s a part of me that’s starting to trust you.”

Shuichi stood frozen, not from the cold, but from the weight of her words.

The storm outside had passed, but between them, something new had begun to settle—quiet and uncertain, but tender and real.

For a moment, Shuichi forgot how to breathe.

Botan’s words echoed in his mind, soft but powerful.

‘You don’t make me feel trapped... You ask. You wait. And you protect.’

it was more than he’d ever hoped to hear from her.

A tightness that had gripped his heart for days began to loosen, slowly unraveling into something tender and overwhelming. His eyes softened, and the breath he’d been unconsciously holding slipped from his lips in a quiet exhale.

Relief swept over him like sunlight breaking through clouds.

She trusted him, even just a little. That trust, that fragile seed she had chosen to share, meant more to him than any title, any contract, or any promise made on paper.

“... Thank you,” Shuichi said quietly, voice low and thick with emotions.

His gaze dropped for a heartbeat, as if grounding himself. Then he looked back up, directly into her eyes. A gentle smile touched the corners of his lips. Not his usual composed one, but something warmer, more vulnerable. The kind of smile that only bloomed when his heart was trully full.

“i don’t deserve that trust,” he murmured. “But i will protect it with everything i have. I promise.”

He slowly lifted his hand, reaching up to touch her hand that was still resting against his forehead, his fingers lightly brushing against hers—seeking permission, not taking it. His skin was still cold, but his eyes were warm.

“I am grateful, Botan... for your honesty. For your trust.” a faint breath of a laugh left him. “and for you.”

Botan bit her lips as she tried her best not to cry.. she ended up smiled weakly at him.

Outside, the rain had quieted to a soft drizzle, tapping gently against the windows. Inside, it was quiet too but no longer heavy. The air between them had changed.

Botan hadn’t stepped away. And Shuichi... was still standing there, with her hand against his skin, her presence anchoring him more than anything else he ever had.

Botan’s eyes lingered on his for a few moments, then she gently tugged at his sleeve, pulling him ever so slightly toward her. The subtle gesture was filled with care, and when she spoke, her voice was soft but steady. “I actually just prepared warm water for my bath,” she said with a faint smile, “but i think you need it more than i do.”

She stepped back just enough to look at him fully, brushing a fews strands of damp hair from his face again. “So, go on, take your time. Let the heat warm you up and help you breathe again.” then she added with a little wink, “I’ll prepare dinner for you in the meantime.”

Shuichi blinked, caught off guard not just by her offer, but by how natural and comforting her presence felt in that moment. No hesitation. No distance. Just kindness. Simple and real.

He opened his mouth again to speak, to object maybe, or to tell her she didn’t have to do all this, but the words never came. Instead, something softer settled on his face: a quiet awe, and a gratitude so deep it almost hurt.

“Thank you.” he said again, his voice quieter this time, almost like he didn’t want to break the peace between them.

Botan gave him a warm smile and turned toward the kitchen, her footsteps light and familiar against the floor.

Shuichi stood there for a bit longer, watching her go, letting the warmth of her words sink deeper than even a hot bath could. Then, with a breath that felt just a bit lighter then before, he moved and made his way toward the bathroom with a smile on his face.

The aroma of miso soup and grilled fish drifted through the apartment, cozying the air with a sense of home. Botan moved gracefully between the stove and the small dining table, setting down the last dish with a soft clink. She peeked over her shoulder just in time to see Shuichi emerge from the hallway, freshly bathed, his hair slightly tousled and still damp at the tips.

“You didn’t have to do all of this.” Shuichi said softly as he took a seat, glancing at the foods before him. Nothing extravagant, but warm, nourishing, and clearly made with care.

“I wanted to,” Botan replied with a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears as she sat across him. “it seems you’ve had a long day.”

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of clinking chopsticks and soft sipping the only thing filling the space. Outside, the rain had full stopped, leaving only the faint dripping of water from rooftop.

After a few minutes, Botan slowed her eating. She glanced up at Shuichi several times, hesitating as if weighing whether or not to speak. Her fingers lightly brushed the rim of her soup bowl.

“Shuichi...” she called, her voice soft. “about yesterday.. when you found me.”

Shuichi looked up, attentive.

She lowered her gaze a little, her thumb now tracing idle circles against the wood of the table. “How... how did you know I was still near my uncle’s apartment?” she asked, her tone cautious but sincere. “I mean.. there was a chance I could’ve already left. I might’ve gone somewhere else. But you found me.”

She looked up at him again, uncertain. “why were you there?”

Shuichi’s expression shifted, a gentle smile curling on his lips, not the kind that tried to brush things off, but one filled with something deeper. He set down his chopsticks and leaned back just slightly in his seat.

“I honestly didn’t know,” he admitted. “I had no plans at all... but I just had a feeling.”

Botan tilted her head, quietly listening.

“that evening, something inside me felt off.” Shuichi continued. “like a string being pulled in my chest. I remembered the look in your eyes when we talked earlier that day, especially when..” he blushed slightly, “when you pecked my cheek.”

Botan instantly blushed as well.

Shuichi continue, “anyway... after you left, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

He glanced at his hands, then back at her. “I told myself I’d wait at the station just in case. Maybe you’d come back that way. But even when time passed and you didn’t show up, i couldn’t bring myself to leave. Somewhere inside my head, told me you were still nearby... as if my heart wouldn’t let me go.”

He chuckled slightly, “So, i decided to walk. I didn’t know where I was going. I just kept walking and then...” his expression shifted. “i heard your voice. I saw you.. and i saw them.”

The warmth in his eyes faded just slightly, replaced by a flicker of protectiveness that still hadn’t fully left him since that night. “I don’t know if it was an instinct or luck...” he said, voice softer now. “But I’m glad i followed it. I am just glad i got there in time.”

Botan stared at him, unmoving, her chest swelling with a mix of emotion—gratitude, disbelief, and something that made her heart ache a little in the best way. Shuichi had saved her, yes. But more than that, he had looked for her—not with logic, but something even more powerful.

He had listened to his heart.

“Thank you so much.. for saving me.. for everything.” Botan said tenderly.

Shuichi smiled gently and nodded, “and thank you for the foods. They are delicious.”

the dinner plates were only half-cleared, and the steam from the teacups still curled into the quiet air when Botan shifted beside Shuichi on the couch. They had moved to the living room not long after eating, the soft glow of the lamp casting golden warmth over the walls.

She had taken a seat beside him without much thought—close, but not touching. The kind of closeness that felt natural now, like second nature. Shuichi sat beside her, one hand resting loosely on his lap, the other hand holding his tea, now gone cold. Neither of them moved to stand or break the silence.

The sound of distant water dripping outside was their only background.

Then, Botan, out of nowhere suddenly spoke up.

“May i ask something else?” she asked.

Shuichi looked at her and nodded. “Sure, anything.”

Botan bit her lips, hesitated as if it was okay to ask this question. “did you cry earlier?”

Shuichi’s heart skipped. His eyes widened slightly, his breath catching in his throat. He turned away from her slowly. Too surprised by her perceptiveness. Botan wasn’t looking at him directly—her gaze was tilted slightly downward, as if she was afraid to meet his eyes but still determined to ask.

“I mean.. when you arrived...” she added, her voice softer.. “your eyes looked.. Sad.. Distance..”

Shuichi’s grip on his teacup tightened slightly. He hadn’t expected her to notice. He tried to compose himself at the park, at the sink, even through the downpour. And yet, she had seen straight through him.

He opened his mouth, then hesitated. Should he tell her about he met Itsuki today? About what he had learned? About the blood, the pain, the memories she had tried so hard to bury?

No.. not now.. Not yet.

There was one thing, one part he could share—the weight of his fear, the anxiety gnawing at his chest ever since he made that request to extend this marriage. Because that part wasn’t just about him. It was about both of them.

“I...” Shuichi’s voice was low, barely audible. “I was afraid.”

He gently glanced toward her, saw the subtle way her fingers had curled over the edge of the cushion. Nervous and waiting.

“I was afraid that my request..” he continued slowly, “about extending this marriage... might have been too much for you. That maybe it reminded you of things i had no right to stir up.” He drew in a breath, then looked at her fully now, his voice trembling slightly.

“I wanted to tell you that it’s okay if you decline my request.. if you feel like ending this...”

Botan’s breath hitched quietly.

Shuichi lowered his gaze again, “But... if I’m being honest with you, I’m not ready to let go of you.” he admitted.

The silence that followed wasn’t heavy but it wasn’t empty, either.

Botan turned her head slowly, her eyes searching his face, trying to understand the storm behind his careful words. She saw the way his fingers had curled tightly over his knee. The way his chest rose and fell as if bracing for something.

Without saying anything, she reached out, her hand brushing gently against his.

Shuichi froze, blinking.

Then her fingers slipped into his slowly, intertwined their fingers. Her warmth was steady. It didn’t demand anything. Her hand simply stayed. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but every word was laced with truth.

“I told you many times before,” she spoke up, her eyes on their joined hands, “That i have no right to make a choice... since the people from my side—my parents—were the ones who arranged this marriage.”

Her trembled just slightly but didn’t falter.

“So, i thought it would be better.. if you, or someone from your side, were the one who end this. I’ve always believed that if you wanted to keep going, then i would simply follow. I’d do it, Shuichi. I’d stay.”

Her voice softened even more, barely a breath, “I thought.. that was the only reason why i agreed to your request.”

then she paused, and lifted her gaze slowly to meet his eyes.

“But... to think about it again...” her lips quivered faintly, “Part of me.. isn’t ready to let you go either.”

Shuichi’s eyes widened, The subtle shift in his expression betrayed the depth of emotion that surged within him at her words. Something in his chest caught—a rush of quiet astonishment, relief, and something else he hadn’t dared to hope for. He stared at her, unmoved, as if he was afraid this moment would vanish if he blinked.

“Botan...”

for a second, he couldn’t speak. His heart was thudding, not from panic, but from something tender and unfamiliar. Her words weren’t grand declarations, but they were real. And to him, it was everything.

Without thinking, Shuichi turned slightly and lifted his free hand to brush a strand of hair from her face, his fingertips barely grazing her cheek. “You have more right to choose than you think.” he said sincerely. “If this choice you are making now is truly yours... then I’ll treasure it... I’ll treasure you..”

Botan said nothing else. She simply staring at him, and then her eyes filled with tears. The first one slid down her cheek, slow, and silent. Then another followed, and another—until her lashes were damp and her breath began to waver. She didn’t sob or break. Her voice, when it came was soft but it trembled with the weight of something long buried.

“You’ve heard it from your mother already...” she paused as her gaze fell to her lap. “about my past... about what happened between me and my ex-boyfriend.”

Shuichi’s heart clenched. His hand, still holding hers, twitched slightly—fighting the impulse to pull her into his arms, but sensing that she still needed space to speak.

Botan’s lips trembled as she tried to form the rest of the words, her chin lowered as the shame she had carried for so long crept into her shoulders.

“Don’t you... disgusted by me?” she asked hesitantly.

Shuichi froze. His brows drew in sharply, not in anger, but in pain. It hurt to hear her say that. To see her believe that.

“I’ve been touched,” she added weakly, her tears now falling freely, “by someone else... inappropriately... I didn’t want it, but it still happened. I was foolish enough to stay. Even before he did that to me, he had been abusing me several times. However, instead of leaving him, i chose to stay... I was such a fool... even now, i feel like I’m still stained by it.”

The room fell silent but heavy, like time itself had paused around them.

Then, Shuichi moved.

He didn’t speak right away. He simply reached for her, not with force but with an anchor-like gentleness; he cupped her cheeks with both hands, and his thumbs brushed away the tears that rolled freely now. “don’t say that..” he said.

Her eyes widened slightly, caught in the intensity of his gaze. But there was no judgment in his expression. Only sorrow and fierce tenderness.

“I am not disgusted. Never.” he said firmly. “you were hurt. You were taken advantage of by someone who never deserved you. That doesn't make you any less valuable as a person. You are still precious, Botan. You are not stained.” he paused.

“You are an amazing person. You survived, even when no one protected you. Your survival means more than you know. It brought you into my life... and for that, I’m grateful, deeply. To be able to meet you. To be able to meet an amazing person like you.” he said tenderly. His breath mingled with hers. His touch stayed steady on her cheeks.

Botan trembled, her eyes brimming again, but something in them had shifted. The sorrow remained, but there was something softer now... something like being seen.

And for the first time, she didn’t try to look away.

Botan slowly shook her head, tears still trailing down her cheeks, but this time, her expression wasn’t entirely sorrowful. There was a fragile smile there now. The smile was small, trembling but it was real. Her voice came out in a choked whisper.

“No... I’m the one who should say that.” her fingers clutched lightly at the edge of his sleeve as she looked at him with damp eyes. “i’m the one who’s grateful to meet you.. to know you.. to have you in my life, Shuichi.”

She blinked through the tears, but they kept falling, even as she smiled. Her heart felt full to the point of overflowing with emotion, with disbelief, with the comfort of finally being seen and not being judged.

Shuichi’s breath trembled. His eyes softened at her words. His heart completely melted.

He wanted to hold her more than anything. But, even now, even in this moment of closeness, not to mention that he also had been done it several times, he still needed to ask because he knew what it meant to respect her boundaries.

His voice calm, careful, but lined with emotion. “is it okay if i hug you now?” he asked.

Her gaze lifted to meet his.

And for a second, she didn’t answer, simply looked at him. At the man who waited patiently, who didn’t take, who didn’t force but simply offered. Then, she nodded.

“Yes.. please..” she whispered.

That was all it took.

Shuichi leaned forward slowly, wrapped his arms gently around her, one hand at her back and the other cradling the back of her head as if she was made of porcelain. And Botan, without hesitation, leaned into him. Her arms wrapped around his waist, her forehead tucked against his chest.

There was no tension between them anymore, only warmth.

Botan’s tears soaked into his shirt, but Shuichi didn’t care. He only held her tighter, his hand slowly stroking her back in calming, rhythmic circles.

“I am here.” Shuichi murmured softly into her hair. “I’m not going anywhere. I will never hurt you.. I will never use my hands to hit you.. i will never use my tongue to insult you.. I promise, Botan.” He whispered tenderly.

Botan didn’t speak. She just nodded against him, holding on like she finally felt safe—like for the first time in a long time, she didn’t have to keep everything locked away. And in the quiet of the room, with nothing but their heartbeats between them, the two sat holding each other. Not as strangers forced into marriage, but as two souls who began to learn about each other's presences.

Botan had tucked her cheek against Shuichi’s chest, listening to the soft, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It soothed her—each thump a silent reminder that she wasn’t alone anymore. His arms were warm, careful, and protective.

Eventually, her voice stirred the quiet, hesitant but sincere. “So… is that why you cried earlier?” she asked, not pulling away. “Because you were afraid your request… might’ve scared me?”

“…Yes,” he admitted.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, though his arms never left her. There was a flicker of pain in his gaze—tender, vulnerable. “I’m afraid… of adding more pain to your heart,” he murmured. “You’ve already suffered so much, Botan. I don’t want to be another reason for you to feel cornered. Or afraid. Or small.”

His hand came up to brush a loose strand of her hair away from her tear-streaked face. His thumb lingered for a moment at her temple, gentle as a breeze. “I’m scared,” he confessed softly, “that if I push too hard… you’ll feel trapped. And worse, I’m terrified of what you might do if you ever felt that way again.”

Shuichi remained silent for a few minutes, whether or not he told Botan about his meeting with Itsuki today. However, Itsuki didn't ask him to keep it from Botan. "Actually... I met your brother, Itsuki, today.. and Itsuki told me about you… about how you tried to kill yourself many times in the past. Bleed, overdose, electric shock..." He paused as the scene of Botan dying appeared in his mind once more.

Botan froze.

For a few seconds, she didn’t move. Her expression faltered, as if her body couldn’t decide whether to brace or melt. She slowly pulled back just enough to look at him fully, her brows furrowing with something like surprise—maybe even dread.

“…You met Itsuki?” she asked, her voice a faint whisper. “Today?”

Shuichi nodded.

He swallowed, his voice tightening ever so slightly. “After meeting him, I keep imagining it—your body on the floor, unmoving, cold, covered in blood. It haunts me. As if some part of me believes… it could happen again.”

"Botan,... I would do anything to keep you safe. To keep you breathing. To never let you feel so alone again that hurting yourself feels like the only option.” Shuichi said, his tone breaking. His eyes searched hers, raw and pleading. “Even if that means stepping back, letting go… I would do it if it meant you would live free from pain. But…”

He faltered, then added quietly, “I don’t want to let go. I want to be by your side—only if you let me. Not because of this marriage, or duty. But because… I care for you. I want to understand you. Protect you. and I want to know and learn about you more.."

Botan stared at him, eyes wide and shining, breath caught in her throat as Shuichi’s words echoed through the space between them.

Her chest ached—not from pain, but from the sheer depth of what he just said. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. Not with that kind of reverence. Not with that kind of fear—the kind born not from selfishness, but from caring too much. Something inside her shifted. A wall she had built so carefully over the years cracked under the pressure of his sincerity.

Botan lowered her head, her bangs veiling her eyes. Her shoulders began to tremble again.

‘This is not fair...’

Shuichi reached forward again, cradling her cheek with such care that she flinched—but not from fear. From being held so gently when she didn’t think she deserved it. He hugged her once again, tightly.

"I also… told Itsuki about my request, about extending this marriage..." He let out a faint, uneasy breath.

“He gave me one chance,” he said, a weak smile tugging at his lips. “One chance to prove I won’t hurt you.”

Botan stared at him, her heart tightening. “He did? Instead of giving you a punch, he gave you a chance?” she asked.

He nodded. “But even then,” Shuichi added, eyes flickering with unease, “he looked so… unsure. Not about you. About me or maybe about… himself. I couldn’t tell. He gave his blessing, yes—but… He looked like he was terrified of making the same mistake again.”

He dropped his gaze. “He looked like a man who regrets something he can never undo.”

Botan’s heart sank. She knew that look. She had seen it so many times in Itsuki’s eyes—even when he smiled, even when he told her she was strong, even when he tried to be her protector. Botan looked down for a moment, her thumb gently brushing against Shuichi’s hand as if grounding herself before she spoke.

“My ex… he was the one who insisted on turning our relationship into something real,” she said quietly. “And Itsuki… he gave us his blessing. Not because he trusted the man, but because he saw me smiling. He thought… maybe this was what I needed.”

Her voice trembled slightly, her gaze distant, but not cold.

“The truth is… I didn’t love him at first,” she admitted, her brows drawing together. “But the way he kept insisting… the way he said he wanted me… it made me wonder how someone like me—flawed, weak, emotionally closed off—could be wanted that much.”

She took a breath, soft and heavy.

“So I let myself believe it. I let myself feel it. I told myself maybe I could be happy… and eventually, I did fall in love with him.”

She looked up at Shuichi again, her eyes glistening

“For a while, I was happy. I truly was. But the end…” Her smile faded gently. “The end was nothing like the beginning.”

She paused, a faint smile forming through her tears.

“Itsuki’s never forgiven himself for giving that permission. No matter how many times I told him it wasn’t his fault… he still carries it. I think… when he gave you his blessing, he saw that same crossroad again.”

Shuichi’s eyes widened slightly with understanding. "He's afraid to make the same mistake again..." he murmured.

Botan simply nodded. Her voice came soft again, but more certain this time—as if the pieces were finally falling into place in her heart. “But… I think I understand now why Itsuki gave you his blessing,” she murmured, her eyes gazing into Shuichi’s as she spoke.

“Yesterday, when I stopped by my uncle’s apartment… Itsuki happened to be there.” She gave a faint, almost bittersweet smile.

“I told him about you. About how you and your mother have treated me with such kindness. I told him how your mother once said she considered me her daughter… and how she hugged me.”

Her voice broke slightly at the memory. “It was the kind of hug I’ve never received from my own mother.”

Shuichi’s breath caught in his throat.

Botan’s fingers curled lightly against his. “And I told him about you. How you prepared snacks for me last night… even after I said I wasn’t going to eat. How you didn’t push, or force me to eat.. You just be there, preparing the snacks for me, 'In case' I woke up hungry. You still gave me a choice.." She said as she remembered the note that Shuichi wrote for her.

Shuichi listened in silence, his heart swelling with every word Botan spoke. Her voice, though soft, carried a truth that reached the deepest part of him. The image of her receiving that long-deserved affection—from his mother, from him—moved him in ways he couldn’t fully express.

