Am I The Only Male Tenant Here?

Filled the void inside…?

Now that I think about it, maybe I do have a special skill in helping women. Not in any flashy, heroic way… but in the kind of quiet moments that matter.

I glanced at Tomoko, her gaze drifting somewhere far away. "Don't be so sad, Tomoko. Your daughter will be back during the holidays, right?"

She blinked, a faint smile forming. "Yeah… she should be back for summer vacation. Now that I think about it, it's not far off."

Her voice softened. "Sachiko still sends me messages and little videos when she's free."

"When she comes back, we should all have dinner together—the three of us," I suggested. "It'll feel more lively that way."

Her mood lifted almost immediately. "Fufu… I'm looking forward to that day."

I sighed and said, "You're lucky, Tomoko. Sachiko's so sensible. I grew up with my grandfather. Family warmth wasn't really part of the package."

Her eyes softened. Without warning, her hand reached out to ruffle my hair.

"Then we're like two lonely people," she said warmly. "That just means we have more reason to keep each other company."

Her words sank into me before I even realized it. When I looked up, our eyes met—and held.

The air between us thickened. I wasn't sure who moved first. All I knew was that, in the next heartbeat… our lips met.

…

By the end of the day, I had showered three times—once after water polo practice, once at Tomoko's house, and again after getting back to my apartment.

Now, finally stretched out on my bed, I could almost taste the quiet. All I wanted was to empty my mind and let the night wash over me.

Knock knock knock.

Seriously? Right now?

I dragged myself up, threw on a shirt, and shuffled to the door.

"Sosuke, sorry for bothering you so late…"

Moonlight spilled over the hallway, revealing a familiar face.

"Kana? It's been a while—come in."

Kana Kobayakawa stepped inside, but this wasn't her usual casual look. She wore a fitted OL suit—sharp lines, snug in all the right places. The jacket clung to her upper body, which, well… already had enough gravitational pull on its own. Her pencil skirt hugged her hips, black pantyhose covering her legs down to polished heels.

Yeah. Kana could make a paper bag look like haute couture, but this was weaponized fashion.

"Sit down, Kana. I haven't seen you in the shop lately—Yui said you've been tied up in company meetings?"

She sighed as we sat side-by-side on the sofa. "Yeah. They're talking about transferring me to the headquarters."

"Congratulations," I said automatically.

"Thanks… but it means I might be away for a while, so I wanted to see you before I left."

"Eh? Leaving Tokyo?"

"Ah—no!" She laughed awkwardly, tapping her temple with a tiny pink fist. "Sorry, I meant I'm going on a business trip for a few days."

The smile didn't reach her eyes.

"They haven't even told me where yet. Something about visiting the best-performing stores in each prefecture."

"How long will you be gone?"

She shrugged. "Not sure. And honestly… even with the promotion chance, I feel… heavy. Headquarters work means drowning in tasks. Meetings all day, sorting reports all night—it's been… a lot."

Her voice trailed off, and for the first time I noticed the faint slump in her shoulders.

I leaned back, crossing my arms. "The start's always the roughest. If they're pulling you up this quickly, it means you're more than capable. Treat the business trip as a breather."

She gave a small, tired laugh. "If only it were that simple. Being a small store manager was easier… familiar. I got to see you every day…"

The way she looked at me—it was soft, but laced with something deeper.

"Haha. Even if you join headquarters, we're still neighbors. My door's always open for Kana."

Her lips curved faintly, but the flush rising to her ears gave her away.

"That… um…" She hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

"Sousuke… could you… hug me again?"

Her voice was quiet, trembling with a strange mix of shyness and longing.

I didn't say anything—just smiled and opened my arms.

For a moment, she froze. Then she leaned forward—no, she dove into me. The impact was soft and warm, a weight that pressed straight into my chest.

Her scent—something faintly floral, like petals on warm skin—wrapped around me. Her hands slipped to my back, tightening, holding as if the rest of the world didn't matter.

Her head rested just under my chin. "Mm…"

In that moment, I realized—it wasn't just stress she was escaping from. She wanted this connection, this warmth, as much as I did.

And so… I held her. Tight enough for her to know she wasn't alone, but not so tight she couldn't breathe.

If it could help her fill that void, even just a little, then I'd let her stay right here as long as she needed.