Thursday – 10:38 PM
Yuuki couldn't sleep.
Arisa had gone home hours ago, but her words echoed like a heartbeat in his chest.
> "Maybe you don't want to know everything."
He sat in the dark, phone in hand, fingers hovering over her name.
But he didn't call.
Because if she wasn't ready to tell him…
He didn't want to ask until he was ready to hear.
---
Friday – 4:12 PM
She showed up at his door.
No text. No warning. No smile.
Just her — hoodie on, hair tied up, shadows under her eyes.
Yuuki stepped aside. "Come in."
She didn't move.
"I don't want to sit," she said. "I don't want snacks. I don't want a hug."
He nodded. "Okay."
"I want to tell you everything," she whispered. "And I need you to decide if I'm still worth choosing after."
His breath caught.
Then he nodded again. "I'm listening."
---
Arisa's Voice:
"I started renting myself out in my second year of high school.
Not for the money — not at first.
I did it because it gave me control.
It let me decide how close people got.
Because when you're being paid to be loved…
You never have to ask if it's real."
Yuuki didn't say a word.
"I had rules. No touching. No repeat clients. No outside contact.
And I broke them.
For Hayato."
She looked up. "He was the first guy who didn't feel like a client. And the first guy who made me feel small after."
She took a shaky breath.
"He told me I was only lovable when I was for sale.
That if I ever stopped pretending, no one would want me."
Her voice cracked.
"And I believed him. For way too long."
Yuuki stepped forward. Slowly.
She flinched.
But he didn't touch her — not yet.
"You're not for sale," he said.
"I was."
"You're not now."
She blinked. "What if I don't know how to be loved for free?"
Yuuki looked at her like she was breaking and whole at the same time.
"Then let me teach you," he whispered.
And finally, finally — she let herself fall forward into his arms.
No kiss. No spark.
Just warmth. Just truth. Just healing.