Chapter 62: Volume 1, - 62: A Day Behind Closed Curtains
Ren woke at nine in the morning to the low, steady sound of rain against the windowpane of his Kawaguchi apartment.
He lay on his futon for several minutes, staring at the ceiling. The heavy weight that had pressed against his chest for the past year was gone. He was debt-free. His personal savings held a protected ¥100,000 emergency reserve. His metabolic potion was working slowly; though his 176 cm frame remained broad and visibly overweight, the puffiness around his jaw had receded, his posture was cleaner, and his trousers rested looser around his waist.
Ren took a slow breath, pulled himself up, and opened the curtains just enough to let in the grey morning light. He decided to protect this Saturday.
By eleven o’clock, he had finished two loads of laundry, hung them on the indoor drying rack, and walked down to the neighbourhood grocery store under a black umbrella. He bought pork belly, eggs, green onions, and fresh ramen noodles. Returning to the apartment, he cooked a simple, hearty lunch, washed the dishes immediately, and wiped down the low folding table.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Ren opened it to find Suzune standing on the threshold, sliding her umbrella into the corner stand. She wore a soft cream-coloured knit sweater and dark denim, her hair slightly damp from the rain. She carried a paper bag from her bakery containing fresh egg-salad sandwiches and sweet buns.
"It’s really coming down," she said, stepping inside as he closed the door behind her. She looked at him, her eyes brightening with a soft, natural warmth. "You look... relaxed. It’s strange seeing you without a notebook in your hand."
"I’m trying something new," Ren said, taking her coat and hanging it by the entryway. "Taking a Saturday off."
"Good," she said, stepping closer. "You’ve earned it."
Ren looked down at her. Yesterday’s quiet, intense encounter with Aoi at her Chiyoda office still lingered in a corner of his mind. A heavy, unspoken desire for a woman who remained behind a wall of legal duty and professional restraint. But looking at Suzune, warm, real, and standing right in front of him, Ren consciously set those thoughts aside. He chose to be entirely present with the woman who held his affection.
He reached out, drawing her against him.
Unlike their early encounters, where every gesture was hesitated over and weighed down by disclaimers, Ren moved with a quiet, grounded confidence. He framed her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, deliberately, and without stammering.
Suzune let out a small, surprised breath against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. "My," she murmured when he pulled back slightly, her cheeks flushed. "Someone is bold today?"
"Maybe," Ren said smoothly, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. "Or maybe I just wanted to kiss my girlfriend."
Suzune teased him with a bright laugh, but her eyes were soft and yielding. Ren guided her toward the futon, his movements steady and assured. He enjoyed touching her, enjoyed the warmth of her body beneath her clothes, and enjoyed the clear, unmistakable knowledge that she wanted him.
As they moved together beneath the covers, Ren felt a surge of unaccustomed authority. Remembering what she had liked during their previous night together, he reached for protection on the shelf, then shifted his weight, taking the lead more directively, intent on guiding the pace entirely himself.
He leaned down, pressing his lips against her neck while increasing the tempo of his hands.
Suzune shifted beneath him, her hands coming up to rest against his chest, gently firm.
"Ren," she said quietly, her voice calm and clear. "Slow down."
Ren paused immediately, his hands stilling against her waist.
"Not so fast," Suzune murmured, looking up at him with a gentle smile. "I liked it better when you took your time. Don’t rush it."
In the past, a direct correction like that would have triggered an immediate wave of panic in Ren. He would have stammered five apologies or worried that he had ruined the mood.
This time, he simply looked at her, paying attention to the real woman in front of him rather than performing a role in his head.
"All right," Ren said softly.
He eased his weight back, resting his forehead against hers. He slowed his breathing, adjusting his touch to a lighter, more deliberate pace, letting her guide the rhythm. Suzune relaxed instantly beneath him, letting out a quiet sigh of content, her fingers tangling into his hair as she drew him back down.
Afterward, the apartment was completely still except for the steady rain against the window frame.
Suzune sat propped against the wall with her knees pulled up, wearing one of Ren’s oversized t-shirts, casually eating a piece of pork belly from the bowl Ren had cooked earlier. She looked at Ren while he slept lightly beside her, noticing how much he had changed over the last few weeks. He moved with a quiet certainty now, but what she appreciated most was how he had listened to her earlier. No sulking, no defensive panic, just an immediate, attentive adjustment that had made everything better.
Ren stirred, his eyes opening as he saw her eating. "Hey," he murmured, reaching out from under the blanket to grab his tea mug. "That was my lunch."
"You left it on the table," Suzune replied smoothly, chewing with quiet satisfaction before offering him a small bite. "Consider it payment for stealing your shirt."
Ren smiled, taking the bite before leaning back against his cushion.
"Haruka called me yesterday," Suzune said after a moment, setting the bowl down. "She and Aya are helping with a neighbourhood spring event near the station next weekend. They asked if I could bake extra milk bread for them."
"Are you going to do it?"
"Dad said I could use the kitchen after closing on Thursday," she said, turning her head to look at him. "Also, my parents asked if you’d be free for dinner sometime later this month. My mother keeps asking about the business support work you’re doing."
"I’d like that," Ren said. "Let’s plan for late April."
Suzune smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. They sat together in comfortable silence, watching an old Japanese drama on Ren’s small television that neither was truly paying attention to.
At two in the afternoon, during her authorised Saturday work hours, Ren’s phone buzzed on the low table.
Suzune watched him reach for it, half-expecting him to pull out his laptop. He opened the message:
Nanami: Kisaragi-san, Okada-san called about a minor invoice discrepancy. I checked the delivery receipt against the KBS ledger, corrected the line item and reissued the statement.
Ren stared at the screen for a moment. Suzune saw the familiar urge in his posture. The reflex to hover and verify before he deliberately laid the phone face down on the table, leaning back against the wall.
"Everything okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," Ren said, a faint, surprised smile touching his lips. "Nanami handled it."
At four o’clock, another message notification chimed on his phone.
Daichi’s name appeared on the screen:
Daichi: Hey, Ren. I’m down at the entrance of your building. Got a couple hours off work. You home?
Suzune watched Ren glance from Daichi’s message to the rain-streaked window, then briefly towards her. Something about the unexpected visit had sharpened his attention.
Ren looked at Suzune, then typed his reply:
Ren: Yeah. I’m home. Come up.