Mizuki was seething with anger when he heard the news. Sarina had always known that Mizuki didnât have a good relationship with his parents following his departure from show business. But now it seemed they had spoken out on their sonâs days as a pop star and the recent death of his Grandfather.
Of course, not only did it throw Mizuki back in the spotlight, but it also made things more difficult for Sarina, who was known by the press as Mizukiâs girlfriend.
Leaving the college after staying late with the drama department, Sarina sighed as she headed out a different exit and into the car that was waiting for her.
âIâm so sorry about this,â she remarked apologetically as Subaru observed her from the drivers seat.
âDonât apologise. This isnât your faultâŠâ
âI knowâŠI just wish that things would settle down.â
âYou look tired,â Subaru commented, âI guess that this has been pretty draining on you and MizukiâŠâ
âIâm sure itâs worse for him than me,â Sarina responded, thinking of her boyfriend with concern. Running a hand through her hair, Subaru kept an eye on her as they headed towards the residence.
Though things were only set to get worse.
Arriving outside, Subaru got through the press and into the gates. Though as he pulled up, Kaiji was at Sarinaâs side, opening the door and quickly taking her inside.
Once she had said hello to her father, Sarina headed for the bodyguard room, though before she had even opened the door, she could hear Mizukiâs raised voice from inside the room.
âI donât care what your excuse is! Do you have any idea how much trouble this has caused?â
Tentatively knocking and opening the door a little, Sarina peered inside to see Sora and Daichi stood inside the room, with Mizuki out the back, evidently on the phone.
âHey Sarina,â Sora remarked, though he avoided his usual attempts at hugging her as he glanced over to the open door in concern.
âIâm glad you are here Miss. Belle. I believe Mizuki could really use your company right now,â Daichi uttered quietly, though he didnât need to be so quiet based on the shouting from the other room.
âWhy should I include you in my life? Did you really think you were going to make matters better by going and speaking to the press. Itâs not just my life your impacting here! You are disrupting my work and upsetting my girlfriend. You havenât just dragged me into this mess, but Sarina as well and all you have done is emphasised how selfish you are.â
Walking out of the break room with a look of frustration upon his features, Mizuki seemed resigned to his feelings as he made eye contact with his girlfriend.
âSarinaâŠâ he breathed, something of a smile touching his lips as he greeted her.
âAre you okay?â she asked softly, concern lacing her voice as Mizuki regarded her with as calm an expression as he could muster.
âYes. Iâm sorry for all the trouble this is causingâŠâ
His voice sounded so strainedâŠso unusually formal. Was he holding back his emotions from her?
âPerhaps we should cancel our dinner reservations tonight,â Sarina suggested, seeing Mizukiâs brows knit together.
âReservations?â
âWe were going to try that new Italian place, but I guess with everything thatâs been going on-â
âIâm sorry. It had slipped my mind.. I agree, we should cancel,â he responded, seeing the other bodyguards exchange looks as Sarina felt her chest tighten.
Mizuki hadnât allowed himself to be alone with her since discovering his Grandfather had passed away a few days prior.
He had refused to take any compassionate leave of absence from work and was, on the contrary, working as many hours as Daichi would allow.
âDonât you think you should take a few days off?â Subaru questioned, daring to pose the question that the others hadnât dared to ask when Mizukiâs eyes fell on his colleague.
âIâm better when Iâm working. It provides some distraction.â
âMizuki weâre worried about youâŠâ Sarina began, âyouâve hardly slept or been back to your apartmentâŠâ
âNobody needs to worry about me. How many times do I have to say it?!â he snapped, losing his temper as he slammed his phone on the table.
Though as he looked into Sarinaâs widened eyes, realising what he had just done, she promptly dropped her gaze from his as the others looked on in surprise.
âHey, this isnât Sarinaâs fault. All sheâs trying to do is look out for you-â Sora began, looking irritated when Sarina interrupted.
âNo, heâs right. I should have just left it alone,â she responded. âI think Iâm just going to go home.â
âSarina,â Mizuki started, though his girlfriend backed away from him with a shake of her head.
