October 4th, 3027.
3:00 PM.
The afternoon light had changed.
Gone was the soft golden calm of morning.
Now the sun stood higher, brighter, pouring sharp daylight through the vast glass window, illuminating the room in clean, defined angles.
The city outside moved faster, louder in presence—even if its sound never fully reached .
Inside the room—
A different kind of energy had arrived.
Jin sat on the bed, his back resting against the headboard, legs crossed, posture firm and composed.
He was still in his expensive black attire, unchanged since morning, as if time didn’t affect him the way it did others.
His gaze was turned slightly toward the window, distant, uninterested, carrying that same quiet resistance he always held.
Beside him—
Lily.
Sitting neatly, her legs tucked to one side, hands resting lightly in her lap.
Her posture remained soft, composed, her presence calm as ever, though her eyes occasionally shifted—observing, absorbing everything around her.
And across from them—
Natsumi.
Sitting comfortably, leaning slightly forward with a wide, unapologetic grin stretched across her face.
Her eyes were locked on Lily.
Studying.
Amused.
“Hmmmm…”
She dragged the sound out playfully, tilting her head just a little.
“Your fiancée is so beautiful… is she even real, Jin?”
Lily blinked at the sudden compliment.
Then her cheeks flushed softly, a gentle pink rising as she lowered her gaze just slightly.
“…thank you…”
Her voice was polite.
Soft.
Jin didn’t even look at Natsumi.
“Tch… don’t start.”
His tone carried mild irritation, dry and dismissive, as if already tired of her presence despite only a few minutes passing.
Lily glanced at him briefly.
Then back at Natsumi.
“…you’ve known him for a long time, I think?”
Jin answered before Natsumi could.
“Yes.”
Simple.
Calm.
“We’ve known each other since childhood.”
A slight pause.
“She’s a police officer now.”
Lily nodded gently.
“I see…”
Understanding settled quietly in her expression.
Natsumi, however, didn’t lose her grin for even a second.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned forward slightly again.
“Hmmm… so tell me, Lily…”
She rested her chin lightly against her hand.
“Have you started calling him baby or darling yet?”
Lily’s eyes widened.
Her blush deepened instantly, spreading across her cheeks as she shook her head quickly.
“N-No…”
Jin remained still.
Looking at the window.
Ignoring everything.
Enduring it.
Natsumi raised a brow dramatically.
“No endearments yet?”
She clicked her tongue lightly, then leaned back before glancing sideways at Jin with a teasing smirk.
“Uh! And you know…”
Her voice turned deliberately playful.
“Your husband-to-be here didn’t used to be so… tough before.”
Lily’s eyes flickered with curiosity.
She turned slightly toward Jin.
“…really?”
Jin didn’t react much.
Just a small shift of his gaze.
Sharp.
Neutral.
Uninterested in entertaining it.
Natsumi rolled her eyes.
“You’re no fun.”
Then, turning back to Lily, her grin returned instantly.
“And yeah… Jin used to be scared of the dark when he was ten.”
Lily let out a small giggle.
Light.
Unexpected.
Jin looked away slightly.
Deliberately.
Choosing silence over reaction.
Natsumi’s eyes gleamed.
And then—
She moved.
Closing the small gap between herself and Lily in one smooth shift.
Her hand rested gently on Lily’s shoulder, her touch light but intentional.
“One… two… and—”
A small push.
Lily lost her balance.
A soft gasp escaped her as she tilted sideways—
And landed gently against Jin.
Her head resting against his shoulder.
Time paused.
For a second.
Natsumi burst into quiet laughter.
Completely satisfied.
Lily froze.
Her face bloomed red instantly, warmth rushing up as she realized how close she was—
Too close.
Jin blinked once.
Then cleared his throat.
His voice came low.
“This isn’t funny.”
His eyes flicked briefly toward Natsumi.
Sharp.
But controlled.
Lily quickly shifted back, gently straightening herself and returning to her spot beside him—
But this time—
Closer.
The space between them had shrunk.
From careful distance…
To just a hand’s width.
Neither of them commented on it.
Natsumi was still giggling.
Barely containing herself.
Lily looked at her.
And surprisingly—
She smiled.
A soft, genuine giggle escaping her.
“…you’re funny.”
