shadow beneath the lights

Ayaka froze.

Renji Kurozawa stood at the end of the alley, his eyes sharp with fury, the rain soaking into his tailored coat. He had followed her.

He saw everything.

Kaito, still drunk, blinked and slurred, “Hey, who the hell are you?”

Renji strode forward, his steps calm but purposeful. “The man you’ve been stealing from. Indirectly.”

Kaito narrowed his eyes. “Oh? The rich CEO, huh? So what, you dating my little sister or something?”

“I should have you arrested,” Renji said, voice like steel. “You’ve been extorting her. Gambling with stolen funds. Dragging her into your filth.”

“Back off,” Kaito snapped. “She’s family. This is none of your business.”

Renji’s jaw clenched. “She may be your family. But you’re not hers.”

Kaito laughed, waving the envelope of cash. “You rich types are all the same. Think money makes you a savior? She’s used to cleaning up after people like me.”

Ayaka stepped between them, eyes wet with rain and tears. “Stop. Both of you.”

Renji looked at her, his expression softening instantly.

“Kaito, just go,” she whispered. “Please.”

Kaito scoffed but finally staggered off into the night.

Silence returned.

Ayaka didn’t meet Renji’s gaze. Her voice cracked. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“You should have told me.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why?”

She looked up finally. “Because if I ask you for help, you’ll feel responsible. And I don't want to be anyone's burden again.”

His eyes flashed. “You think helping you would be a burden to me?”

Ayaka turned away. “You’re kind. But I know how this looks. A CEO taking pity on a broken girl—”

Renji stepped forward, cutting her off. “Pity has nothing to do with it.”

She shook her head. “You only looked at me in the beginning because I resemble someone you lost. But I’m not her. I can never be her.”

“You’re right,” he said. “You’re not.”

Ayaka stiffened.

“You’re not Hana,” Renji continued. “But the more I see you—the real you—the more I realize… I don’t want you to be.”

Her breath hitched.

“I thought you were just a ghost I could never touch again. But you're not a shadow,” he said gently. “You're light I didn’t know I needed.”

Ayaka’s tears fell freely now.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“So am I,” he replied.

They stood in the rain, silence stretching between them, heavy with emotion.

Then Renji reached out and gently brushed the wet strands of hair from her face.

“I want to protect you, Ayaka. Not because you need saving… but because I don’t want to imagine this world without you in it.”

---

The next morning, the office buzzed with gossip.

Someone had spotted the CEO driving a mysterious woman home after the gala.

Minako grinned, cornering Ayaka at the elevator.

“Spill. You and Kurozawa-san. That was you in the car, wasn’t it?”

Ayaka flushed. “It was just business.”

“Right. Business with sparkles and lingering stares.”

Before Ayaka could respond, her phone buzzed.

Unknown number: I saw you with him. Better be careful, Ayaka.

Her blood ran cold.

Another message followed:

He won’t want you when he learns what your brother owes.

Ayaka swallowed, heart pounding. Something was coming.

And this time, she wasn’t sure Renji could shield her from it.

---

End of Episode 4

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