Undercover Desires | G.Tomioka x Reader |

Chapter 34

The morning light filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Y/N stirred, her body slowly waking from the first deep sleep she had had in days. For a moment, everything felt normal, peaceful even. But then the memories of the past weeks flooded her mind, the weight of them pressing down on her chest once more. She opened her eyes, blinking against the light, and realised she was still in Giyuu's bed. The events of the previous night came rushing back—the panic attack, Giyuu's arms around her, the shared silence that had brought her some semblance of peace.

A faint smell wafted through the air, and she realised it was the scent of something cooking. Breakfast. She sat up, her body still feeling heavy with exhaustion, but there was a strange calmness within her—a sense that she wasn't entirely alone in her struggles.

Y/N slipped out of bed and made her way downstairs, following the aroma of freshly made food. She found Giyuu in the kitchen, standing at the stove with an apron tied around his waist. The sight was unexpected, but oddly endearing. His back was to her, his movements precise as he flipped a few pancakes onto a plate. He seemed so natural, so composed—completely different from the emotionally turbulent world they had both been navigating.

"You're up," Giyuu said quietly, glancing over his shoulder as he set the last plate down on the small dining table. "I thought you could use some breakfast."

Y/N smiled, a small but genuine expression. "Thank you. I didn't realise you could cook."

Giyuu shrugged, his lips twitching into the faintest hint of a smile. "I manage."

They ate in silence for a few minutes, the only sounds coming from the quiet clink of cutlery on plates and the occasional rustle of clothing. It was comfortable, but there was something else hanging in the air—an unspoken question, a tension that Y/N couldn't quite place.

Finally, Giyuu spoke, breaking the silence. "Have you thought about... quitting?"

Y/N paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. She wasn't sure she had heard him right. "Quitting?"

Giyuu nodded, his gaze steady but unreadable. "After everything that's happened. You don't have to keep working for me. I would understand."

Y/N paused, her fork hovering over her plate as she looked at him. His question wasn't entirely unexpected, but it caught her off guard. She could see the concern in his eyes, though he was trying to hide it behind his usual stoicism. He was worried about her—worried that everything that had happened would push her away, or worse, break her.

"No," she said softly, but firmly. "I'm not quitting. I won't leave you when things are tough."

Giyuu's eyes softened, a flicker of something— Gratitude? Relief?—crossing his face. He was a man of few words, but Y/N could see how much her response meant to him, even if he didn't say it out loud.

He let out a small, rare smile. "Thank you. I didn't expect you to stay. But I'm glad you will."

There was a brief pause, and then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "You know, that office was just one of my sites. I have others."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You never mentioned that."

Giyuu gave a small shrug. "It was my favourite office, though. It's where I spent most of my time."

Y/N couldn't help but smile a little. It was so like him to downplay something so significant. But she also understood now—he hadn't just lost a building in the fire. He had lost a place that meant something to him, a space where he had likely poured much of his time and energy. And yet, he was moving forward, as if it was just another day.