[HIATUS] Hopelessly Attracted {Hawks X Fem!Reader - Entertainment Industry AU}

Chapter 28: The Balance of Sweet and Strong

You stir at the sound of Keigo’s phone buzzing, cutting through the early morning stillness before his alarm has a chance to go off. Blinking against the soft light filtering through the curtains, you shift beneath the covers, taking in the warmth of the bed and the familiar presence beside you.

Keigo groans, dragging a hand over his face as he blindly reaches for his phone on the nightstand. The name flashing on the screen makes him sigh. “Seriously? Already?” he mutters before answering.

“Yeah?” His voice is rough with sleep, still laced with that morning rasp as he stays half-buried in the pillows.

You can faintly hear the deep rumble of Enji’s voice through the speaker, low and to the point. Whatever he’s saying has Keigo’s expression shifting from indifferent to mildly annoyed… and then to something much sharper. His jaw tightens, his fingers tapping absently against the mattress as he listens.

You don’t need to hear the whole conversation to know—it’s work. And whatever it is, it’s already ruining his morning.

Keigo pulls the phone away from his ear, exhaling sharply through his nose before forcing his tone to stay even. “Got it.” he says, short and clipped, before ending the call without another word.

The moment the screen goes dark, he’s out of bed, the sheets rustling as his warmth disappears from beside you. He doesn’t say anything at first, running a hand through his already-messy hair as he moves toward the window, shoulders tense.

You watch him from where you lay, concern settling deep in your stomach. “Keigo?” You call softly, but he doesn’t respond right away.

That’s enough to make you move. Slipping out from the covers, you pad across the room and stop beside him. “What’s going on?”

He lets out a dry chuckle, one that holds no real amusement. “Enji and Toshinori are considering replacing me for the Sweet and Charming shoot.” He says, voice laced with irritation.

Your brows furrow in confusion. “What? Why?”

Keigo turns his head, golden eyes meeting yours, but there’s something dark simmering beneath the usual warmth. He hesitates for a second, like saying it out loud will make it worse, but then he exhales, the words leaving his lips in a tight, controlled tone.

“They want to try it with Touya.”

Your stomach twists, unease creeping in. Everything had been falling into place—so why this? Why now?

Your phone buzzes again, pulling you from your thoughts. Toshinori’s name flashes on the screen. You hesitate, then answer, keeping your voice steady.

“Morning,” he greets, right to business. “We’ve set a date for the Sweet and Charming shoot. We’d like you to come in beforehand to check out the outfits with the male model—”

You pause. “Male model? You mean Keigo, right?”

There’s a brief silence on the line. Across the room, Keigo watches you, his jaw set, tension rolling off him.

Toshinori finally speaks, his tone measured. “Keigo is still an option… but we’re also considering someone else.”

Your heart skips. “Someone else?” You ask carefully, keeping your voice even.

“We’re looking at all angles to ensure the best match,” Toshinori says. “After reviewing the Pocky shoot, the team thought the chemistry there was strong enough to test a new dynamic. So, Touya is the other option.”

The explanation settles over you like a weight. You glance at Keigo, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

You take a slow breath. “I see,” you say, choosing your words thoughtfully. “So… when would I be meeting with the male model?”