The evening silence of the apartment complex was shattered by a sudden, rhythmic thudding on the door. Shin sighed, already knowing who it was. Before he could even turn the handle, Ai didn't wait for an answer. With a mischievous glint in her eyes and an energy that could power a small city, she gave him a sudden, firm shove.
"Whoa—!" Shin lost his balance, his socks sliding on the polished floor before he hit the ground with a pathetic, hollow thud.
"Excuse me! Coming through!" Ai chirped, barging into the apartment as if she owned the title deed.
Shin stayed on the floor for a moment, staring at the ceiling. "Ow... Hey! What was that for? I actually got hurt this time!" he groaned, clutching his side.
Ai turned around, looking down at him with a hand on her hip, completely unfazed by his dramatic display. "You were blocking the entryway, so I had to improvise. And 'hurt'? Please, Shin. You're so dramatic. You're practically made of glass."
"I'm a human being, not glass!" Shin grumbled, pushing himself up and rubbing his hip. "You literally bulldoze your way into my personal space and then have the nerve to call me weak? What kind of logic is that?"
"The kind of logic that gets dinner made on time," Ai smirked, extending a slender hand to pull him up. Her touch was brief, but warm. "Now, quit pouting and tell me what you want to eat. Consider yourself lucky today—you're about to taste food from a real MasterChef. My services don't come cheap, you know."
Shin dusted off his trousers, muttering under his breath, "I could've made something better myself without ending up with a 'major medical injury'."
"Injury?" Ai laughed, the sound echoing through the small apartment. "You tripped a little! You're acting like you fell off a mountain and survived a landslide."
Shin shot her a sharp, sidelong glance, his eyes narrowing. "Quiet. First, you shove me like a sumo wrestler, and then you threaten to throw me off a mountain? You're dangerous, woman."
Ai stopped mid-stride, her eyes widening in genuine shock. "Hey! Who tells lies like that? I never said anything about a mountain! I'm a chef, not a villain!"
Seeing her get so defensive over a joke, Shin couldn't hold it back anymore. A small snort escaped him, followed by a full, rare laugh. "Pfft—Hahaha! You should see your face. It's hilarious. I'm just messing with you, Ai."
Ai huffed, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "Ugh, you're such a brat!" She gave him a playful, light kick toward the kitchen. "One minute you're Mr. Serious-Composer, and the next you're a literal child. But fine... I guess you're kind of cute when you're not being an annoying neighbor."
The Kitchen "Physiotherapy"
Shin followed her into the kitchen, his mind still racing with a million thoughts he couldn't quite name. He decided to push his luck. He held up his hand, his face dropping into a mask of pure agony. "Look, Ai... I'm serious. My finger... I think it's actually broken. It really hurts."
Ai's playful mood vanished instantly. Her expression shifted to one of deep, genuine worry. "What? Let me see! Oh no, I'm so sorry, Shin... I shouldn't have pushed you so hard!"
She grabbed his hand with surprising tenderness, her fingers cool against his skin. She inspected his index finger with clinical focus. Then, without warning—CRACK—she twisted it.
"There, better?"
"AAAAAGH! STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"Oh, still hurting? Let's try this way," she said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness as she twisted it in the opposite direction.
"STOP! It's going to break for real now! My career is over!" Shin shouted, frantically pulling his hand back and cradling it to his chest.
Ai stood there, a smug, triumphant grin replacing her concern. "I knew it. You were faking it for sympathy, weren't you? So, I decided to give you some 'specialist treatment.' If you keep lying to me, Zoro, I might actually snap it for real next time. Now, for the last time, what's for dinner?"
"Omurice and Miso Soup," Shin muttered, defeated and nursing his perfectly fine finger.
"Perfect. That's my favorite too! Now, out of my kitchen. I don't need a wounded soldier tripping over my feet. Go find something to do."
"Fine," Shin sighed, feeling the warmth of the kitchen already starting to settle in his bones. "I'll be on the balcony. Just... try not to burn the building down."
The Midnight Realization
Outside, the autumn air was turning into a sharp, winter chill. Shin leaned against the cold metal railing, watching the shimmering lights of the city. Usually, the vastness of the world outside made him feel small and lonely. But tonight, it felt different.
I've changed, he thought, the realization hitting him harder than Ai's shove. Only a few months ago, I couldn't stand the idea of someone breathing the same air in my apartment. I wanted silence. I wanted to be alone with my music. But whenever she is here... I just want the moment to last. This peace... I don't know what this is, but for the first time in years, I don't want the world to stop.
