Harmonies of the Heart

Chapter 14: Jealousy Unraveled

The bustling atmosphere of the agency cafeteria buzzed with excitement as Ruka sat at a table with Asahi and Haruto. They were enjoying lunch, their laughter echoing through the room. Junkyu, sitting at a nearby table, couldn't help but notice how close Ruka and Asahi seemed. Asahi leaned in to wipe a smudge of food off Ruka's cheek, his gentle touch making her giggle. Junkyu's stomach twisted with an unfamiliar feeling.

He tried to focus on his meal, but the image of Asahi's hand on Ruka lingered in his mind, igniting a spark of irritation. Why was he feeling this way? They were friends, after all. But as he watched them, he couldn't shake the thought that maybe it was something more.

Once he was back in his studio, Junkyu's curiosity bubbled over. He called Haruto, hoping for answers. "Hey, Haruto," he began, trying to sound casual. "How close are Ruka and Asahi, really?"

Haruto raised an eyebrow, sensing the underlying tension in Junkyu's tone. "They've been friends since trainee days. The Japanese members have a group chat, including Ruka and Asahi. They have a strong bond, you know?"

Junkyu frowned, feeling the weight of Haruto's words. "But how close? I mean, do you think there's anything more than friendship there?"

Haruto chuckled, clearly amused by Junkyu's inquisitiveness. "You're asking a lot of questions. Are you... jealous?"

"Of course not!" Junkyu shot back, a little too quickly. "I'm just curious."

"Right," Haruto replied, a teasing grin spreading across his face. "Why don't you just ask Ruka yourself?"

Junkyu huffed, not wanting to admit that he was avoiding her. Days passed, and he kept his distance from Ruka again. He noticed how she looked at him with confusion and hurt, but he didn't know how to explain what he was feeling.

Asahi, who had caught wind of Junkyu's questions from Haruto, couldn't help but smirk at the unfolding situation. He saw potential in the dynamic between Junkyu and Ruka, and he wanted to push a little.

One evening, while they were hanging out in the Treasure dorm, Junkyu finally summoned the courage to confront Asahi. "So, how close are you and Ruka?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant but failing to hide his curiosity.

"Pretty close," Asahi replied, leaning back against the couch with a casual air. "We've known each other since we were kids. Our parents are friends."

Junkyu felt a knot tighten in his stomach. "But like... how close?"

Asahi's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Are you jealous, Junkyu?" he prodded, enjoying the way Junkyu squirmed.

"I'm not jealous!" Junkyu insisted, though his voice wavered slightly.

"Come on, man. Just admit it," Asahi teased, clearly enjoying this. "You're acting like you've got a crush on her or something."

Junkyu shot him an annoyed glare. "That's not true!"

Asahi shrugged, a grin still plastered on his face. "You know Ruka sees me as a brother, right? I would never hurt her feelings."

Relief washed over Junkyu. "So you see her as a sister?"

"Exactly," Asahi said, nodding. "We've got a bond that goes way back. I won't let anyone hurt her, especially you."

Junkyu felt a surge of gratitude mixed with lingering confusion. "I just... don't want her to get hurt."

Asahi chuckled. "You're hilarious, Junkyu. You've been acting like a lovesick puppy. Just tell her how you feel, man."

"I don't even know how I feel!" Junkyu snapped, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I just know I can't keep ignoring her."

Asahi shook his head, still amused. "Well, stop being a coward and go talk to her. Just don't forget she's like a sister to me."

Junkyu took a deep breath, feeling more determined than ever. "You're right. I need to figure this out before I lose her for good."

As they continued their banter, Junkyu realized thatAsahi's reassurance had lightened his heart. Maybe it was time to confront hisfeelings head-on and stop letting jealousy dictate his actions. He needed tofind Ruka and set things straight before it was too late