Chapter Text
The days passed in a steady rhythm for Mikan. The mornings began with her usual routine—waking up early to prepare for the day, grabbing a quick breakfast before heading out the door to the jewelry store. It was a typical workday: arranging displays, helping customers with their purchases, and making small talk with the regulars. She was good at her job, but there was something about the routine that comforted her, making it feel like everything was in its proper place.
By now, Mikan had settled into a pattern. The days blurred together, but there was always something to look forward to in the evenings—dinner with Hotaru.
Hotaru had become a steady presence in Mikan’s life. Their dinners together had become a ritual, and though the conversations varied, they always revolved around the same comforting mix of work, life, and everything in between. They would meet at Mikan’s flat, chatting casually over dinner while Mikan shared the latest events from her day. Hotaru, ever the scientist, would talk about her own research or the odd experiments she was conducting in her free time. The air was always light, and the laughter they shared was one of Mikan's favorite parts of the week.
The topic of Kuro Neko still lingered between them sometimes, especially when they talked about their encounters in the building. But Mikan tried to keep things light, not wanting to dwell too much on the odd circumstances surrounding their lift time together. Hotaru didn’t press her for details, though it was clear she was just as curious as Mikan about how things would unfold with the mysterious singer.
When the workweek was over, Mikan would return to her apartment and unwind. Sometimes, she’d slip into the routine of watching Kuro Neko’s performances, but more often than not, her thoughts would wander to the lift and the strange, brief encounters she had with him.
The lift rides had become strangely familiar, as though they were two ordinary neighbors rather than someone as famous as Kuro Neko. The first few times, Mikan had been too flustered to speak much when she saw him, but now, things felt more natural.
Luca, who had always been polite but distant, was the first to change. He no longer kept to himself during their brief lift exchanges. Instead, he would offer small greetings and occasionally even strike up a conversation. It was never anything too deep—just casual comments about the weather or something random that happened in the building—but it was enough to break the ice.
Mikan couldn’t help but feel a little more comfortable around him now, though she still didn’t know what to make of his cryptic, mysterious aura. He was more open now, though, which was a change from the guarded stranger he had been when they first met.
Then there was Kuro Neko.
He was still the same when it came to his usual quiet presence in the building. Mikan would find herself in the lift at times, unsure if she would run into him. But when she did, it was different now. Before, he had always kept his face hidden, his eyes on the screen of his phone, barely acknowledging her presence. Now, there was a slight shift.
Mikan noticed it first when their eyes met during one of their shared lift rides. Kuro Neko didn’t immediately look away, like he had before. Instead, he raised his head from his phone, his eyes locking with hers for a brief moment. It was subtle, but there was something in that glance that made Mikan feel like he was no longer the distant celebrity she had once imagined him to be.
Still, he didn’t say much. He kept his interactions brief, his demeanor as cool and composed as ever. The silence between them wasn’t awkward anymore—more like an unspoken understanding. They’d ride in the lift together, exchange polite nods or small, neutral greetings, and then go their separate ways.
Mikan tried to dismiss the feeling that was growing inside her, but it was harder than she expected. It wasn’t just the quiet moments in the lift or the fleeting exchanges with Kuro Neko that had left her so shaken—it was the way those small interactions had changed the way she saw him. No longer just the famous, enigmatic singer she admired from afar, Kuro Neko was now part of her world in ways that were both thrilling and terrifying.
She couldn’t deny the shift. Every time she saw him now, something inside her stirred—a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety. The more she tried to act like nothing had changed, the more she realized how much it had changed. Before, she had imagined him as a distant figure, a celebrity with his own glamorous life—always busy, always surrounded by people, always living in a world that was impossible to touch. She had pictured him in a penthouse high above the city, partying with other famous faces, surrounded by the hum of luxury and chaos.
But that wasn’t what Kuro Neko was like at all. He was just... normal, in a way. A little more reserved than most people, perhaps, but he was no different from her in some respects. His quiet presence in the lift, his brief moments of eye contact, the fact that he was always by himself—it all spoke of someone who was lonely in his own way, someone who didn't want to be surrounded by adoring fans or the noise of constant parties.
The realization was a hard one to swallow.
Kuro Neko, in all his mystery and fame, was now a part of a small, secret world in Mikan's life—a world she hadn't expected. Every encounter with him felt more and more like a privilege, like a moment that belonged only to them, hidden away from everyone else. It was exhilarating, but it was also terrifying. She had no idea what this shift in their relationship meant, and her mind couldn't help but race with possibilities.
