Beneath the Ashes

Chapter 2

I struggled to find the right words, my gaze nervously darting across the busy ramen shop. The hum of conversation, the clinking of chopsticks, and the soft sizzle from the kitchen seemed to fade, leaving only Aika and me in the moment. I could feel the pressure of the unspoken words weighing heavily on me, unsure how to say what I was feeling.

Aika smiled gently and reached out, her fingertips brushing my arm, and I felt the tension in my muscles loosen under her touch. "Hey," she whispered, her voice barely above the steady murmur around us, "It's alright. You don't have to explain."

Her eyes searched mine for a moment, and I could sense her trying to understand what was going on inside me. "Unless..." she hesitated, and I saw her worry grow as she asked, "Is something wrong with your food? Did I mess up somehow?"

I let out a nervous laugh and quickly looked away, hoping she hadn't noticed how long I'd been staring at her.

"Oh no, it's not that," I stammered, feeling my face grow warm. "It's just..." I hesitated, biting my lower lip, trying to figure out how to say it without making it awkward. "You're... really beautiful."

I glanced back at her just in time to see her eyes drop slightly, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. She looked shy, almost uncertain.

"I'm sorry if I've been staring too much," I quickly added, tracing the edge of my glass with my fingers. "It's just... hard not to, when someone is as beautiful as you."

Despite the awkward knot tightening in my chest, I knew I had to say it. From the moment I'd walked in, she had my attention.

She let out a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh, not quite meeting my eyes. "Oh, gosh... thank you," she murmured, her voice soft like the evening breeze. "I've never... been called that before."

She gave a small, tremulous smile, her fingers playing nervously with the hem of her apron. The way she moved, so delicately, tugged at something deep inside me.

"You're quite direct, aren't you?" she asked, a mix of amusement and disbelief in her tone. "But really, I'm not that pretty... What do you even see in me?"

There was something in her laugh that didn't sit right with me, something deeper than what her words revealed. The question hung between us, and my heart pounded as I realized how much I wanted her to see herself the way I did.

"Well..." I swallowed hard, mustering the courage to continue. "Your eyes. They're... breathtaking. They shine like stars against the night sky, and I just get lost in them. And your smile..." I paused, hoping I wasn't overstepping. "It's like the sun breaking through the clouds, brightening the whole room."

I hesitated before I added, "And your hair..." I reached out, almost touching the air near her. "It gleams like silk, like strands of gold spun by the setting sun."

I caught my breath, realizing how much I'd said, and then I pushed forward. "But the most beautiful thing about you is your heart. It shines brighter than anything else."

Her expression softened as she took in my words. There was surprise in her eyes, and maybe... just maybe, something else. Hope?

Aika's breath seemed to catch, and I watched her lean in slightly, as if my words had drawn her closer. When she finally spoke, her voice trembled with emotion, barely a whisper. "Oh, my..." Her fingers grazed my cheek, tentative, as if she was afraid the moment might shatter. "That's... the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me."

Her heartbeat seemed to echo mine, loud and fast, but in that moment, I didn't care about anything else.

I chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension, realizing how strange it might have sounded, calling her heart beautiful. I tried to explain, hoping it made sense.

"Yes... your heart," I said, carefully choosing my words. "Earlier, when I almost dropped my chopsticks, you didn't laugh at me. You didn't make fun of me like others might have. You were... kind."

I looked down for a moment, then back up at her, hoping she could understand. "That's how I know you have a good heart."

There was a quiet pause before I added, "And the way you react to compliments... it tells me you don't hear them often enough. But you should."

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "By the way, I'm Sharva. Sharva Casimir. May I know your full name?"

Her hands fidgeted nervously with her apron, her cheeks glowing with something more than shyness. My words seemed to have struck her deeper than I'd expected, as an unfamiliar warmth filled the air between us.

When she met my gaze again, her eyes were softer, more vulnerable. "Aika," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "My name is Aika Hinabana. You can just call me Aika."

She swallowed, her fingers brushing her apron again. "And you're Sharva, right? It's nice to officially meet you."

Her words carried a weight, a connection between us that hadn't been there before. Despite the noise of the shop, the world around us felt smaller, more intimate.

I moved a little closer, sensing the quiet anticipation hanging between us. "Aika, would you mind if I sat with you for a while longer? I'd love to get to know you better."

I glanced around at the soft hum of conversation, the comforting scent of broth and spices filling the air. "Unless you're busy, of course. I wouldn't want to keep you from your customers."

The shop was calm, though, and I could tell that, for now, we had found a rare moment of stillness.

Aika hesitated, clearly weighing her duties against the quiet pull of whatever was happening between us. The shop wasn't too busy tonight, and I could see that she had a moment to spare.

"Okay," she said softly, nodding. "I'll sit with you. Just for a little while."

As she settled beside me, I felt a soft flutter of excitement build in my chest. The distant clatter of bowls and the hum of the crowd faded as she met my eyes again.

"So," she began, her voice light with curiosity, "what brings you to our little ramen shop tonight? We don't usually have customers who linger quite so long..."

She raised an eyebrow playfully, inviting me to share more.

"Actually, I—"

Before I could finish, a sharp noise sliced through the air.

A gunshot.

102224

I hope will be more action and dialogue in next chapter