Chapter 2: Unexpected Scents

The morning light filtered softly through the thin curtains of Eiji’s apartment, painting the room in pale gold. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw him—Ren’s quiet smile, his calm eyes, the way cedarwood warmth had wrapped around him like a second skin.

It was ridiculous. They’d only exchanged a few words. But Eiji’s chest kept tightening whenever he thought of it.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, opening another moving box. His belongings looked so small against the empty walls: neatly folded books, mugs carefully wrapped in newspaper, a small potted plant that had survived the journey. He sighed softly.

“This would be easier with another pair of hands…” he muttered.

As if the universe heard him, a sudden thud came from the hall outside, followed by a low curse.

Eiji froze. Slowly, he stood, padded to the door, and opened it just a crack.

There was Ren—standing in the hallway, crouched down beside a large grocery bag that had split at the bottom. Oranges rolled across the floor, and a carton of eggs looked dangerously close to tipping.

Eiji’s lips parted before he could stop himself. “Ah—let me help!”

Ren looked up at him. His dark hair caught the light, and his eyes softened in recognition. “Eiji. Sorry, did I wake you?”

Eiji shook his head quickly, stepping out to kneel beside him. Their hands brushed as they both reached for the same orange, and the same ripple of warmth shot up Eiji’s arm. His breath caught.

Ren noticed. His gaze lingered for half a second too long, his expression unreadable—but then he looked away, carefully gathering the eggs.

The hallway filled with scents: the bright citrus of the fruit, Ren’s grounding cedarwood, and Eiji’s jasmine, which grew heavier the longer he stayed this close.

Eiji’s cheeks burned. He tried to focus on the oranges, not on how his heart hammered in his chest.

“You just moved in,” Ren said quietly, placing the eggs safely in another bag. “You shouldn’t be running around helping clumsy neighbors.”

Eiji shook his head, clutching three oranges to his chest. “I-I don’t mind. Really. It’s the least I can do after you gave me tea yesterday.”

Ren’s lips curved faintly, that same quiet smile that had already carved its way into Eiji’s memory. “That was nothing.”

They finished collecting the scattered groceries, their movements awkwardly in sync. At one point, Eiji leaned forward just as Ren did, and their shoulders brushed. Eiji went still, breath trapped in his lungs.

So close.

The cedar scent was stronger now, curling around him like a protective shield. His Omega instincts responded immediately—heart racing, warmth blooming in his chest, the instinctive urge to lean closer to that safety.

Ren’s hand paused mid-reach, as if he’d felt the shift too. His jaw tightened. But then he cleared his throat and carefully pulled back, placing the last orange into the bag.

“All set,” he murmured.

Eiji exhaled shakily, not realizing until then that he’d been holding his breath. “Y-yes… all set.”

Ren picked up the bags with ease and stood. He glanced down at Eiji, who was still crouched on the floor, looking like a flustered child caught in something he didn’t understand.

“Thank you,” Ren said simply.

Eiji looked up. His lips moved before he could think. “Anytime.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them. The hallway was narrow, and Ren’s shadow fell across him like a quiet shelter. Their scents tangled in the air—cedar and jasmine, grounding and fragile, wrapping around each other in ways neither could ignore.

Then Ren stepped back. “See you around, Eiji.”

And with that, he walked down the hall, the sound of his footsteps fading.

Eiji stayed where he was, still holding one orange he’d forgotten to return, staring at the empty space Ren had just left. His heart thumped wildly, his face warm.

He pressed the orange against his cheek, smiling despite himself.

Why… why does being near him feel so right?

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