The weight of everything seemed to hang in the air between us, pressing down with an intensity that left me feeling both exposed and vulnerable. Jiro’s words echoed in my mind—“I’m here for you. And for Hibiki.” I didn’t know how to respond to that. How could I trust that Jiro wasn’t just some passing presence, something fleeting that might disappear the moment it became inconvenient? I had spent so long hiding behind my walls, keeping myself and Hibiki at a safe distance from the world and all the dangers that came with it. And now, Jiro was here, making me question everything I thought I knew about my life and my heart. He didn’t make it easier. Not by a long shot. Jiro leaned back on the couch, his eyes never leaving me, as if he was searching for something—answers, understanding, or maybe just a glimpse of the man I’d kept hidden behind my defenses. I shifted uncomfortably, my mind racing with thoughts I wasn’t sure I was ready to confront. “Do you know what it’s like?” Jiro’s
It started with a stolen moment. A glance that lingered too long, a brush of fingers that neither of us acknowledged but couldn’t forget. Jiro and I had been walking this fine line for weeks now, dancing around the truth that neither of us dared to say out loud. But that night, everything changed. The office was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Everyone else had gone home, and I had stayed late to finish reviewing some reports. It wasn’t unusual for Jiro to work late either, but I hadn’t expected him to still be here. When I heard the soft knock at the door to my office, I looked up, startled. Jiro stood there, his tie loosened, his jacket slung over one shoulder. He looked exhausted, but his eyes… his eyes held something else. Something that made my pulse quicken. “Still working?” he asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. I nodded, trying to ignore the way my heart raced at the sound of his voice.
The air felt heavier than usual that day, though I couldn’t put my finger on why. Maybe it was the subtle shift in Jiro’s mood over the past few days, or the way his phone buzzed more than usual with what looked like tense conversations. He tried to shield me from it, of course, as he always did, but I wasn’t blind. Something was brewing, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had everything to do with us—me, Jiro, and Hibiki. I was in the kitchen, preparing Hibiki’s dinner, when the knock on the door came. It wasn’t Jiro’s usual tap. No, this knock was sharp, precise, and deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine. Hibiki was in the living room, happily playing with his blocks, completely unaware of the growing tension in my chest. I wiped my hands on a towel and went to answer the door. The sight that greeted me stole the breath from my lungs. A striking woman stood there, her posture regal and her expression unreadable. She had Jiro’s eyes—sharp, piercing, and impossible to ign
The day Jiro brought me and Hibiki to meet his family officially felt like walking into a storm I had spent years trying to avoid. My stomach churned with nerves as I sat in the backseat of Jiro’s sleek car, staring at the opulent gates of the Fujibayashi estate as they slowly swung open. It felt as though they weren’t opening to welcome us but to swallow me whole. Hibiki, seated beside me, was wide-eyed with excitement. To him, this was a grand adventure, a chance to explore someplace new and meet people he’d never seen before. He tugged at the sleeves of his tiny sweater, looking up at me with his bright, innocent eyes. “Papa, are we going to Uncle Jiro’s big house?” he asked eagerly, his voice full of curiosity. “Yes, baby,” I said softly, brushing his dark hair back from his face. “We’re going to meet Uncle Jiro’s family today.” “Will they like us?” he asked, tilting his head. My chest tightened at the question. I wanted to tell him that everything would be fine, that people
It started small—unsettling, but not enough to send me spiraling into panic. A sense of being watched lingered whenever I stepped outside. Footsteps that matched mine on the quiet streets, shadows that seemed too close, too deliberate. I brushed it off at first, thinking it was paranoia, but the unease settled like a weight on my chest. Then it escalated. At first, I noticed small things. My mail, left disheveled and opened as though someone had rifled through it. The locks to my apartment door felt… off, like someone had tried to tamper with them but gave up halfway. Once, I caught a glimpse of a man standing at the edge of the street, too far to see clearly, but the chill that gripped me when I locked eyes with him felt almost primal. I didn’t want to overthink it. Hibiki was safe, and Jiro’s presence in my life made me feel more grounded, more protected. But deep down, a dark foreboding began to grow in my gut. I tried to ignore it—until I couldn’t. One afternoon, while return
When Jiro returned from meeting with the authorities, his expression was set like stone. His usual calm demeanor was replaced by something colder, sharper—a side of him I hadn’t seen before. I waited anxiously in the sitting room, wringing my hands together as Hibiki played with a toy on the floor nearby, blissfully unaware of the storm raging around us. Jiro entered, his eyes immediately finding mine. Without a word, he walked over, knelt in front of me, and took my hands in his. His touch, so steady and sure, was a balm to the chaos in my chest. “It’s done,” he said softly. “Botan’s been arrested. The charges against him are clear—stalking, trespassing, assault. He won’t be able to come near you or Hibiki again.” A rush of relief swept over me, but it was tangled with exhaustion. For weeks, Botan had been a shadow over my life, and now, knowing he was no longer a threat, I felt my body sag under the weight of it all. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I don’t know what
