---
The apartment was quieter than ever.
Boxes lined the hallway. Ken had begun packing slowly — not because he was excited to go, but because he was waiting.
Waiting for Arashi to say something. Anything.
But Arashi didn't.
Instead, he buried himself in work.
New club locations, renovation plans, scouting DJs, hiring bartenders — everything, except sitting still in that apartment filled with Ken's fading scent.
---
Ken stood in the kitchen one night, two mugs of tea in hand. "You're home late again."
Arashi tossed his keys on the counter and avoided eye contact. "Busy."
Ken gently placed the mugs down. "I'm leaving in three days."
"I know."
A beat of silence.
"I thought you'd try to stop me."
Arashi's fists tightened. "You think I don't want to?"
"Then why don't you?"
"Because…" Arashi finally looked at him, eyes bloodshot and tired, "I can't be the reason you throw away your chance. I won't be that guy in your story."
Ken's heart squeezed. "You idiot. You are my story."
Arashi looked away.
Ken stepped closer. "I didn't want to leave you behind."
"But I can't follow you either. Not right now," Arashi said. "I've started something big here. The expansion, the clubs… the kids' dance program. If I leave now, it'll fall apart."
Ken gave a soft smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So we're just… letting go?"
"No," Arashi said, stepping closer. "We're putting us on pause."
Ken reached out, touching Arashi's jaw gently. "Do you think we'll still want each other when we unpause?"
Arashi leaned into the touch. "I'll want you even if you forget my name."
Ken chuckled through the threat of tears.
They kissed — soft and slow, like the last page of a book.
---
The day Ken left, Arashi didn't go to the station.
He sent a single message:
> "Go chase what's yours. I'll be right here, building something worthy of you."
Ken replied simply:
> "I'm holding you to that."
---
Months passed.
Arashi's bar turned into a franchise. The second one opened in Osaka. Then another in Nagoya.
He didn't date.
He didn't forget.
And every time he stood in an empty club before the crowd rushed in, he'd whisper to himself:
> "Still care for you, softie. Still waiting."
---