âIâm not going to be a burden to you. I donât care about the press, or what theyâre saying. Because I know you are kind and gentle. I know the you that matters and if you need to be alone right nowâŠthen I understand that too.â
Turning from the others so they wouldnât see the tears welling up in her eyes, Sarina left the bodyguard room, ignoring the calls from the other bodyguards as she promptly left the residence, refusing to take a ride home as she walked.
She knew. She understood how painful it was to lose someone you loved. All she wanted to do was help Mizuki.
Clutching the straps on her bag, Sarina could feel the tears slipping down her cheeks at Mizukiâs outburst.
She knew he hadnât intended to say that, or to yell at her. Sarina could see the regret in his eyes as he watched her leave, the pained expression he held when she had backed away from him. Yet she couldnât let him see her cry. She knew he would only feel worse..
Taking a detour through a nearby park, so as to avoid any press that might be near her home, Sarina looked up at the trees, their leaves swaying softly in the breeze.
Breathing a sigh, Sarina had barely gotten to her apartment when she looked at her set of keys and something came to mind.
Turning on her heel, Sarina headed for Mizukiâs apartment, his key in hand as she remembered just how much he had supported her.
She knew Mizuki needed her right now and as much as she denied it, she was determined to show him that he had love in his life. That he had someone who cared for him.
Letting herself into his apartment, Sarina realised that Mizuki still wasnât home and set about tidying up a little.
Mizukiâs apartment was never really messy, but given that he hadnât been there for a while, the room was cold.
Putting on the heat and making his bed, Sarina went about making things more comfortable for Mizuki, knowing he would do the same for her. Though while she went about preparing him a nice meal, hoping it would help, she didnât hear her phone ringing in her bag.
By the time Mizuki returned, he looked visibly concerned when he came in and realised that Sarina was there.
âMizuki-â she began, when Mizuki wrapped her tightly in his arms.
âSarinaâŠI was looking for you, Iâm sorry, I was out of line, I-â
Putting a stop to his explanation, Sarina simply put her arms around Mizuki, feeling him tense up at her actions.
âYou donât have to apologise to meâŠI know it hurts. I know you just want to try and do everything in your power not to think about it. You think if you distract yourself enough, maybe it will all go away. But you donât have to hide from me. You donât have to be strongâŠthe first day we met, you watched me cry when it all became too much and you were so kind. You smiled at me and assured me it would all be okayâŠa person you had only just met.â Â
âSarinaâŠâ
âI know youâre hurting right now and I know you always try to deal with your problems alone, but I want to support you like youâve supported me. I love you Mizuki and if someone is important to you then they are important to me. I donât care about press, I donât care what they publish or what your parents say. Because I know you and I love you for who you are. A kind, sweet hearted man with a pure heart and a smile that warms my heart.â
At her words, Mizuki could feel the tears he had been holding back slip down his cheeks as he buried his face in her neck, stifling the sob that threatened to escape his lips as he dropped his keys and held her tightly.
âI miss himâŠI miss him so much. I never got a chance to say goodbyeâŠI didnât know. I didnât know he was so ill.â
âItâs okayâŠâ Sarina soothed, holding him close as she felt him breaking slowly, his walls crumbling as he continued to cry onto her shoulder.
Running a hand through his soft hair, Sarina felt a sadness in her chest as she listened to his heartbroken words.
Taking his hands, Sarina encouraged him to sit down with her on the sofa where she wrapped him up in her arms and felt his head rest against her chest as he cried.
Pouring his heart out to her, Sarina sat through it all, cradling Mizuki in her arms as she ran her hand through his hair and occasionally brushed her lips against the top of his head.
Sarina listened. She comforted him and talked him through his feelings. She assured him that his Grandfather would know just how much he cared.
âHe used to send me lettersâŠtelling me how much he still loved my music,â Mizuki remarked, his voice weak as he talked.