When she finished, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and looked into her eyes, his own gaze tender.

“Your brother,” Shuichi continued, “he saw me that night… when I found you. He was there—just a little farther down the road, watching.”

Botan’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened.

“He told me,” Shuichi said, his voice quiet but steady, “that he saw everything. The way those men were cornering you. The way I ran to you. Protected you. He said… he didn’t step in right away because he wanted to see what I would do.”

Shuichi’s jaw tensed slightly—not with regret, but with the memory of how serious Itsuki’s eyes had been when they spoke.

“He told me he gave me this one chance… not just because of what you told him, but also as a gratitude. For being there. For saving you that night.”

Shuichi added softly. “I saved you, but you need to know, that I didn’t run to you that night thinking of your brother’s approval or anything like that.”

He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I saved you because my heart told me to. Because I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to you. I would’ve done it no matter who was watching. Because you matter to me, Botan. With or without anyone’s blessing.”

Botan’s eyes welled again, her fingers tightening around his.

And then Shuichi leaned forward—slowly, giving her time to move away if she wanted—and pressed his forehead gently to hers. His voice came in a quiet whisper, shared between only them.

"You are my wife... and I care about you, more than anyone could imagine."

Botan froze when she heard him say it.

The words sank deep into her heart, warm but overwhelming—like a gentle flame melting away something she’d long kept frozen. Her lips parted slightly, her breath caught. Her heart beat a little faster, unsure if she could believe what she was hearing… or if she should allow herself to believe it.

But then… the doubt crept in again. That same shadow that always whispered she was unworthy of being treasured.

She looked down, her hands trembling slightly in her lap.

“…But I’ve already been touched by someone else, Shuichi, I am not a virgin anymore...” she said quietly, as if reminding him was the only way to protect herself. “I slept with someone else... He did things I never asked for… things I never wanted. You don’t have to pretend that doesn’t matter…”

Her voice grew smaller, almost like she was bracing for him to look away.

However, Shuichi didn’t flinch at all. Instead, he leaned in just slightly, his expression soft but firm, his eyes never leaving hers.

“You weren’t my wife back then,” he said gently, but with conviction. “But if it ever happened while you were my wife… if someone else touched you, or if you were with another man—that would matter to me,” Shuichi said softly, his voice calm but laced with quiet intensity. “Not because I would see you as tainted… but because it would mean someone crossed a line that should never be crossed. Because you’re important to me. Because I care. And because I want to protect what we’re building—together.”

"I don’t care about what happened before. It doesn’t make you less. It doesn’t make you unworthy. You are not defined by what someone else did to you. In my eyes, you are precious, Botan. ”

Botan’s throat tightened as tears began to form again, her breath catching in small, unsteady waves.

“I will never let anyone touch you like that again,” Shuichi said softly. “Never. As long as I’m by your side… I will protect you, not possess you. I will hold you, not hurt you.”

One of his hands found hers again and gently laced their fingers together.

“I don’t care if you lost your hands, or your legs,” Shuichi whispered, his voice low and full of unwavering affection. “I don’t care if you couldn’t see, or if you couldn’t hear. I don’t care about the past you carry, even if you are not virgin anymore, or even if you were a widow… none of that would ever change the way I feel.”

He gently took her face with his free hand, his thumb brushing away the tears beneath her eyes.

“I love you, Imai Botan,” he finally said it. His voice trembling slightly with the weight of his sincerity. “No matter what. You, just as you are—are enough for me.”

Botan’s breath caught the moment the words left his lips.

'I love you, Imai Botan.'

Her heart stopped—and then began to pound in her chest, loud and erratic, as if trying to catch up with what her ears had just heard. Her wide, teary eyes stared at Shuichi, searching his face, almost as if waiting for him to take it back. To laugh. To say it was a mistake.

But he didn’t.

He just looked at her, with that same steady gaze full of honesty and quiet devotion. There was no hesitation in him. No shadow of doubt. Only love.

"You love me...?"

"I do."

"Even after knowing everything about me…? after hearing what I’ve been through...?" Botan asked again.

He nodded, "I see you. not your pain, not your past, not your status, not your money, not your body.. Just you." He said softly.

“I don’t deserve this,” she whispered, broken and overwhelmed. “I don’t deserve you…”

Shuichi pulled her into his arms again, this time with more strength—not to confine her, but to remind her that she didn’t have to carry that belief anymore.

“You don’t have to deserve love to receive it,” he murmured near her ear. “You just have to let it in.”

She clutched onto him tightly, burying her face against his shoulder as her tears flowed freely—tears not just of sorrow, but of release.

Her voice came out in a whisper—fragile, hesitant, but full of longing. "Is it really okay?” she asked, her fingers tightening gently around the fabric of his shirt. “Is it okay… for someone like me to love you back? Is it really alright for me to accept your love…?”

There was a beat of silence, where only the soft sound of their breathing filled the space between them. Then Shuichi smiled—tender and full of the quiet strength that only love could bring. Without a word at first, he leaned forward and pressed a long, warm kiss to the crown of her head. His lips lingered there, as if trying to pour everything he felt into that one touch.

And there it was again.

That fluttering feeling in his chest—soft but unmistakable.

The sensation of butterflies, of warmth blooming from within, of something sacred and pure. A feeling he had never experienced with anyone else… only her.

Only Botan.

He pulled back just slightly, resting his forehead gently against hers, his hand cradling the side of her face with reverence.

“I would be so grateful if you loved me back, sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice rich with sincerity. “More than I could ever say.”

His words melted into her like warmth seeping into cold skin, steady and grounding.

Botan blinked slowly, her lips trembling as a quiet gasp slipped through them—almost like a breath of hope. And in that moment, something inside her finally allowed the walls to come down.

"I love you, Shuichi..."

Still holding her close, Shuichi leaned back just enough to look into Botan’s eyes again, his expression calm and filled with quiet resolve. His voice was low, but every word was steady—carefully chosen, spoken from the heart. "I love you, Botan." He whispered tenderly.

They didn't say anything else but smiled at each other.

Shuichi broke the silence by saying, “There’s something I want to tell you… something I’ve been thinking about ever since I realized how deeply I care for you. The real reason why I want to extend this marriage...” He thought it was the time for telling her the truth.

Botan’s gaze flickered slightly, the tear-trails on her cheeks still fresh. She watched him with gentle curiosity, a small flicker of vulnerability still in her eyes.

“I honestly don’t want this marriage to be just some arrangement anymore,” Shuichi continued. “Not a business deal, not a convenience, not something forced on either of us. I want something real… something true.”

He exhaled slowly and added, “So… someday, when the time feels right—when you’re ready—I want to marry you again.”

He gently placed a hand over hers, not to pressure her, only to reassure.

“This time,...” he said, “not because of contracts. Not because of family obligations. Not because anyone else decided it for us. Just the two of us. Me—Shuichi Minamino. And you—Imai Botan. As ourselves.”

Botan’s breath hitched softly. Her lips parted, stunned. “Shuichi…” Botan felt her heart thudding in her chest again, slowly, deeply. Her fingers curled around his.

“I’m not asking for an answer now,” he said quickly, sensing her overwhelmed heart. “I’m not rushing you. In fact… for now, I just want to start at the very beginning. We might wear the titles of husband and wife, but that doesn’t change the fact that, deep down, we’re still strangers learning who the other truly is."

He smiled gently. “So,... let me be your friend first. No pressure, no expectations. Let’s get to know each other—truly know each other. We’ll take each step at your pace.”

Botan's eyes slightly widened and gasped softly.

“Maybe,” Shuichi said with a soft chuckle, “if we both feel the same after all of that, we can try dating. You know—boyfriend and girlfriend, like normal people do.”

Botan laughed lightly through her tears, the sound a little shaky, but real.

“And if that works,” he added, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it, “Then one day… we’ll stand beside each other again. This time by choice, not circumstance.” His voice grew quieter, more tender. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I’ll wait for you, Botan. As long as you need.”

Botan looked at him, stunned by the patience, the gentleness, the sheer honesty of his words. Her lips trembled again but she eventually smiled and teased, “…You’d really wait for me?”

Shuichi smiled warmly. “Forever, if I have to.”

Her heart swelled. And though the wounds of her past still ached, something inside her softened—just enough to let the light in. Botan let out a small huff and playfully punched Shuichi’s chest—not hard, but enough to make him glance down in surprise. Her eyes sparkled despite the tears still clinging to the edges.

“Idiot,” she muttered, though a crooked smile tugged at her lips.

Shuichi raised an eyebrow, amused. “I’ll take that as affection.”

She shook her head with a soft laugh, but then her expression wavered—her smile becoming a little sad, a little serious. Her gaze dropped to his chest, where her fingers now lightly rested.

“You could’ve chosen someone else, you know…” she said softly. “Someone healthy. Someone strong. Someone who hasn’t been touched by another man… someone whose body isn’t so unpredictable.”

Her voice faltered, quieting like a leaf drifting to the ground.

“Sometimes I’m fine,” she went on. “And then the next moment, I’m not. I get tired out of nowhere, and I can barely breathe. I know what my future might look like, Shuichi. I could end up in the hospital again. Maybe even long-term…”

Her hand curled slightly against his shirt.

“You should find someone who can give you everything, someone who can run with you through life, not hold you back from it. You should see the world… be happy. Not end up stuck with me in a hospital bed.”

Her voice was trembling by the end, her smile barely holding on.

But Shuichi didn’t move away.

In fact, he wrapped his arms around her tighter, as if shielding her from her own words. He looked down at her—his gaze deep, steady, and filled with something unshakable.

“Why,” he asked gently, “should I go out looking for a ‘better’ woman… when I already have the 'best' one right here in my arms?”

Botan’s eyes widened, and she looked up at him, startled.

“If there’s a hospital in our future,” he continued, “then I’ll be there—bringing flowers, sneaking in snacks, and annoying the nurses with how often I visit. If you stumble, I’ll catch you. If you break, I’ll hold the pieces together until you can heal. I will be there until you recover, and i will be there each time you need treatments.” He smiled softly.

Botan let out a sound between a laugh and a sob, burying her face into his chest again. “You’re such a fool…” she whispered, clinging to him.

“And you’re stuck with me now,” he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “No take-backs.”

Botan giggled, which made his heart melt inside.

Shuichi gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing the corners of her eyes as he looked at her with quiet urgency. “Just… promise me something,” he said softly, his voice trembling ever so slightly. “If I ever say something wrong… or if I do anything that hurts you—even without meaning to—I want you to tell me.”

He drew in a shaky breath, searching her eyes as if anchoring himself in her gaze.

“Yell at me. Kick me if you have to. Punch me. Throw a pillow at my face—whatever helps. Just… don’t keep it inside. Don’t pretend you’re okay if you’re not.” His voice cracked a little on the last words, raw and heartfelt.

“But more than anything… please—don’t hurt yourself again. Don’t carry that pain alone. You don’t have to anymore. Not when I’m here. Not when I want to carry it with you.”

He lowered his forehead against hers, eyes closed, holding her close as if the closeness could protect her from everything she’d once gone through.

“Promise me, Botan… if something hurts, come to me. Even if it’s me.”

Botan closed her eyes as his words settled deep into her heart. A tear slid down her cheek—not from sorrow this time, but from the tenderness she felt. Slowly, she nodded against his forehead.

“I promise,” she whispered, her voice soft but steady. “If something hurts… if you ever say or do something that wounds me… or even there's someone else hurt me,... I’ll tell you. I won’t hold it in. I won’t pretend anymore and I will not run away anymore...”

“But…” she added quietly, “I want you to promise me something too.”

Shuichi blinked, surprised, but nodded gently. “Anything.”

Botan hesitated for a moment, then took a breath, her fingers tightening slightly around his.

“If one day… you grow tired of me,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, “or if you find someone else—someone you truly love... please, just tell me.” She looked into his eyes, and though there was a flicker of fear in hers, there was no bitterness.

“Don’t lie to me. Don’t pretend you still love me just because you feel obligated. And don’t ever cheat behind my back. I’d rather know the truth.”

Shuichi’s heart clenched at the mere thought, but she continued gently, her voice calm like a breeze after a storm.

“If that day ever comes… I’ll let you go, Shuichi. Even if it breaks me, I’ll release you with both hands. Because I love you enough to want you happy—even if it’s not with me.” Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes again, but she gave him a small, sad smile.

“All I ask is honesty. That’s all.”

Shuichi didn’t respond right away. He was too stunned by the quiet strength in her words—how deeply she loved him, enough to let him go if needed. His chest ached with the weight of her selflessness.

Without a word, he pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly, one hand cradling the back of her head. He gave gentle kiss on her forehead, her cheeks, and her nose.

“I promise,” he whispered fiercely. “I will never lie to you. If that day ever comes—though I swear with everything in me, I pray it never does—I will tell you. But Botan…”

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes again.

“You need to know something too: I have no intention of falling for anyone else. I’ve already found the one person who makes me feel like this. And it’s you. Only you. Even if, in the end, we don’t stay together… I have no intention of marrying anyone else. You’ll always be my one and only wife—the only woman I’ll ever give my heart to in that way.”

Botan’s breath caught, and she couldn’t stop the tears from falling now—silent and full of emotion. She nodded, pressing her forehead against his once more with a weak smile on her lips.

In that moment, the two of them didn’t just exchange promises—they exchanged a quiet vow of trust, of honesty, of love that didn’t demand, but offered.

Botan sat in silence for a long moment before she finally spoke. Her voice was barely above a whisper—so quiet, it felt like the words were trembling on her lips as they left.

“Shuichi… I love you.”

Shuichi blinked, taken slightly aback by the quiet strength in her voice. But before he could speak, she continued.

“I love you so much. And of course I’m happy—so happy—that you feel the same way. But…” she paused, her gaze falling to her lap as her fingers clutched the fabric of her clothes, “…your love… your kindness… they scare me.”

Shuichi’s expression softened instantly, brows furrowing in concern. “Scare you?” he echoed gently.

Botan nodded slowly, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I’m scared this happiness won’t last long. I’m terrified that… that I might not be the woman you think I am. That I might disappoint you. That when the truth of me becomes too heavy… you’ll look at me the same way they did.”

Shuichi’s heart ached as he reached for her hand, but she wasn’t finished.

“My father used to look at me with disgust,” she whispered, her voice starting to shake. “So many times that I lost count. My ex… he looked at me the same way after he touched me—like I was nothing more than something to be thrown away.”

She swallowed hard, then added with a broken breath, “And Itsuki… even my brother, the person I thought I could trust the most that time… He gave me that same look when we were just kids.”

Shuichi froze.

Botan’s voice cracked. “I was just smiling and asked him if he wanted to play with me. And he looked at me like I was a nuisance. Like I wasn’t wanted. even though, a few years afterward, he apologized and now he loves me... I still can't forget... I still remember exactly how it made me feel.”

She finally lifted her eyes to meet his, tearful and pleading. “I don’t want to see that look from you, Shuichi, or from your mother. I don’t think I could survive it—not this time. If either of you ever looked at me the way they did… it would destroy me completely.”

Shuichi’s breath hitched. His eyes widened as the weight of her words settled into his chest, heavy and crushing. Itsuki? He had seen her older brother as fiercely protective. Stoic. Controlled. Shuichi never imagined—not once—that even in childhood, Itsuki had added to the scars.

His mind drifted—drawn to the memory of his earlier meeting with Itsuki.

'So that’s what it was…'

He had noticed it then—the sorrow in Itsuki’s eyes, the heaviness in his voice, the way he hesitated before giving his blessing. At the time, Shuichi thought it was simply the guilt of an older brother who hadn’t been able to protect his sister from the cruelty of the world. But now, hearing Botan’s quiet confession, the pieces fell into place.

It wasn’t just guilt.

It was regret.

Regret for something far deeper. Something personal. Something that had left a wound in both their hearts.

He wasn’t just mourning the pain she endured… Shuichi realized, he was mourning the part he played in it.

Shuichi’s chest tightened. He had assumed Itsuki’s protectiveness stemmed from responsibility—but now he saw the truth. It came from remorse. From knowing that once, even unintentionally, he had made his little sister feel unloved. Unwanted.

He hurt her, too. Just like how their father and Botan's ex hurt her.

And now, Shuichi could understand the silent plea in Itsuki’s eyes when he entrusted Botan to him: Don’t fail her like I did.

Shuichi gently squeezed Botan’s hands, grounding himself back in the present. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes now.

“Look at me, Botan,” he said gently, but with absolute conviction. “Please, look at me.”

She hesitated—then slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.

“You will never see that look in my eyes,” Shuichi whispered. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not years from now. Never.”

“I don’t love you because I expect something perfect. I love you because you’re you. Every part of you—your strength, your scars, your past, your heart.”

He placed her hand over his chest, right above his heartbeat.

“And my mother? She sees you for who you are too. She loves you. Not out of pity. Not out of obligation. She sees your worth… just like I do. You are precious in my eyes, Botan, and I will never look at you any other way."

And in the stillness between them, something fragile yet powerful began to grow: a flicker of trust, blooming in the light of his unwavering love.

Botan wiped her tears with the sleeve of her cardigan, her fingers trembling as she tried to steady her voice.

“I’m sorry, Shuichi…” she whispered, her gaze lowered in shame. “All you’ve done is protect me… take care of me… and yet, all I’ve done is keep doubting you. Again and again. I keep pushing you away… and keep rejecting your kindness... I’m so sorry…” Her voice cracked, thick with guilt, as fresh tears threatened to spill.

But Shuichi simply smiled—a warm, soft expression full of understanding—and gently shook his head.

“Don’t apologize, Botan,” he said quietly. “You’ve been hurt—deeply, and by the people you trusted most. Doubting me doesn’t make you ungrateful. It’s normal.”

He reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with careful tenderness. “You don’t have to rush to trust me. I’m not asking for that. but, let’s start from the beginning. You and me… as friends.”

Botan looked up at him, her breath catching. “Friends...” she murmured.

“Friends,” he repeated with a light, almost playful smile. “Then, maybe one day, we’ll go on a proper date. No arrangements. No expectations. Just us.” He paused, letting the words sink in before adding gently, “And during that time, you can decide—at your own pace—whether or not I’m someone worth trusting.”

Botan blinked, surprised by how calmly and sincerely he offered her that freedom… that choice. Her chest tightened—not with fear this time, but with something warmer. Something beginning to feel a lot like peace.

For so long, Botan had been viewed through distorted lenses—seen as a responsibility, a burden, a tool for profit, or worse… something tainted.

But not with Shuichi.

He never once looked at her like she was broken. He didn’t flinch at her past, didn’t treat her like damaged goods, or someone he needed to fix. He didn’t see her as a burden to carry, or a name tied to a family arrangement. He didn’t speak to her like a fragile investment or pity her with shallow affection.

He saw her.

As a person.

As Botan

He spoke to her with kindness, looked at her with gentleness, and treated her with the simple dignity she had long forgotten she deserved. And that realization hit her so hard, so unexpectedly, that she couldn’t keep it inside. Her voice came out in a hushed breath, trembling with emotion.

“…Thank you,” she whispered, barely audible. “For seeing me as a human being… as a person.”

Shuichi’s gaze softened even more, his hand finding hers again and holding it gently, warmly—as if it had always belonged there.

"You are my precious person, Miss Imai." Shuichi smiled.

Tears spilled freely down Botan’s cheeks, but this time, they weren’t heavy with sorrow. Between the trembling sobs, a soft giggle escaped her lips—light and unrestrained, like the first breath after a long storm. Her heart, once hollowed by fear and doubt, now brimmed with warmth—relief, gratitude, quiet joy, and a love that bloomed gently, finally, without fear.

“Don’t call me Imai,” Botan said with a dramatic pout, lightly nudging Shuichi’s arm. “I want to get rid of that name so badly.”

There was a teasing lilt in her voice, but Shuichi caught the meaning behind it—how much pain that name carried, how deeply she wanted to sever the tie to her past and the parents who had wounded her so deeply.

But instead of letting the moment grow heavy, he grinned.

“Ah, that’s right,” he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’re not Imai anymore…”

He leaned in slightly and whispered with a playful smirk, “You’re Mrs. Minamino now.”

Botan’s face turned an instant shade of crimson. “S-Shuichi!!” she squeaked, her voice hitting a higher pitch as she smacked his shoulder with both hands, clearly flustered. “You can’t just say that so casually!” she protested, trying to hide her smile even as it spread across her lips.