The evening was quiet, the kind of peaceful silence that made you pause and breathe deeply, cherishing the moment. Hibiki was fast asleep in his bed, clutching his favorite stuffed animal, and the house seemed to hum with warmth and tranquility. I was sitting in the living room, a cup of tea in my hands, when Jiro appeared in the doorway. His presence, as always, was commanding yet comforting, like an anchor that kept me steady. “Can I join you?” he asked, his voice soft. I nodded, patting the spot on the couch next to me. “Of course.” He sat down, the faint scent of his cologne wafting over as he settled in. I looked over at him, and something about the way he was watching me made my heart skip. His gaze was tender, searching, like he was memorizing every detail of my face. “Is something on your mind?” I asked, setting my tea down on the coffee table. Jiro hesitated, an unusual thing for a man who always seemed so sure of himself. “There is,” he admitted, reaching into his pocke
It had been a long and exhausting few weeks. After Botan’s intrusion and his subsequent arrest, everything felt like it was finally beginning to settle down. The weight that had been hanging over us seemed to lift, but the aftermath of it all lingered in my mind. Jiro had been my rock through everything, never once wavering in his support, and now, as I watched him work through the details of our future, I couldn't help but feel the overwhelming sense of relief that came with knowing things would get better. Yet, in the midst of this newfound peace, there was a part of me that couldn't shake the nervous energy of what was to come. That night, Jiro suggested we take a walk together—just the two of us. I was hesitant at first, not because I didn’t want to spend time with him, but because everything felt so surreal. There were moments when I wondered how I could possibly deserve someone like him. The path leading to our future felt so uncertain, and yet, at the same time, the thought of
It was a quiet Saturday morning when the email came through, almost as though it had arrived by accident, its subject line gliding across the top of Haru’s inbox with the promise of something unexpected. He had been sitting at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee as Hibiki played with his toys nearby. Jiro was out running errands, and the house was filled with the peaceful hum of everyday life. Haru glanced at the message, his fingers pausing mid-sip as he read the subject line again: "Exciting Opportunity with Little Ones Products Inc." Haru furrowed his brow, a mixture of curiosity and hesitation bubbling up within him. He’d been out of the traditional workforce for a few years now, dedicating himself fully to raising Hibiki. After years of working tirelessly in the corporate world, the transition had been both a blessing and a challenge. He enjoyed the time spent with Hibiki—watching him grow, teaching him new things, seeing his little quirks develop. But there were days when Har
The hum of the office was quieter than usual, the usual buzz of activity replaced by an atmosphere that felt more tense than it ever had before. Jiro sat behind his desk, papers scattered around him, his brow furrowed as he stared at the latest email from a rival company. His fingers were frozen above his keyboard as he reread the message for the umpteenth time, but the words still didn’t make sense to him. They were trying to steal his project. It wasn’t just the usual competition, the healthy kind that existed between any two successful companies. This was something more personal. The rival company had launched a campaign against his latest project, spreading false rumors and undermining his credibility in the industry. It wasn’t just about the numbers; it was about his reputation, something Jiro had built from the ground up. This was more than a business issue—it was an attack on his very identity, on everything he had worked for. Jiro exhaled sharply, running a hand through his
The evening was unfolding smoothly. The soft murmur of conversation mingled with the clink of glasses as colleagues, clients, and associates gathered for the work event I had been attending. The lavish ballroom, with its glistening chandeliers and elegant décor, was far from my usual comfort zone. Still, I was happy to be there. The event was a chance for me to connect with important figures in the business world, and while I wasn’t thrilled by the prospect of mingling, Jiro’s presence beside me made it more bearable. His hand occasionally brushed against mine as he greeted guests, his alpha aura quietly protective. It was one of those nights where I couldn’t quite shake the feeling of being watched, but it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation. Jiro was always close, his attention ever so subtle, always there. The thought of him being by my side, even when we were surrounded by a crowd of strangers, filled me with a sense of peace. I was halfway through a conversation with a client when I
