Kei Tsukishima never meant to snap at Yn. He had just come home after a grueling day of balancing his commitments as a professional volleyball player, a museum employee, and a college student. The weight of his responsibilities hung heavily on his shoulders, and the stress had built up to an unbearable level. Yn was waiting for him, her eyes lighting up when he walked through the door. She had missed him, and her heart ached with the constant distance between them. She reached out, trying to hold him close, but Kei brushed her off, too exhausted to reciprocate. “Kei, can we talk?” Yn’s voice was soft, but there was a hint of desperation in her tone. “Not now, Yn. I’m tired,” Kei muttered, dropping his bag and heading towards the bedroom. “But we never talk anymore. You’re always busy, and I feel so alone.” Yn’s words were laced with sadness, and Kei felt a pang of guilt, but it quickly turned into irritation. “I’m busy for us, Yn! Do you think I want to be running around all the time? I’m doing this for our future,” he snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. Yn recoiled, hurt flashing in her eyes. “I just want to be with you, Kei. Is that too much to ask?” Kei’s temper flared. “You’re being so clingy! Can’t you see I have enough on my plate already?” Yn’s eyes welled up with tears. “I just… I miss you, Kei. I miss us.” The room grew silent, the air thick with tension. Yn’s words struck a chord within Kei, but his frustration blinded him. He took a step closer to her, his eyes hard. “You don’t understand what I’m going through, Yn. You’re making this harder than it needs to be.” Yn tried to hold back her tears, but they spilled over, her voice breaking. “I’m sorry for needing you, Kei.” In his anger, Kei reached out and grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him. The gesture was rough, uncharacteristic of him, and it shocked them both. Yn’s eyes widened in fear and pain, and Kei’s heart dropped. Realizing what he had done, Kei let go immediately, stepping back as if he had been burned. “Yn, I—” Yn held her cheek, tears streaming down her face. “Kei, you’re hurting me,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Kei's anger vanished in an instant, replaced by a wave of overwhelming guilt and regret. “I’m so sorry, Yn. I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry.” But the damage was done. Yn took a shaky breath, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I need some time, Kei. I can’t do this right now.” She turned and walked away, leaving Kei standing there, feeling more alone than ever. The silence of the apartment was deafening, and Kei sank to the floor, his head in his hands. He had hurt the person he loved the most, and the weight of his actions crushed him. In the stillness, he realized that he needed to make things right. But he didn’t know if Yn would ever forgive him, or if they could find their way back to each other. All he knew was that he couldn’t bear to lose her, and he would do whatever it took to earn her forgiveness. As the night wore on, Kei sat alone, hoping that somehow, they could mend the rift between them and find their way back to the love they once shared.