“Why not?” he chuckled. “It’s technically true. we both are husband and wife. Should I start calling you Mrs. Minamino in public too?”

“No, no, no—absolutely not!” she gasped, waving her hands in panic. “Do you want me to melt into a puddle of embarrassment?!”

Shuichi laughed, clearly enjoying her flustered state. “Well, now I’m tempted.”

Botan puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, turning her head away with a mock huff—but her red ears betrayed her.

He leaned closer, just enough to murmur beside her ear, “Admit it. You like how it sounds.”

She groaned, covering her face with both hands. “I hate that I do…”

Shuichi only smiled, watching her with soft eyes.

“Then get used to it, Mrs. Minamino,” he teased gently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Botan sighed before reached up with delicate fingers, gently brushing aside a strand of Shuichi’s bangs that had fallen over his forehead. Her touch was soft, reverent, like she was memorizing him with her fingertips.

“I used to think…” she began, her voice barely more than a whisper, “that this arranged marriage would be my prison. That I’d be living in a quiet kind of hell—trapped, alone, pretending to smile while falling apart inside. I thought I'd be having another new trauma again...”

She paused, her eyes meeting his with an emotion too deep to name.

“But you...” she continued, a gentle smile forming through the shimmer of unshed tears. “And it turns out… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. As if the sky itself took pity on me and sent down a gift from heaven… in the form of you.”

He stared at her—blinking, stunned into silence. For a heartbeat, he couldn’t speak. He could only look at her as warmth bloomed in his chest, overwhelming and real.

Then, wordlessly, he reached for her hand—the one still resting near his forehead—and pressed it gently to his lips. Shuichi chuckled softly, the warmth of her words still lingering in his chest like a flame that refused to die down. He tilted his head, eyes glinting with affection and just the slightest hint of mischief.

“Botan…” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “you really need to stop saying things like that.”

She blinked up at him, puzzled—until she saw the glimmer in his eyes.

He leaned in just slightly, not enough to invade her space, but enough to make her heart race. “Because when you say something that sweet… it makes me want to kiss you. Really badly.”

Botan’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing a deep pink almost instantly.

“But,” Shuichi added with a small, playful sigh, “I did promise I wouldn’t rush you… I promised I’d wait, give you space, be patient.”

Then his lips curved into a slow, sly smile. “But if you keep talking like that… don’t blame me if I end up crossing a line.”

He gave her a dramatic wink.

Her lips trembled as the blush reached the tips of her ears. “S-So—Sorry—!” she stammered, flustered and unable to meet his gaze, her hands instinctively coming up to cover her face.

Shuichi laughed gently, the sound warm and affectionate. He reached out and softly tugged her hands away from her face, just enough to see her eyes again. “Don’t be sorry,” he said with a smile, his tone softer now. “It’s not your fault you make me fall harder every time you speak.”

Botan pouted, her brows drawing together as she looked at him through tear-glossed eyes. There was no malice in her tone—just a tangle of guilt and disbelief that lingered in her heart.

“…Idiot,” she muttered softly. “All I ever did was push you away. I rejected your kindness, I doubted your every word… you have no reason to fall in love with someone like me.” Her voice cracked at the edges, like a dam straining to hold back a flood of emotion.

Shuichi didn’t flinch. Instead, he smiled—gentle, patient—as if those words didn’t shake his affection for her in the slightest. He reached out and lightly poked her nose with his finger, just enough to catch her off guard.

“You don’t get to decide what reasons I have,” he said quietly, his voice low but firm. Then he leaned in just a little closer, his expression softening with quiet reverence.

“You were there for my mother, Botan. When I couldn’t be.”

He watched as her breath caught, her eyes widening slightly in surprise.

“You stayed by her side in the hospital when she was alone. You sat with her, helped her eat, helped her laugh… You took her home safely when you didn’t have to lift a finger. And you did it not for appearances, not because anyone told you to—but because that’s just who you are.” His voice trembled slightly, but he didn’t look away.

“My mother… she’s the only blood-related family I have left in this world. She’s my everything. And you—you were there for her. You gave her comfort. You gave me peace of mind when I couldn't be there myself.”

He paused, brushing a lock of hair behind Botan’s ear.

“You still think I don’t have a reason to love you?”

Botan stared at him, her mouth slightly parted, overwhelmed by his words. No one had ever spoken of her actions like they mattered. Like she mattered. And yet, here he was—looking at her like she was the most important person in the world.

“You’ve been hurt—over and over—by the very people who were supposed to protect you,” Shuichi said softly, his eyes never leaving hers. “And yet… you still treat others with such warmth, such kindness. You never let their cruelty turn you cold.”

He reached for her hand, gently lacing his fingers with hers. “I think… maybe I started falling for you the moment our eyes met for the first time. But it was your heart—your kindness—that made me love you more deeply than I ever thought possible.”

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his voice barely above a whisper now. “That’s the kind of love that doesn’t fade, Botan. That’s the kind of person I want to protect… always.”

Botan gently squeezed Shuichi’s hands back, her touch tender and steady, as if grounding herself in the moment.

“I know how it feels…” she said softly, her eyes reflecting a quiet ache. “To be treated like you don’t matter… to be spoken to like your presence is a burden… it hurts in ways words can’t describe.”

She looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts before continuing.

“That’s why I could never bring myself to treat people the same way. I don’t want to be the reason someone else feels that kind of pain. I don’t want to pass it on… So I try. I try to be kind. Even if people say it makes me weak. Even if sometimes… it means I get hurt.”

There was a pause—brief but meaningful—before her gaze lifted to meet his again.

“But…” she added, a small smile forming on her lips, “I’m really glad I could help your mother. She’s such a kind woman. Being there for her… it didn’t feel like a duty. It felt like something I wanted to do.” Her smile softened, glowing with sincerity.

Shuichi looked at her with a warmth that seemed to melt every crack in her soul. His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, and his eyes softened with something deep—something unwavering.

“I’m proud of you, Botan,” he said, his voice low and full of quiet emotion. “For everything you’ve endured… and for still choosing to be kind. You don’t even realize how strong you are. You carry so much pain, but you still manage to bring light to others.”

His smile widened slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. “I must be the luckiest man alive,” he added, leaning in just a little, “to have an amazing woman like you as my wife.”

Botan’s cheeks flushed a familiar pink, and she opened her mouth to protest, already reaching for her well-worn arguments. “Shuichi, you know I’m not—my past, my illness—”

But before she could finish, Shuichi gently raised his hand and pressed his thumb softly to her lips, silencing her. His touch was tender, reverent. And then, without a word, he leaned in and placed a delicate kiss on his own thumb—right where it touched her lips.

Her eyes widened slightly, caught between surprise and emotion.

His face hovered close to hers, the tension between them thick with unspoken desire, but he held himself back, honoring the promise he had made. “I won’t break my word,” he murmured with a faint, teasing smile. “No kisses. Not yet. But don’t tempt me too much, Mrs. Minamino…”

“You can say all the terrible things you want about yourself,” Shuichi said softly, his gaze unwavering, “but none of it will ever change the way I see you… and it definitely won’t change how deeply I love you.”

Botan’s breath hitched, her heart fluttering in her chest like wild wings. She couldn’t find the words—but her eyes spoke volumes. Gratitude. Affection. Maybe even a growing love too powerful to contain.

That night, as Botan and Shuichi each retreated to their separate rooms, a peaceful stillness settled over the house—soft and reassuring, like a gentle exhale after holding one’s breath for far too long. For the first time since their marriage began, their hearts felt light, unburdened—freer than they had ever been.

Maybe it was because everything that had weighed on them had finally been said—every fear, every doubt, every hidden hope laid bare under the quiet glow of honesty. There were no more masks between them, no walls left to climb. Just two people, no longer strangers, beginning to understand the shape of each other's hearts.

And as they slipped beneath their covers, each in their own room, the thought of tomorrow no longer felt uncertain. It felt like a promise.

They couldn’t wait to face the next day—and the future—side by side.

Together.

_______________

The morning light filtered softly through the windows, casting a golden hue across the quiet house. Shuichi rubbed his temples as he sat up, a faint pounding echoing through his head. The dizziness hadn’t faded since he woke up, but he shook it off with quiet determination. It’s probably nothing, he told himself.

He moved slowly and deliberately, getting dressed for work despite the lingering fog that clouded his senses. His steps were steady—but only just. By the time he reached the main door, the weight in his limbs had grown heavier. He lowered himself carefully onto the bench near the entryway and began putting on his shoes, though even that simple act made his head spin.

From across the hall, Botan stepped out of the kitchen, holding a dish towel. She opened her mouth to greet him with a cheerful “Good morning,” but the words caught in her throat when she noticed how he moved.

Something was off.

Her eyes narrowed with concern as she watched him struggle to rise from the bench. He stood—but not fully. His balance wavered for just a moment, subtle but clear.

“Shuichi?” she called, a hint of alarm in her voice.

He turned to her slowly, his usual composure visibly strained. His face was pale, his brow damp with sweat. His tie was loose, not out of style but in surrender. And his eyes—normally calm and sharp—looked unfocused, heavy with exhaustion and discomfort.

Botan’s heart dropped.

She hurried over. “Shuichi, you're burning up,” she said, gently pressing the back of her hand to his forehead.

He tried to smile, brushing it off. “I’m fine. Just a little dizzy…”

“You’re not fine,” she said firmly, her voice trembling. “You can barely stand. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” he murmured, swaying slightly again before sitting back down.

Botan crouched beside him, the towel still clutched in her hand, forgotten. “You’re worrying me more like this. Please, let me help. Work can wait.”

Shuichi gave in to Botan’s gentle tug, allowing her to guide him back inside. He was clearly reluctant but didn’t resist, swaying slightly as he took a step forward her. But before he could take another step—

Everything blurred.

The world around him tilted sharply, and a deep blackness crawled into the edges of his vision. His knees buckled.

“Shuichi—?”

Botan barely had time to react.

His body went limp in an instant, collapsing forward toward her.

“Shuichi!!” She cried out, arms flying up instinctively to catch him but he was too heavy, and the momentum too sudden.

They both collapsed.

With a dull thud, Shuichi’s unconscious body fell atop hers, pinning her against the floor. The impact forced the air from her lungs, and a sharp jolt of pain shot up her leg as her ankle twisted beneath the weight.

“Ugh..” Botan winced, tears welling in her eyes as a hot sting bloomed in her ankle. It throbed immediately—twisted, maybe even sprained.

Still, her focus wasn’t the pain on her ankle, it was on Shuichi.

His skin was clammy, drenched in sweat, and his breathing shallow. His head rest heavily against her shoulder, and though she tried to prop him up, her injured ankle refused to cooperate, and her arms trembled from the strain.

Tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes—not from the pain in her leg, but from fear. “Shuichi...” Her voice cracked, trembling with the weight of panic and helplessness. She needed to move, to get help—but she couldn’t carry him on her own.

Still, she held him close, refusing to let go.

Botan’s hands trembled as she cradled Shuichi’s unconscious form in her lap, his head limp against her chest. Her injured ankle pulsed with pain, but she barely noticed. The only sound she could focus on was Shuichi’s uneven breathing—and even that felt too faint.

She looked around in desperation, her breath quick and shallow.

Phone. ‘I need a phone.’

Her eyes widened in realization—she didn’t have hers. She had left it charging in the kitchen. But then she remembered—

Shuichi met Itsuki yesterday. Maybe... maybe he has his number.

With a burst of adrenaline, she gently shifted Shuichi’s body and patted the pockets of his trousers. Her fingers finally closed around the cold shape of his phone. Her heart nearly stopped when the screen lit up in her palm. No password.

She rushed to the contacts list, scrolling shakily with her thumb—

Until She found it:

‘Itsuki Imai’

Without thinking, she pressed the call button.

It rang once.

Twice.

Then a cold, clipped voice answered.

“What is it, Minamino?”

Botan’s breath hitched. That tone—it was the usual one her brother used when speaking to strangers, guarded and emotionally distant.

“Brother—” she gasped, her voice breaking, “It’s me—Botan.”

There was a pause on the line, the chill in his voice momentarily replaced by startled silence.

“Botan?” he echoed.

“Please—please help,” she cried, tears slipping freely down her cheeks. Her voice trembled with desperation. “It’s Shuichi—he collapsed. I-I don’t know what to do.. He was sweating, dizzy—and now he won’t wake up.” Her voice cracked further as she sobbed, clutching the phone with one hand and Shuichi’s shoulder with the other.

“I tried to lift him—I can’t—I sprained my ankle—he’s not waking up, Itsuki—please—please help...” Her words poured out like a floodgate had burst. She didn’t care about appearances, pride, or how her brother would react. All she knew was that she had to take care of Shuichi.

_______

The front door flew open with a rush of wind and urgency as Itsuki stepped inside. His breath caught the moment his eyes landed on them—on her.

Botan sat on the floor, hunched over, cradling Shuichi tightly against her chest as tears streamed down her face. Her body trembled beneath his weight, and yet she refused to let go. Her hair was messy, her clothes rumpled, and her ankle slightly twisted at an awkward angle. But what struck Itsuki most was the sheer desperation on her face.

She wasn’t the same quiet sister he had always tried to protect from a distance.

She was breaking in front of him—out of love.

“Botan!” Itsuki rushed to her side, dropping to one knee.

“He—he fainted,” she choked out, voice raw, “I couldn’t catch him fast enough…”

Itsuki didn’t waste another word. Carefully, he lifted Shuichi from her arms, slinging him over his back with practiced ease. “Where’s his room?”

“Second floor... right side,” she whispered, wiping her face as she struggled to sit up.

He nodded and carried Shuichi upstairs swiftly but gently. Moments later, he returned from the bedroom, only to find Botan limping toward the bathroom with a basin in her arms and a towel thrown over her shoulder.

She winced with every step, favoring her injured ankle, but said nothing about the pain. Her focus was entirely on Shuichi.

“You’re limping,” Itsuki said, his tone firm but quieter now.

“I twisted it when we fell,” she replied, placing the basin on the low table beside Shuichi’s bed. “I’ll treat it later.”

“Botan…”

“I said I’ll treat it later.” She said firmly. Her eyes looked tired, worried, distant, and focused on Shuichi, who was lying on the bed in front of her.

He said nothing else after that. He watched silently as she dipped the towel into the water and wrung it out, her hands shaking slightly. She brought it over to Shuichi’s side, then gently placed it on his forehead, brushing back the damp strands of his hair with surprising tenderness.

The whole moment unsettled him—not because it was wrong, but because it was real.

“Why are you being this nice to him?” Itsuki finally asked, his voice low, unreadable.

Botan didn’t even flinch. She kept her gaze on Shuichi as she softly replied, “Because he took care of me when no one else did.” She dabbed the sweat from Shuichi’s temples, her voice quiet and steady.

“He never looked at me like I was damaged or dirty. He treated me like I mattered. He listened. He made me snacks. He came for me when I was scared. He cried because he thought I might hurt myself… He’s the reason I’m still breathing, Brother.”

Her eyes glistened again, but she smiled faintly. “So yes… I want to take care of him now. I need to repay him. Not because I owe him… but because I want to.”

Itsuki remained silent, staring at her with a strange mixture of regret, awe, and sadness in his eyes. He was beginning to realize—perhaps for the first time—just how much his little sister had grown, and how much of herself she had given to someone who finally gave her peace in return.

Itsuki leaned against the doorway of Shuichi’s room, arms crossed, his expression unreadable as he quietly watched Botan tending to the unconscious man on the bed. The silence between them hung heavy, filled with everything they’d left unsaid over the years.

“I met him yesterday,” Itsuki said finally, breaking the stillness.

Botan didn’t look up from where she was gently dabbing Shuichi’s forehead. “He told me,” she replied softly, wringing out the towel again. “He said you gave him one chance.”

Itsuki’s brows furrowed. “I did,” he said quietly. “But… what if he hurts you, Botan?”

Botan stopped moving. She lowered the towel to her lap and looked up at her brother. Her gaze was calm—not naive, not blindly hopeful—but mature. Anchored.

“It’s alright,” she said, with a small, knowing smile. “I think I’m ready for everything now. The best... and the worst.”

She stood slowly, limping slightly, and walked toward him. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest. “Even if he does hurt me someday,” she murmured, her voice muffled, “it’s not your fault, Brother.”

Itsuki stiffened for just a moment—then his arms slowly came around her. Tighter than he meant to. Desperate. As if trying to make up for all the years he didn’t hold her when she needed him most.

“I want to protect you, Botan…” he whispered, his voice trembling. “But I’ve never really done anything for you as your brother. I wasn’t there when you needed someone the most..”

She shook her head gently against his shoulder. “I don’t want you to protect me, Itsuki. I just want you to love me.” Then she pulled back slightly and looked up at him, her voice soft and childlike in a way that tugged at his heart. “Do you love me?”

Itsuki said nothing—but his eyes softened, and after a long breath, he gave a slow, heavy nod.

“That’s enough,” Botan whispered. Her smile returned, fragile but full of light. “Please, Brother… just this once, let me stay with Shuichi a little longer. This time, I’m not being forced. This time… I want this.”

She paused, her gaze drifting briefly back toward the bed. “I want to stay beside him.” she said sincerely.

Itsuki looked at her for a long time, his jaw tight, his own war playing out behind his eyes. The protectiveness. The fear. The guilt. But most of all, the love.

After several moments, he nodded slowly.

“If he hurts you…” he said quietly, “you come back to me. Don’t hesitate. I don’t care when, I don’t care how. I will always welcome you home.”

He placed his hand on her head, his voice thick with emotion. “You still have a place with me… and with Uncle Bui. You always will.”

Botan smiled, eyes misted again. She reached up to touch his hand and whispered, “Thank you. For never giving up on me… Big brother.”

For a while, neither of them moved.

The silence this time was warm. Not empty, but full—of forgiveness, of healing, of a love that had waited quietly in the background, finally finding its voice.

__________

A soft murmur floated past Shuichi’s lips as his consciousness returned like a slow tide.

His eyelids fluttered, heavy as stone, and the faint light in the room stung his eyes. His head ached, his body felt like it had been drained of every last bit of strength… but his heart—it raced.

Voices.

Familiar ones.

He could hear Botan’s soft, emotional tone… and Itsuki’s steady voice beside her. They were talking quietly, standing just outside his door. Shuichi could barely make out the words, but then—

“Let me stay beside him… This time, I’m not being forced. I want this…”

Those words struck him like lightning, slicing through the fog in his mind.

His heart beat faster. His chest rose and fell with quiet urgency.

She wanted to stay… with him.

He swallowed weakly, lips parting as he tried to speak, but his throat was dry, and his body refused to cooperate. So instead, he closed his eyes again and whispered inwardly, a silent vow carried through the trembling rhythm of his heart:

‘I promise, Itsuki… I will love her. I will protect her. I will never hurt her—not even a little. I swear to you…’

Footsteps retreated. A soft click of the front door signaled Itsuki’s departure.

Moments later, the mattress dipped gently under a familiar weight. Botan had returned. She sat beside him quietly, brushing his damp bangs aside with the utmost care.

“B-Botan…?” Shuichi’s voice came out hoarse, barely louder than a breath.

Botan gasped, her eyes instantly filling with tears as she turned toward him. “Shuichi?” she whispered. “I’m here—I'm right here.” She reached for his hand without hesitation, cradling it between both of hers, pressing her cheek against it like it was the most precious thing in the world.

“I… promise…” Shuichi whispered, his lips dry and trembling, “I’ll make you happy…”

His eyes fluttered open just enough to see her face, tear-streaked yet radiant. That one glimpse gave him strength he didn’t know he still had.

Botan’s eyes widened, and her tears flowed freely again. She leaned down slowly, wrapping her arms gently around his shoulders and holding him close, careful not to hurt him. “You silly man…” she murmured into his ear, her voice breaking with love, “You need to focus on your health first…”

Her touch was soft, warm, and grounding—as if her embrace alone could keep him tethered to this world.

“You already make me happy just by staying beside me,” she whispered, brushing her lips against his temple. “So stay with me, okay?”

Shuichi gave the faintest nod, a flicker of a smile on his pale lips. In that fragile, quiet moment—without grand gestures or loud promises—something unshakable bloomed between them.

Love, real and resilient, was already growing in the space they had once feared to enter.

Shuichi’s eyelids sank again under their own weight, the haze of exhaustion tugging him back into the fog. He could barely make sense of his own body—his limbs felt heavy, and his head pounded with every subtle movement. His only anchor to the world was the sound of footsteps—Botan’s soft, familiar footsteps—fading gently away from his bedside.