Natsumi grinned wider.
“Exactly why Jin is extra annoyed with me.”
Jin nodded once.
Without hesitation.
“Of course.”
Flat.
Certain.
And yet—
The room didn’t feel tense.
Didn’t feel forced.
Three people.
Three different energies.
Colliding in one space.
And for the first time—
Jin’s world felt… a little less quiet.
Just after 10 minutes… You are reading on g.com, the official source.
The room settled again after the laughter faded.
Jin stood up.
Without a word, he walked toward the window, his steps measured, calm.
He stopped near the edge of the floor-to-ceiling glass, hands slipping into his pockets as his gaze drifted outward.
The city stretched beneath him, glowing under the late afternoon sun.
3:46 PM.
The light had softened slightly now, shadows beginning to stretch longer across the buildings.
Behind him—
Lily remained seated on the bed, her back resting gently against the headboard, legs folded neatly.
Her posture was relaxed, but her mind wasn’t idle.
Beside her, Natsumi shifted slightly, still observing, though her expression had grown quieter now.
Her eyes dropped.
To Lily’s hands.
A small detail.
No ring.
Natsumi tilted her head.
“…wait.”
Lily blinked, looking at her.
“You’re his fiancée… but you’re not wearing a ring?”
Lily paused.
Her fingers instinctively moved slightly, as if acknowledging the absence.
Then she spoke, softly.
“…I am… but it’s arranged.”
A small breath followed.
“…not through… actual love.”
The words were gentle.
Honest.
Unforced.
Natsumi’s playful energy dimmed just a little.
Understanding replaced it.
“And…?”
Lily continued, her gaze lowering slightly.
“I’m here until the 25th… observing him… seeing if he’s okay.”
Natsumi nodded slowly.
“…I see.”
A brief silence passed between them.
Then—
Natsumi leaned slightly forward again, curiosity returning, though softer now.
“So… why did you come?”
Lily didn’t answer immediately.
Her eyes lifted.
Not toward Natsumi.
But toward the ceiling.
Thinking.
“…maybe…”
A faint smile touched her lips.
“…it was because of my mama’s smile… when she spoke about my marriage with him.”
Something quiet lingered in her voice.
Something sincere.
Natsumi watched her.
Then smiled.
Not teasing this time.
Genuine.
“…you’re trying… for her happiness.”
Lily nodded gently.
“…yes.”
A soft understanding passed between them.
Then—
Natsumi asked again, this time lighter.
“So… what do you think of him… until now?”
Lily paused.
Her gaze drifted slightly.
Thinking.
Choosing her words.
“…I think…”
A small breath.
“…he’s kind of… cold.”
“…and distant…”
“…sometimes harsh…”
She stopped.
Then added, more softly—
“…but also… soft… very deep inside.”
Natsumi’s smile widened.
Warmer now.
“Yeah…”
She leaned back slightly, exhaling.
“He’s really hard to talk to. No one… not even me… has seen him genuinely smile.”
A pause.
“…or open up.”
Her tone softened.
“He’s too closed off in his own world.”
Lily nodded.
Understanding forming quietly.
Across the room—
Jin stood near the window.
Unaware.
Or perhaps choosing to be.
The city reflected faintly in his eyes as he exhaled quietly, then turned back toward them.
“…hey.”
His voice cut through gently.
“Isn’t it time for you to go?”
Natsumi stretched slightly, letting out a small yawn.
“Yeah… yeah.”
She stood up, picking up her bag casually.
Then paused.
Turning back with a grin.
“And don’t you dare try to kiss Lily when I’m gone!”
She pointed playfully before turning and walking toward the door.
Jin sighed.
“…idiot.”
But his eyes followed her for a second.
And then—
Something caught his attention.
A white feather.
Light.
Almost weightless.
Stuck to the back of her collar.
Jin blinked.
Confused.
The detail lingered in his mind for a second longer than it should have.
Then—
The door closed.
She was gone.
Silence returned.
Jin shook his head slightly, brushing the thought aside as if it didn’t matter.
He turned and walked back toward the bed, sitting down on the edge with a quiet exhale.
Lily glanced at him.
“…Jin?”
He looked at her.
“…yeah?”
His tone remained neutral.
Sharp.
