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Seoul — Ken's Side
The weather turned colder.
Ken stood on the rooftop of his academy, wrapped in a thin hoodie, fingers stiff with wind. His chest felt heavier these days — not from training, but from waiting.
He hadn't opened Arashi's messages… because there were none.
And the photos of Arashi and Souta were everywhere now — new bars opening, smiling together, the words "perfect business duo" haunting his news feed.
The final blow came in a video interview.
Souta and Arashi, seated close. The interviewer asked, "Are you two a power couple in both business and… personal life?"
Ken hadn't even realized he'd stopped breathing.
Arashi didn't deny it.
He laughed. Just a low chuckle, and Souta smiled beside him.
Ken turned off the video.
> "That's his answer then."
He started saying yes to invitations — dinner with students, coffee with local coaches. Slowly, his name began trending in Korea. Someone asked if he was single.
He answered, "I don't think I'm waiting anymore."
He didn't realize how much that lie would hurt.
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Tokyo — Arashi's Side
Arashi hadn't seen the interview yet.
Souta made sure of that.
"Ken?" he scoffed when the name came up again. "That guy's clearly moved on. You really think someone who slapped you would still love you?"
Arashi didn't answer.
But the pain twisted in his gut like a knife.
He had tried once — almost texted Ken during a sleepless night.
"Do you miss me?"
He typed it. Stared at it. Then deleted it.
He told himself Ken would ignore it anyway.
But then came the real blow.
A press article:
"Ken Himura seen on dinner date with national coach Minjae Hyun — romance rumors heating up?"
Arashi's hands tightened around the glass in his hand.
He saw the photo: Ken smiling gently across the table. Flowers again. Another man leaning in to say something close to his ear.
Souta walked in casually. "Oh… you saw that?"
"I'm fine," Arashi muttered.
But inside, he wasn't.
He was breaking.
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