She could no longer look at him like she had before. He wasn’t just a celebrity anymore—he was someone with whom she shared these small moments. It was impossible to ignore how much closer he felt, even if there was still a veil of mystery hanging between them. And that made everything more complicated.
Mikan had to admit to herself that she was afraid of the implications of this shift. She wasn’t just afraid of the fans or the rumors that might spread. She was afraid of how she might feel if this strange connection with Kuro Neko grew deeper. The thought of her life becoming tangled with his, with all the attention and expectations that would follow, was overwhelming. What would people think if they found out she had kept silent in exchange for concert tickets? Or worse, what if rumors spread about her and Kuro Neko? She could already picture the headlines, the gossip, the way the other residents might look at her if they found out the truth.
Mikan had always imagined herself as a simple girl, working at the jewelry store, having quiet dinners with Hotaru, living her life without any wild, unpredictable twists. But now, her life felt like it was balancing on the edge of something huge, something dangerous. Who took the lift with their favorite artist multiple times a week? she wondered. What if people found out? What if it all spiraled out of control?
She tried to focus on the mundane, to remind herself that everything was still just normal—a few quiet lift rides, a contract for VIP tickets. But deep down, she couldn’t escape the feeling that this secret world with Kuro Neko was growing in ways she hadn’t planned for. And no matter how much she tried to keep her distance, or act like nothing had changed, she couldn’t deny the truth. There was a change, and it terrified her more than she was willing to admit.
Hotaru had noticed the difference in her lately—the way Mikan seemed distant and preoccupied, even though she did her best to act normal. But Mikan couldn’t tell her everything, not yet. Not when she still had so many questions of her own. She couldn’t risk it, not when the reality of it all seemed to shift so rapidly, like a delicate balance that could tip at any moment.
The more comfortable Kuro Neko seemed around her, the more uncomfortable Mikan became. It was as if each small moment of familiarity between them made the distance between them feel more fragile, more confusing. There were days when she couldn’t help but notice how he seemed to relax when he saw her in the lift, how he’d look up from his phone and give her a small nod of acknowledgment. Other days, it was as if he wanted to speak, but the silence between them stretched on, as if neither of them knew what to say.
Mikan couldn’t help but wonder if he remembered her from the album signing at her event. The thought made her stomach churn. If he did, would he think less of her? She hadn’t exactly behaved like a normal fan back then, and she couldn’t shake the fear that he might recognize her from that embarrassing moment. She had been too nervous, too starstruck, and now that she saw him in person, in her building, it felt like the weight of that first interaction was still hanging over her. She would much rather he didn’t know she had been a fan—someone who had attended his concerts, who had spent hours watching videos of him, memorizing every lyric. She wasn’t sure why it felt like such a secret to her, but she knew it wasn’t something she wanted him to know. It felt too personal, too invasive.
The truth was, she was no longer sure what she wanted. On the one hand, she didn’t want him to see her as just another fan, lost in the crowd. But on the other, a small, irrational part of her was afraid of being seen as something more. It wasn’t just the fear of being exposed for who she really was—it was the fear that she might start wanting something from him that she wasn’t prepared for.
Mikan sighed, the confusion overwhelming her. She had never imagined that being near her favorite artist, the person she had admired from afar, would be so complicated. The closer Kuro Neko seemed to get to her, the more uncertain she became of her own feelings. All she wanted was to keep things simple, but nothing about this situation felt simple anymore.
By mid-November, Mikan’s situation had started to feel overwhelming. Her anxiety, which she had always managed to keep under control, was now beginning to show more and more. She found herself second-guessing every word she spoke around Hotaru and Ichigo, trying to hide the nervous energy that churned inside her. Both of them had begun to notice her distant mood, the way she fidgeted or seemed distracted. But no matter how much they tried to ask if she was okay, Mikan couldn’t explain what was happening. How could she explain it? How could she put into words the strange, suffocating feeling that came from living in such close proximity to Kuro Neko—the man she had admired from afar for so long, and yet now was right there, a complex figure who stayed just a few doors next to her?
It was hard. It was harder than she ever imagined. Every time she saw him, it was like a wave of panic washed over her. She’d been so sure of her admiration for Kuro Neko, but the reality of him as Natsume Hyuga, her unofficial neighbor and now part of her life, was completely different. It wasn’t just a star on a screen anymore. It wasn’t the same as following a celebrity from a distance. He was a person—someone she had to interact with, and it terrified her.