Behind him, the apartment was coming alive. He could hear the rhythmic chopping of vegetables, the sizzle of the pan, and the rich, savory aroma of Miso broth beginning to waft through the sliding door. It was the smell of a home, not just a house.
Ai walked onto the balcony, wiping her hands on an apron she had found. She stopped when she saw Shin. He had fallen asleep in the patio chair, his head tilted back, looking exhausted but strangely calm.
"I'm in there slaving away over a hot stove, and he's out here dreaming?" she whispered to herself, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She leaned in to shake him awake, but stopped when she heard his breathing hitch. He was mumbling, his brow furrowed in distress.
"Is she okay? Please... just tell me she's okay... don't go..."
Ai froze, her hand hovering inches from his shoulder. Who is he talking about? A pang of something that felt like jealousy—or perhaps just deep curiosity—tugged at her heart. She shook his shoulder gently. "Shin? Wake up. Dinner's ready."
Shin jolted awake, his eyes wide and searching. "Huh? Ai? What... what are you doing here?"
"I'm the one who cooked your dinner, remember?" she teased, though her eyes remained observant, searching his face. "You were having a nightmare. You kept asking if 'she' was okay. Who were you dreaming about, Shin?"
Shin's expression darkened instantly. It was like a shutter closing over a window. The warmth left his eyes, replaced by that familiar, distant coldness. "No one. It was just a weird, fragmented dream. Don't worry about it. It means nothing."
Ai sensed the invisible wall being rebuilt, stone by stone. She decided not to push—not yet. "Fine. Keep your secrets for now. Come eat before it gets cold. You better be excited to eat my cooking, Zoro 2.0."
"I told you, I'm not Zoro," Shin grumbled, standing up and shaking off the lingering shadows of his dream. "I don't get lost anymore."
The Confession over Omurice
They sat at the small, cramped dining table. Between them sat the Omurice, and it truly was a masterpiece. The golden, fluffy egg was draped elegantly over a mound of seasoned rice, decorated with a perfect swirl of ketchup.
"Well? Are you going to eat it or perform a psychological interview on the rice?" Ai asked, picking up her spoon. "I promise, it's poison-free."
"It just... looks like it's from a high-end restaurant," Shin admitted, his voice low. He took a bite, and for a second, time seemed to stop. The flavors were rich, comforting, and layered—better than any takeout or convenience store meal he had survived on. She really is perfect at everything she puts her mind to, he thought, a sense of awe washing over him.
Ai caught the look of pure shock on his face and burst out laughing. "Why are you making that face? Is it really that life-changing?"
Shin felt a hot flush creep up his neck. He looked away, focusing intensely on his miso soup. "It's... it's okay. It's passable. Just eat your food and stop staring at me."
They finished the meal in a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes after two people have shared a secret, even if it was unspoken. As Ai got ready to leave for her own apartment across the hall, she turned at the door, a playful, dangerous wink lighting up her face.
"Hey, Shin... it's getting pretty late. Can I just sleep in your room tonight?"
Shin's face turned a shade of red that rivaled the ketchup on the Omurice. He practically lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders and steering her toward the hallway. "Go to your own apartment! Think before you say stuff like that to a guy! Are you insane? Doesn't your boyfriend get mad at you for being this reckless?"
Ai stopped in the hallway, looking at him with genuine confusion that slowly melted into a fit of giggles. "Boyfriend? Hahaha! Shin, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm single."
Shin froze, his hands still on her shoulders. "What? You? But... you're popular, you're always surrounded by people. I figured you'd have a dozen guys lined up."
Ai's smile became soft, almost vulnerable for a split second. "I don't want 'dozens.' I just want one person who actually knows me... someone who will stay by my side forever." She leaned in closer, her eyes dancing with their usual mischief. "Why? Are you applying for the job, Shin?"
Shin let go of her as if she were made of fire. He turned away, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs. "I don't want a girlfriend as chaotic and crazy as you. Just go home, Ai. Goodnight."
"Fine, fine! Goodnight, Zoro 2.0! Dream of me!"
As the door clicked shut and the lock turned, Shin leaned his forehead against the cool wood. His heart was racing so fast he could hear it in his ears. That girl is insane. She says the most reckless, heart-stopping things... so why am I blushing? Why does my chest feel so tight?
I really have no idea what's happening to me.
To be continued... 🌸