A few minutes passed. Then the creak of the door.

The light patter of her steps returned.

He stirred again, slowly peeling his eyes open just in time to see her walking in, carrying a small tray with a bowl of steaming porridge balanced carefully in her hands.

And then he noticed.

Her ankle.

His eyes narrowed slightly, the fog of sleep making it hard to process, but his concern rushed ahead of his strength.

“W–what… happened to your leg?” he asked weakly, his voice raspy and dry.

Botan looked at him and paused mid-step, then gave him a soft smile—gentle, but clearly forced.

“It’s nothing,” she said lightly, setting the tray down on the nightstand beside him.

Shuichi blinked slowly, his mind catching up.

The front door... ‘I remember collapsing… on her’.

His heart twisted.

“Did I… cause this?” he asked, eyes wide with guilt as he tried to sit up, wincing as his arms trembled beneath him. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Botan…”

Panic bled into his voice, his body ignoring its own condition in a desperate attempt to fix what he had broken.

Before he could rise further, Botan gently pressed her hand on his chest, guiding him to leaned his back on the headboard carefully. “Don’t you dare get up right now,” she scolded with a small pout, her tone somewhere between playful and serious. “You nearly gave me a heart attack earlier.”

She knelt beside the bed—grimacing slightly at the pressure on her ankle—but reached up to ruffle his hair tenderly before poking his nose with her finger.

“If you really feel that sorry,” she continued, voice softening, “then recover quickly. Get strong again so you can help me take care of my sprained ankle.”

Shuichi stared at her, helpless but grateful. His lips curved into a faint smile.

Botan lifted the bowl of porridge and carefully blew the steam away. “I made this for you. You should eat before your medicine. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s warm.”

“…Thank you,” he murmured, still stunned by how calmly she cared for him despite her own injury. “I suddenly felt so dizzy when I woke up. Probably because I was out in the rain too long yesterday…” His eyes fluttered down, shame creeping into his expression.

Botan’s face fell slightly too. She looked down into the bowl of porridge in her lap, stirring it absentmindedly.

“…Because you cried,” she said quietly, “over me hurting myself…” Her voice cracked at the edges, like someone trying not to cry again. She looked away from him quickly, hiding the pain behind a practiced smile.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not to guilt him—but because the thought of being the reason for someone else’s pain was unbearable.

Shuichi’s fingers twitched above the blanket, and he slowly reached for her hand. “You don’t have to apologize…” he said, voice trembling, “I’m the one who should say that—for not being there when it all happened, for being too late to meet you…”

Botan looked up, her heart fluttering as their fingers met.

“But,” he added, holding her hand tighter, “I'm here now. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Botan swallowed her tears and nodded slowly. Then she smiled softly and lifted a spoonful of porridge toward him. “Alright then, Mr. Not-Going-Anywhere,” she said with a mock sternness, “open up. Or I’m going to start adding bitter medicine to your food.”

Shuichi chuckled, the sound weak but full of warmth.

“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered, opening his mouth.

And just like that, between spoonfuls of porridge, quiet laughter, and soft glances, the weight between them began to dissolve—bit by bit—replaced by something tender, unspoken, and real.

Once Shuichi had eaten most of the porridge—slowly, spoonful by spoonful with Botan’s patient coaxing—she gently set the empty bowl aside. With a quiet breath, she reached into the small box of medicine on the nightstand, picked out a tablet, and placed a glass of warm water in Shuichi’s hand.

He took the medicine without protest, sipping the water slowly, then exhaled as he handed the glass back to her. The movement clearly took a toll—his shoulders sagged, and his head drooped slightly.

“Thank you…” he murmured, his eyes already starting to glaze with fatigue.

Botan carefully placed the glass aside and turned to grab a soft towel that had been soaking in warm water. She wrung it out with practiced hands, then gently dabbed the sweat that clung to his forehead, cheeks, and neck.

“You don’t… have to do this, Botan…” Shuichi mumbled weakly, his voice barely above a breath. His eyes fluttered half-shut, the warmth of her touch pulling him toward sleep.

Botan didn’t stop. Her hand moved gently across his temple, brushing back damp bangs before gliding the towel along his neck. She smiled faintly, her voice calm and low. “You took care of me too… more than once,” she said. “When I couldn’t even take care of myself. You were patient. You were kind. So… let me return that, even just a little.”

She folded the towel and continued wiping down his arms and hands, careful not to make the cloth too cold or too hot. Her touch was nurturing, almost reverent.

Shuichi’s lips parted as if he wanted to protest again, but he was too tired… and truthfully, he didn’t want her to stop. The sensation of her hands, her voice, her presence—it grounded him. He was safe here. He could rest.

Botan noticed his eyes drifting shut and his breathing slowing. She smiled, more to herself this time. Gently, she leaned in and whispered near his ear: “Just sleep, Shuichi… I’ll be right here.”

She wiped the last of the sweat from his brow, then dipped the towel once more in the basin. As she folded it over the edge of the bowl, she stole a glance at his peaceful face. Then she carefully slid her arm behind him and guided him back to lying on the bed.

His features, usually so composed and elegant, now looked fragile and soft in sleep. And yet—despite the paleness, despite the weakness—he looked content.

She reached out and placed her hand on his gently, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.

“I’m glad you’re here… with me,” she whispered.

Then, pulling the blanket up to his chest, she sat quietly beside him, watching over him like he had once done for her. The soft ticking of the wall clock was the only sound in the room besides Shuichi’s slow, shallow breaths.

Botan sat quietly at his bedside, her hands resting on her lap, her posture still but alert. She’d pulled the chair a little closer after tucking him in, unable to look away from his sleeping face for hours. His expression was calm—almost too calm—but there was a hint of tension between his brows, a subtle twitch in his fingers every now and then that didn’t go unnoticed.

Her eyes wandered, tracing the curve of his jaw, the way a lock of damp hair clung to his temple. Even now, lying there vulnerable and pale, he still looked kind. Still looked like him.

Her gaze softened.

She thought this marriage was a mistake… something that would trap them both, but look at them now.

Her lips parted slightly in a wistful smile. It amazed her, how someone who was practically a stranger had become the person she clung to most. Shuichi had entered her life like a whisper—quiet, unexpected—but had brought warmth in places long since gone cold.

Botan exhaled softly, brushing her fingers over her own wrist where a faded scar remained hidden beneath her sleeve. He cried for me, she remembered, he truly cried…

The smile faded.

She turned her attention back to him and immediately noticed something wrong.

Shuichi's face, though peaceful on the surface, looked unnaturally flushed now. A light sheen of sweat had gathered again on his forehead and neck, soaking into the pillow beneath him. His breathing, though even, had become heavier—subtly labored. And when she reached forward, pressing the back of her hand against his brow—

Her heart dropped.

He was burning up again.

No… the medicine should’ve worked by now… it’s been hours.

Botan bit her lower lip hard, a sharp pang of fear flashing in her chest. Her hand lingered on his forehead longer, just to be sure—but the heat radiating from his skin confirmed it. This wasn’t the usual kind of fever. Something was off. She swallowed tightly and looked down at his hand resting limply on the blanket. Her fingers hovered over it for a second before gently slipping her hand into his again, lacing their fingers.

Botan’s hands trembled as she sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Shuichi’s flushed face. Beads of sweat clung stubbornly to his brow, and his breathing remained shallow, uneven.

She reached out again, her fingers brushing the buttons of his shirt.

Maybe this is the only way, she thought, heart pounding in her chest. Just to help bring his temperature down… to make him feel more comfortable.

Her fingers worked slowly, gently undoing each button with shaky hands. With every movement, she whispered a silent apology to him, even though he wasn’t conscious to hear it. She peeled the damp fabric away from his chest, exposing the pale skin beneath, his torso rising and falling with effort.

She hesitated.

The room felt quiet—too quiet. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

Botan stared at her own reflection in the black screen of the phone on the nightstand. Her lips parted, and her throat tightened.

‘You’re doing this for him, she reminded herself, clutching the hem of her shirt now. ‘He took care of you so many times. When you were freezing. When you were hurting. He stayed.’

Her fingers tightened on the fabric.

‘But… I haven’t seen my body since… since then.’

Eight years ago. The memories were faint shadows now, but the damage remained etched onto her skin—ghostly white lines of pain she had long tried to forget.

She bit her lower lip.

Just for tonight. Just to help him. she’ll wake up and dress again before he does. He won’t have to see.

Taking a deep breath, Botan closed her eyes tightly and slowly pulled her shirt over her head, refusing to glance down. She kept her arms crossed over her chest for a moment, her whole frame trembling—not from the cold, but from the flood of emotions.

And then, gently, carefully, she climbed into the bed.

The mattress dipped beneath her weight as she moved to lay over Shuichi, chest to chest, wrapping her arms lightly around him. His skin was burning hot beneath hers, and she could feel the sweat clinging to both of them.

Her body tensed at first from the unfamiliar sensation—exposure, vulnerability—but soon, her warmth began to mingle with his. She hoped her body heat would balance his, ground him, pull him away from the fever’s grasp.

Botan lowered her head onto his shoulder, listening to the sound of his faint heartbeat against her ear. Her hand found his once more, fingers wrapping around his slowly.

“You’re going to be okay…” she whispered, tears pressing at the back of her eyes. “You have to be…”

She closed her eyes, her cheek resting against his bare shoulder, and exhaled shakily.

As minutes ticked by, she stayed there—still, steady, warm—like a shield against the fever. Despite her own fears and shame, despite the painful memories she hadn’t dared face in years, she gave all of herself in this quiet act of love and care.

And all she asked in return… was that he come back to her.

Shuichi stirred from sleep with a strange but comforting warmth pressed against him. His body still felt heavy, his head faintly throbbing, but it was no longer spinning. He blinked groggily, his vision slowly adjusting to the morning light peeking through the curtains.

Then he realized.

Botan was lying on top of him—her bare skin pressed against his, her head resting gently on his shoulder, her arms wrapped lightly around his waist. She was breathing softly, fast asleep.

His breath caught in his throat.

She was warm. So warm.

His heart beat faster—not with panic, but with awe. She looked so peaceful, so vulnerable, so close. A part of him wanted to just hold her there forever and fall back asleep with her in his arms. But another part… was deeply confused.

‘Why are we… like this?’

Gently, almost instinctively, Shuichi lifted his arms and wrapped them around her, his touch featherlight. The moment he did, he felt her tense slightly in his embrace, and then—

“Ah—!” Botan’s body jolted, and she blinked awake with wide, panicked eyes.

Her gaze locked with Shuichi’s.

“You’re awake…?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Shuichi nodded slowly.

Botan gasped, and in an instant, her cheeks flushed crimson with shame and guilt. She pushed herself off of him quickly, grabbing the closest pillow and pulling it against her chest to cover herself.

“I— I’m so sorry,” she stammered, her eyes glassy. “Please… forgive me for doing this. I just wanted to help bring your fever down… I didn’t know what else to do. You were burning up and I panicked and— I’m so, so sorry…” She closed her eyes tightly, her voice breaking, her hand trembling as she reached to push herself off the bed completely.

But Shuichi’s hand caught her wrist.

He didn’t say anything at first.

He just stared.

Right there, on her wrist—faint under the soft morning light—were scars. Dozens of them. Some old and faded, others newer, angrier, redder… too recent.

His fever was gone—but a different kind of ache bloomed in his chest now.

“…You…” he whispered, still staring at her wrist in disbelief.

Botan followed his gaze and immediately froze.

Her breath stopped.

She realized what he was looking at.

“No—please, don’t look…” she said in a strained whisper, trying to pull her hand away. But Shuichi held it gently yet firmly, not allowing her to hide it.

Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Don’t look at me like that… Please…”

Shuichi’s voice trembled as he asked, “Is this all…?”

Botan said nothing. Her other hand gripped the pillow tighter against her chest, as if she could disappear inside it.

Shuichi’s gaze shifted—he noticed something else.

Just along her collarbone, peeking out from beneath her long hair and bare shoulder, were more marks. Thin, pale lines. Faded, but unmistakable.

“…May I see you…?” he asked softly, barely more than a breath.

Botan’s eyes widened.

“No!” she choked, shaking her head quickly. “You can’t. You’ll be disgusted…”

She turned her face away, cheeks wet with tears. Her voice broke again. “I haven’t looked at myself in eight years… I can’t. I always close my eyes when I shower. When I dress. I don’t even own a full mirror at home…” Her voice quivered with shame and exhaustion. “I don’t want to see it… and I don’t want you to see it either.”

Shuichi’s chest tightened. He didn’t know what tore at him more: the sight of the scars… or the way she hated herself for them. “…Botan,” he whispered, bringing her wrist gently to his lips and placing the softest kiss on one of the faded lines. “I’m not disgusted.”

She stared at him, shocked, frozen in place.

“I’m not scared of your scars,” Shuichi said, his voice low and full of emotion. “I’m scared of the pain you’ve been carrying all alone… and the thought that you felt you had no one to turn to.” He reached up and slowly cupped her cheek with his other hand, wiping her tears with his thumb.

“I won’t force you,” he said sincerely. “You don’t have to show me anything until you’re ready. But if you ever do… know that I will still look at you the same way. Not because of your scars but because you’re you, Botan.”

She choked on a sob, eyes blurring again. Her grip on the pillow loosened slightly.

“I’m not disgusted. I will never.” Shuichi whispered again, his voice steady despite the trembling in his heart. “Please… let me see you, Botan. I promise I’ll behave.”

Botan’s teary eyes met his, hesitant, afraid—still searching his expression for even a flicker of pity or revulsion. But she saw none. Only warmth. Only sincerity. Only him.

Her body was trembling. Her lips quivered as more silent tears slid down her cheeks. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him. But the fear was carved deep, and shame had become a second skin she had worn for years.

Still, something in his voice... something in his eyes...

She closed her eyes tightly and drew in a shaky breath.

Her free hand, which clutched the pillow like a lifeline, slowly, painfully, released it.

She didn’t open her eyes.

She couldn’t.

The moment she closed her eyes, she felt Shuichi’s fingers gently intertwine with hers.

“You can hold onto me,” he whispered, leaning in just enough for her to hear, “not need to do it tightly… just enough to know I won’t touch you anywhere you don’t want. I swear.”

Wordlessly, she responded—her fingers wrapping around his.

Shuichi exhaled a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

And then he looked.

The sunlight filtered gently through the curtains, falling across her skin, revealing what she had hidden for nearly a decade. His gaze trailed to her wrists—both now exposed—lined with scars of varying ages, some nearly vanished, others newer and red.

He let his eyes drift upward. Across her arms. Her collarbone. Her chest. Her cleavage.

Scars.

So many.

Crisscrossed like a fragile map of pain etched in silence.

Even her breast and the soft skin beneath it bore the ghostly remnants of old wounds—thin, angry lines now faded, but never forgotten. A patch on her side looked slightly pink, likely from a recent reopening. A fresh one.

‘Oh god…’ Shuichi’s heart clenched.

His lips parted, his throat tightening with emotion.

“Botan,” he whispered hoarsely, “When… when was the last time you did this to yourself?”

Her breath hitched. Her hand squeezed his once, as if grounding herself.

“I don’t remember exactly,” she murmured, her voice shaking. “But… it’s usually after nightmares. Or… when I suddenly remember… that feeling…”

She paused, swallowing hard.

“That sick, disgusting feeling… The way he touched me… The way he stared at me like I was nothing but a thing… It always comes back.”

Shuichi blinked hard, his vision blurring with tears.

“I—I try not to,” she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, “but when the memory comes back, and my chest tightens, and I feel like I’m drowning… sometimes, this is the only way I know how to breathe again…”

Her shoulders shook now, her sobs held in behind clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered brokenly. “I don’t want to worry you. I’m so sorry…”

“Stop,” Shuichi breathed, pulling her hand to his lips again and kissing her knuckles tenderly. “Don’t apologize. Not to me. Never for surviving.”

He leaned his forehead against the back of her hand. “I hate what happened to you, Botan. I hate that you went through it alone… that someone made you feel so violated and worthless… I hate that those scars exist… but I will never hate you. Never.”

Botan’s tears poured silently now, her chest rising and falling with sobs too exhausted to scream.

Shuichi lifted his eyes again, looking at her as if she were the most precious, fragile thing he’d ever held. “You’re still beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re still strong. And I will never, ever, be ashamed of you.”

Her lips trembled. “I can’t even look at myself…”

“Then look through me,” Shuichi said softly, lifting her hand and placing it gently against his heart. “Feel this… feel what you mean to me.”

Silence fell between them—but it wasn’t empty.

It was thick with emotion, with the weight of truths revealed, with the beginning of a healing that neither of them had thought possible.

And for the first time in a long, long while, Botan didn’t feel like a broken girl hiding behind a mask.

She felt human again.

She felt seen.

And she wasn’t alone anymore.

Shuichi brought both of Botan’s hands closer to his lips, his breath trembling against her skin. Then, gently, reverently, he kissed her left wrist. Then the right. The softest touch, yet full of silent agony and love. His lips lingered against the faded lines—each one a ghost of her pain, each one a wound she’d carried alone.

And finally, his tears fell.

They slipped down his cheeks and onto her skin, mingling with the invisible scars.

His voice cracked as he whispered between shallow breaths, “Please, I’ll do anything for you, Botan… anything you want. I’ll stay by your side. I’ll wait. I’ll protect you from anything… everything…”

He pulled her hands to his chest, pressing them to the beat of his heart.

“But please,” he begged, his head lowering until his forehead rested atop their entwined fingers, “please stop hurting yourself like this. I’m begging you… don’t make me see you covered in blood… or find you collapsed on the floor… dying…” His voice choked on the last word.

The memory—so vivid in his mind from what Itsuki had told him, from what he imagined—twisted in his chest like a knife.

“I can’t bear it,” he whispered, eyes shut tightly as more tears slid down. “I can’t lose you like that…”

For a moment, there was only silence.

Botan’s eyes widened at the sight of him—so broken, so afraid, for her. Her heart clenched, her breath caught in her throat. This wasn’t pity. This wasn’t guilt.

This was love.

Pure, desperate, aching love.

And he was crying for her.

Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came. Her chest trembled, her soul shuddered beneath the weight of what she had just witnessed. All these years, she had been told—directly or indirectly—that her pain was an inconvenience. Her wounds were shameful. Her tears were weakness.

But Shuichi…

He held her hands as if they were sacred.

He kissed her scars as if they were not ugly, but proof that she survived.

He cried not because she had ruined something—but because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her.

“Shuichi…” she finally breathed, her voice soft and hoarse.

He didn’t lift his head.

Botan opened her eyes slowly, the haze of tears still blurring her vision. Her gaze fell on Shuichi, who sat before her—his head bowed, clutching her scarred hands as though he could hold all of her pain for her. His shoulders trembled from the weight of emotion. His cheeks were wet, not just from tears, but from the truth that had spilled out between them like broken glass.

Her voice came out fragile, barely a whisper.

“I want to stop doing this too…” she admitted, her words trembling with the weight of long-held shame. “But… I can’t bear it sometimes…”

She looked at the ceiling.

“Those touches… the insults… the way he stared at me, touched me like I was just an object… not even human… How he forcefully moved inside me...” Her jaw clenched for a moment before loosening again, her body trembling. “The humiliation would come back like a wave… like I was back there again. So I started cutting… I tried to distract myself, to replace that feeling with another kind of pain. A pain I could control…”

Her hands twitched in his grip.

“The sting… the blood… It made me feel real again. It made me breathe again. It helped me sleep.”

Shuichi’s heart cracked open all over again. He lifted his head to look at her. His eyes were red, glassy—but filled with unwavering love.

“Botan…” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “If those memories come back… if you wake from a nightmare, or you feel like you're drowning again…” He paused, cupping her hands carefully between his own. “Come here. Come to me. Come to my room.”

Botan flinched slightly, her lips pressing together. “Shuichi… I don’t want to disturb your sleep. You have work, you need rest. This is my problem. I can’t keep dragging you into my mess…”

But Shuichi shook his head, softly but firmly.

“It’s our mess now, Botan.”

She looked at him, startled by the tenderness in his voice.

“I will keep my door slightly open at night,” he said gently, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear, “and that will mean you’re always welcome. If one day I truly don’t want to be disturbed… I’ll close the door all the way. But until then, that open door means one thing.”