Mikan knew she needed to calm down, to reset her mind and reframe the way she thought about him. She had to start treating him like a normal person, someone who was just another neighbor, just another guy in her building. She couldn’t continue seeing him as the star she’d once adored. But how could she? Every glance, every passing encounter reminded her of the person he was, the singer she had once idolized. How was she supposed to forget about that? How could she push aside the admiration that had been ingrained in her for years?
Slowly, though, Mikan tried to push herself to do just that. She stopped watching his videos late at night, the ones she had replayed so many times, studying his performances, memorizing his lyrics. She stopped reading articles about him, avoided the fan communities that she used to spend hours with. His face, dressed in his glamorous outfits, grinning from the stage in all his beautiful, charismatic glory—it all made her feel uncomfortable now. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him like that on her screen when he was so near to her in real life. It felt too intrusive. Too gross.
She took down the posters she had once carefully pinned to her walls. The ones that had been her pride and joy, the ones that had made her bedroom feel like a shrine to her favorite artist. It wasn’t that she didn’t admire him anymore—it was just that having his image plastered everywhere in her personal space was too much. She didn’t want to have his face staring at her from her room when she was trying to relax or get some sleep. It was a small step, but it was one she needed to take in order to regain some sense of normalcy.
Hotaru noticed the change immediately. She didn’t comment on the posters, but she could tell Mikan was struggling. There was something about the way she had withdrawn, the way her usual lively spirit had dimmed, that worried her. She could tell that Mikan was trying to distance herself from Kuro Neko, from the world she had once embraced so fully. Hotaru wanted to say something, to ask if everything was okay, but she knew Mikan wasn’t ready to talk about it. Instead, she just offered her support in her quiet way, checking in on her whenever she could.
Mikan, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel even more isolated. She wasn’t ready to admit that her feelings for Natsume Hyuga—Kuro Neko—were only getting more complicated. But for now, all she could do was focus on getting through the days. She hoped that with time, the confusion would fade. That maybe, just maybe, she would be able to look at him without her heart racing in her chest, without the strange mix of admiration and anxiety bubbling up.
One evening, as Mikan entered the lift after a long day at work, she was surprised to find Natsume standing there, his usual quiet presence filling the space. She had grown accustomed to these brief encounters, but tonight, something felt different. She pressed the button for her floor, her gaze flickering nervously toward the doors, trying to avoid eye contact.
But Natsume didn’t seem to be ignoring her as usual. After a long moment of silence, he spoke up, his voice soft but steady. “Are you okay?”
Mikan froze, her heart skipping a beat. She hadn’t expected him to ask, especially not so directly. She turned toward him, offering a smile that felt more like a grimace. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she replied, her voice sounding forced, even to her own ears. She quickly looked away, focusing on the lift panel as the tension in the air thickened.
Natsume studied her for a moment, his sharp gaze taking in the way she was avoiding him, the subtle tension in her posture. His expression remained unreadable but there was something about the way he watched her that made her feel exposed. Still, he didn’t press her. After a few seconds, he simply nodded, turning his attention back to the lift doors as if he hadn’t noticed anything unusual at all.
The silence stretched between them until the lift reached their floor. When the doors opened, Mikan stepped out quickly, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere that had settled between them. As she walked down the hallway, she couldn’t help but glance back. Natsume was still in the corridor, watching her with an unreadable expression. He didn’t say anything else.
Mikan tried to calm the nervous flutter in her chest. She was grateful he hadn’t asked more questions, but at the same time, his quiet observation left her feeling unsettled.
After their brief exchange in the lift, Mikan hadn't seen Natsume again. At first, she tried to convince herself it was just coincidence—maybe their paths hadn't crossed due to her odd work hours, or perhaps he had been busy with something important. But as the days went by, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. Natsume was always in the building, but now, he was conspicuously absent.
Mikan was curious, but she didn’t want to seem like she was looking for him. She kept herself busy, focusing on her work and spending time with Hotaru whenever they could catch up. But that nagging feeling lingered. Then, on the 24th of November, Mikan found herself scrolling through her phone at the end of a long day, distracted by the usual mix of news, social media, and random videos.
It was then that she saw it—an announcement on one of the fan pages for Kuro Neko.
November 27th, Natsume’s 26th birthday. Mikan blinked, her fingers freezing mid-scroll. Of course, she had known the date in the back of her mind, but now, seeing it on the screen, it made her realize something.
