The morning after the gala, Ayaka sat at her desk with trembling hands.
She kept replaying the message in her head:
“He won’t want you when he learns what your brother owes.”
She had deleted it quickly, afraid someone might see. But the words clung to her like smoke, poisoning her every thought.
Renji hadn’t spoken much since the night in the rain. He was distant again—controlled. But his eyes still lingered on her longer than they should have. And each time they met, her heart skipped a beat.
“Ayaka-chan!” Minako whispered from her desk, leaning in conspiratorially. “You have a delivery!”
Ayaka blinked. “I… what?”
Minako handed her a black velvet box with a white card attached. “It was sent up directly by Kurozawa-sama’s assistant.”
Ayaka opened it slowly, eyes widening.
Inside was a silver necklace—simple, elegant, with a delicate sakura flower pendant. On the card were just three words, written in Renji’s crisp handwriting:
“Wear it tonight.”
---
That evening, Ayaka stood in front of her mirror, heart thudding.
The necklace glimmered against her collarbone. She wore a modest navy dress and brushed her hair gently behind one ear, wondering if this was a dream.
At 7:00 PM sharp, a sleek black car pulled up in front of her apartment. The driver bowed respectfully and opened the door.
Renji sat inside, dressed in a charcoal suit. His eyes flicked to her, warm and unreadable.
“You wore it,” he said softly.
“I didn’t want to be rude,” she replied.
He smiled, just a little. “You look beautiful.”
---
They arrived at a quiet rooftop restaurant overlooking the glowing city skyline. There was no crowd. No press.
Just the two of them.
“I thought this would be better than another gala,” Renji said, pulling her chair out.
“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“I wanted to.”
They dined under fairy lights, soft music playing in the background. Ayaka laughed once—just once—and Renji looked at her as if she’d just painted color into a world that had long been gray.
“Can I ask something?” she said, after a pause.
“Anything.”
“Do you think people like us… can really change our fate?”
Renji studied her face. “I don’t believe in fate. I believe in choices.”
She looked down. “Then I’ve made all the wrong ones.”
He reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers. “Not tonight.”
Her eyes met his—and for a moment, there was nothing but the sound of their hearts and the wind rustling through the lanterns.
Then her phone buzzed.
Again.
Ayaka’s stomach dropped.
Unknown: You should tell him what your brother did before I do. Tick tock.
Renji noticed the way she went pale.
“Ayaka?”
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Just tired.”
But he didn’t believe her.
And later, as they stood at the rooftop edge overlooking the glittering skyline, he asked quietly, “Why do you keep pretending you’re alone in this?”
She opened her mouth. Closed it. Then whispered, “Because I don’t want to lose this.”
Renji stepped closer. “You won’t.”
She turned to face him. The wind caught her hair, and he reached up gently to tuck it behind her ear.
“I meant what I said the other night,” he murmured. “You’re not a replacement. You’re Ayaka. And I think I’m falling for you.”
Her heart thudded violently.
And just as she started to respond, a shadow moved behind the rooftop door.
Watching.
Waiting.
Someone who knew her secret.
And wanted to ruin everything.
---
End of Episode 5
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