Object of Affection [Mina X Male Reader]

Ch. 2

Following that day, they exchanged contacts and kept in touch regularly. Haru was even able to find a nice apartment thanks to Mina's recommendation. To thank her, he suggests treating her out to eat. Mina happily agreed, excited to try a new restaurant that had recently opened in town. They met up on Saturday evening. As they sat down and looked at the menu, Haru couldn't help but notice how much Mina had improved since that unforgettable situation occurred. Her confidence and vibrant energy were coming back. Haru couldn't help but admire her for a few seconds without getting caught. When Mina looked up, he had already shifted his focus to the menu. Needless to say, they enjoyed that evening as one outing turned into many more.

Mina and Haru continued meeting outside the office just as "friends", and they would go on walks in the park, have coffee, and get to know each other more personally. Mina felt a sense of comfort and joy whenever she was around Haru, and she didn't have to worry about work or him judging her. One of their favorite places was called "LowKey," as it was a restaurant/bar that not many knew about, a hidden gem that was considered "theirs."

Time skip: 2 months

A new project was about to arrive, and Mina was looking forward to it as she'd be working with her friend, Minatozaki Sana, a longtime friend of hers since elementary school. Since their businesses are both more stable now, they are finally collaborating. Sana is very well known, as she is hot, young, and rich. Sana is bubbly and flirtatious, in contrast to Mina. Despite Sana's reputation as a social butterfly and a flirt, she has always been cautious about getting into serious relationships. Her past experiences had taught her that many people were only interested in her for her wealth or beauty.

"Minari!" Sana yelled, which surprised everyone as they were having a meeting. Even though shocked and embarrassed, Mina maintained her composure, and despite the unexpected interruption, Mina confidently introduced Sana as their new partner for the project, showcasing her professionalism and adaptability. Haru chuckled while facing his head down, as he was able to see a glimpse of Mina's embarrassed reaction before regaining her composure. Mina saw and smiled at Haru's reaction because Haru would tease her about it if they were alone. Haru personally went up to Sana and introduced himself after the meeting. "Hello, I'm Yoshida Haru, the editor of the company, so if you need anything, you can discuss it with me as well." Sana could not meet Haru's eyes as her nervousness got the best of her. She stuttered a quick "thank you" and this time looked at Haru. Haru's warm smile reassured her, and she felt a sense of comfort and ease in his presence. As they continued to talk, Sana realized that Haru was genuinely interested in getting to know her and supporting her in her role at the company. Haru then left and went to his desk.

"Wow, Minari, if I had someone like him working for me, I'd go to work every day," Sana says while giggling. "Who? Haru?" Mina asked. Sana blushed slightly and replied, "Yes, Haru. He's so handsome that I couldn't even talk properly at first, and he seems genuinely kind and sincere." Mina nodded understandingly. "He is and he's everyone's favorite at work, especially the girls." "Yeah, you too?" Sana asked while nudging Mina in a teasing way. Mina was smiling and just ignored Sana's teasing.

After the workday, Sana asked Mina to go out and eat, and without thinking, Mina said she had plans. "You got plans? But you don't have any other friends besides me and the girls." Mina chuckled and playfully nudged Sana back, "Well, maybe I do have plans with someone special," she replied with a mischievous smile. Sana's eyes widened in surprise, and she eagerly asked, "Oh really? Who is this mysterious someone?" Mina winked and said, "You'll just have to wait and see."  Sana's eyes widened in surprise as she realized Mina might be seeing someone new. Just after that statement, Haru enters the room, not expecting Sana. "Ahh, I see...Okay, I'll let you guys go," Sana says while leaving. "See you again soon, Haru," Sana winked.

"I'm sorry, Mina. I thought you were alone." Mina laughed and reassured Haru. "No worries, it's fine, so let's go." They went to LowKey as usual. They liked how chilled the place was, not to mention how tasty the food and drinks were. Stressed out by a new project, Mina felt comfortable with Haru and drank more than she usually would. In a matter of time, Mina got drunk and passed out. Haru looked at Mina for a while and smiled as he realized how adorable she looked when she was asleep. "Many would kill to see you like this.." he thought to himself. He gently picked her up with all their belongings and carried her out of the bar, making sure to support her properly so she wouldn't wake up. As he hailed a taxi, he couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards Mina. When the taxi driver asked where to go, Haru panicked since he didn't know where Mina lived, so he had no choice but to take her to his home.

Once they got to the place, he carried her on his back and carefully took her to his room. Mina, who was on his bed, thought she was home and started to take off her bra to sleep more comfortably. She was about to pull her pants down when Haru rushed to cover her and tuck her into his bed. His heart was beating like crazy, and his cheeks felt hot. He grabbed extra clothes and went to the shower. He went to sleep on the couch, leaving Mina alone in his bed. As Haru lay on the couch, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. The thought of Mina being in his bed, even though it was purely accidental, made his mind race with possibilities. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and tried to push away the tempting thoughts in his mind.

Mina woke up with the sun hitting her face and a sharp headache, looking around and not knowing where she was. "What happened last night?" she thought to herself as she started to panic. "My bra is gone". She rushed to find it and was trying to sneak out when she saw a man in the kitchen cooking. Haru turns around and sees Mina, and for a minute, they both freeze in surprise. Haru quickly recovers and smiles warmly at Mina, reassuring her that everything is alright. Mina's panic subsides as she realizes that Haru must have taken care of her last night, but she still wonders how they ended up in this situation. As if Haru read her mind, "I made breakfast, so come and eat while I tell you the things you did last night." Mina shyly sat at the table, and after Haru let her know what she did last night, she felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She couldn't believe that she had been so out of control and had no memory of it. Mina's cheeks turned pinkish as she listened to Haru recount the events, hoping that she hadn't done anything too embarrassing. "Well, I'm happy you were the one taking care of me; if it weren't you, I don't know what someone else would do," Mina states as she looks at Haru, who's surprised by the warmth he's feeling from Mina. "Wow, the ice queen is melting," Haru says to tease Mina. "Ahh shut up," Mina says while gesturing a fist. "I got you some clothes to wear; it must be uncomfortable wearing office attire," Haru says as he hands Mina a toothbrush and his clean clothes. Mina couldn't help but flutter at Haru's thoughtfulness gesture. "Thank you, Haru. You are always taking care of me," she says with a genuine smile, feeling grateful for his presence in her life.

After eating and changing, Mina heads home. Haru stares at the ceiling, feeling mixed emotions as he did not tell Mina everything...
[Flashback]
Haru went into his room one more time to check on Mina when he woke up to use the restroom in the middle of the night. When he entered the room, he bent down to fix her position and her hair. He couldn't help but caress her face, which made Mina move, and he got scared, so he was about to leave. When he went up to leave, he felt a grab on his hand, and while still unconscious, she muttered, "Don't leave ." Haru's heart ached at Mina's plea, and he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her side. He stayed by her bed and kissed her on the forehead. He fell asleep holding her hand before morning came, and he woke up and left the room to cook.
[End of flashback]