It made sense. Natsume had been laying low recently, likely busy preparing for content around his birthday, or perhaps some special projects. That explained his absence in the building. Fans would be waiting for some special posts, a video, or an appearance from him. She imagined his team was busy preparing everything, and his absence from the usual spots in the building—like the lift or the hallway—was part of the rush.
She couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. It wasn’t her imagination, nor had he been deliberately avoiding her. Natsume was just... busy.
The realization felt like a weight lifted off her shoulders, but it also left her feeling a little hollow. She hadn’t realized how much she had been hoping to see him again, even if just for a moment. A small part of her had thought that after their brief, strange conversation, things might have been different—that perhaps Natsume would have sought her out, or that they might have spoken more. But now, with the news of his upcoming birthday and the knowledge that he was likely preparing for his fans, it felt like she was right back at square one.
It wasn't that she was upset—no, that wasn't it at all. She understood the pressures of being a public figure, the demands on his time, and the need for privacy. But something about his absence felt... final. As if their brief moment of connection had meant nothing to him, while she was left overthinking everything.
Mikan shook her head, trying to push away the lingering thoughts. She didn’t need to overanalyze things. He was just busy. She had her own life, her own worries.
With a sigh, Mikan put down her phone and set it aside. It was time to focus on the here and now, not on the unspoken tensions or fantasies about the man who was a stranger to her in so many ways.
On the evening of November 27th, Mikan and Hotaru were in the kitchen as usual, munching on the burgers they’d had delivered. The conversation was light, the kind that had always been easy between them. Hotaru had her usual energy, but Mikan couldn’t help but feel distracted, picking at her fries more than actually eating them.
Hotaru noticed. She had been quiet for a while now, and it wasn’t the first time. It seemed like something was on her mind—again.
"So," Hotaru said, her voice casual but with a hint of concern. "You’ve been zoning out for, like, an hour. What's up? Spill."
Mikan shrugged but didn’t meet her gaze. "I’m fine."
Hotaru raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been ‘fine’ for a few days now, but I’m not buying it."
Mikan gave a half-hearted smile and waved her hand dismissively. "Really, it’s nothing."
Hotaru leaned back, crossing her arms and eyeing her. "Mikan, come on. You know you can’t lie to me. Whatever it is, just let it out."
Mikan hesitated, then sighed dramatically. "I just… I don’t know. Everything’s been a little weird lately. It’s like, one minute I’m just living my normal life, and the next I’m in the same lift as Kuro Neko and I forget how to breathe. It's ridiculous."
Hotaru blinked, looking at her seriously. "You've been seeing him for several months now, Mikan."
Mikan nodded, rolling her eyes. "I don’t even know why I’m freaking out now. It's just, one second he's this big star in my head, and the next he's just... Natsume, my neighbor’s friend. And it feels strange."
Hotaru blinked a few times, then leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "You’re telling me you’ve been sharing a lift with your idol for months, and now you’re upset about it? You need to be like, ‘hey, Neko, can we take a selfie?’"
Mikan groaned, dropping her head onto the table. "I don’t want to be that person. It's just... I keep thinking I'm making everything so complicated."
Hotaru raised her eyebrow. "Whoa. Seriously, you’re overthinking this."
Mikan looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed. "How do you figure?"
"Well," Hotaru said, tapping her chin thoughtfully, "you can’t control everything. Natsume’s not some mysterious creature you need to decode. He’s just a guy with a special job."
Mikan snorted, half-laughing. "You make it sound so easy. I’m just trying to figure out how to act normal around him, but I keep thinking about him."
Hotaru shrugged. "Yeah, I get it. You’re afraid of looking like a fan. But guess what? You’re allowed to be a fan. He’s not going to bite your head off. You’re both just two people sharing a lift."
Mikan blinked, a little taken aback by the simplicity of Hotaru’s answer. "I guess... I just feel like I need to keep everything in control. But I’m kind of failing at it."
"Of course you are," Hotaru said with a grin. "You’re trying to control something you have no control over. It’s a two-way thing, Mikan. You don’t have to figure out everything on your own, and you don’t have to hide who you are. If you want to be yourself around him, then be yourself. He’s just a guy who also happens to be your favorite artist."
Mikan blinked, her mind racing as she processed Hotaru’s words. It wasn’t just about control, it was more than that. Something deeper was pulling at her. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not fully realizing where her thoughts were going.
