Arisa's Apartment – 4:11 PM
The silence was unbearable.
Arisa sat on the floor, knees pulled to her chest, hoodie sleeves covering her shaking hands.
Yuuki leaned against the doorframe, phone hanging loose in his hand.
Neither of them spoke.
Because what could they say?
The truth was already out — ugly, messy, undeniable.
And it hurt worse than any lie ever could.
---
"I was going to tell you," she said finally, voice breaking like thin glass.
"I just… I wanted you to see me first. Not the girl from the past. Not the files. Not the receipts."
Yuuki's throat tightened.
"You think I didn't know you had a past?" he said.
His voice was low, steady — but there was a tremble hiding beneath it.
"I knew. I just didn't know it would punch me in the face like that."
She wiped her eyes, hands trembling harder.
"I wasn't embarrassed about who I used to be," she whispered. "I was terrified that if you saw it... you'd look at me differently."
Yuuki closed his eyes. Exhaled slowly.
"I don't care that you had a past, Arisa."
She flinched.
"I'm mad you thought I wouldn't be strong enough to stand with you after you told me."
She looked up.
Shock. Hope. Fear. All tangled behind her teary eyes.
---
He crossed the room.
Dropped his phone onto the couch like it was nothing.
Knelt in front of her.
"You thought I'd leave," he said. "And that hurts more than anything in those screenshots."
She bit her lip. Hard.
Trying to hold back the sob in her throat.
Yuuki reached out. Slowly. Gently.
And this time, when he touched her —
She didn't flinch.
---
"I'm scared every day," she whispered.
"So am I," he said. "That's what loving someone means."
He took her hand.
Held it like it was the most fragile thing in the world.
"I'm scared too, Arisa. But I'm not running."
And finally — finally — she broke.
Not into pieces.
But into him.
Crying, laughing, shaking — and still holding on for dear life.
And Yuuki held her tighter.
Because he knew now:
It was never about being perfect.
It was about staying when things weren't.