The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The next day at the ramen shop, the atmosphere felt charged, as though something had shifted. Ryo, who usually arrived at the shop early and sat in his usual spot, was nowhere to be seen. Hana glanced around, frowning slightly as she wiped down the counter. It had been almost an hour, and she hadn't seen Ryo since his abrupt departure the day before.

"Maybe he's just busy," she muttered to herself, though a small part of her couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Kenta and Mei, noticing Hana's distracted state, exchanged knowing glances. They had been waiting for this moment, and it was finally here. Ryo had left in a huff the day before, clearly affected by Tatsuya's presence, and now it was their turn to have a little fun. "So, Hana," Kenta began, his voice casual as he slid a bowl of ramen toward her. "How's the mysterious accountant doing?"

Hana blinked in surprise. "Tatsuya? I told him I was busy. I don't think he'll be coming around much."

Mei raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer with a teasing grin. "Are you sure about that? He seemed pretty persistent. He was practically fawning over you yesterday."

Hana felt a flush creeping up her neck. "It's not like that. He's just polite." Kenta let out a dramatic sigh. "You're just being modest. He likes you, Hana. And you know, some people aren't used to competition."

Mei, ever the instigator, added, "I think Ryo might not like the idea of someone else getting so close to you. He seemed pretty upset yesterday." Hana's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Ryo wasn't upset."

Kenta snickered. "Oh, come on. You should've seen the look on his face when Tatsuya was talking to you. It was like a ticking time bomb. We were all just waiting for it to go off."

Hana shook her head, still trying to process everything. "I don't know what you're talking about." But Mei and Kenta were already laughing quietly, knowing full well what they had just stirred up.

Just then, the door to the ramen shop opened with a familiar chime. Hana's heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Ryo walking in. He was dressed as usual—neatly in his suit, his hair perfectly styled—but there was something different about him today. His eyes, usually so guarded, seemed darker, more intense.

Without a word, he made his way to his usual seat. Hana hesitated for a moment, then walked over with a smile. "Ryo, you're here early today." Ryo gave a brief nod but didn't meet her eyes. "I'm not staying long."

The words were simple, but Hana noticed the slight tension in his tone. She sat down across from him, trying to keep the mood light. "Everything okay?"

He glanced at her briefly before his gaze flickered away, his hands tightly gripping the edge of the counter. "It's fine." Hana frowned, sensing something was off. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But you can't keep ignoring me, Ryo. We're friends."

Ryo's jaw tightened. He wasn't used to being so vulnerable, especially not in front of her. But seeing Tatsuya in the shop yesterday had rattled him more than he cared to admit. He couldn't stop thinking about how easily the other man had taken an interest in Hana. It wasn't something he was used to—people getting too close to her.

"I'm not ignoring you," he muttered, his voice low. "I'm just… busy." Before Hana could respond, Kenta and Mei decided it was time to make their move. They ambled over casually, their smiles teasing and knowing.

"So, Ryo," Kenta said loudly, "I hear there's some stiff competition for Hana's attention now."

Mei leaned over, whispering just loud enough for Ryo to hear, "You better step up your game before someone else steals her away."

Ryo stiffened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced between Kenta and Mei, both of whom were clearly enjoying the scene. "I'm not worried," Ryo replied coolly, though his clenched fists betrayed his calm exterior. "Oh, but you should be," Kenta said with a dramatic shrug. "Tatsuya's got his eye on Hana. It's only a matter of time before he tries to make a move."

Hana, still clueless about Ryo's growing discomfort, shook her head. "Tatsuya's just a customer. He's harmless." But Kenta's grin only widened. "Oh, we know. But it's still fun to watch you two," he teased, winking at Ryo.

Ryo's knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table. He could feel his pulse quickening, the jealousy building inside him, and he hated it. He wasn't supposed to feel like this. He wasn't supposed to care about someone else paying attention to Hana.

"Alright, alright," Mei chimed in, her voice light but pointed. "Let's not make it more awkward than it already is. But Ryo, you better keep an eye out. You never know who might sneak in and steal your place."

The teasing only continued for a few more minutes before Ryo stood abruptly, startling Hana. "I'm leaving," he muttered, turning on his heel without another word.

"Ryo!" Hana called, standing up. "Wait! Where are you going?" But he didn't turn back, the door slamming behind him with an angry force.

Hana stood there, feeling a strange mixture of confusion and concern. She didn't understand why he was acting this way, but it was clear to her now that something was bothering him. Her mind wandered to the conversation with Kenta and Mei. Could Ryo really be… jealous?

Kenta leaned over the counter, whispering to Mei. "I think we hit a nerve there." Mei giggled. "Oh, definitely. We might just have to sit back and watch this play out."

Hana sighed, glancing toward the door where Ryo had just stormed out. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe—just maybe—he cared more than he was letting on.