Relief washed over Haruto like a soothing wave, his chest feeling lighter with each passing second. His plan had worked—he could feel it.
The phone in his pocket vibrated, but he ignored it for now.
'Must be Enji,' he thought with a faint smirk. 'Probably gloating about pulling it off.'
Beside him, Mari clung to his arm, her warmth and enthusiasm grounding him. "Let's go to that matcha café!" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I read online that their matcha tiramisu is amazing."
Before Haruto could respond, Mari was already tugging him forward, her energy infectious.
They stepped into the café, a quaint and serene spot that smelled of sweet matcha and fresh desserts.
It wasn't crowded, and they found a table quickly, ordering an assortment of treats: matcha mochi, tiramisu, and a matcha parfait.
Haruto leaned back in his chair, inhaling the comforting aroma.
"I love this place," he admitted, feeling a calm settle over him.
It was a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier—and to the memory of that ramen.
Mari looked down, her expression guilty. "I'm so sorry, Haruto. I shouldn't have taken you there. It was petty and childish."
He sighed softly, shaking his head. "Mari, you've apologized enough already. Besides, I shouldn't have left without waking you up."
"No, you did the right thing," she said firmly, her voice trembling with emotion.
"You know I get so anxious when I think you're cheating on me. It makes me feel... foolish." Her shoulders slumped.
She took a deep breath, her tone softening. "If it were any other guy, they would've run the moment I bombarded them with messages. I shouldn't do that to you."
She looked up, her eyes determined. "I need to learn to trust you more, to be a better girlfriend. If I don't, our relationship won't be healthy."
Haruto blinked at her honesty, caught off guard by her resolve. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Mari continued, her voice steady. "I'm going to be more mature and understanding from now on."
When they finally returned to their room, Haruto pulled out his phone.
He skimmed through the notifications, his expression darkening when he saw many from Asuka.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, his stomach sinking.
The messages glared back at Haruto from his phone screen:
"I know you just left that famous ramen shop with a woman, didn't you?"
"Using Enji as a distraction was a bad idea."
"Haruto, come to room xxx tonight, or I'll find that woman and tell her everything about us!"
Haruto's grip on the phone tightened as he read the final message again. Asuka's tone left no room for interpretation—she was furious.
'Wasn't she supposed to be the nonchalant type?' he thought, rubbing his chin in confusion. He tried to dissect her sudden shift in behavior but came up short.
"Well," he muttered, slipping his phone into his pocket, "I guess I'll find out when I meet her." He swallowed hard, a knot forming in his throat.
He glanced at Mari, who was already fast asleep. Her head had barely touched the pillow before she drifted off, still in her yukata. Haruto couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking his head at her carelessness.
"Guess it works out for me," he murmured, knowing her exhaustion would make it easier for him to leave unnoticed.
With a deep breath, Haruto grabbed his key and quietly slipped out of the room, making his way to the one Asuka had specified.
The hallway seemed quieter than usual, his footsteps echoing softly against the tatami floor.
When he reached the door, he hesitated. His hand hovered over it, his nerves getting the better of him.
Taking another deep breath, he knocked lightly and called out, "Asuka, it's me, Haruto."
Her voice came through the door, cold and clipped. "Just get in. The door's not locked."
His heart pounded as he turned the knob, pushing the door open cautiously. The room was dimly lit, and his gaze was immediately drawn to Asuka, sitting on a low chair near the table.
Her arms were crossed, and her emerald eyes bore into him making him even more anxious.