The morning of Hibiki’s first day at his new school arrived with an air of both excitement and nervousness. I stood at the kitchen counter, watching as Hibiki hurriedly tied his shoes, his small fingers fumbling with the laces in his usual way. The sound of his light chatter filled the room, but it didn’t mask the knot of worry twisting in my stomach. As much as I had wanted this for him—a fresh start, a place where he could grow and thrive—I couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern. Would he be okay? Would he make friends? Would he be able to adjust to the new environment? Jiro, who had been watching from the doorway with a soft smile on his face, must have sensed my unease. He walked over to me, his presence grounding in the midst of my spiraling thoughts. “Haru,” he said, his voice steady, “you’ve raised a strong, resilient kid. Hibiki is going to be just fine.” I turned to look at him, my heart swelling with both gratitude and uncertainty. Jiro had always been the confident on
The afternoon sunlight poured softly through the living room windows, casting warm rays on the polished wooden floors. Jiro and Hibiki were out in the yard, working on one of their usual projects—something about building a treehouse, though I wasn’t sure how much of it was actually construction and how much was just play. It was one of those rare moments where the house was quieter than usual, the only sounds being the occasional hum of a distant car or the birds chirping outside. I had been sitting on the couch, flipping through a book, when I heard the soft padding of footsteps behind me. Turning, I saw Jiro’s mother, Keiko, standing in the doorway, her expression soft and thoughtful. There was something different about her today, something more contemplative. I knew that, like me, she had a lot on her mind lately—Jiro, Hibiki, the wedding, and the new dynamic that had taken hold of our lives. But today, she seemed to have something specific she wanted to say. “May I sit with you
The days after the wedding felt like a dream come true. I kept waiting for the world to turn upside down, to find some reason why I didn’t deserve this kind of happiness. But with each passing day, as Jiro, Hibiki, and I settled into our new life together, I realized that maybe this kind of peace was possible. Maybe we really had built something beautiful. The mornings were the same: quiet, simple, and filled with the comforting rhythm of our routine. I would wake up early to make breakfast while Jiro prepared for his work meetings, his always meticulous schedule. Hibiki would stumble into the kitchen with his messy hair and sleepy eyes, asking for a bowl of cereal or his favorite fruit. The scene was ordinary in the best kind of way. But the beauty of it all lay in the quiet moments—those stolen minutes when I’d catch Jiro’s eyes from across the room, and the weight of his gaze would remind me that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Work had its challenges, of course. Jiro was
The air was filled with a soft, serene energy as Haru stood at the altar, his heart racing as he held Hibiki's small hand in his. The gentle hum of the ceremony and the soft rustle of fabric from guests settled into the background as his eyes locked with Jiro’s, standing across from him. The moment felt surreal, like something out of a dream. A dream where he had found the man who would love him and their son forever. A dream where they could finally have the family they always deserved. Haru's throat tightened, and for a second, he thought he might not be able to say the vows he had written in his heart. But as Jiro smiled at him—his smile warm, gentle, and full of devotion—Haru's nerves melted away. This was real. They were real. And nothing could take that away from them. Jiro stepped forward first, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “Haru, when I first met you, I never imagined my life would change the way it did. You were just an omega trying to survive in a world that d
As the wedding day continued to unfold in a whirlwind of emotions, Jiro found himself in his room, preparing for the ceremony. He was adjusting his cufflinks, trying to calm the excited butterflies fluttering in his stomach, when there was a knock at the door. Before he could respond, the door opened, and in walked Kenji, Aoi, Mitsuki, and Daisuke, each of them carrying an air of quiet authority and genuine warmth. The four of them stepped inside, their eyes filled with purpose, though their expressions remained kind. Kenji, the ever-present big brother figure to Haru, was the first to speak. His tone was casual, but there was a depth to his words that made Jiro pause. “Jiro,” he began, “I just wanted to say, we’re happy for Haru. He’s finally found someone who truly cares for him, someone who will be there for him when it matters most.” Aoi nodded, her posture elegant, but her gaze sharp and unyielding. “Haru deserves someone who can carry the burden of his heart, someone who unde
As I stood there, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I heard a soft knock on the door. Before I could even turn around, the door opened, and in walked Kenji, Aoi, Mitsuki, and Daisuke, the newest member of the Key Omega Circle. They all looked so excited and full of energy, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit of warmth spread through me. Despite the overwhelming emotions swirling inside me, seeing them brought a sense of comfort and reassurance. Kenji, as usual, had that playful grin on his face, looking every bit the teasing older brother he was. “Well, well, look at you, Haru,” he said, his voice light. “You clean up nicely. You sure Jiro’s going to be able to let you out of his sight after this?” Aoi, ever the supportive and mischievous presence, chimed in, “Yeah, I’m sure he’s already planning on locking you away after the wedding, just to keep you all to himself.” She winked at me, making my cheeks flush. It was clear they were trying to make light of the nerves I was fee