The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The days that followed felt different, lighter. Hana and Ryo fell into a comfortable rhythm, one that seemed almost too normal given the world they both inhabited. They spent more time together, with Ryo visiting Hana's shop during his breaks and staying a little longer than usual. Hana found herself looking forward to his quiet presence, the way he seemed to bring a calm to the restaurant that even the chaos of the lunch rush couldn't disrupt.

But even as they grew closer, Ryo felt the tension building within him. He had never let anyone get this close, never allowed himself to rely on someone the way he was beginning to rely on Hana. And yet, the more time he spent with her, the harder it became to keep his distance. The walls he had spent years building were slowly crumbling, piece by piece, each moment he shared with her pulling him closer to the edge of a precipice he wasn't sure he was ready to fall from.

One afternoon, as Hana carefully arranged the bowls of ramen on the counter, Ryo stepped in, his usual dark suit making him stand out against the warm, homey atmosphere of the restaurant. He was early today—something that hadn't gone unnoticed by Hana.

"Ryo!" she greeted him, her voice light and warm. "You're here early. Everything okay?"

He nodded, though his expression was harder to read than usual. "Just had some free time."

Hana smiled, wiping her hands on her apron before walking over to him. "Well, I'm glad you came. Want me to make you your usual?" Ryo's lips twitched slightly, though he kept his cool demeanor. "That would be great."

As she turned to prepare his meal, Kenta, one of Hana's more energetic coworkers, walked by with a tray of dishes. His eyes immediately landed on Ryo, and a grin spread across his face.

"Hey, Ryo! You here to keep our lovely owner company again?" Kenta teased, his voice loud and teasing. Hana rolled her eyes, though a faint blush crept up her cheeks. "Kenta, stop it. Ryo just came in for some food."

But Kenta wasn't deterred. "Sure, sure. I know you two have been getting pretty close lately. I mean, it's not every day that a guy like him spends so much time at a ramen shop. What's going on, Ryo? Are you finally getting soft?" Ryo's gaze sharpened, but he didn't react to Kenta's teasing. Instead, he looked at Hana, whose cheeks had turned a deeper shade of red at Kenta's comment.

"I'm just here for the food," Ryo replied flatly, though there was an unspoken hint in his voice, a subtle challenge to Kenta's words. He wasn't interested in getting caught up in any rumors or idle chatter. Hana, still flustered, shot Kenta a warning look. "Don't tease him, Kenta. He doesn't need to answer to you."

Kenta shrugged, grinning mischievously before disappearing into the back of the shop. Hana sighed and placed the bowl of ramen in front of Ryo, trying to smooth over the awkwardness. "I'm sorry about that. Kenta doesn't know when to stop."

Ryo, despite his usual guarded nature, found himself amused by Kenta's antics. "It's fine. He's just being… Kenta." Hana hesitated for a moment before sitting down across from him, her hands folded neatly on the table. She looked at him thoughtfully, her expression serious.

"Ryo," she said, her voice quieter than usual, "I've been thinking." Ryo raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this was heading. "About what?"

"About us," she said, her words deliberate, as if weighing each one carefully. "I've been trying to understand what's going on between us. I've never felt this way before, and I'm not sure if it's just because you've been so different from anyone I've met, or if it's… something more."

Ryo's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his face neutral. "Hana…"

"I know you're not someone who shares much," she continued, looking down at her hands. "But I think you're starting to open up to me, even if it's just a little. I want to understand you, Ryo. I want to know what makes you tick, what you really want. Because I can't keep pretending that this—" she gestured between them, "—is just a coincidence."

Ryo took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had expected a lot of things today, but this wasn't one of them. He wasn't ready for this conversation, for the vulnerability Hana was offering so freely. He had never been one to deal with feelings, let alone let anyone in, but with Hana, it felt different.

He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady but quiet. "Hana, you don't have to worry about me. I'm not someone you need to try to fix."

She looked at him with a mixture of sadness and understanding. "I'm not trying to fix you, Ryo. I just want to be there for you. I don't need all your secrets. I just need to know that you're willing to let me in. That you trust me enough to share more of yourself with me, even if it's just a little at a time."

Her words hit him harder than he expected. Trust. The one thing he had never been able to give anyone, the one thing he had guarded with his life. But Hana was different. He couldn't explain why, but she was.

"I don't know if I can do that," he admitted, his voice rough. "I don't know if I can trust anyone like that."

She reached across the table, her hand resting lightly on his. "You don't have to do it all at once. Just… take it one step at a time." Ryo's chest tightened, the weight of her words settling deep within him. Maybe he could try. Maybe he didn't have to face this alone. Maybe, just maybe, he could let her in.

He looked at her, his voice softer now, "One step at a time, huh?" Hana smiled, her eyes bright with hope. "Yeah. One step at a time." And for the first time in a long time, Ryo felt like he wasn't walking this dangerous path alone.