He leaned in slightly, forehead brushing hers.

“It means: Please come to me.”

Botan’s breath caught in her throat.

“I don’t want you to suffer in silence anymore,” Shuichi whispered. “You’re not alone anymore. You never have to be.”

Botan gently shifted her body forward, her hands still in his, and she leaned her forehead against his, mirroring him as she closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I never thought anyone would cry like this for me…”

“You don’t have to be sorry,” He said, eyes still shut. “Just promise me you’ll try… Try not to face it alone anymore…”

Botan nodded slightly. “I’ll try. For you, and maybe, for myself too…”

She reached up, her fingers brushing away his tears, even as more of her own spilled freely. Then she kissed his forehead softly, and whispered:

“You have no idea how much your love is saving me right now.”

And at last, for the first time in so many years, she no longer felt the urge to bleed in order to breathe.

Because now… she wasn’t trying to breathe alone.

Shuichi slowly released their joined hands, but only so he could draw her closer. His arms gently wrapped around her trembling frame, pulling her into a warm, protective embrace. Her bare skin against his didn’t stir anything lustful—it only stirred tenderness, devotion, and heartbreak at how fragile she felt in his arms.

He rested his chin carefully on her shoulder, his breath brushing the side of her neck. She was warm. Alive. And his. And he would protect her with everything he had.

“I will help you heal,” he whispered, his voice gentle but filled with determination. “No matter how hard it gets… no matter how long it takes… I’ll be there with you, every step.”

One of his hands moved slowly, stroking the back of her neck with his fingers—comforting, grounding. “So please, don’t do this anymore. Don’t hurt yourself, not like this.”

His hold tightened just a little, just enough to let her know how serious he was.

“If the pain comes back… if the urge returns… just hold on, even if it’s for a minute. Then come to me. Come to my room. Knock, or just open the door. I’ll be there, and I’ll welcome you with open arms every single time.”

Botan’s body quivered, her face buried in his shoulder now. Her hands clutched his sides as if she was scared he would vanish if she let go. Her heart felt raw—exposed in a way it had never been before. No one had ever said such things to her. No one had offered their arms when she was about to fall.

And then she heard him say it—so softly, so lovingly, right by her ear.

“I will try to find a way… to help you see yourself again. To help you look at your body, not with shame, but with kindness. With pride. To see how beautiful you are… all of you.”

Botan’s breath caught. She blinked rapidly, her vision flooded by new tears—but these were different. They weren’t born from guilt, shame, or self-hatred. They came from something she hadn’t felt in a very long time:

Hope.

Her hands slowly loosened their grip from his sides and wrapped around his back. She hugged him properly now—tight, as if she was finally letting herself need someone. Her cheek pressed against his collarbone, and she nodded softly.

“I’m scared…” she whispered, “But… I want to believe you. I want to believe in me too.”

Shuichi smiled gently against her skin.

“Then we’ll take it one step at a time,” he said. “Even if you can’t look in the mirror yet, you can look at me. And I’ll look at you the way you deserve to be seen.”

Botan’s heart fluttered at those words, and her lips trembled into a smile, fragile but real. “Shuichi…” she murmured, voice thick with emotion. “You… really are my miracle.”

He gently kissed the side of her head, his arms never once letting her go. “I’m honored.”

They remained wrapped in each other’s arms, their tears mingling in the space between their bodies—tears of sorrow, love, and release. It was the kind of silence that said more than words ever could, a silence that healed.

Eventually, Botan sniffled softly and pulled herself back just enough to see Shuichi’s face. His cheeks were damp, his eyes red, but his smile—though weak—was tender and full of love.

"You need to sleep again now, Shuichi…" she murmured gently, brushing his damp hair from his forehead with her fingers. “Let me get you a new shirt, okay? You’ve been sweating so much.” She began to sit up, clutching the blanket over herself, preparing to get out of bed—when suddenly, without warning, Shuichi scooped her into his arms.

“Ah—Shuichi!!” Botan gasped, instinctively covering her bare chest with her hands as her cheeks exploded in red. “W-What are you doing?!”

He held her gently, carefully, as if she were made of porcelain. His body was still a little unsteady, but he moved with surprising strength. His forehead leaned slightly against hers, his voice soft but certain. “You already saved me. My fever’s gone now… thanks to you.”

Botan’s breath hitched. His skin still felt warm, but nowhere near the burning heat from earlier. His eyes no longer looked glassy. She knew his body was tired—but he was trying.

“It’s my turn to take care of you now,” he said, smiling weakly.

Shuichi carried her back to the bed and gently placed her down onto the fresh sheets, treating her like something precious. Then, without hesitation, he turned toward his wardrobe and opened the doors slowly. He grabbed two oversized T-shirts—one for himself, and one for her. Plain, soft cotton. Comfort above all.

The clothes they’d worn earlier still lay on the floor, wrinkled and soaked with dried sweat. Shuichi glanced at them briefly, his brows furrowed. He hadn’t been able to clean anything today... And he would never allowed her to wear something dirty—especially after what she’d just been through.

He handed her the clean shirt wordlessly, turning his back so she could change. Botan slid the fabric over her head, relieved to feel the soft cotton against her skin. It smelled like him—calm, subtle, and safe.

When Shuichi turned around again, he knelt down beside the bed and gently reached for her foot.

Botan blinked in surprise. “Shuichi…?”

He said nothing at first. His fingertips ghosted over her swollen ankle. The moment his skin made contact with the puffed bruise, his expression changed.

His jaw tensed.

His eyes narrowed with a flicker of guilt.

She watched as he examined the injury with such tenderness, as if he could erase it by willing it away.

“…I did this,” he said softly, barely audible.

Botan opened her mouth to protest, but he continued first.

“I fell on you. I wasn’t strong enough to catch myself, and I hurt you because of it…” He took a deep breath. “If I had just stayed conscious long enough… you wouldn’t be limping. You wouldn’t be hurt.”

“Shuichi…” she whispered, her voice aching.

But he gently wrapped his hands around her ankle, checking the swelling. “You’ve been walking around, fetching medicine, feeding me… and you’ve been hurt this whole time.”

“I didn’t care about that,” Botan replied, her fingers curling around the edge of the bed. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

He looked up at her, and there was a storm behind his eyes—guilt, love, protectiveness.

“I want to do better,” he whispered. “For you.”

Botan reached out, brushing her fingers against his cheek. “You already are.”

Shuichi kissed her swollen ankle gently, then stood up and began gathering a small towel and a gel pack from the mini fridge in the corner of his room.

Botan said nothing else but watched him silently, her heart was beating fast.

There was a kind of beauty in the quiet, everyday gestures he offered her—tenderness wrapped in simplicity. And even though both of them were scarred, even though they were still healing, the way he held her now—with care, patience, and deep affection—made her feel whole again.

And as Shuichi returned to her side, kneeling down once more to carefully apply the cold compress, she couldn’t help but smile through the tears still drying on her cheeks.

In that moment, love didn’t need grand declarations.

It lived in the smallest acts of kindness.

In the end, Botan remained in Shuichi’s room for the night. She had intended to retreat to her own space once he was resting properly, but Shuichi wouldn't allow her to limp back and forth with a swollen ankle. Not after everything.

The room was dimly lit, with the gentle hum of the night air brushing against the curtains. Outside, cicadas chirped faintly, and the distant city sounds had begun to fade into a sleepy hush. Inside, everything felt a little warmer… a little safer.

Shuichi sat cross-legged on the edge of his bed, a small basin of cold water by his side. With the same hands that once wielded power and precision, he now moved with slow, gentle care. A clean towel rested over his shoulder, and a soft cloth lay soaked in the chilled water, now folded neatly and pressed against Botan’s ankle.

He hadn’t said much while tending to her—just occasional glances, soft gestures, and a furrowed brow that refused to ease. The guilt still clung to his expression, though he tried not to show it. His fingers worked with surprising delicacy, carefully massaging around the swelling to keep the blood circulating. Each motion was respectful, professional even, but also full of quiet affection.

Botan watched him closely. Her cheeks had long since gone pink, and by now they were burning. She sat with her legs drawn slightly to the side, draped in Shuichi’s oversized T-shirt that covered her knees, her long hair draped over one shoulder.

“Shuichi, I think it’s enough,” she murmured, her voice quiet, tinged with embarrassment.

Her gaze flicked away when his eyes met hers. “You’ve already done so much.”

Shuichi looked up at her, his hand still gently cradling her ankle. “It’s not enough,” he said softly, “Not until I see you walk without wincing.”

His thumbs stilled, hovering just above her skin. “Besides… I like taking care of you.”

That made Botan’s heart flutter—again. She looked down at her lap, tugging the edge of the shirt nervously. “Still… you don’t have to go this far...”

Shuichi chuckled softly, wringing out the cloth in the basin before placing it back over her ankle.
“I fainted on top of you, Botan. I have to responsible for this injury.”

Botan gave a small laugh, her shoulders relaxing as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Shuichi leaned back slightly, taking in her expression. “Does it still hurt badly?” he asked.

“Not as much,” she admitted. “The cold helped… and so did your hands.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“You should,” she whispered, shyly. “You're surprisingly good at this.”

“I’ve had practice,” he said gently. “Taking care of people I care about.”

Botan’s breath caught at that. She looked at him slowly, her chest rising and falling a bit more noticeably.

He noticed it too, but didn’t push. Instead, he folded the towel and set it aside, brushing her ankle once more with his palm before letting go.

“There,” he said. “Let’s keep it elevated for now.”

Botan nodded, and he gently helped her stretch out on the bed. Then Shuichi moved beside her, not too close but close enough for her to feel his presence. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight as he leaned his back against the headboard. She glanced sideways at him, then slowly rested her head on his shoulder, whispering, “Thank you… again.”

Shuichi tilted his head slightly and whispered back, “Anytime, Botan.”

Botan closed her eyes for a moment, her head still resting on Shuichi’s shoulder. The warmth of his body beside her was comforting—not too close to be overwhelming, but just near enough to assure her that she wasn’t alone. Between them, their hands remained gently intertwined. His fingers weren’t gripping, weren’t demanding—just holding her with quiet reassurance, as if to say he’s here, and he is not letting go.

She listened to the steady beat of his heart, felt the rise and fall of his chest with every breath. It was grounding—like the world had slowed down just for a little while, just long enough for her heart to settle.

Her thumb brushed against his knuckles absently, a subconscious gesture of gratitude and trust.

She had shown him everything—her bare skin, her worst scars, the remnants of pain carved into her body from years of quiet suffering. She had braced herself for his disgust, his awkwardness, or his pity… but instead, she’d only seen tears in his eyes. He hadn’t looked at her as broken. He hadn’t pulled away. He had held her wrists like they were sacred, like they deserved to be protected.

And even when she had laid herself against him, completely vulnerable, completely exposed—he hadn’t once touched her inappropriately. He hadn’t taken advantage of her moment of weakness. Instead, he’d held her. Covered her with warmth and care. He had looked into her eyes, not at her body. He had seen her—not as a possession, not as something damaged—but as Botan.

A woman.

A human being.

Her throat tightened at the memory, her heart aching and fluttering all at once.

He truly respects me, she thought, biting her lower lip gently as she tried to keep herself from tearing up again. He respects me more than I’ve ever been respected before.

And that realization…

It was terrifying.

It was beautiful.

And it made her fall in love with him deeper than she ever intended to.

‘No’, she told herself silently. ‘Deeper than I should.’

She had tried so hard to protect her heart. She had built walls, created distance, convinced herself that this marriage was only temporary. An arrangement. A transaction. Something that would end cleanly.

But now—those walls were cracking. Crumbling, piece by piece.

Because of the way he looked at her.

Because of the way he said her name.

Because of the way he held her scars and didn’t flinch.

Botan opened her eyes slowly, blinking up at him. Shuichi was looking ahead, eyes heavy-lidded with fatigue, but peaceful. He looked so handsome under the dim room light. So calm. So safe.

Without thinking, she shifted just a little closer, resting more of her weight against him. She didn’t say a word. Didn’t have to.

Shuichi turned his head slightly toward her, offering the faintest smile. His thumb ran along the back of her hand, a quiet reply that said: ‘I feel it too.’

And in that stillness, Botan realized something else:

Maybe it wasn’t wrong to fall this deep.

Maybe this was what real love felt like.

____

Shuichi gently guided Botan down onto his bed again, his palm warm and steady against her back as she hesitated for a moment before giving in.

“It’s okay,” he said softly, his voice like a lullaby in the quiet room. “Rest here with me. Your leg still needs time to recover—you shouldn’t be climbing up and down the stairs.”

Botan opened her mouth as if to argue, but seeing the gentle concern in his eyes made her lose the will to refuse. She slowly eased herself back onto the mattress, letting her body sink into the familiar scent of him—clean, soft, with a hint of green tea and something distinctly Shuichi. Lying on her back, she stared at the ceiling, blinking up at it as though there were constellations hidden in the pale white above. Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, her thoughts still spinning even in the calm.

A few moments passed in silence before Shuichi’s quiet voice broke through.

“…Is this why,” he asked, “you always wear long sleeves… even in summer?”

Botan didn’t respond immediately. Her lips parted slightly, her gaze still fixed upwards. Then, slowly, she turned her head toward him. Her eyes looked tired, but no longer guarded.

She gave a small, almost invisible nod.

“I don’t want to see the scars…” she said softly, her voice fragile like porcelain. “I don’t want to see my body…”

The pain in her admission echoed louder than any scream. Shuichi felt it in his chest like a sudden weight pressing down. Without saying a word, he reached out and took her hand again—this time lacing their fingers together as if to anchor her to the moment, to him.

His grip was firm, but not forceful. Gentle, but steady. A reminder: you’re not alone anymore.

“Botan,” he said, voice low and sincere, “Promise me.”

She blinked and turned her head fully to him, confused for a second by the shift in his tone.

He continued, “If the memories ever come back… if you ever feel that pain rising again… if you ever feel the urge to hurt yourself—I want you to come here. Come to me. Don’t fight it alone.”

Botan’s breath hitched slightly. Her eyes softened, the tears once again threatening to spill. “Is it really okay?” she asked, her voice trembling. “Even if I come here at two in the morning…? Even if I come here every single day?” Her eyes searched his face, worried, hesitant. “What if you need to rest… what if I disturb your sleep?”

Shuichi just smiled gently, brushing her knuckles with his thumb. “I’ll always leave the door open… just slightly. That’s how you’ll know you’re welcome,” he said. “If the door’s fully shut, it just means I need a little space or sleep—but it won’t mean I don’t want you here. You can come at any time… morning, afternoon, midnight, dawn…”

His eyes softened as he leaned a little closer, still holding her hand as if it were the most precious thing in the world. “Botan, you’re not a burden. You don’t disturb me. You matter.”

Botan’s lips trembled as the tears finally fell again, but this time, there was a smile behind them. A real one. Not forced. Not fragile. But warm. Healing.

“Thank you…” she whispered. “I’ll do my best to heal from my past… I really will. I want to stop running from it…” Her gaze lingered on his. “I want to focus on the present and the future. With you.”

Something bloomed in Shuichi’s chest at those words—something tender and quiet, like spring light breaking through the cold remnants of winter. He gave her hand the softest squeeze, and his voice, though soft, carried all the weight of his feelings. “I’ll be here,” he said.

____

The following day arrived with gentler weather. The sky was clear, the air crisp, and the morning sun cast a soft golden hue over the quiet neighborhood.

At the Minamino residence, two visitors arrived at nearly the same time—each bearing something in their hands and something in their hearts.

Itsuki stood on the porch, one hand balancing a small paper bag filled with traditional herbal medicines and fever remedies. Beside him, just a few steps away, stood Shiori Minamino, gracefully holding two towering bento boxes wrapped in floral cloths—one in each hand. Despite their weight, she carried them with practiced ease and a warm smile on her face.

They blinked at each other, momentarily surprised.

“Oh, you must be…” Shiori began, her tone polite and motherly.

“Itsuki Imai,” he said, bowing respectfully. “Botan’s older brother. You must be Shuichi’s mother.”

Shiori bowed back, a pleasant glimmer in her eyes. “Yes, I’m Shiori Minamino. It’s lovely to meet you.”

“I brought medicine,” Itsuki said simply, holding up the bag. “For Botan’s ankle. And Shuichi’s fever.”

Shiori’s smile grew a touch brighter. “And I brought these for the two of them.” She gently lifted the boxes a little to emphasize. “Shuichi eats too little when he’s sick, and I had a feeling Botan wouldn’t eat properly either if she’s focused on caring for him.”

The door creaked open a second later, revealing Botan in Shuichi’s oversized T-shirt and a long dark legging. Her hair was tied back loosely, and there was a faint flush on her cheeks, perhaps from rushing to answer the door—or something warmer than that.

“Oh, Itsuki? Shiori?” she blinked, genuinely surprised. “What are you two—”

She trailed off as her eyes fell on the items in their hands. Her gaze dropped to the medicine bag first, then shot up to Itsuki’s face, clearly touched.

“You brought medicine…?”

“Yeah, for you and for Shuichi.”

“For Shuichi too?” she asked, eyes slightly widened.

Itsuki nodded with a subtle shrug, trying not to make a big deal of it. “He’s taking care of you. I thought he might need help recovering, too.”

A small smile trembled on Botan’s lips, her eyes glossing with gratitude. “Thank you, brother…”

Then she turned to Shiori—and nearly gasped. Her jaw parted slightly, speechless at the size and number of bento boxes the older woman was holding.

“S-Shiori… what is… that?” she said in awe.

Shiori chuckled, brushing a bit of hair behind her ear. “Lunch and dinner for both of you. There’s rice, grilled salmon, steamed veggies, and a little sweet omelet roll I tried making the way Shuichi used to love as a child. I added a few treats too.”

“You didn’t have to do all this…” Botan murmured, stunned by the overflowing kindness.

“But I wanted to,” Shiori replied gently. “You’re both very important to me.”

Botan’s heart clenched with warmth as she stepped aside. “Please, come in…”

Shiori carefully set the two towered bento boxes onto the dining table. The cloth wrapping was a soft lavender, tied with precise care. With a bright, almost childlike smile, she untied them and began opening each lacquered tier one by one—unveiling a spread that looked like it came straight from a festival buffet.

There were grilled salmon fillets with glistening skin, neatly shaped rice balls wrapped in nori, simmered vegetables in savory broth, tamagoyaki slices arranged like little golden pillows, miso-marinated eggplant, sweet soy-glazed meatballs, pickled radish shaped into flowers, and a small section of fresh fruit, perfectly sliced and arranged like a fan. Even a separate dessert box—small mochi and bite-sized sponge cake—waited at the bottom of the stack.

Botan and Itsuki stood side by side, both staring at the abundance with identical dumbfounded expressions. A single sweat drop formed on each of their foreheads as silence hung awkwardly for a beat.

“Shiori… These are all for me and Shuichi?” Botan finally asked, cautiously, as if afraid of the answer.

Shiori beamed. “Yes! I wasn’t sure what your favorite dishes were, so I decided to make all my specialties. Variety is key! And that way, you’re bound to find something you enjoy. Itsuki, you can eat with us too!”

Itsuki blinked and gave a polite, amused smile but shook his head. “That’s kind, but I have to leave soon. I just wanted to drop the medicine off.”

Shiori tilted her head. “At least have a cup of tea before you go. You’ve come all this way.”

“I will,” he relented softly. “Thank you.”

Meanwhile, Botan reached out and gently held Shiori’s hand, her fingers trembling slightly. “Thank you, Shiori… for going this far for us. But… I feel I should tell you. I’m afraid this might be wasted on me…”

Shiori blinked and tilted her head in concern. “Why, dear?”

Botan hesitated. Her fingers gripped Shiori’s hand a little tighter, her voice quieter now. “My body’s... a bit unpredictable. Sometimes I feel nauseous out of nowhere. Sometimes I just can’t swallow food, and there are days where I vomit after a single bite… but then, on other days, I eat like a bear out of hibernation,” she added with a sheepish, strained chuckle. “I don’t want your beautiful cooking to go to waste.”

There was a pause, then Shiori smiled again—so softly and genuinely that it caught both siblings by surprise. She gently lifted her other hand and patted Botan’s.

“It won’t be a waste,” she said, her voice filled with motherly affection. “Even if you only take one bite, that’s enough for me. I just want to make sure there’s something warm waiting for you. Something made with care.”

