Undercover Desires | G.Tomioka x Reader |

Chapter 32

Y/N's body felt heavy, weighed down by an exhaustion that went far beyond physical tiredness. It was as if her very soul had been drained, every emotion wrung out and cast aside in the chaos of the past few days. She floated in and out of consciousness, barely aware of where she was or what had happened, only dimly recalling Haruto's final moments—the anguish, the regret, and then nothing.

When Y/N finally opened her eyes, she blinked against the sterile white light filtering through the hospital window. The steady beep of machines and the faint hum of the air conditioning filled the room. Her throat felt dry, and there was a dull ache in her chest, but beyond that, she felt...numb.

It took her a moment to gather her bearings, to remember why she was here. The mission. Haruto. Giyuu. Everything came flooding back, hitting her like a tidal wave. She groaned softly and pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to steady her thoughts.

Just then, a soft voice broke through the haze. "Oh, you're awake!"

Y/N turned her head to see a nurse standing by her bedside, adjusting the IV drip attached to her arm. The nurse smiled warmly, clearly relieved to see her conscious.

"How long have I been out?" Y/N asked, her voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

"About a day," the nurse replied. "You were completely exhausted. You're lucky you didn't push yourself any further."

Y/N nodded weakly, her mind still foggy. "Where... where is Giyuu?" she asked, her voice strained. She needed to know if he was okay. If they were safe. If this nightmare was over.

The nurse smiled knowingly. "Your husband stepped out to take care of a few things, but he's been here all night. Refused to leave your side. He wouldn't even eat until you woke up."

Y/N blinked in confusion, her heart skipping a beat. "Husband? No, no, Giyuu's not my husband. He's... he's my boss," she corrected, though even saying it aloud felt strange now. The thought of Giyuu staying by her side all night, refusing to leave, stirred something deep inside her.

The nurse gave her a curious look but smiled again. "Oh, I see. Well, whatever he is to you, he certainly cares a great deal. It's not often we see someone so devoted."

Y/N swallowed, her mind racing as she processed the nurse's words. The thought of Giyuu—calm, stoic, distant Giyuu—staying by her side, forsaking sleep and food for her sake, sent a ripple of emotion through her. She had always seen him as someone cold and aloof, but maybe she had been wrong. Maybe there was more to him than she had realized.

Just as she was about to ask more, the door to her room creaked open. Giyuu stepped inside, his usual composed demeanour in place, though his eyes were dark with fatigue. He looked different—less like the unshakable leader she had known and more like someone who had been through hell and back.

Their eyes met, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke. There was too much between them—unspoken words, unshed tears, and the weight of everything they had lost.

Y/N was the first to break the silence. "Giyuu..."

"You're awake," he said softly, stepping closer to her bed. His voice was calm, but Y/N could hear the strain beneath it. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck," she muttered, managing a weak smile. "But I'll live."

Giyuu nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. There was something different in his eyes, something deeper than the usual calm detachment she had come to expect from him. It was as if the walls he had built around himself were crumbling, piece by piece, and she could finally see the man behind them.

"You shouldn't have stayed all night," she said after a moment, her voice soft. "You needed rest too."

He shook his head, his expression firm. "I wasn't going to leave you alone."

The simplicity of his words hit her hard. Giyuu had always been a man of few words, but when he spoke, his words carried weight. And in that moment, Y/N understood the depth of his care for her, even if he hadn't said it outright.

For a long while, they sat in silence, the unspoken tension between them palpable. Y/N could feel the emotional exhaustion weighing heavily on both of them, but there was also something else—an unspoken connection, something that had grown between them through all the battles they had faced together.

After a few minutes, Y/N cleared her throat, trying to shift the conversation to something lighter. "The nurse thought we were married," she said with a small smile, though her voice trembled slightly.

Giyuu raised an eyebrow, a rare hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "I assume that's because I refused to leave your side."

Y/N nodded, biting her lip. "She said you didn't even eat until I woke up."

"I wasn't hungry," Giyuu replied simply, his voice calm but firm. "I was more concerned about you."

Y/N's heart fluttered at his words, and she looked away, trying to hide the sudden flush of emotion that rose within her. She wasn't used to this side of him—the protective, almost tender side that had been hidden beneath his stoic exterior.

"I'm fine now," she said softly, though she wasn't entirely sure if that was true. Physically, maybe. Emotionally? She wasn't so sure.

Giyuu studied her for a moment, his eyes sharp and observant, as if he could see through the façade she was trying to maintain. "You're not fine," he said quietly, his voice filled with a rare gentleness. "You've been through too much."

Y/N swallowed hard, her throat tightening with emotion. She wanted to deny it, to brush off his concern like she always did, but the truth was, he was right. She wasn't fine. She hadn't been fine for a long time.

"I don't know what to do, Giyuu," she admitted, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. "I feel so lost."

Giyuu reached out, gently taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, steady, grounding her in a way that nothing else could. "You don't have to do this alone," he said softly. "Let me help you."

Y/N blinked through her tears, looking up at him in surprise. Giyuu was always so strong, so independent. But here he was, offering his support, his care, in a way she had never expected.

"I... I don't know if I can," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"You can," Giyuu said firmly, his hand tightening around hers. "And you will. But not by yourself. I'm not going to leave you."

His words were like a lifeline, pulling her out of the depths of her despair. She nodded slowly, tears streaming down her face as she let herself lean on him, just for a moment.

But then, Giyuu did something unexpected. He stood up, his expression resolute. "You're coming with me."

Y/N blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"You're moving in with me," Giyuu said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't let you go back to that empty flat by yourself. Not after everything that's happened."

"Giyuu, I can't—" she started to protest, but he cut her off.

"I'm not asking," he said firmly, his eyes locking with hers. "You need someone right now. And I'm going to be that someone, whether you like it or not."

Y/N stared at him, stunned by his words. She had always seen Giyuu as distant, unreachable. But now, he was offering her more than just protection—he was offering her a place by his side, a sense of safety she hadn't realized she needed.

After a long moment, she nodded, unable to find the words to refuse. Deep down, she knew he was right. She couldn't face this alone.

And as Giyuu helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the hospital and into the car waiting outside, Y/N felt a small flicker of hope amidst the darkness. Maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to carry this burden alone anymore.