Ayaka stood in front of the mirror, her heart thrumming like a drumbeat in her chest as she fastened the last button on her iconic Ms. Midnight outfit.
The sleek black dress hugged her figure perfectly, the fabric cool and smooth against her skin. Its frilly edges added a playful contrast to the otherwise sharp, detective aesthetic—elegant, yet enigmatic.
Delicate lace traced the length of her sleeves, like intricate spiderwebs spun from the threads of mystery itself.
The layered skirt flared just enough to give her silhouette a dramatic, almost storybook presence, swaying slightly with every breath she took.
With practiced hands, Ayaka pulled on her signature black facemask, the silky material cool against her face, veiling the lower half and leaving only her sharp, expressive eyes visible.
Those eyes—piercing, mysterious, and impossible to ignore—were the final touch. They embodied the very essence of Ms. Midnight, the brilliant detective who had captured the hearts of readers across the country.
But today, Ayaka wasn't just an author. She was stepping into the role her fans adored, bringing their beloved character to life.
Today wasn't just another stop on a routine book tour. No, this was something special.
It was Day 1 of her highly anticipated tour, kicking off at the Tokyo Bay Health Center—a hospital where most of the patients were children.
The very thought of meeting young readers, many of whom were facing battles far beyond anything in her mystery novels, sent a surge of emotion through her chest.
She took one last deep breath, adjusted the brim of her black hat, and stepped out of the room.
The moment Ayaka entered the hospital corridors, the sterile scent of antiseptic greeted her, mingling oddly with the faint, comforting aroma of fresh paper and ink from the books in her bag.
Her heels clicked rhythmically against the polished floors, each step echoing like a countdown to something exciting.
As she approached the designated event space, her heart beat faster—not from nerves, but from anticipation.
The hospital had gone all out to welcome her. One of its larger common rooms had been transformed into a cozy, makeshift signing area.
Bright, colorful balloons floated near the ceiling, swaying gently in the air-conditioned breeze. Banners stretched across the walls with bold, cheerful letters proclaiming, "Welcome, Beloved Authors!"
The tables were draped matching the authors' books theme, while neat stacks of freshly printed copies waited patiently for their signature, their glossy covers catching the light like treasure.
As Ayaka and her group entered the room, a wave of excitement rippled through the crowd.
Children, some in hospital gowns with IV poles trailing behind them, gathered eagerly with their parents and nurses.
Their eyes sparkled with pure, unfiltered joy, clutching their copies of her books as if they were prized possessions.
The sight hit Ayaka straight in the heart. These kids weren't just fans; they were little warriors, fighting battles far more challenging than any fictional mystery she could dream up.
"These kids are so adorable!" Akami gushed, her eyes wide as she watched the children start to line up, their faces glowing with anticipation.
Takeshi and Shota chuckled, already waving and pulling silly faces to entertain the kids.
The room buzzed with laughter and excitement, and even Ayaka couldn't resist joining in.
She smiled warmly beneath her mask, waving to the children who clutched her books like precious artifacts, their faces lighting up in response.
But amidst the warmth and joy filling the room, Ayaka felt a distinct, cold undercurrent. She didn't have to look far to find the source.
The marketing team assigned to document every moment of her tour was none other than Kazumi's team.
The moment Ayaka spotted him, her heart gave a small, involuntary lurch. Kazumi stood at the edge of the room, his camera slung over his shoulder, a clipboard in hand, his posture straight and unnervingly professional.
His team moved around him like clockwork—adjusting lenses, checking audio, snapping candid shots—but Kazumi? He remained detached, his gaze flickering to Ayaka only when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
Despite being assigned to the same project, Kazumi kept his distance with almost military precision.
His demeanor was cool, detached, as if an invisible barrier existed between them. It was unspoken, but undeniably present.
Ayaka could feel it, like the tension in the final chapter of a mystery novel, when the detective knows the truth but hasn't confronted it yet.
Shaking off the unease, Ayaka focused on the task at hand.
The event coordinator handed her a sleek, silver pen, its weight familiar and grounding in her hand.
She took her seat behind the signing table, the line of eager readers stretching before her like a parade of hope and excitement.
The first child approached—a young girl with bright, curious eyes and a shy smile, her copy of 'The Midnight Enigma' clutched tightly to her chest.
"Is Ms. Midnight real?" the girl whispered, her voice tinged with wonder.
Ayaka's heart melted. Her eyes crinkled into a soft smile behind her mask. "She's as real as you believe she is." she replied gently, signing the inside cover with a flourish. "To Emi, the bravest detective of them all. Keep solving mysteries."
One by one, the children came forward, each bringing their own stories, their own dreams, and for those precious moments, Ayaka was able to forget the cold distance Kazumi had placed between them
The room filled with laughter, the soft rustle of pages turning, and the occasional beep of medical monitors fading into the background.
But every now and then, Ayaka could feel Kazumi's eyes on her, a silent observer behind the lens of his camera. The tension simmered beneath the surface, and she knew she couldn't ignore it forever.
"I'll talk to him before lunchtime." Ayaka resolved silently, determination flickering in her chest.
But when lunchtime arrived, Kazumi was nowhere to be found.