âDid you write back?â
âYeahâŠI kept all of his letters. He told me he was proud of me for doing what I wanted to do with my life.â
âYou should be proud,â Sarina uttered softly. âIâll always be grateful for the step you took. If you hadnât, I might never have met youâŠâ
Gripping her hand tightly, Mizuki looked up to Sarina as he rested his forehead against her, looking slightly embarrassed at showing her his face.
âMizukiâŠâ she breathed, cupping his face gently as she brushed his bangs out of his face. âIâm sorry that I put you through all thisâŠâ
âMizuki, look at me,â she responded softly, seeing his beautiful eyes meet hers as she smiled gently.
âThatâs part of love, isnât it? Being there for the one you care about most? I donât expect you to pretend with me. I want every part of you. However you feelâŠyour Grandfather would be so proud of you. Just as I am. You have overcome so much and opened your heart after all that youâve experienced. I think thatâs pretty incredible.â
âWhat would I do without you?â he breathed, leaning his forehead against yours.
âYou wonât. Because Iâm not going anywhere,â she smiled sweetly, feeling Mizukiâs arms wrap around her as he kissed her forehead.
âWould you like to take a bath together?â she asked, taking him off guard as she looked into his eyes bashfully.
âItâs justâŠyouâll get a headache and you havenât been sleeping. I thought it might help to relax you a little?â
Smiling at her in gratitude, Mizuki nodded in appreciation as he let her go, watching her walk into the bathroom as she began to draw him a bath while she encouraged him to eat.
He really was overwhelmed with gratitude towards Sarina. She had given him hope and even when he tried to shut her out, thinking that he was protecting her, she always surprised him with her ever present strength.
When he had finally joined her, Mizuki proceeded to get into the bath with his usual necklace still adorning his neck as he felt his body relax in the warmth of the water.
Offering Sarina a hand as she got in with him somewhat shyly, he carefully supported her so that she ended up sat comfortably between his legs when she turned to face him.
Gently dipping her hands in the water, she reached up and cupped his face, gently cleansing his skin and freeing him of the tears that had fallen down his cheeks.
Running her hands through his already damp hair, the way Mizuki looked at her with such love and devotion made her heart swell as he turned her round again, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to his chest.
âCan I ask you something?â
âHm?â she responded softly, intwining her fingers with his as he smiled softly.
âWill you stay?â
âTonight?â
âNot just tonightâŠwill you stayâŠhere? With me?â
Looking up into his eyes in surprise, Mizuki seemed apprehensive of her response as Sarina took in his words with wide eyes.
âYou mean it?â
âOf course I doâŠâ he breathed. âI could never imagine my life without you. But when I came home to find you, I realised that I wanted to get that feeling every day. That feeling of knowing you would be there.â
Smiling at him, it was Sarinaâs turn to have tears spark in her eyes as she gently toyed with his silver necklace, the other hand still intwined in his.
âOf course I willâŠâ she whispered, feeling Mizukiâs hand on her neck as he drew her in for a tender kiss.
âI love youâŠâ he breathed, his voice quiet and gentle as he regarded her with a kind gaze.
âI love you too MizukiâŠâ she smiled warmly, losing herself in his embrace.
Later that evening, as Sarina slept beside him, with her head resting on his chest, Mizuki reflected on everything that had happened and recalled his Grandfatherâs reaction to Mizukiâs news of having a girlfriend.
He had been so happy for him. He had told him to hold onto that happiness and never let it goâŠBut now, as he looked over Sarinaâs peacefully sleeping form, he finally realised just how much meaning those words held.
Nothing else mattered if he had Sarina at his side. He had lost a lot of things in life. Most were at the hands of others who felt it was best for him.
Yet Sarina was unlike anyone he had ever met. She was so much more than he could have ever hoped to find in his life. Feeling her settle into his chest, her breathing still rhythmic and gentle, Mizuki wrapped her up in his arms, with one hand running through her silky hair.
As he settled back against the pillows, Mizuki pressed a gentle kiss to Sarinaâs forehead as he began to drift into a deep slumber, knowing that he would sleep in contentment with his one love by his side.
