"Take a seat." Kei offered, gesturing toward the chair across from his desk as he shut the office door behind Akihiko.
His voice was calm, but his sharp gaze held an unmistakable weight.
Akihiko sat, maintaining his usual composed expression, though he already sensed where this conversation was headed.
Kei inhaled deeply, as if steadying himself before diving into something he had been contemplating for a while.
Then, without hesitation, he spoke.
"Are you and my sister dating?" His tone was straightforward, serious—devoid of any warmth or unnecessary politeness.
Akihiko met his gaze evenly. "We don't have that kind of relationship, sir. But why do you ask?" His voice was respectful but firm.
Kei leaned back slightly, arms crossed over his chest. "You're quite the popular doctor here, Dr. Nakamura. Everyone knows you reject every confession that comes your way. You've never been close to any woman... not until Ayaka."
His eyes narrowed slightly, watching Akihiko's reaction. "Lately, people have been seeing you two together—both inside and outside the hospital. During her hospitalization, you were in her room constantly. You even stayed overnight."
Akihiko remained silent, listening intently.
He understood that Kei wasn't just interrogating him—he was a protective older brother ensuring his little sister's well-being.
Kei studied him for a moment before exhaling through his nose. "But since you've said there's nothing between you, I suppose that confirms the rumors weren't true. That's all I needed to know. You can go—"
"I never said I didn't have feelings for her."
Kei froze mid-sentence, his body tensing as he stared at Akihiko in shock. "W-what?"
Akihiko's blue eyes, usually cold and unreadable, flickered with something raw, something intense.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady but charged with emotion.
"I have feelings for Ayaka, sir." His words were deliberate, carrying an unshakable conviction.
"I've tried to hold back because she's your sister. Your family's princess. But no matter how much I try to suppress it, I can't stop falling for her."
Kei's fingers curled slightly over his desk, his mind racing, but Akihiko wasn't done.
"When we're apart, I can't stop thinking about her..." Akihiko continued, his voice lower, more vulnerable. "When I hear someone else is interested in her, it makes me... possessive. I always want to see her... I miss her when she's not around... And it drives me insane that she doesn't even realize how much she affects me." He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening.
"I don't know if you have any rules against me being with her since we're colleagues, but if you do, I'll apologize now." His eyes darkened, his voice dropping to something close to a vow. "Because I'm in love with your sister. And no matter what happens, I'm not going to stop."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Kei sat motionless, staring at the man in front of him as if seeing him for the first time.
The Ice Prince of Tokyo Medical Center—the cold, untouchable surgeon who never let anyone close—was sitting here, confessing with a level of devotion Kei never expected to hear. And it was about his sister.
Seconds stretched. Then Kei sighed—a deep, knowing sigh—and a slow smile broke across his lips.
"You know." he mused, shaking his head, "I had a feeling."
Akihiko blinked.
Kei chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "But I think Ayaka is the one who should be hearing that confession."
Akihiko exhaled through his nose, the corners of his lips twitching slightly. "I plan to tell her—after the book is published."
His expression darkened. "But... we had a fight, and she's been avoiding me for two days now. It's frustrating."
Kei snorted, standing up and giving Akihiko a firm pat on the shoulder. "That sounds like Ayaka, alright." He smirked.
"She's been like that since she was a kid. Any time she was in trouble, she'd hide instead of facing things head-on. The only way to get her to talk was to catch her, corner her, and make her admit whatever she was trying to avoid." He chuckled, shaking his head fondly.
Akihiko tilted his head, considering his words. "...I see. Maybe I should try that."
Kei smirked. "She's a handful, but she's a good girl. And for the record, I don't have any rules about who she can date."
His gaze softened slightly. "Honestly? I think I'd be relieved if she ended up with someone like you. Behind that cold front, I know you're a good person."
Akihiko held his gaze, something unreadable flickering in his blue eyes.
Kei gave him a final nod before grinning. "I hope it works out for you two." He raised a thumbs-up. "Good luck."
For a moment, Akihiko simply stared at him.
Then, ever so slightly, the corner of his lips lifted.
"Thanks, Dr. Yamamoto."
But inwardly, Akihiko was already planning his next move.
If Ayaka wanted to run, that was fine.
Because this time, he would catch her.
------
The next day, Ayaka barely had time to breathe. Between consultations, reviewing manuscripts, and catching up on the chapters she had fallen behind on due to her hospitalization, the hours blurred together.
By the time lunch rolled around, she had no energy for the cafeteria's chatter and stares.
Opting for solitude, she locked herself in her office, setting her lunch on the desk as she stared at the open document on her screen.
Two more chapters. Just two. If she focused.
But the moment she picked up her pen, a knock came at the door.
"Ms. Yamamoto?" One of the secretaries peeked inside. "There's a call for you—Dr. Nakamura is on the line. He wants to speak with you."