Botan stared at her for a moment, lips slightly parted. Then her eyes brimmed again—not from sadness, but a soft, overwhelming gratitude that felt too large for her chest.

“Thank you so much...” she whispered.

Without another word, Shiori stepped forward and pulled Botan into a warm, careful hug. Not too tight, as if she instinctively knew Botan’s body was fragile. She simply held her, one hand on the back of her head, another at her shoulder. Botan’s face buried slightly into her shoulder as she closed her eyes.

“I’m not your mother, but if you’ll let me, I’d like to be a part of your life too,” Shiori whispered. “Not because of the marriage, but because I care about you.”

Itsuki stood near the hallway, watching silently. His jaw tensed—his usually sharp eyes slightly clouded. It was hard for him to process what he was seeing: his little sister, receiving what he had tried for years to give her but never quite could. That simple warmth. That motherly affection. No judgment. No pity.

And Shuichi’s mother—this gentle woman who spoke with more kindness than most people offered in a lifetime—was giving it so freely.

Maybe… maybe this time… Botan could actually be happy.

Maybe, in this house… with Shuichi and Shiori… she might finally find her place to belong.

He turned his gaze to the opened bento boxes, then back to the scene in front of him. For the first time in years, his heart felt a little lighter.

Shuichi was still sound asleep, his breathing soft and steady as he lay tucked beneath the blanket. A hint of color had returned to his cheeks, though the exhaustion still lingered in his features. Botan peeked into his room one last time, her heart easing just slightly at the sight, before closing the door quietly behind her.

“I’ll let him rest a bit longer,” Shiori whispered, her tone filled with maternal warmth. “He needs it.”

Botan nodded. “Thank you again… for everything, Shiori.”

Shiori gently squeezed Botan’s hand before stepping out. Itsuki, who had been waiting by the entryway, silently offered to walk her back.

The air outside was crisp and calm, the sun filtered through the clouds with a golden tinge that gave everything a quiet glow. The two walked side by side, their footsteps crunching softly against the pavement. Neither spoke at first, letting the silence hang gently between them.

After a few moments, Shiori exhaled and broke the quiet.

“I would like to apologize, Itsuki…” she said, voice low. “I know I was part of the reason Botan ended up in this situation. I should’ve said no to the arranged marriage proposal… I should’ve thought more about what it might cost her. I was... I didn’t know what i was thinking back then...”

Itsuki stopped walking for a moment, surprised by the honesty in her voice. He looked at her—truly looked at her—and saw the guilt behind her gentle eyes. There were lines of worry on her face that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t just maternal concern for Shuichi anymore… it was also for Botan.

He shook his head softly. “It’s alright, Shiori. I… I know what kind of man my father is. He likely convinced or pressured you. Manipulated you, even. He always knew how to take advantage of people’s goodwill.”

Shiori looked down, a flicker of pain in her gaze. “Still, I can’t erase what happened. I can’t take back how it started. But I can promise you something, Itsuki.”

She turned and reached for his hand gently. The gesture was unexpected but sincere—her fingers warm and firm around his.

“I promise… even if Shuichi hurts Botan—though I truly pray he never does—I will never let her face anything alone again. Not illness. Not heartbreak. Not despair. I will be there for her, no matter what. Not because of obligation… but because I care about her, as if she was my own daughter.”

Itsuki’s breath caught. His lips parted, but no words came immediately. The woman’s conviction, her sincerity—it struck something deep in him.

For years, he had tried to be both brother and parent to Botan. To protect her from a world that had been relentlessly cruel. But Shiori… she was offering something he couldn’t. A mother’s warmth. A gentleness untainted by guilt or regret.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, he nodded slowly, his voice low and a bit hoarse.

“…Thank you, Shiori.”

Shiori gave a small smile.

Itsuki inhaled, then added quietly, “I promise too. No matter what happens between them, I will protect Botan… and you, and Shuichi, and your company. I may not be able to undo the past, but I can at least be someone who stands behind you from now on.”

Shiori looked at him, eyes softening, clearly moved by the earnest promise. “Then, let’s protect them together.”

They exchanged a quiet understanding, a kind of unspoken pact between two people who had both seen the damage love and duty could do—but who still chose to stand by those they cared for.

And as they resumed their walk, side by side again, the weight of regret slowly lifted, replaced by a subtle but steady resolve.

As Shiori and Itsuki continued walking along the quiet street lined with hedges and low stone walls, a breeze stirred the hem of Shiori’s long coat. The earlier conversation had brought them to a new sense of mutual understanding—but Itsuki’s expression remained unreadable, a hint of something else weighing on his mind.

Just as they reached the corner where their paths would eventually part, he stopped again.

“Shiori,” he said, voice firmer now, “there’s something else I need to tell you. It’s about the partnership project between our companies.”

Shiori turned, her expression shifting from gentle gratitude to attentive concern.

Itsuki exhaled slowly, reaching into his coat to retrieve a small flash drive. He held it between two fingers, the metal glinting faintly in the morning light.

“I found something during an internal audit. My uncle and I had been suspicious for a while… and now I have evidence that confirms it. Some of the funds—both from your company and ours—were rerouted. Someone bought C-grade materials when the funds that you invested in were supposed to be used to purchase A-grade materials. They were used to purchase materials that weren’t listed in the official project plan. Expensive, unrelated resources. Some of the vendors don’t even exist on paper.”

Shiori’s breath caught. She instinctively raised a hand to her chest, steadying herself. “You mean… someone embezzled the money?”

Itsuki nodded solemnly. “Yes. I believe it was my father.”

Silence fell between them for a moment, save for the soft rustling of wind through the trees.

Shiori’s mind reeled. She had trusted the partnership. Their agreement, though forged under difficult circumstances, was meant to ensure mutual survival and rebuild their companies’ integrity. She thought of the employees who worked day and night to bring the project to life—of Shuichi, who sacrificed his time and energy to support the initiative.

Shiori looked down, fury and disappointment flickering across her composed expression. “How could he…”

“He’s always had his own agenda,” Itsuki muttered bitterly. “He never saw people—just pawns on a board.”

Shiori looked back at him, the weight of her years showing in her eyes. “If this becomes public… it could ruin both companies.”

“I know,” Itsuki said. “That’s why I’m not making it public yet. But I will. I’m giving you this flash drive first—so you can prepare your legal and financial team. Once you’ve reviewed it, we’ll figure out how to proceed together.”

Shiori slowly accepted the flash drive. Her hand trembled slightly as she held it, staring at it like it was a fragile, dangerous thing.

“Thank you… for telling me,” she finally said. “You didn’t have to. You could’ve kept it hidden and saved your family name.”

Itsuki’s jaw clenched. “My family name means nothing if it’s built on lies. I’m not him. I won’t protect a man who hurt Botan… and now tried to hurt you, your son, and your legacy.”

His voice softened, but didn’t lose its resolve. “I promise, Shiori. I will protect Botan and Shuichi—not just emotionally, but professionally. I won’t let your company fall into ruins. I’ll cooperate in any investigation, and we’ll restore what’s been lost. Together.”

Shiori’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re a good man, Itsuki.”

He shook his head. “I’m just trying to make up for all the ways I failed as a brother.”

She gently reached out, placing a motherly hand on his shoulder. “You're not failing now.”

They stood in quiet solidarity for a moment, the sun breaking fully through the clouds, casting light on their solemn promise.

Before they could part, Shiori reached out and wrapped her arms around Itsuki in a warm, maternal hug. The gesture took him by surprise. His body stiffened for a moment—he wasn’t used to being embraced—but slowly, his shoulders relaxed, and he allowed himself to accept her warmth.

“You don’t need to carry everything alone,” Shiori said softly, her voice filled with quiet strength. “If you want to protect Botan… if you’re overwhelmed handling the company or trying to unravel everything your father did… please, Itsuki, you can always contact me. I will help you, anytime, with anything.”

Her words hung in the air, soothing and sincere. For someone who had grown used to shouldering burdens in silence, her kindness felt like sunlight breaking through long, cold shadows.

Itsuki nodded slowly, his voice low but steady. “Thank you… I mean it. I’ll gladly accept your offer to help take care of Botan. I think… she could use someone like you in her life. A woman who understands, who doesn’t judge her, who welcomes her as family.”

Shiori’s eyes grew soft with emotion, but she let him continue.

“But for the company,” he added, pulling slightly back from the hug and meeting her gaze with quiet intensity, “please let me handle it. I know what kind of people my father hired, what loopholes he used, where he hides the paper trails. Let me and my team take the lead. I promise, I will not let your company suffer for this. You’ve already suffered enough.”

There was a fire in his voice now. Not just righteous anger—but a deep, personal resolve.

“I will get back every yen that the Minamino company gave to Imai Corporation for the partnership project,” he continued. “I’ll trace it, retrieve it, and make sure the contract is cleaned from every rotten deal he touched. I will make my father pay—not only for betraying the business, but for everything he did to Botan. This isn’t just business for me. It’s personal.”

Shiori was silent for a moment, truly absorbing his words. Then she placed both hands on his shoulders, proud and grateful. “I trust you, Itsuki,” she said. “You’re not alone anymore either. I may not be able to do everything, but I will always stand beside you—for Botan, and for Shuichi too.”

A faint smile flickered at the edge of Itsuki’s lips. It was the first real, unguarded expression he’d allowed himself in a long while. “Then let’s protect them together,” he said quietly.

She nodded. “Together.”

____

Botan sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her hand resting gently on Shuichi’s. The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm golden glow across the room. Shuichi stirred beneath the blankets, his eyelids fluttering open slowly.

“Shuichi,” Botan called gently, her voice light but concerned. “How do you feel?”

Shuichi blinked a few times, adjusting to the light before his gaze focused on her face. A small smile touched his lips as he slowly sat up against the headboard. “Much better,” he replied, his voice still a little hoarse, “thanks to you.”

Botan let out a quiet sigh of relief, her shoulders easing. “Good,” she whispered, then reached to adjust his blanket a bit to make sure he was still warm. “You really scared me yesterday… I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry,” Shuichi said, his smile fading a little. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“No need to apologize,” Botan muttered softly, looking away for a second. “I just want you to be okay.”

There was a short pause before Botan continued with a softer smile, “Shiori and Itsuki came while you were sleeping. Itsuki brought medicine for your fever and for my ankle. And Shiori… she made way too much food for us.”

Shuichi blinked at her, surprised. “They both came? Wait… they came together?”

Botan chuckled, seeing the brief panic flicker across his eyes. “No, no,” she assured him with a wave of her hand, “they just happened to arrive at the same time. They met at the entrance and introduced themselves. Shiori had these giant bento towers in her hands, and Itsuki had a bag of medicine. Honestly… I was a little overwhelmed.”

Shuichi gave a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ahh.. My mother with her over-caring nature.” he chuckled.

“You should’ve seen my face when your mother started opening the bento boxes. I think she made enough food for a family of ten,” Botan teased. “Even Itsuki looked overwhelmed.”

“I’m not surprised,” Shuichi chuckled. “She probably stayed up half the night cooking.”

Botan looked down at their intertwined hands, her thumb gently brushing his. “They both… care about us, Shuichi. It was the first time I felt like I was surrounded by warmth... by family.” Her voice became quieter, a little misty. “It made me happy… and a little scared too. I don’t want to lose this.”

Shuichi gently squeezed her hand. “You won’t lose it. Not if I can help it.”

Botan’s eyes flicked up to meet his, and for a moment, they just looked at each other in shared understanding—of past pain, of present comfort, and of hope for a future where warmth like this could last.

Just as Botan reached for the small medicine bottle that had been left on the nightstand, Shuichi gently pushed her hand away.

“Nope,” he said with a small smile, standing up from the bed. “I’m not taking anything until I take care of you first.”

“Shuichi, you still have a fever—”

“I’m serious,” he interrupted softly, already reaching for the first aid kit. “Just sit still. I’ll bring both cold and warm water for your ankle, and then we’ll work on your medicine, okay?”

Before Botan could protest again, Shuichi leaned down, gently pressed a kiss to her forehead, and gave her hand a light squeeze. “Stay here and behave.”

Then, he turned on his heel and headed out of the room. Botan blinked in surprise, her cheeks turning slightly pink. “Honestly… he’s still the patient here,” she muttered to herself, watching the door fondly after he disappeared.

Downstairs, Shuichi filled one bowl with warm water and dropped a handful of ice cubes into another. His movements were still slow, as fatigue lightly clung to his body, but his expression was determined. As he turned around to head back upstairs, his eyes landed on the kitchen table.

He paused… Then broke into a small, breathy laugh.

“Oh my... Mother really did make two towers of food…” he whispered to himself. “I swear… I could open a bento restaurant with all this.”

As he walked back upstairs, carrying both bowls carefully, he called out with an amused grin in his voice, “Botan… I honestly don’t know if we’ve been blessed—or cursed. Those two full towers of food, I assume one is yours, and one is mine.”

Botan couldn’t help but giggle from her seat. “She said she didn’t know what I liked, so she made all of her specialties.”

They both laughed, the atmosphere finally light and warm after so many heavy days.

Once he placed the bowls down on the floor and knelt beside her, Shuichi took her foot into his hand as gently as he could. “Let’s compress it for a few minutes first,” he said as he wrapped a small towel around a handful of ice and placed it against the swollen area. “Tell me if it’s too cold.”

Botan watched him work with such focused care. After a moment of silence, her smile faded slightly and she said, “Shuichi... there’s something I should explain to you.”

He glanced up, eyes soft with concern but full of patience. “Go on.”

She looked down at her lap, fidgeting with the hem of the T-shirt she wore. “About the food... sometimes I can’t swallow anything. Like, even if I want to eat, the food just... stops. My throat tightens up. And sometimes, even if I manage to eat a few bites, I’ll vomit minutes later. But other times… I can eat normally. A lot, even. It’s unpredictable. That’s why I’m always scared when someone cooks for me. I don’t want to waste anything.”

Shuichi's expression softened even more. He stopped working for a second, his hand resting gently on her ankle.

“Is that so?” he murmured quietly. “Is it triggered by stress?”

Botan nodded, eyes still downcast. “Mostly… and sometimes just out of nowhere. Even the smell of certain foods triggers something I can’t explain.”

Shuichi gave her ankle a final gentle pat and then reached for the warm bowl. He dipped a soft cloth into it and gently laid it over her foot, switching the treatment.

“Thank you for telling me, Botan,” he said sincerely. “That must be really hard to live with.”

She looked up at him, a bit surprised by how calm and understanding he was.

“I don’t want you to ever feel pressured with food,” he continued. “If you can eat, I’ll be grateful. If you can’t, I’ll still be grateful. You don’t need to force yourself for me, or for my mother.”

Botan’s eyes shimmered. “You really don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” he said with a smile. “But if there’s ever a day where you feel like eating… just let me know. I’ll cook with you. We’ll figure it out together.”

Botan let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. That warmth in her chest was growing again, blooming quietly like spring after a long winter. She leaned slightly toward him, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re really dangerous, Shuichi…”

He blinked. “Dangerous?”

She smiled. “You’re making me fall for you too fast.”

Shuichi’s hand moved slowly, tenderly—his fingers tracing the outline of Botan’s cheek with the back of his index finger. His touch was so gentle it was barely there, like a breeze on her skin. “No wonder…” he whispered, his voice low with aching tenderness. “You’ve lost weight since the first time we met. I could feel it the moment I held you earlier… you’re skinnier than I remembered.”

Botan looked down for a moment, her shoulders rising and falling with a silent breath. “I hate this body of mine,” she murmured.

Her voice was soft, almost trembling. “Sometimes… I used to pray at night, asking to die and be reborn. Somewhere far away. Somewhere I could start over. In a body that doesn’t hurt, that doesn’t carry the scars I have. A body I could love. A body that wouldn’t betray me.”

Shuichi’s heart ached at every word. He gently reached out and clasped her hands in his, interlacing their fingers tightly.

“But now…” she looked up at him again, her voice quivering, “I pray for something else.”

He leaned in just slightly, his breath caught in his throat.

She smiled—soft, fragile, but real—as her eyes grew glassy with tears. “I pray… that I can live longer now,” she said. “I want to live… because I want to spend every possible moment with you, Shuichi. As long as time allows. I want to stay by your side.”

Shuichi’s breath hitched. His hands tightened around hers. There was something about the way she said those words—as if they were pulled from a place deeper than sorrow, deeper than pain. Her wish wasn’t just hope. It was a declaration. He lifted one of her hands to his lips and pressed a long, heartfelt kiss to her knuckles.

“You have no idea…” Shuichi whispered, his voice hoarse, “how much that means to me. Botan… to know that you, who went through so much, still want to stay… with me.”

Tears welled in his eyes. “You’re so strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever known.”

She chuckled weakly through her tears. “I don’t feel strong at all.”

“You don’t have to feel it,” he said gently, brushing a thumb under her eye to catch a tear. “You just are. Every day you chose to live even when you didn’t want to—that’s strength. And now, you’re choosing to live because of love. That’s… the most beautiful thing in the world.”

Botan's lips trembled as she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. They sat like that in silence for a while—breathing in the warmth of each other, letting their hearts speak in the quiet.

Then, Shuichi spoke again, softer than before. “You don’t need a new body, Botan. You don’t need to be reborn. I love you exactly the way you are. Every scar, every heartbeat, every breath you take beside me.”

Botan squeezed his hands tightly, letting more tears fall—this time not from pain, but from the overwhelming comfort of being accepted.

“Thank you…” she whispered, “for letting me believe that I still deserve love.”

Shuichi pressed a final kiss to her temple. “You deserve everything good in this world, Botan. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that to you.”

After gently compressing her ankle with alternating cold and warm cloths, Shuichi softly patted the swollen area dry, then glanced up at Botan. “Alright,” he said with a small grin, “that’s enough for now.”

Before she could even ask what he meant, he slipped an arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, lifting her smoothly into his arms.

“Shuichi—!” Botan gasped, cheeks instantly turning a soft rose color. “You know I can walk… right?” she pouted, clutching his shirt instinctively.

Shuichi let out a low chuckle, his steps steady as he carried her out of the room and toward the staircase. “I know,” he said, glancing down at her with a warm smile. “But you became like this because of me… because I fainted and landed on you. I still feel terrible about it.”

Botan looked away shyly, muttering under her breath, “Still… this is embarrassing…”

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, she rested her head briefly against his chest. She could hear the steady beat of his heart, calming and warm. Shuichi bent slightly to kiss her forehead, pausing as if to let the moment linger just a bit longer before continuing on to the kitchen.

As they entered the dining space, the scent of Shiori’s cooking still filled the room—warm, comforting, and homey. The two towering bento boxes sat waiting on the table, each layer filled with love and effort. Shuichi gently set Botan down on one of the dining chairs and took the seat beside her.

With careful hands, he began uncovering the bento layers. Botan’s eyes widened again at the presentation inside the boxes—simmered vegetables, tamagoyaki, grilled salmon, rice topped with pickled plum, and even tiny heart-shaped onigiri. Shiori was cooking for Shuichi and her, not cooking for a special guest, or for a special occasion, or to sell this bento. But how she put every single dish with care to make this amazing presentation, her heart melted again and again.

They clasped their hands together for a quick “Itadakimasu,” and Shuichi took his chopsticks, lifting a bite of rice.

Then, he looked to Botan.

She was staring down at the food, her hands resting on her lap. The colors were so vibrant, and the aroma was perfect… yet that familiar anxiety tugged at her chest. What if she couldn’t eat it again? What if her body rejected the food? What if she ruined Shiori’s kind effort?

Shuichi noticed her hesitation. He placed his chopsticks down and gently took her hand in his. “You can try one small bite,” he said gently. “If it doesn’t feel right, that’s okay. There’s no pressure.”

Botan looked at him and gave a tiny nod.

She picked up her chopsticks, slowly selected a small piece of tamagoyaki, and placed it into her mouth. She chewed slowly… cautiously.

Shuichi watched her silently, his breath held without realizing it.

Botan swallowed.

There was a beat of silence, then she blinked. She was extremely confused “I don’t know... I think i can eat now, but not sure about the next bites..” she whispered.

Shuichi’s lips parted slightly before he broke into the warmest, relieved smile. “That’s still a good sign,” he said, trying to contain the joy in his voice. “If you feel nauseous, please stop eating right away. No pressure.”

She smiled too, a little shaky but real. “Thank you for the understanding… I feel safe with you…”

Shuichi reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then I’ll make sure you always feel safe. So you can eat, smile, rest… everything your body deserves.”

