In the quiet of their hotel room, Alex and Saeko lay side by side, staring at the ceiling. The city lights filtered through the thin curtains, casting soft golden patterns on the walls. Sleep had come for others, but not for them. Not tonight.
They had tried. Closing their eyes. Steadying their breath. But something kept them awake—a gentle restlessness, a quiet longing that had nothing to do with monsters or missions.
Saeko turned her head to look at him. His eyes were open too.
"Can't sleep?" she whispered.
"No."
She smiled. A small, soft smile. "Me neither."
They lay there for a moment longer. Then, without a word, they both sat up. The moonlight caught her white hair, making it glow. He reached out and tucked a strand behind her ear. His fingers lingered.
She leaned into his touch.
The space between them seemed to shrink. Not because they moved, but because the air itself grew warmer, thicker, charged with something unspoken.
