Reiji didn't book her that week. He told himself it was fine. He was busy. There were family meetings, deadlines, the endless tug-of-war for position in the Takasawa hierarchy. But deep down, he noticed the silence.
He found himself opening the app more than once, thumb hovering over Miko's profile. He knew her schedule now, roughly. He imagined her laughing with someone else, offering that warmth to another stranger. That thought unsettled him.
Meanwhile, Miko worked three different appointments over two days. None of them were Reiji. And none of them felt like anything. Just acting. Smiling on cue. Earning hours and yen.
On her walk home, she paused at a vending machine, unsure what she even wanted. Maybe something sweet. Maybe just silence.
Her phone buzzed. Reiji's name.
REIJI: You ever try melon soda?
She stared, surprised. Then smiled.
MIKO: Once. It's chaos in a can.
REIJI: I'm at the vending machines near the park. If you happen to walk by...
She considered her options. Technically, this wasn't a booking.
But her feet were already moving.
She found him leaning against the machine, hands in his pockets. He didn't look surprised when she arrived.
"I thought this wasn't a booking," she teased.
"It's not. No payment. Just soda."
They sat on the park bench, sipping their cans in companionable silence.
"You know," Miko said, "if we're going to keep running into each other like this, I need to know more about your taste."
"In drinks?"
"In life. What kind of movies do you watch?"
Reiji tilted his head. "Documentaries. Historical stuff. Sometimes noir."
She made a face. "Serious. Of course."
"And you?"
"Coming-of-age stories. Ghibli films. Stories that feel like you're growing while watching."
She pulled out her phone and typed something in.
"Homework," she said, handing it to him. "Watch Whisper of the Heart. No excuses. I'm quizzing you next time."
He took the phone and looked at the title. "Homework from a rental girlfriend?"
"Life enrichment," she corrected with a grin.
He didn't mind the assignment. He just wanted to see her smile again.
As they parted ways, Miko's phone buzzed again—this time with a reminder for her volunteer shift at the university charity event the next morning. She sighed and tucked her phone away, unaware that someone else would notice her there.
Behind her, Reiji stood in silence for a few seconds after she left. His fingers tightened slightly around the can. He had no claim on her. No right. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something unseen was slipping away.