Frustrated but unwilling to give up, Ayaka approached his coworkers, who were gathered around a table, chatting over their meals.
"Hey, do any of you know where Kazumi went?" she asked, her tone polite but edged with urgency.
One of his coworkers looked up from his bento box. "Oh, we're kinda short-staffed today, so he's only with us in the mornings. He switches to a different group in the afternoons."
"I see… Thanks for letting me know." Ayaka bowed politely before walking away, her mind racing.
"Kazumi is definitely avoiding me! That guy..." she thought, clenching her fist in frustration. "How am I supposed to turn him down if we can't even see each other?"
------
Lunch break finally ended, but Ayaka was still stewing in the corner, her thoughts spinning like a carousel of unresolved emotions.
"Hey!" Takeshi's voice suddenly boomed behind her, making her jump. "The photo opportunity and group photo shoot are about to start!"
"AHHHH!" Ayaka yelped, spinning around. "Geez! Do you have to sneak up on me like that?! I can't recall Azrael Emberlight being sneaky!"
Takeshi smirked. "Who wouldn't sneak up on you? Like, hello? Everyone's been calling you for five minutes already."
Ayaka groaned, realizing he was right. "Ahhh you're right Let's go then!" She hurriedly fixed her hair and followed him to the photo area.
Takeshi gave her a sidelong glance, sensing something was off. But he held his tongue, knowing better than to push when Ayaka was in one of her moods.
The next three hours were a blur of photo ops, group pictures, and signing more books. By the time the event wrapped up, Ayaka was exhausted—physically and emotionally.
"Alright, that's a wrap, everyone!" one of the marketing staff announced. "Thank you for your hard work! First book signing event complete! Next hospital tomorrow, same call time!"
As everyone packed up, Ayaka felt a pang of disappointment. She hadn't been able to talk to Kazumi, let alone clear the air between them. But maybe tomorrow would be different.
Just as Ayaka slung her bag over her shoulder, her phone buzzed sharply in her pocket.
The vibration cut through the lingering noise of the hospital, pulling her out of the haze of thoughts swirling around Kazumi.
She fished her phone out absentmindedly, expecting maybe a message from Yuki or Keiko or one of the marketing staff about tomorrow's schedule.
But instead, it was from Akihiko.
Akihiko: Where's my chapter update? You've been sending me teasers, but no actual content..
Ayaka paused, blinking at the message.
Typical Akihiko—short, to the point, and just a little too demanding.
His words were as cold and curt as ever, like he hadn't even considered softening them.
But there was something else there too, hidden beneath the surface—a quiet insistence that made her smile despite herself.
"What a child..." she muttered under her breath, though her fingers were already moving over the keyboard, typing out a reply with a playful flick of her thumb.
Ayaka: Why are you pestering me like this? Are you a child now? Should I send you a bedtime story instead of a chapter?"
The response came almost immediately, as if he'd been waiting, staring at his phone the entire time.
Akihiko: "If I were a child, at least I'd have an excuse for wasting time. What's yours?'
Ayaka snorted softly, shaking her head. His words were sharp, but the speed of his reply didn't match his detached tone.
She leaned against the wall, letting the warmth of amusement push aside the frustrations from earlier.
Ayaka: "Wasting time? I've been busy entertaining actual fans today. You know, people who appreciate my work without constant complaints."
Another quick buzz. His replies were always fast, like he couldn't help himself.
Akihiko: "Appreciation is overrated. I'm giving you honest feedback even though you're my favorite author."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow at her phone. His bluntness never failed to amuse her.
It was like he was trying to sound indifferent, but if he truly didn't care, he wouldn't be texting her at all.
Ayaka: "Honest feedback? You're more demanding than my editor. Should I start charging you for every critique?"
There was a slight pause this time. For a moment, she thought he might be done, but then the screen lit up again.
Akihiko: "Charge me all you want. Doesn't change the fact you're late and it's against our contract."
Ayaka let out a soft laugh, drawing a glance from Akami, who was still packing up nearby.
She waved her off with a grin, her eyes still glued to the screen. She could practically hear Akihiko's voice in her head—calm, cool, and just a little too serious.
Ayaka: "Wow, you really know how to motivate a writer. Ever considered a career in motivational speaking?"
Akihiko: "If it gets you to finish the chapter, I'll consider it."
Ayaka rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed on her face.
His words were cold, sure, but if he didn't care, he wouldn't be texting at all.
And he definitely wouldn't be replying this fast. She stared at her phone for a second, her heart feeling lighter than it had all day.
Ayaka: "Alright, Mr. Impatient. You'll get your chapter tonight. But only because I want to prove you wrong."
There was a longer pause this time, long enough that she thought maybe he'd finally given up. But just as she started to slip her phone back into her pocket, it buzzed again.
Akihiko: "I'll believe it when I see it. Don't make me wait."
Ayaka stared at the message, her smile lingering.
Tomorrow would be another chance to figure how to talk to Kazumi, but for now, she lets herself enjoy this strange, grounding distraction.
She slipped her phone into her pocket, her steps lighter as she walked out of the hospital.
Tonight, she'd write—not because Akihiko demanded it, but because, in a weird way, it felt good knowing someone was waiting for her words.