"I mean..." Mikan began, her voice unsure, as if she hadn’t fully worked out what she was about to say. "It’s not just the whole Kuro Neko thing. It’s… I don’t know, I’ve been kind of… thinking about him a lot lately." She paused, fidgeting with the corner of her napkin, the words spilling out before she could stop them. "Like, I don’t know why, but every time I see him in the lift, I get this feeling, you know? And it’s not just the whole fan thing anymore. It’s... it’s like I’m seeing him as him now. Not just as this idol, but as, like, a person. And I don’t know how to... act normal around him anymore. Because—"
She stopped herself, suddenly aware of what she was saying. Her face flushed a little, but she couldn’t take the words back now.
Hotaru’s eyes widened in surprise, though she quickly masked it with a teasing smile. "Ohhh, I see. So you’ve got a little thing for him, huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.
Mikan's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she stammered. "What? No! I mean, it’s not like that. I don’t— It’s just... I’m just stressed, okay?" She clutched her burger a little too tightly, avoiding Hotaru’s mischievous gaze. "It’s just... whenever he’s around, I feel like I’m going to make a fool of myself."
Hotaru’s grin softened as she leaned back in her chair, amused but understanding. "Mikan, come on. It’s not the end of the world."
"I know, I know," Mikan mumbled, her mind still racing. "It’s just... I wasn’t expecting to feel this way. I mean, I’ve seen his concerts, watched his interviews, and now I see him every week in my building. It’s... weird, you know? I don’t want to just be that awkward girl who trips over her words every time she’s around him."
Hotaru laughed softly, clearly enjoying Mikan’s flustered state. "If you ask me, I think he’d find it pretty endearing if you just acted like yourself. You’re not going to win him over by pretending to be someone you’re not, Mikan."
Mikan quickly shook her head, her face flushed with embarrassment. "I’m not trying to win him over, okay?" she protested, her voice a little too sharp. "I don’t even know what I’d do if that happened." She fumbled with her napkin again, avoiding Hotaru’s teasing gaze. "It’s just... I think I’m attracted to him because he’s Kuro Neko, my favorite singer, you know? I just got... all mixed up because he’s actually real now.
Hotaru raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "And you think that's why you're nervous around him? Because he’s Kuro Neko?"
"Yes!" Mikan replied quickly, a little too defensively. "I mean, think about it! I’ve been a fan for so long, and now... now he's right there! It’s hard to not get a little freaked out, right?" She let out a sigh and pushed her plate aside. "So, yeah, maybe I’m a little... off-balance. But it’s not like I’m going to suddenly start falling for him or anything."
Hotaru grinned, leaning back in her chair. "Well, as long as you’re not thinking of starting a fan club just for him, I guess we’re good."
Mikan rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but laugh. "No fan clubs, I promise."
Hotaru winked. "Good. But, seriously, take a deep breath and relax. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. Just... take it one lift ride at a time."
Since her conversation with Hotaru, Mikan had felt lighter. Admitting her feelings, even just to herself, had somehow lifted a weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying. She had finally faced the truth: she was attracted to Natsume. But she quickly justified it, telling herself that it was only because he was Kuro Neko. After all, he was her favorite singer. It wasn’t about him as a person—it was about the person she had admired for so long now being so close.
It was just her admiration taking a strange, unexpected turn. Nothing more. Mikan preferred to think of it as temporary. Something she would get over once the novelty of having her favorite celebrity in her building wore off.
In early December, Mikan had crossed paths with Natsume several times in the building. The usual polite exchanges continued—nothing more than brief greetings or a few words about the weather. But Mikan couldn’t help but notice that he seemed more tired than usual. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his usual calm, composed demeanor had a hint of weariness.
But hey, every job was tiring in its own way, right? Natsume was a celebrity, constantly in the public eye, probably juggling interviews, concerts, and all sorts of other obligations. It made sense that he would be exhausted, just like anyone who worked hard. Still, Mikan couldn’t help but feel a little concerned, even though she kept it to herself.
He was just a guy, after all. A guy who happened to be Kuro Neko.
Mikan was tired, the kind of tired that made her body feel like it was made of stone, but she still walked home from work with a slow, steady pace, her mind replaying snippets of her day. She had her headphones on, the music offering a small, familiar comfort as it wrapped around her like a warm blanket. The soft beats and lyrics made everything seem easier, more bearable.
As she approached the lift, she was lost in the world of her music. The familiar opening notes of one of Natsume’s tracks played in her ears, and despite everything that had happened over the past few weeks, she found herself smiling involuntarily. She still couldn’t believe that he—Kuro Neko, the man whose voice had become a soundtrack to her life—stayed in the same building.