Botan’s chest ached with emotion as she quietly picked up another bite. Shuichi began to eat beside her as well, glancing at her every so often, just to see her try.

There were no fancy celebrations or dramatic music—just a quiet kitchen, a warm meal, two hearts beginning to heal, and a silent hope shared across the table.

Shuichi hadn’t even taken his first bite when he reached over with his chopsticks, gently picking up a glistening piece of salmon teriyaki. His expression shifted from soft affection to mischief as he turned to Botan, who was just finishing her own small bite.

“Say aaa~,” he said in a light, teasing tone, holding the salmon toward her lips.

Botan blinked at him, half chewing, her brows rising in amused disbelief. “Shuichi!” she said through a soft giggle. “I am not a kid!”

“You’re my patient,” Shuichi countered, putting on an exaggerated serious tone, “and the patient must follow the doctor’s orders.”

Botan rolled her eyes playfully but was clearly holding back a smile. “This is abuse of power…” she muttered, lips twitching upward.

“Come on, I promise this is a good bite,” Shuichi replied with a smug grin, nudging the bite closer to her face.

Botan sighed dramatically, then leaned forward with a theatrical “Fine, fine…” and opened her mouth. “Aaa~” As soon as the piece touched her tongue, her eyes closed, and she gave the most exaggerated, content sigh he had ever heard. “Mmm… so good! Your mother is amazing!”

Shuichi softly said, resting his elbow on the table and his chin on his palm. “Seeing you smile like that… I wish we could have dinner like this every day.”

Botan glanced at him, her eyes sparkling and a blush rising in her cheeks, “and keep feeding me like you did earlier?”

Shuichi leaned slightly closer, his grin widening. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea. I'd be honoured as your personal butler."

She burst into laughter again, softly bumping his shoulder with hers. “Idiot…”

But even as she called him that, her voice was sweet. Full of warmth. Full of something that felt a lot like home.

Botan chewed the last bit of salmon Shuichi had fed her, then leaned back with a teasing glint in her eyes. Her lips curved into a sly smirk as she tilted her head toward him. “Hmm… tell me something, Shuichi,” she said in a mock-casual tone, tapping her chopsticks lightly against her chin. “Do friends normally feed each other? Or… did we just skip a few steps?”

Shuichi blinked at her, his chopsticks halfway to his mouth. For a moment, he looked genuinely surprised by her cheeky remark. Then, a slow, amused smile crept up on his face, and he chuckled.

“Skip a step?” he echoed, raising one eyebrow. “maybe just a tiny one?” he held up his thumb and index finger, leaving the smallest gap between them.

Botan blushed and giggled, “small? You just fed me.”

“It’s not a big deal, Botan.” Shuichi said calmly.

Botan blushed once more; her face was getting redder and darker. "And... And... And... You saw me half naked last night!"

Shuichi didn't say anything at first; he blinked and tilted his head a bit before his lips curved into a sly smirk. "Ahh.. Weren't you the one who stripped me when I was unconscious from the fever?"

Botan still blushed, and her lips trembled. "Yeah, I did! But you begged me to see my body when I already covered it by hugging your pillow!"

Shuichi said nothing else, only chuckled tenderly, which made Botan pout. "Maybe we skipped a step, and maybe we might skip another few steps as well in the future. However, I can promise you one thing. There will be no other marriage until you are ready," he said tenderly while stroking Botan's cheek with the back of his index finger.

Botan automatically closed her eyes and enjoyed the tender movement of his finger on her cheek. Her heart was beating so fast and loud again, especially with Shuichi's words about wanting to remarry her in the future. "I know..." she whispered warmly.

_________

The sky had shifted to a soft lavender hue by the time Itsuki finally returned to the quiet apartment he shared with his uncle. The air was cooler now, the fading sunlight brushing gold across the tops of the buildings. Inside, the scent of strong black coffee lingered, just as it always did in the evenings.

Uncle Bui sat cross-legged on the floor beside the low table, nursing his usual mug, eyes fixed thoughtfully on the steam rising from it. When he noticed Itsuki standing by the door longer than necessary, still deep in thought, he tilted his head and asked, “What’s on your mind? You look so confused.”

Itsuki let out a slow breath through his nose as he took a seat across from him. He lowered his head slightly, fingers rubbing the side of his neck. “I don’t know… I just keep thinking about Botan. About her staying in that house with Shuichi.” His brows furrowed. “I want to be happy for her. I am happy for her… but I’m scared, Uncle.”

Bui didn't interrupt. He just took a slow sip of his coffee, listening as the words spilled from his nephew.

“She’s fragile, you know that. I’ve seen her cry more times than I care to count,” Itsuki went on, voice low, almost as if ashamed of his own helplessness. “After everything she’s been through, the last thing I want is for her to be hurt again. But I saw the way she looked at him… at Shuichi. There’s something in her that’s starting to come back to life.” He paused. “And… Shiori Minamino… she apologized to me, about the marriage. She brought a lot of food. She promised to be there for Botan. She looked at Botan like… like she really cared.”

He glanced up at Bui, then asked quietly, “What do you think about Shuichi and Shiori…? They both promised me they’d love Botan and protect her. That they’d never leave her alone. But can I trust that? You’ve known Botan longer than I have. You raised her more than our parents ever did. Aren’t you scared too? That she’ll get hurt again?”

Uncle Bui didn’t answer right away. He reached for his cup and took one long, final sip of his coffee before exhaling deeply. The silence stretched between them for a moment before he finally spoke.

“of course I am scared,” Bui said plainly, his voice rough but calm. “I think about it every day. There are times when I want to go to that house, pick her up, and just disappear. Move far away, take her somewhere quiet, somewhere peaceful… maybe up in the mountains or by the sea, where no one can find us.”

Itsuki looked down, guilt forming behind his eyes. That thought had crossed his own mind too, more than once.

“But,” Bui continued, his voice softening, “Botan has her own life now. She’s not the little girl who used to hide behind my legs when her father raised his voice. She’s growing… blooming again, like her name. You told me yourself that she wants to stay with Shuichi. That she made that choice, not out of duty or fear, but because she wants to.”

Itsuki nodded slowly.

“There’s nothing I can do except support her,” Bui said. “Support her happiness, even if it means watching her walk into the unknown. But if that boy—Shuichi—if he ever lays a finger on her in the wrong way, or ever makes her cry like she used to cry before…” Bui’s tone darkened, the steel returning to his voice, “I’ll be the first to knock on his door.”

A silence fell between them, filled with unspoken understanding.

“But,” Bui added after a beat, “if she ever comes back home—hurt, tired, broken again—my arms will be the first ones open for her. This place, this family… will always be a home for her to return to. No matter what.”

Itsuki’s throat tightened. He swallowed and lowered his head. “I just… want her to be safe.”

“I know,” Bui said, his voice gentler this time. “And maybe, just maybe, this time she really will be.”

They sat in silence for a while longer, sipping their coffee, the dusk painting shadows on the floor around them—two men, quietly guarding the light of a girl they both loved more than life itself.

Then, finally, the words left him—soft, raw, and trembling.

“Thank you, Uncle Bui… for accepting me. For allowing me to be near Botan again… for trusting her to me once more, even after everything I did… even after witnessing how rude and cruel I was to her when we were younger.” He paused, eyes falling to the table. “Thank you… for loving her without conditions.”

Bui stilled.

He hadn’t expected those words—not from Itsuki. And yet, hearing them now, he understood that this wasn’t just about gratitude. This was a confession. A long-awaited absolution from a man still haunted by the boy he once was.

Bui leaned back slightly, his eyes glazing over with memory. He could see it as clearly as if it had just happened yesterday—the small figure of Botan in a pale dress, her chubby little arms reaching out for her brother, her face lit with joy. “Let’s play, Itsuki!” she had said, smiling brightly, her rounded pink eyes filled with innocent delight.

But Itsuki had only frowned, eyes cold and distant. He had muttered under his breath—words too cruel for a child to ever hear—“I wish you were never born… I wish you would die…” Then he had walked away, leaving her standing there alone in the yard, hugging herself in confusion, not yet old enough to understand what she had done wrong.

Bui had watched it all in silence that day, pain lacing through his heart. He remembered crouching down beside her afterward, wiping her tears and brushing her hair back gently. He had promised himself then—if no one else would protect her, then he would.

And yet… He also remembered the night she was dying.

He remembered Itsuki collapsing in front of him, on his knees, tears streaming from his eyes, the desperation so thick it was almost hard to breathe.

“Please… please, Uncle… help her… I’m sorry—I’m so sorry for everything. I don’t want her to die… I don’t want her to leave like this…”

That was when Bui saw the boy in him break. And the man begin to rise.

Now, Bui looked at Itsuki with a solemn, thoughtful gaze. “You were just a child too,” he said at last, his voice steady but soft. “Angry. Lost. Confused. You didn’t know what love was back then. You didn’t know what you were saying.”

He glanced toward the small shelf in the corner of the room where an old photo of Botan as a baby rested—wrapped in a pink blanket, nestled in Bui’s arms. He smiled faintly. “Those rounded pink eyes… they stared at me so innocently when she was just a few days old. She smiled at me with her gums showing, drooled all over my shirt, and gripped my finger like it was the only thing in the world that mattered.” His eyes softened. “It was impossible not to love her.”

Itsuki looked down, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I didn’t understand what I had back then. I thought… I thought she took everything from me. Our parents’ attention, your time… even the name I used to be proud of.”

“What about now?” Bui asked quietly.

“Now…” Itsuki’s voice cracked. “Now I know… she was the only light we had in that house.”

Bui reached out, placing a hand on his nephew’s shoulder. “You’re doing good now, Itsuki. You’re standing by her, you’re protecting her with everything you’ve got. And that’s what matters.”

There was a long silence, and then Bui added, “Just don’t let guilt become your way of loving her. Love her with hope instead. With presence.”

Itsuki nodded slowly, tears brimming in his eyes but not falling.

“Uncle…” he whispered, “thank you… for being the parent we never had.”

Bui gave a half-smile, his eyes misty. “I just did what any decent man would’ve done. But I’m glad to see… you’re becoming the man she deserves to have as a brother.”

_____

The night was still, cloaked in a heavy silence that hung over the house like a thick fog. Crickets chirped in the distance, but inside Botan's room, peace was a foreign concept. Her breath caught, her limbs stiffened, and she shot upright in her bed, drenched in sweat.

"STOOOPP!!"

Her scream echoed against the four walls like a haunting cry. Botan's chest heaved as her eyes darted wildly, her pulse racing. Her fingers instinctively clawed at her throat—phantom pain left by memories that refused to fade. Her trembling hands slowly dropped as she buried her face in her knees, curling into herself, crying like a wounded child.

“I can’t take it anymore… why can’t I just forget…?” she whispered between sobs. The vivid image of her ex’s twisted face still lingered. The choking. The pain. The feeling of being powerless, violated, and discarded. She hated it—hated how the memory crawled back each time she tried to sleep.

She stood up shakily, her body instinctively dragging itself toward the bathroom. Her bare feet touched the cold tiles. The familiar silence in the mirror stared back at her—judgmental and broken. Her trembling hand opened the drawer beside the sink, searching.

There it was. A small pair of scissors. Gleaming quietly.

Her hand hovered over it, breath stuttering. Just one cut… just to make the memory go away… she thought, but then—

“Please, don’t hurt yourself again. Come to me. You’re not alone anymore.”

Shuichi’s voice echoed in her mind.

Her fingers froze. Her shoulders trembled.

And then… she slowly stepped back, away from the drawer.

“Shuichi…” she whispered.

She hesitantly walked toward the door and opened it carefully. Her feet guided her toward the stairs with hesitant steps, like walking through water. She clutched the railing tightly with both hands, her legs weak, her breath shallow. As she reached the second floor, her heart leapt into her throat.

Shuichi’s bedroom door… was open. Not wide—but just slightly ajar.

He remembered… He meant it…

The faint light from the hallway illuminated the doorway like a gentle beacon, pulling her forward. Her hand hovered near the edge of the door, her fingers trembling. She gave it a soft push. The hinges creaked quietly.

Shuichi’s room was dim, bathed in the soft moonlight spilling from the window. He was asleep—his back to her, his silhouette calm and steady.

Botan felt her knees weaken. Her tears returned, silently sliding down her cheeks. With cautious movements, she tiptoed closer and gently climbed into his bed, her weight barely shifting the mattress.

Her hands shook as she reached out and wrapped her arms around him from behind. The warmth of his back comforted her instantly. She buried her face against him, sobbing softly now, the pain from the nightmare still clinging to her skin like poison.

Then she felt it.

Shuichi stirred. His body shifted toward her.

Without opening his eyes, he embraced her in return. One arm curled protectively around her waist while the other gently slid up to stroke her back with a feather-light touch. He didn’t startle or ask questions. He simply responded to her pain as if he had been waiting for her.

He pressed a tender kiss on the crown of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair.

“I’m here,” he whispered sleepily, his voice low and laced with warmth. “You’re safe now… I’ve got you.”

Botan sobbed harder at his words. She clung to him like he was the only anchor she had left in the world. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as she whispered, “Thank you… thank you… I tried… I really tried…”

Shuichi opened his eyes slowly now, his hand still stroking her back with long, slow movements. “You did so well… I’m proud of you, Botan. So proud…”

He kissed her forehead again, and then her temple, never once letting go. His hand moved to her head, gently cradling it as he tucked her against his chest. Her breathing slowly steadied as his heartbeat lulled her into calm.

No more words were needed.

Just presence.

Just warmth.

Just love, steady and silent in the dark.

Shuichi kept his hand moving gently along Botan’s back, drawing long, slow strokes that never pushed too much, never lingered inappropriately—just enough to reassure her, to ground her, to let her know she was safe. His other arm held her securely against him, her body trembling slightly with each exhale, as though her very bones were still trying to shake off the grip of that nightmare.

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking away the haze of sleep, and gazed down at her tear-streaked face. Her lashes fluttered with every tear that slid down, her lips parted as if words were trapped in her throat. He could feel the way her chest heaved with stifled sobs, and his heart clenched.

“I will never let anyone touch you ever again,” Shuichi whispered, his voice low but steady, like a promise wrapped in velvet. He pressed another kiss on her forehead. “It’s alright… it’s just a dream, Botan. He’s not here anymore. That man—he’s not here anymore. There’s no one else here but me.”

Botan squeezed her eyes shut, more tears escaping. Her fingers clutched his shirt tighter as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I know… I know…” she whispered back, her voice cracking, trembling with emotion.

The warmth of Shuichi’s touch along her spine, his steady heartbeat in her ear, the scent of him—clean and familiar—were like a balm to her shredded heart. The sickening feeling from her nightmare, the shame and fear that clung to her like cobwebs, were slowly peeling away, layer by layer. His gentle presence was unraveling the shadows she’d carried for years.

It felt like a miracle.

Botan pressed her cheek against his chest, the rhythm of his heartbeat soothing her like a lullaby.

“Thank you…” she choked out softly, a sob catching in her throat. “You have no idea how grateful I am to meet you… to have you in my life…”

Her voice was raw, honest—filled with both the ache of old wounds and the relief of knowing someone had finally reached into that pain and stayed.

Shuichi’s hand paused briefly on her back before he kissed the side of her head, his lips lingering there as if hoping to kiss away every sorrow she still carried.

“Thank you,” he whispered back, his voice heavy with emotion. “For giving your trust to me… for coming to me tonight, when it hurt the most… I won’t ever take that lightly, Botan.”

He held her even closer now, pressing his forehead gently against hers, their breaths mingling in the dark, fragile space between them. “You’re not alone anymore,” he added. “No matter how often the nightmares come, no matter how much you’re hurting—I’ll be here. Every time. I’ll hold you until it fades. I’ll remind you that you’re safe.”

Botan let out a shaky laugh between her tears, soft and bittersweet. “You make me feel like I can breathe again…”

Shuichi smiled faintly, brushing a few damp strands of hair away from her face. “That’s all I want. For you to breathe freely again… to sleep peacefully… to live without fear.”

They lay there in silence for a few minutes, wrapped in each other, as the storm in Botan’s chest finally began to calm. Her breathing steadied, and the tightness in her body slowly unraveled under Shuichi’s gentle affection.

Eventually, her fingers loosened their grip on his shirt, and her sobs quieted into occasional hiccups. Her eyes fluttered halfway closed, heavy from the exhaustion of both the nightmare and the release.

Shuichi continued stroking her back until her body softened against his fully.

In the hush of the room, only their breaths remained.

And in that moment, Shuichi knew—whatever pain lay ahead, whatever battles they still had to fight—he would face it all beside her. For as long as she let him.

Botan’s body, once so tense and trembling like a leaf caught in a storm, now lay calm and still in Shuichi’s arms. Her breathing had evened out, the rapid gasps replaced by slow, gentle exhales. Shuichi could feel the change, and he smiled—soft and full of pride.

Shuichi leaned in, gently rubbing the tip of his nose against hers in a tender nuzzle. “Go to sleep, love,” he murmured with warmth in every syllable. “I’m here. I won’t let you go—I’ll be holding you when you wake up.”

Botan’s lips quivered into a small smile, her heart swelling at the soft endearment—love. She hadn’t been called that in such a gentle, sincere way before. Her fingers curled loosely around his shirt as if anchoring herself to this moment, to him.

Shuichi adjusted the blanket around them, making sure her bare shoulders were warm, then drew her closer, letting her rest fully in the cradle of his arms. He brushed her hair back from her face and pressed a kiss to her temple, lingering there as if the touch alone could promise her peace.

“You don’t have to be afraid of falling asleep anymore,” He whispered near her ear. “If the nightmares come again, I’ll be here to chase them away.”

Botan slowly shut her eyes, her cheek pressed against his chest where she could hear the steady beat of his heart. That sound… that rhythm… it was enough to lull her into safety, to replace the echo of her nightmares with something real, something comforting.

“Goodnight, Shuichi…” she whispered, voice barely audible.

“Goodnight, Botan,” he replied, holding her just a little tighter, brushing another kiss onto her forehead. “Sleep well, my brave girl.”

Outside, the wind whispered against the windows, and the world continued its quiet rhythm. But inside their shared warmth, inside that room dimly lit by moonlight, there was stillness… And healing.

And for the first time in a long time, Botan fell asleep without fear.

Shuichi didn’t go back to sleep—not right away.

Instead, he lay there in silence, his arms wrapped protectively around the woman who had crawled into his heart without even realizing it. Botan’s face was inches from his, her features soft in slumber, her breathing calm and even. A faint little snore escaped her lips every now and then, light and rhythmic. Shuichi smiled.

She’s finally resting… really resting.

His gaze softened as he watched her chest rise and fall against his own. He brought one hand up gently and stroked the edge of her lips with his thumb. They were so soft. So delicate. Lips he had longed to kiss more times than he could count—but he never had. Not even now, not even with her body nestled against his, bare and vulnerable in his arms.

He wouldn’t.

Not when she was asleep. Not when she hadn’t given him permission. Not even when his heart ached from holding back.

“I’ve never imagined I would love you this deep…” Shuichi whispered into the quiet darkness, his breath warm against her forehead.

He leaned forward—not to steal a kiss, but to place a feather-light kiss on her hairline, where her bangs parted.

Then finally, with a content sigh and his heart still overflowing, Shuichi closed his eyes, holding her close as sleep gently pulled him under.

_____

*The Next Morning*

Warm sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting gentle golden rays across the bedroom. The quiet was peaceful, broken only by the soft rustling of bedsheets.

Botan blinked slowly, her vision blurry at first. Then she became aware of the warm arm curled around her waist, the steady breathing against the back of her neck. She was still in Shuichi’s arms.

She flushed slightly, but… she didn’t move.

Instead, she let herself enjoy this—his warmth, his scent, his presence. She had slept through the night. No nightmares. No cold sweats. Just warmth, and quiet, and peace.

Behind her, Shuichi stirred.

“Mmm…” he murmured, his voice low and drowsy. “Morning…”

Botan turned around slowly to face him. Their noses almost touched. She smiled, her cheeks tinged with pink. “Morning…”

Shuichi’s eyes were still heavy, but when he saw her smile, something in his chest melted. He reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Did you sleep well?”

Botan gave a small nod. “I did… No nightmares,” she whispered.

Shuichi’s hand cupped the side of her face, his thumb brushing her cheek softly. “I’m glad,” he murmured. “You deserve peaceful sleep every night.”