But—
Slightly softer than before.
Lily adjusted slightly, sitting cross-legged now, holding a soft white pillow against her chest.
“…um… it’s 4 PM…”
A small pause.
“…refreshment time?”
Jin blinked.
Then his eyes widened slightly.
“…what?”
He immediately reached for his phone, unlocking it quickly.
A few taps—swift, precise—and the company system refreshed.
He placed the phone aside.
Then looked back at her.
Now curious.
“How do you know I have to do that at 4?”
Lily smiled softly.
Lifting her hand—
A piece of paper rested between her fingers.
His routine.
“I found this…”
A small giggle escaped her.
“…guess I found the control.”
Jin stared at the paper.
Then at her.
A pause.
Then—
A faint groan escaped him.
“…phew… where am I stuck with this girl…”
But it didn’t sound fully annoyed.
There was something lighter beneath it.
Almost… playful.
Lily’s smile grew.
A tiny smirk forming as she tilted her head slightly.
“…with Miss Lily.”
Jin rolled his eyes.
But—
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
Sharp.
Subtle.
Yet real.
And for a fleeting second—
The distance between them didn’t feel so large anymore.
Later after hours…
Noctyra breathed differently at night.
The sky above Itwatsuki had turned deep—almost endless—painted in layers of darkness where distant planets glowed faintly like quiet watchers.
The city below shimmered in neon veins, light reflecting off glass towers and drifting through the air like something alive.
11:00 PM.
The world outside moved.
But inside—
Stillness.
Jin’s room rested in low light, the glow from the city slipping through the massive window and stretching faint reflections across the walls, the floor… the bed.
On one side—
Lily lay beneath her blanket, the soft white fabric tucked gently up to her chin.
Her head rested against the pillow, silver strands spread lightly across it, her form small and calm beneath the covers.
On the other side—
Jin.
Lying on his back, under his own dark sheet, dressed in his black robe as always.
His posture was composed even in rest, one arm resting beside him, the other slightly bent.
Between them—
Distance.
The same as last night.
Unchanged.
Yet somehow… not.
Jin stared upward.
Eyes open.
Thoughts active.
A quiet sigh slipped from him.
The memory returned.
Virex Club.
Darkness.
Blood.
Vanishing.
Something about it refused to settle.
The details didn’t align, the silence of the place echoing louder in his mind than it had in reality.
Meanwhile—
Lily wasn’t asleep.
Her eyes were open too.
But not distant.
Not lost in thoughts.
They were on him.
Watching.
Not intensely.
Not intrusively.
Just… observing.
Quietly.
After a moment, she shifted slightly, turning onto her side, her body angled toward him now.
Her gaze softened as she looked at him in the dim light.
Jin noticed.
Of course he did.
“…staring at me again?”
His voice cut through the silence.
Low.
Flat.
Without looking at her.
Lily blinked once.
Then replied softly—
“I’m observing… not staring.”
A small distinction.
But she meant it.
Jin exhaled quietly, irritation brushing past his tone.
“…tch.”
He turned his gaze slightly away.
Choosing not to engage further.
But Lily didn’t stop this time.
Her head tilted just a little, curiosity lingering.
“Jin…?”
A pause.
“I saw… you never allow anyone to stay here at your home…”
Her voice remained gentle.
“…why are you allowing me?”
The question settled in the room.
Simple.
But direct.
Jin didn’t answer immediately.
A brief silence stretched between them.
Then—
“…because mom said.”
A short pause.
Then, quieter—
“…and maybe you’re less annoying.”
Lily’s lips curved softly.
A small smile.
“…hmm. Thanks.”
No offense taken.
No reaction needed.
Just acceptance.
Jin exhaled again.
“…sleep now.”
His tone returned to its usual firmness.
“I don’t like staying up late.”
With that, he shifted slightly, pulling the blanket over himself more securely, turning just enough to settle into a resting position.
Closing off.
Lily watched him for a second longer.
Then—
“…okay.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Goodnight.”
She closed her eyes.
Her breathing slowly softened.
Evened out.
Sleep came gently to her.
And the room—
Fell silent again. yeah guys, y’all might be thinking “why is it fluff going on?” but, its actually ..”Calm before the storm” fasten your seatbelts.