It wasn’t until she was in the lift that she saw him—Natsume, without his face mask. The familiar, almost surreal sight of him standing in the lobby, his figure casting a tall shadow in the room, immediately made Mikan's pulse quicken. She froze for a moment, almost as if she hadn’t expected to see him, even though they ‘shared’ this building.
She was about to quickly press the button to keep the lift doors open, but Natsume was already stepping in.
Without thinking, she pulled her headphones off and around her neck. The music spilled into the quiet lift space, the sound of Kuro Neko’s voice filling the air. She had been listening to his album, and now the sound of his own voice seemed to take on a new layer of meaning, like a personal soundtrack playing in the background of their shared space.
It was almost too much. Her heart pounded in her chest as she faced him, trying to act like everything was normal, even though her insides were swirling. She was acutely aware of every little movement she made.
Natsume spoke first, his voice low, but there was a faint note of amusement in it. “You listen to my songs.”
Mikan felt her stomach tighten. She didn't know whether to be embarrassed or flattered. Was he mocking her? Or was he just being... casual? He must have noticed the album playing in her headphones.
She laughed nervously, trying to mask her discomfort. “Uh, yeah. Your music’s... good.” she said, her voice betraying her unease. She wasn’t sure why she felt so flustered. After all, she’d been a fan of his for years. But now, with him so close, it felt different. There was something too intimate about it, like an invisible line being crossed.
Natsume seemed to consider her response for a moment, his black eyes lingering on her face as if studying her more closely than usual. Mikan felt like she was under a magnifying glass, exposed in a way she wasn't used to. His gaze softened slightly, but there was a flicker of something else in it—a curiosity, maybe?
“It’s kind of strange, huh?” he said casually, as if he were talking to someone he’d known for ages. “Hearing my own voice in the background like this. Usually, it’s on stage, in front of thousands of people, not in a lift.”
Mikan blinked, surprised at how easily he was talking about it. For a moment, she felt a pang of guilt for listening to his music so openly, so publicly, even if it was just the two of them in this small, quiet space. But at the same time, she admired how effortlessly Natsume was making this conversation feel normal. Like it was just a casual chat between two people who happened to share the same space. She had been so caught up in her head about his status as Kuro Neko, as a singer, that it was almost hard to separate the two.
“I didn’t... I didn’t mean to make it weird,” Mikan blurted out, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I just like your music," she added, almost as if trying to reassure herself.
There was a brief pause before Natsume gave a slight smile, the kind of smile that didn’t reveal too much, but enough to make Mikan feel like maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t bothered by it. "No harm done," he said, his tone lighter now. "It's... flattering, I guess.”
Mikan’s heart skipped again, but for an entirely different reason this time. Yes, he was a star, a celebrity with a voice that had captivated millions. But in this moment, in the lift with her, he was incredibly handsome. There was no entourage, no flashing lights, just Natsume, a guy with his own thoughts, his own insecurities.
The lift hummed quietly as it moved between floors. Mikan shifted her weight from one foot to the other, unsure of how to continue. But before she could speak, Natsume glanced at her again, this time his gaze steady, almost soft.
“Don’t worry about it.” He looked away, then back at her, a small, quiet smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t need to feel awkward.”
Mikan was surprised at how his words made her feel lighter, more at ease. Maybe he wasn’t so different from the person she’d admired from afar. Maybe he was even better than the perfect image she had built up in her mind.
The lift doors opened, and Mikan’s heart skipped yet again. As she stepped out, she stole a glance back at him. Their eyes met once more, this time without the same nervous edge she had felt before. Instead, there was something deeper there—something Mikan couldn't quite place, but it made her feel like maybe she hadn’t been imagining things all along.
This man wasn’t just a singer she admired anymore. In the short time they’d shared in the lift, he’d shown her a new side of him. A side that was unexpectedly charming.
She had always known Kuro Neko was attractive—his voice, his presence, his ability to captivate a crowd. But now, standing in front of her, speaking to her as an ordinary person, she saw a different kind of charm. It wasn’t the charm of a star or an idol, but the subtle, almost understated charm of someone who wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
And for the first time, Mikan realized that she wasn’t just a fan anymore.
Her feelings were shifting, and as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn’t deny the truth any longer.
Natsume Hyuga was undeniably charming, in a way that went beyond his image as Kuro Neko. And Mikan didn’t know where this realization would lead, but she knew one thing for sure—she was going to need to figure it out. Soon.