She shyly looked down for a moment before meeting his eyes again. “What about you? Did you sleep okay?”

Shuichi smiled softly, “Only after I made sure you were safe and sound in my arms.” His voice was filled with affection, his tone still heavy with sleep.

They stayed there for a while, wrapped up in the quiet of the morning, neither one rushing to move. Just watching, breathing, existing together.

“Is it okay for me to stay here a bit longer?” Botan admitted shyly.

Shuichi chuckled gently and pulled the blanket tighter around them. “It’s completely okay. I’m glad. Because I wasn’t planning to let you go yet anyway.”

She laughed softly, her head resting against his chest. “Shuichi…”

“Yes, love?”

“…Thank you. For everything.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Always.”

And as the sun climbed higher and the world outside began its usual rhythm, the two of them remained in the warmth of each other’s arms—wrapped in something far deeper than comfort. Something unspoken, but stronger than words.

Love.

They lay quietly, enjoying the softness of the morning. The sheets tangled lazily around them, and the soft chirps of birds outside the window blended with the warm silence they shared. Shuichi’s hand lazily traced small circles on Botan’s back while she rested her head on his chest, her fingers gently brushing along his collarbone.

After a few minutes of peaceful quiet, Botan suddenly lifted her head slightly and squinted at him. “Wait… don’t you need to go to work today?”

Shuichi blinked, as if the concept of ‘work’ had just been reintroduced to his vocabulary for the first time in a decade. “Work?” he echoed blankly.

Botan raised an eyebrow.

Then Shuichi immediately pouted and narrowed his eyes dramatically. “Ah… so that’s it. Trying to push me away already, huh? Kicking me out the door while I’m still snuggly and warm…”

Botan laughed and lightly punched his chest. “Goodness, Shuichi, don’t be ridiculous!” she said through her giggles. “You do know I don’t even want to let go of my husband right now, don’t you?”

‘Husband.’

That one word hit Shuichi’s chest like a warm electric jolt. His eyes widened a fraction, his heart skipping a beat before speeding up. She had said it naturally—my husband—as if it was the most ordinary thing in the world. And yet, to him, it felt like everything.

A slow, blissful smile stretched across his face. He rolled her beneath him just slightly, just enough to give her a long, tender kiss on her forehead.

“Say it again,” he murmured into her skin, lips still resting against her temple.

Botan blinked up at him, cheeks warming. “Say what?”

He grinned, eyes gleaming. “That I’m your husband.”

She pouted playfully, then flicked his forehead. “You’re such a dork.”

“And yet I’m your dork,” he replied smugly, kissing the tip of her nose.

Botan laughed again, rolling her eyes, but her smile was soft, her voice tender when she replied, “Yes… my husband.”

This time, Shuichi groaned and melted right onto her. “Ugh, you’re going to kill me with love. I might combust right here.”

“Then don’t combust on top of me, it’ll be a mess,” Botan teased, trying to nudge him off, but he refused to move.

Instead, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. “Nope. I’m staying. I haven’t used my holiday for years. I can use it today. There’s no way I’m sacrificing this perfect moment with my adorable wife just to stare at spreadsheets.”

Botan’s face lit up with warmth, though she sighed playfully. “Shuichi…”

He slightly lifted his upper body and puffed out his chest proudly. “Besides, what’s more productive than spending a full day wrapped around the love of your life? Clearly, this is essential husband-duty.”

“Husband-duty?” she echoed.

He nodded, serious. “Yes. Medical leave for extreme love-sickness. I believe it’s a recognized condition.”

Botan burst into laughter, her body shaking gently as she covered her face. “You’re so silly.”

“Guilty, But also loving, loyal, and devastatingly handsome, don’t forget that part.”

She snorted. “You forgot dramatic.”

“I’m deeply wounded by that remark,” he said with mock sadness, “But alas, as your husband, I must persevere.”

Botan rested her head against his shoulder, her smile softening. “I love you, my dramatic fool husband.”

“And I love you, my smart-mouthed little goddess,” Shuichi replied, kissing her cheek as they disappeared into the soft glow of the morning light, wrapped not just in blankets, but in something much deeper—trust, healing, and the joy of being allowed to stay.

After spending the morning tangled in each other’s arms, Shuichi shifted slightly on the bed and looked down at Botan. She was lying beside him, hair slightly messy from sleep, cheeks faintly pink from the way he kept brushing her hair away just to see her face.

He let out a soft sigh, half dramatic, half sincere. “This is bad…” he murmured, running a hand through his tousled red hair.

Botan blinked, turning her gaze toward him lazily. “Hm? What’s bad?”

Shuichi tilted his head slightly and gave her a soft, guilty smile. “I don’t think I want to sleep alone in my room ever again after having you here the whole night.”

Botan’s eyes widened slightly. “Ah—” her lips parted, as if to say something, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly, her cheeks darkening, then glanced away shyly. Her mouth opened again—then closed. Then opened again. “I…” she began weakly, but whatever words she meant to say slipped away as her heart raced in her chest.

Shuichi watched her reaction with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, his smile deepening. “Are you broken?” he teased, nudging her nose with his gently. “Should I reboot you?”

Botan smacked his arm lightly with a pout. “S-Shut up!” she muttered, still not quite able to meet his gaze.

But she couldn’t deny it—her heart was fluttering in the best way possible. The way he said it… not just his words, but his tone—warm, fond, and just a little vulnerable. It wasn’t just a line. He meant it.

“I mean it,” Shuichi said again, softer this time. “Waking up with you… hearing you breathe beside me, feeling you melt in my arms after a nightmare… seeing your smile this close the first thing in the morning—” He paused, leaning closer until their foreheads touched. “It felt right. Like my bed finally had a purpose.”

Botan's face burned, and she quickly tried to hide it by burying it into his shoulder. “You’re going to make me melt if you keep saying stuff like that…”

“Good. Melt into me then. I’ll be your blanket, your bed, and your emotional support heater.” He teased.

“You’re ridiculous,” she whispered, but her voice shook with quiet laughter.

Shuichi wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her into his chest. “And yet, you stayed the whole night. So either you’re ridiculous too, or we’re both just perfectly matched.”

Botan chuckled softly, her voice muffled against his chest. “I guess… I wouldn’t mind doing it again…”

Shuichi froze for a heartbeat before grinning like an idiot. “Really? Are you sure you are not going to regret it?”

“Don’t push it,” she mumbled, though her smile said otherwise.

They stayed like that for a while longer, the outside world forgotten, basking in the quiet comfort of each other. And maybe… just maybe… they both silently agreed that from now on, nights alone weren’t necessary anymore.

Shuichi shifted slightly, gently cupping Botan’s face in his hands. The morning light painted golden halos on her lashes, making her look even more ethereal in his arms. He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, letting it linger. Then to her closed eyelids—one, then the other. A tender kiss to the tip of her nose followed, then to both of her cheeks. Finally, his lips grazed her chin, brushing feather-light and reverent, like he was afraid she might shatter if he kissed her too hard.

Botan's breath hitched softly at the affection. Her heart felt too big for her chest.

Shuichi paused then, his gaze dropping to her lips—but instead of claiming them, he simply smiled, though there was a touch of guilt in his eyes. “I want to apologize,” he whispered, his thumb stroking her cheek. “I almost crossed the line last night.”

Botan blinked, surprised. “You… did?”

Shuichi gave a faint nod and looked down, his smile tinged with regret. “You were sleeping… and I was just watching you. You looked so peaceful, so beautiful... and for a second, I almost kissed your lips.” He exhaled slowly, his voice barely above a breath. “I stopped myself—but the desire was real. And it scared me a little, because I don’t ever want to take advantage of you. Not even when you’re this close.”

Botan stared at him, lips parted slightly in disbelief.

Of all the things she thought he might say, this wasn’t it.

He could’ve kissed her. He had the perfect chance. And yet… he didn’t.

Her heart swelled. Her throat tightened. Her eyes began to sting again—not from sadness, but from something warm and overwhelming.

“Do you… want me that much?” she asked, her voice trembling, filled with awe. “Even this body… this fragile, messed up, imperfect person?”

Shuichi’s gaze lifted to meet hers instantly, and he looked at her as if she had just asked the most absurd question in the world.

“Botan,” he whispered, cupping her jaw. “There’s no one else I want. Not in spite of your scars. Not despite your past. But because you’re you. Because you’ve survived hell and still have a heart that’s soft. Because you still smile even when it hurts. Because you are kind… and real… and brave.”

He leaned his forehead against hers again. “And yes,” he whispered with a soft smile, his breath brushing her lips, “I want you that much.”

Botan’s fingers clenched the sheets between them as her body trembled, this time not with fear—but with love, with gratitude, with something that felt dangerously close to healing.

“I thought… no one would ever want this broken me again,” she murmured, tears gliding down her cheeks. “But you keep proving me wrong.”

Shuichi reached out and gently wiped her tears away with his thumbs, his lips curling into a soft smile. “Then let me keep proving it,” he said. “As many times as it takes.”

She laughed breathlessly through her tears and finally, finally, allowed herself to lean in and press a kiss to his cheek—a small, shy kiss, but it was the first time she initiated any contact like that.

Shuichi’s eyes widened a little in surprise, then softened as his arms wrapped around her again.

“I think you just made my heart explode,” he whispered into her hair.

They laid together for a while longer, hearts steadying in sync, the silence filled not with awkwardness but with deep understanding. Outside, the day was beginning to stir, but inside, nothing else mattered—just the two of them, wrapped in something gentle, honest, and sacred.

Botan gently traced her fingers across Shuichi’s chest, her touch as light as a whisper. Her eyes were lowered, lids heavy with emotion, as she rested against him—vulnerable yet comforted. The early morning light filtered softly through the curtains, wrapping them both in a gentle warmth.

"You… could’ve done anything you wanted to me," she said quietly, almost in a whisper. Her voice trembled slightly, but she held it steady. "Last night… I was sleeping, and I wasn’t… covered. I was laying right here, in your bed, beside you. That would’ve been a perfect chance if you ever wanted to take something from me. And I—I wouldn’t have had the strength to stop you."

She stopped for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. Her fingers curled lightly against the fabric of his shirt, over his heart.

"But you didn’t." Her voice cracked, and she smiled sadly, eyes glistening. "You didn’t do anything. You just held me. You just kept me warm, and safe… You still respected me, even when no one was watching. Even when I was at my most vulnerable."

Shuichi’s expression softened, deeply moved by the honesty in her words. He lifted his hand to gently stroke her hair, brushing it away from her face as she looked up at him.

“Of course I didn’t,” he murmured, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Botan… I love you. I’m not here for your body—I’m here for you. For everything you are. For every scar, every tear, every breath. I’m not here to take anything… I’m here to give. To give you warmth, patience, love, time, and safety. Everything you’ve never received, and everything you deserve.”

Botan’s eyes filled with tears again, but this time, there was no shame—only gratitude. She pressed her forehead against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as if it could lull the fear out of her soul.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “For always doubting… for expecting the worst.”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said gently. “You learned to survive in a world that was unkind to you. It’s okay to be cautious. It’s okay to be scared. You don’t need to rush anything, Botan. I’ll be right here, no matter how long it takes.”

Botan’s heart ached in a way that wasn’t painful—but full. So full it brought another wave of tears, this time accompanied by the faintest, most genuine smile she’d worn in a long time.

She leaned up slightly and rested her head on his shoulder again, eyes closing peacefully.

They lay there in silence again, not because there was nothing left to say—but because everything important had been felt. Words, in that moment, were no longer necessary.

And for the first time in years, Botan felt like she could breathe without fear. Because she wasn’t alone. Because she was loved.

Because she was finally safe.

Botan looked up at Shuichi again, her head still resting gently on his chest. His warmth soothed her, yet a hint of nervousness lingered behind her soft smile. Her fingers subtly played with the edge of his shirt, twisting the fabric between them as she struggled to find the right words.

“We both promised…” she began quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, “to take everything slowly, right?” She gave a short exhale, part sigh, part laugh. “We said we’d start as friends… take the first step together.”

She paused, lifting her head slightly so she could meet his gaze. Her pink eyes were tender, but unsure. “But what we’re doing right now…” she said, gesturing faintly between their intertwined hands and their closeness in bed, “this isn’t exactly something normal friends do, is it? We really skip a lot of steps..”

Shuichi smiled at her, but didn’t interrupt. He wanted to hear it all.

“You fed me, we did naked cuddle, now this... I mean—sleeping in your bed, being held like this… the kisses on my forehead, the way your arms feel like home…” Her voice trailed off for a second, as if trying to organize a chaotic stream of feelings. “I don’t know anymore what to call this stage we’re in.”

She chuckled faintly, a blush spreading across her cheeks as she looked down again, flustered. “But… somehow, I don’t mind. Not at all.”

There was a long pause.

“I know this isn’t what we planned,” she continued, softer now. “We were supposed to set boundaries. Take it slow. Let time decide for us.”

She leaned her cheek back against his chest, listening to his heartbeat again, as if it could remind her what was real.

“But all I know right now is… I want to be with you. Maybe I’m not ready to give everything yet—but my heart is already halfway yours, Shuichi. And I want to make you happy. Just like how you make me happy… in ways I didn’t think I could feel again.”

She tightened her grip on his hand, fingers curling against his palm. “I want to give back all the love and patience you’ve given me. Even if I’m clumsy with it… even if I make mistakes.”

Shuichi remained still for a moment, as if soaking in every word. His heart thudded with emotion, and for a while, he said nothing—only wrapped his arms more securely around her.

Then, his lips brushed the top of her head, and he whispered against her hair, “There’s no need to define it right now. This… whatever it is between us—let’s just keep building it. If it’s more than friendship, then let it be. I don’t need a label to know how much I want to stay by your side.”

He stroked her hand gently with his thumb. “If you want to make me happy… you already have. Just by being here. Just by trusting me with your heart.”

Botan let out a shaky breath, tears brimming again, but this time out of relief—not fear. She nestled closer, as if she finally felt sure of where she belonged.

And in that quiet morning, with no expectations or pressure—just warmth, closeness, and the safety of an unspoken promise—they both knew they were no longer walking alone.

_____

Another brand new day has come.

Shuichi no longer had a fever, so he could go back to work, while her ankle no longer hurt, so she decided to go outside to the cafe nearby to buy some croissants that Shuichi liked, so she could surprise him later.

It was supposed to be a wonderful day.

"Botan..”

Until she heard that voice...

Her entire body stiffened.

The gentle rhythm of her footsteps stopped.

Her heart dropped into her stomach like a stone. Every muscle in her body froze, as though her soul had momentarily left her. Her breathing hitched.

It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be…

Please… let it be someone else… just someone with a similar voice…

Slowly, painfully, she turned around.

But the moment her eyes landed on the man standing at the edge of the sidewalk, her worst fears were confirmed.

The man who had taken everything from her. The one who’d broken her trust, violated her body, and shattered what little self-worth she had back then.

He stood there, hands in his pockets, dressed casually like nothing had happened between them—like he wasn’t the monster who haunted her dreams. His eyes… they looked softer now. Regretful. But it didn’t matter.

Her Ex.

Kaname Hagiri.

No. No, no, no.

Botan’s knees buckled slightly, and she had to clench her fists to stop herself from shaking. Her mind flooded with all the nightmares she had tried so hard to overcome—his hands on her, his voice whispering cruel things, the choking, the shame.

She turned to walk away, fast. She needed to get away.

But a cold hand suddenly gripped her wrist tightly.

“Botan, wait,” Hagiri said, his voice low.

The same sensation she felt on her wrist a long time ago... How he grabbed her wrist, then he threw her to the mattress so harshly before he did something awful to her. Her body panicked, as if the muscles recalled everything from that moment.

“Let go!” she screamed, panic slicing through her voice. “Don’t touch me!”

She struggled to yank her hand away from him, but Hagiri pulled her closer, catching her off guard. Before she could even process it—

His lips were on hers.

It was gentle, and short—but to Botan, it was violence.

Her eyes went wide in disbelief, in rage, in helplessness. No, no, no! She didn’t move, frozen in horror as tears welled up and spilled from her wide, trembling eyes.

He had no right.

No right.

She hadn’t even kissed Shuichi yet. She hadn’t even given him—her own husband a kiss, despite all the tenderness, patience, and love he had given her. And now—now—her first kiss as someone’s wife had been stolen.

When Hagiri pulled back, his eyes full of what he might have thought was remorse or longing—Botan’s hand struck across his cheek with every ounce of strength she had.

*SLAP*

It echoed through the street like thunder.

“YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TOUCH ME!” she screamed, her voice cracking.

Her hands were trembling, her tears falling uncontrollably now.

“NO RIGHT TO KISS ME! NO RIGHT TO STAND HERE IN FRONT OF ME!” She was shouting, her voice laced with raw fury and heartbreak. People began turning, startled by the scene—but she didn’t care.

“You—” she choked, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her coat like she could scrub the memory away. “You took so much from me already… what makes you think you can just come back like this?! Like I’d ever want to see you again?!”

Hagiri opened his mouth, perhaps to apologize—but Botan was already backing away, her entire body trembling.

“Stay away from me,” she hissed. “Don’t ever show your face in front of me again.”

And with that, she turned and ran.

Her legs carried her blindly through the city—anywhere, anywhere away from him.

She didn't stop walking, at least until she blended in with the crowd of people on the sidewalk. Her face buried in her hands as sobs finally escaped from her chest.

Her lips… she could still feel it. That unwanted kiss. That violation. That betrayal.

And worst of all…

“Shuichi…” she whispered into the air, her voice hoarse and broken. “I’m so sorry…”

She clenched her fists into her chest. ‘How could I face him now?’ she thought. ‘How can I tell him… that another man touched me again? Kissed me… when I haven’t even given that part of me to him yet…’

She felt dirty all over again. Guilty. As though she had failed Shuichi—as though she had tainted the bond they were building.

Yes, she and Hagiri had kissed several times already during their dating days a long time ago. However, this time was different... They had broken up, and she was now someone's wife... Yet, her first kiss as a wife had been stolen by someone who was not her husband.

“You can come to me anytime. You’re not alone anymore.”

Shuichi’s voice...

Her chest heaved as fresh tears fell, this time mixed with longing and hope.

Would he still hold her, knowing this? Would he still see her as his Botan?

She didn’t know.

But she had to tell him. She didn’t want to keep anything from him—not even this.

Botan didn’t know how long she had been walking.

The world around her blurred into meaningless shapes—cars, trees, people, lights. None of them mattered. Her feet moved as if possessed, carrying her further and further away from where she needed to be.

Home.

But she couldn't go home.

Not after what just happened.

Not after he kissed her.

Her stomach churned violently, her fingers clenching into fists at her sides. She rubbed her lips with the back of her hand until they turned red and raw, but the sensation of Hagiri’s unwanted kiss still lingered like poison. Her breath hitched. She stopped by the edge of the road and pressed a palm over her heart, trying to keep it from crumbling.

She had moved, hadn’t she? She cut ties with almost everyone, rebuilt what she could with pieces of a broken past. For years she ran. For years she buried herself beneath silence, shame, and fear.

So why now?

Why did Kaname Hagiri show up now?

What did he want from her—after eight years of nothing? After treating her like filth, like a toy he broke and tossed away?

And worse—why did he kiss her?

After what he did? After leaving her with scars—emotional and physical—so deep that she still couldn’t look at herself in the mirror?

Her steps grew weaker. Her knees began to shake. Each breath hurt, like her lungs had been tied with wire. Her head throbbed, her ears buzzed with the rush of panic and shame. People passed her by on the sidewalk, but she didn’t see them. Didn’t hear them. Her world had gone silent and suffocating.

She turned down a narrow street lined with trees—where it was quieter—and staggered to a stop but her legs felt heavy as iron, her vision doubling. She clutched her chest, gasping, the ache in her heart spreading like wildfire.

’I… I can’t breathe…’

Everything came crashing down. The guilt. The fear. The self-hatred.

Shuichi.

His smile flashed in her mind. His voice. His warmth. The way he’d held her that night after her nightmare. The way he never once touched her without her permission. The way he made her feel seen. Loved.

And now… after all that…

She had let another man kiss her.

Even if it wasn’t her choice—especially because it wasn’t her choice—it still happened.

The world around her tilted.

Her knees buckled. Her body swayed.

She reached out for something—anything—to hold onto, but there was nothing there.

And then…

Blackness.

She collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

Her last conscious thought before everything faded:

“You deserve someone better.”