𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

˚⊱ 26. | ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ⊰˚

The days following that night were filled with a tense, awkward atmosphere. Touko and Aki continued their routines: working and living in the same space.

But it was different now. The easy banter and lighthearted moments were gone, replaced by a stiffness and a hesitance.

Touko avoided meeting Aki's gaze, even in the moments when they had to work together. She busied herself with her duties, keeping an invisible wall between them.

Aki, on the other hand, tried to act normal, but the hurt and confusion were clearly evident in his eyes.

Despite their professional interactions, the distance between them was palpable. Denji and Power noticed it too, glancing between them with puzzled expressions.

Touko felt a pang of guilt every time she felt Aki's gaze on her. She knew she was hurting him, but she couldn't bring herself to fully explain her situation. And Aki, for all his attempts to keep things normal, couldn't completely hide his hurt and longing.

She tried to push the memories of that night out of her mind, to focus on her work and her duty. But every time she saw Aki, the words she'd said echoed in her ears. "I can't love you."

Aki didn't know what to do. He tried to act normal, to maintain a facade of normalcy for the sake of their team. He tried talking to her normally, he worked, he did his part. But inside, his heart was aching.

It happened again and again. During quiet moments, in the shadows of the night, Aki would attempt to bridge the gap between them. He would reach for her, his touch gentle, his eyes burning with love and desire.

Each time, Touko would pull away, her body tense, her eyes filled with guilt and sorrow. It was a cycle that repeated itself, a painful dance of near-intimacy followed by a sharp withdrawal.

Her words were like knives to Aki's heart. Every time he felt like he was getting close, like she was opening up to him, she would shut down, pulling back into the safety of her own guilt. It was maddening, heartbreaking, and yet he still couldn't bring himself to truly let go.

The distance between Aki and Touko had never been greater.

After their near-kiss that they were pulled from, the air between them was heavy with unsaid words, with the weight of their unfulfilled desires. Touko avoided Aki more than ever, never entertaining herself with any moment or connection outside of a professional one.

Aki, on the other hand, felt frustrated and helpless. Her continued withdrawal, her refusal to explain or admit her feelings, was driving him insane.

Days turned into weeks, and the distance between them only widened. They barely spoke, barely looked at each other. The tension in the air was palpable, like a storm threatening to break at any moment.

Every day, the gap widened, the hope that they could ever be together dimming a little more.

Aki, Touko, Denji, and Power walked through a dark underground tunnel, the only sound being the echo of their footsteps on the stone floor. The tunnels were dimly lit by flickering torches, casting eerie shadows along the walls.

Despite the tense atmosphere, Denji and Power were acting as always, cracking jokes and teasing each other.

Aki, however, remained silent, his expression serious as he walked. He cast occasional glances at Touko, who was walking silently next to him.

Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, her expression tight with the same tension that had been with her for weeks. Aki wanted to say something to her, to ask her how she was feeling, but he knew she would only shut him down like she always did.