He quietly composed himself.
Skillfully disinfected and bandaged the wound, as if he had done it countless times before.
Then, he put on that immaculate butler uniform—
A crisp white shirt, sleeves perfectly pressed, cufflinks fastened, black tie straightened, vest fitted precisely, gloves smoothed without flaw.
Standing before the mirror, he brought his hands together and closed his eyes.
“…God, help me.”
His voice was calm. It sounded more like a self-reflection than a prayer.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.
Those amber pupils had regained their usual steadiness, and a faint smile curved at the corners of his lips.
—Koichi Kimijima was back.
Composed.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboxAieue90
Gentle.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHzhDwncwj
Refined and courteous.
He was Hanazono Suzuran’s personal butler.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7FQqfroj5
He was everything she could depend on.
And that man from moments ago—the one crouched in the shower, shaking—was now hidden beneath black gloves, never to be seen.
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He opened the door.
The hallway was silent. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through tall windows, casting a soft golden light on the knuckles under his glove.
He began to walk, his footsteps on the wooden floor clean and steady—just as always.
Koichi Kimijima, butler of the Hanazono family, was ready to fulfill his duties.
Whether the next moment called for serving tea to the master or pulling out a chair for the young lady, he could do it all—flawlessly, without a hint of emotion.
No one would ever guess that just minutes ago, he’d sat on cold ceramic tiles, using a blade to force himself into calm.
He walked toward the dining room. Just before opening the door, a composed smile tugged at his lips.
This was reality. This was his place to protect.
And his heart—
Let it remain quietly sunken in that deep sea no one knew existed.
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Inside the dining room, a soft classical melody floated through the air, giving the Hanazono home an air of serene elegance.
The moment Koichi Kimijima entered, his footsteps were light and composed, his expression clean, his lips graced by his usual, impeccable smile.
As if the chaos and storm from earlier had never existed. As if he had always been this flawless, unshakable butler.
Suzuran had changed clothes.
She sat by the window. Sunlight filtered through sheer curtains, casting a glow over her white off-shoulder dress that framed her delicate collarbones and soft curves. The hem of her skirt brushed just past her knees, swaying gently with the breeze.
Though her outfit still clung slightly, she looked unusually calm and pure—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J2nifa75p
Like a lily blooming in a hidden valley—fragile and painfully lovable.
She remained as flustered as ever, face tinged pink, eyes cast down as if afraid to meet anyone’s gaze—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1ZDtdJCVy
Yet unknowingly, she drew every gaze toward her.
“My lady, your makeup tonight… suits this dress particularly well.”
Koichi’s voice was soft, his gaze subtly sweeping over her.
He knew exactly what he was seeing—and what he shouldn’t allow himself to see.
Suzuran froze, ears instantly flushing red.
“Eh, eh… really? T-Thank you…”
She hastily averted her gaze, tugging nervously at the edge of her skirt, unable to look him in the eye.
That expression—she looked exactly like a little creature trying to hide its tail.
And yet, she didn’t know—it was that very shyness that was the most dangerous kind of temptation.
Koichi Kimijima watched her, maintaining that ever-refined demeanor, helping her pull out her chair, pouring water, offering gentle words.
Every motion was textbook-perfect—flawless.
No one knew that just moments ago, he had stood before a mirror, wrestling back the edge of his own madness.
That neatly bandaged wrist still throbbed faintly beneath his sleeve.
She sat nervously, but he was calmer than her.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIHg8Szak4
She blushed at a compliment, while he—
He was a beast long since trained to suppress every desire.
—And this was the most dangerous distance between them.
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Midway through dinner, Hanazono Masaharu gently set down his knife and fork, his tone as mild as always—but his words landed without warning:
“Suzuran, the Amagi family will be visiting in three weeks.”
Suzuran froze, spoon still mid-air. “…Amagi?”
Her mother smiled gently from beside her, tone light, like discussing afternoon tea:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ204NxcuIr0
“Yes, your high school classmate—Amagi Yuto. Our companies have been working closely with the Amagi Group these years. They’ve brought up the idea of an engagement.”
Her father added, voice calm and without a hint of emotion:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHVEJHG6tC
“Amagi Kouichiro called personally. He hopes you and his son can get to know each other—perhaps start with an engagement. If both sides are willing, you’ll marry after graduation.”
Suzuran quietly tightened her grip on the spoon. Her knuckles turned white, but she said nothing.
“…So it’s him,” she murmured. Her mind conjured the image of that boy always seated in the back row—carefree, dazzling.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdu3utwyPu
He had been like the sun. Everyone looked up to him.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSk9X94zPg
And she—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zn2BgCA5o
She only dared to steal glances from afar.
“He’s a fine young man,” her mother said softly.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUVPQ2oqSL
“Handsome, well-spoken, a top law student. I hear he’s preparing for the bar exam, already attending social events in his father’s place. Steady and responsible.”
Masaharu smiled faintly, dabbing at the corner of his mouth:46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEalX8OjFoV
“It’s a marriage worth considering.”
Suzuran said nothing.
She quietly turned her head, gaze drifting to the corner of the dining room—
Where Koichi Kimijima was preparing after-dinner tea and dessert.
He was as steady as ever—his movements precise, expression composed, attire impeccable.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD1gRG1ipD
Even his breath was as silent and regular as a well-wound clock.
He approached with the tray. The scent of black tea spread like warmth. The berries on the dessert gleamed under the lights.
But Suzuran didn’t look at the food.
She looked only at him.
Her gaze was calm, yet desperate—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6tmBvz3Kg
As if searching his face for any trace of reaction.
And he knew she was watching.
He could feel it—that gaze like it wanted to peel back his exterior and see the battle underneath.
But still, he maintained that faultless poise.
“Please enjoy, my lady.”
He spoke softly, setting down the tea, then the dessert.
Suzuran’s lashes trembled. She was still waiting.
She was hoping—pleading—for him to say something.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAz6EKFBdv
Anything.
Even just a quiet “No.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLXg6KxbCj
Even a moment of hesitation.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqVx4OlRsr
Even a slight crease between his brows.
Anything to prove he cared.
But he simply lifted his eyes, calm and clear, lips curved in a polite smile.
“Congratulations, my lady.”
“I hope it will be a good match.”46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai76L3v8ni
The words fell like cold water.
—And in that moment, she felt as if she had been pushed off a cliff.
Not a violent fall—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiQtwtOAnV
But slow, silent, weightless.
His face still bore that familiar smile—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKnFKxzO6M
So gentle, so harmless.
As if this was nothing out of the ordinary.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlPJrUUh5a
As if he had never once been shaken.
And her heart—46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpB81ZPNAc
Shattered in silence, like glass scattered across the floor.46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQCmtrbcIr
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You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG202QFHQT
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~46Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4dPC8sgLe
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