Ayaka's stomach dropped.
'Akihiko...'
Her grip on the pen tightened as she swallowed. 'No. No, no, no.'
"Tell him I'm busy!" she whispered sharply, waving her hand as if she could erase his presence through the phone.
The secretary nodded, retreating with a simple, "I'm sorry, but Ms. Yamamoto is currently occupied right now."
A beat of silence. Then the line clicked off.
Ayaka released a shaky breath, slumping into her chair as she stared blankly at her screen.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but the words refused to come.
"Why am I even avoiding him? Why can't I just face him…?"
She already knew the answer.
Because every time he got too close, every time his blue eyes locked onto hers with that quiet intensity, something inside her burned.
And she was afraid.
Afraid of how much power he had over her.
Afraid of what would happen if she stopped running.
------
By the time she finally made it home that evening, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
The moment she reached the door of her apartment, all she wanted was to curl up in bed and let sleep erase the weight pressing against her chest.
But the second she looked up—she froze.
A figure stood by her door, leaning casually against the wall.
Silver hair.
Sharp blue eyes.
'Akihiko.'
Her breath hitched.
'What terrible timing…' she thought in horror.
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up.
Without a second thought, she spun on her heel, heading straight for the elevator.
But she barely made it three steps before a firm hand wrapped around her wrist.
"Where do you think you're going?"
His voice was smooth, amused, and darkly patient.
Ayaka swallowed, heat prickling up her spine. 'Why does he sound like that?'
"You can't keep avoiding me, Ayaka." Akihiko murmured, his fingers tightening slightly around her wrist, his touch searing through the fabric of her sleeve.
"Watch me!" she shot back, jerking her arm free.
She bolted.
The elevator wasn't far—if she could just make it inside—
She slammed the button repeatedly, willing the doors to open faster, but the damn thing was taking its time.
Behind her, slow, measured footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway.
Her pulse pounded.
She turned her head just slightly—big mistake.
Akihiko was approaching, his gait unhurried but purposeful, like a predator toying with its prey.
His piercing gaze never wavered from hers, and the sheer intensity in his eyes sent a tremor through her chest.
The elevator dinged.
The doors slid open.
But before she could move, she felt it—him.
A strong arm caged her in, pressing against the wall beside her head, his body dangerously close.
His free hand found her wrist again, pinning it gently but firmly against the cool surface.
"Too late." he murmured, his breath ghosting against her cheek. "I finally caught you."
Ayaka's breath hitched, her pulse a wild, erratic beat against her ribs.
He was close. Too close.
The heat radiates from his body wrapped around her, seeping into her skin, her bones.
His scent—fresh, clean, laced with something undeniably male—was making her dizzy.
Her back pressed flat against the wall, her fingers twitching slightly under his grip. "A-Akihiko, let me go."
"Not until we talk." he said, voice low, velvety smooth.
She turned her head stubbornly, refusing to meet his gaze, but that only made things worse—because now she was acutely aware of how their bodies were nearly touching, how his tall frame practically engulfed her.
Akihiko exhaled, and she swore she could feel the warmth of his breath against her temple.
"You're being difficult." he muttered.
"You're being annoying." she shot back.
A chuckle. Deep. Amused.
His grip loosened, but instead of pulling away, his fingers brushed against her wrist in slow, lingering strokes.
The touch sent an involuntary shiver through her.
"Tell me, Ayaka." he murmured, his lips just inches from her ear now. "How long do you plan to keep running from me?"
She squeezed her eyes shut. This isn't fair.
He was too close. He smelled too good. His voice was too low, too intimate.
And the worst part?
She wasn't sure if she wanted to run anymore.
"Why are you doing this?" she whispered, voice barely above a breath.
Akihiko finally let go of her wrist—but only so he could tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
She sucked in a sharp breath.
His eyes—those deep, ice-blue eyes—were burning.
"Because..." he said, his thumb brushing over her jawline, slow and deliberate, "I told you before, didn't I?"
Ayaka swallowed hard, her pulse a rapid staccato against her throat. "Told me… what?"
His lips curved.
"That I'm slowly losing patience."
A dangerous promise lingered in his words.
He leaned in, and for a moment, she thought— 'H-he's going to kiss me.'
Her lips parted involuntarily, her heart slamming against her ribs.
But just as quickly as he closed the distance, he stopped.
Just a breath away.
Close enough that she could feel the warmth of his lips hovering over hers, but not touching.
Her entire body tensed.
This wasn't just teasing.
This was deliberate torture.
Her fingers curled into fists. "A-Akihiko…"
He exhaled slowly, and she swore she felt his lips graze hers—just the slightest, faintest brush.
Then he pulled back, just enough to see the effect he had on her.
"Are you still going to run?" he asked softly.
Ayaka couldn't answer.
Because for the first time, she wasn't sure if she could.