The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The next evening, Hana found herself standing in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection with an expression torn between excitement and sheer panic.

"I have nothing to wear," she muttered, rifling through her small collection of clothes.

"Oh, please," Mei scoffed, lounging on Hana's bed. "You have *plenty* to wear. You're just overthinking it."

Aiko, sitting cross-legged beside Mei, clapped her hands together. "Let's give her a makeover!"

Hana groaned. "This isn't a big deal! It's just dinner."

Mei arched an eyebrow. "At an expensive restaurant. With Ryo."

Hana's face burned. "It's not a date!"

Aiko grinned. "Sure, sure. Now, try this dress."

After much debate (and far too many outfit changes), Hana finally settled on a simple yet elegant navy-blue dress. She felt slightly overdressed but, according to Mei, "Perfectly stunning."

Ryo's Arrival

At precisely 7:00 PM, Ryo arrived in front of the ramen shop. He wasn't in a suit this time, but his black button-up shirt and tailored slacks still made him look effortlessly refined.

Taro the cat sat outside, glaring at him as usual.

"Still don't like me, huh?" Ryo muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

The cat flicked its tail in annoyance.

Just then, the shop door opened, and Hana stepped out. Ryo's breath hitched the moment he saw her. His usual composure faltered, and for the first time in a long while, he was at a loss for words. She looked stunning, the soft glow of the streetlights highlighting her delicate features. For a moment, he simply stared, captivated. Ryo's usual cool demeanor faltered for a brief second as he took in her appearance.

"You look… nice," he said, his voice softer than usual, though his eyes conveyed something much deeper. "Really nice."

Hana smiled, feeling self-conscious. "You too."

Kenta and Mei peeked from the doorway, barely hiding their grins.

"Be home before midnight, young lady!" Kenta teased.

"Have fun on your date!" Mei added.

Hana groaned. "You guys are impossible."

Ryo smirked. "Shall we?"

.

.

The restaurant was grand, a place Hana would never have set foot in on her own. Chandeliers glowed warmly, and soft classical music played in the background.

As they settled at their table, Hana hesitated. "Ryo… why did you really ask me to dinner?"

Ryo set his menu down, gazing at her. "I wanted to make things up to you. And… I missed you."

Hana's heart skipped a beat. "You… missed me?"

He nodded, expression serious. "I know I left without a word. But I never stopped thinking about you."

Hana fidgeted with her napkin, unsure how to respond. Before she could say anything, a sharp voice interrupted them.

"Well, well. Never thought I'd see you here, Kobayashi."

A man in a crisp gray suit stood near their table, his eyes flickering with recognition. Ryo's entire posture tensed.

"We're in public," Ryo said coolly. "Not here."

The man chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. Just surprised to see you socializing."

Hana looked between them in confusion. "Friend of yours?"

Ryo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Something like that."

The man smirked. "Enjoy your dinner, Kobayashi. We'll catch up soon."

As the stranger walked away, Hana frowned. "Ryo, who was—"

"Just someone from my past," Ryo interrupted smoothly. "Nothing to worry about."

Hana wasn't convinced, but she let it slide. For now.

End of the Night.

As they left the restaurant, the night air was cool and refreshing. Ryo walked beside Hana in silence before finally speaking.

"Did you have a good time?"

Hana nodded. "Yeah. It was… nice."

Ryo exhaled softly. "Good."

They reached her ramen shop, the warm light glowing from within.

"Thanks for tonight," Hana said. "I… I'm glad you're back."

Ryo hesitated for a moment before reaching out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I won't disappear this time."

Hana's breath caught, but before she could respond, he stepped back.

"Goodnight, Hana."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, her heart hammering in her chest.

Tomorrow was going to be even more complicated.

The next morning, Hana entered the shop only to find Mei, Aiko, and Kenta waiting with smug expressions.

"So? How was the date?" Mei asked, grinning.

Hana sighed. "It wasn't a date!"

Aiko gasped dramatically. "Oh, come on! Fancy restaurant, emotional conversations, lingering goodbyes—sounds like a date to me!"

Hana groaned, but before she could argue further, the bell at the entrance jingled.

A tall, broad-shouldered man entered. He wasn't a familiar face, but something about him seemed unsettling. His eyes swept over the shop before landing on Hana.

"You're Hana Takahashi, right?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Hana exchanged glances with Kenta before nodding slowly. "Yes… can I help you?"

The man smirked. "Actually, I was hoping to talk about a mutual acquaintance—Ryo Kobayashi."

Hana stiffened.

Mei stepped forward, arms crossed. "Who are you?"

The man chuckled. "Just someone keeping an eye on things." Hana felt a chill run down her spine. Something told her that last night's dinner had set things into motion—something much bigger than she had anticipated. And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.