Arashi stood in the center of the garage, the steady hum of the world outside filling the silence. For the first time in what felt like ages, there was no urgency, no pressure. Esme was back at her campus, and the garage was empty except for him. There was a strange weight lifted off his chest, a quiet relief settling in as the steady rhythm of his thoughts returned to a place of calm.
He glanced around the room, noticing the little signs of life that still lingered from her stay—Esme’s clothes left in a neat pile by her bed, the faint smell of her perfume still in the air. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just… different. Like an unfinished chapter, a quiet pause before the next wave.
Taking a deep breath, Arashi decided to make the most of this rare moment. He began tidying up the rooms, folding Esme’s things, and organizing the clutter that had accumulated over time. The garage felt lighter now, as if the absence of the bustling activity had given it a moment to breathe.
As he moved through the rooms, cleaning and straightening, a thought crossed his mind. He wasn’t usually one to indulge in these quiet moments, but today… today felt different. No cars to fix, no distractions. Maybe it was the calm that came with solitude, or maybe it was the thought of a cold beer later, but Arashi could feel the tension in his body unwinding.
He finished up his tasks and looked at the clock—it was midday. A perfect time for a well-earned break. He decided a simple lunch would do, something light yet satisfying. The thought of a refreshing beer afterward brought a smile to his face. Then, later, an evening run. His body had been craving the motion, the release of pent-up energy, the rhythm of his feet on the pavement.
The sun was high, the air warm and inviting. Today, there was no rush. Just him, his thoughts, and the simple pleasure of a quiet day.
Arashi muttered, glancing around the empty garage. He scratched his head.
By 11 A.M., Arashi had already finished his bath, the hot water washing away the last remnants of the morning's calm. He dressed simply, slipping into a worn shirt and comfortable jeans. It felt like the perfect moment for a lunch break, to let the stillness linger a bit longer before the day started moving again.
His stomach growled softly, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten yet. With a quick glance at the clock, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door, the cool air brushing against his skin as he stepped outside.
he muttered to himself, the peacefulness of the day still hanging in the air as he made his way to the nearby diner.
Just as Arashi was about to hop into his Skyline, the soft sound of the engine’s hum filled his ears. He stopped, his hand still on the door, and listened carefully. The roar of a familiar engine reached him from a distance—powerful, throaty, like something he’d worked on with his own hands.
he muttered to himself with a half-smile, dismissing the thought.
But as his fingers brushed against the door handle, the sound grew louder. Closer. It was unmistakable now, a roaring engine that could only be one thing.
His heart skipped a beat as the realization hit him. No way...
Arashi was sitting in his car, ready to close the door, when the sound of a powerful engine roared through the air, familiar and unmistakable. He froze for a moment, his fingers hovering over the door handle.
The engine wasn’t what caught him off guard—it was the feeling that came with it, like something had shifted in the air, a presence drawing closer.
His heart raced, but not from the engine itself. Something in the pit of his stomach told him it wasn’t just a random car passing by.
His thoughts scrambled, but he couldn’t quite place it. He wanted to close the door, to drive away, but the unsettling feeling held him in place, his body tense with anticipation.
Then, just as the roar of the engine reached its peak, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
Arashi's breath caught in his throat, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He didn’t need to turn around. He knew that voice.
Lana.
Her words hung in the air, soft yet charged with something unspoken. The tension between them felt thicker than ever, as if the space around him had suddenly become suffocating.
He stayed frozen in his seat, his fingers still gripping the door handle, but now, it was harder to move. Every part of him wanted to turn, to face her, but he couldn’t. Not yet. Not with everything that had been left unsaid between them.
Lana's voice came again, the quiet urgency in her tone pulling at him in ways he hadn’t expected.
Arashi’s voice came out a bit too quickly, a nervous laugh escaping as he tried to shift the focus away from the heaviness of her presence. He cleared his throat, his words tumbling out like a defense mechanism.
he said, forcing a casual tone that didn’t quite match the tightness in his chest.
He gave a quick, awkward smile, his eyes still avoiding hers. But even as he spoke, he could feel the weight of his own words, like he was trying to distract both of them from the catastrophy brewing between them.
But the tension in the air didn’t fade. It only thickened.
Arashi's hand hovered over the door handle, trying to avoid the knot in his stomach, but his attempt to deflect Lana’s presence was only making things more intense. He forced a smile as she spoke, the tension hanging thick between them.
Lana’s voice was soft, but he could hear the underlying sincerity.
Arashi didn’t want to look her in the eye. He quickly gestured toward the counter, trying to push through the moment.
But before he could finish, Lana cut him off. Her voice, barely above a whisper, was quiet but firm.
The words hit him harder than expected. His heart skipped a beat, his breath catching in his chest. He couldn’t look at her, couldn’t form the words to respond, even though every part of him wanted to say something, anything, to stop this spiraling tension.
Arashi's voice came out forced, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips as he tried to distance himself from the tension growing between them. He kept his eyes fixed on the dashboard, hands still gripping the wheel with a white-knuckled intensity.
His words trailed off, the attempt at humor falling flat in the thick air between them.
But inside, he was anything but calm. The words were a flimsy excuse to buy himself time, to escape the suffocating presence of her behind him, watching him—waiting for something he wasn't ready to face.
He needed to move. To get away. His mind was on fire with frustration, the wrath inside him simmering and waiting for the smallest crack to let it explode.
His gaze stayed fixed on the steering wheel, but the tension in his muscles betrayed him. He wanted to escape, but there was no place to go. He couldn’t keep running from her, not like this.
Lana’s voice floated through the tension, casual yet sharp with intent. Her words were light, playful even, but there was something deeper beneath them—a hint, a nudge that said,
Arashi’s heart skipped a beat. He could hear the unspoken message in her tone, even though she tried to play it off. Damn it, he thought. Not now. Not like this.
But the moment hung in the air like an electric charge, making every muscle in his body tense, every breath feels heavy. He knew what she was saying, even if she wasn’t saying it outright. It was a debacle waiting to break.
With a sharp exhale, Arashi slammed his foot onto the accelerator. The roar of his car's engine echoed in the garage, a burst of power as he jerked the car forward, sending it roaring out of the driveway like he was being chased by a ghost. His mind raced, but he couldn’t calm it. The darkness of his emotions, the frustration, the burning wrath, all surged to the surface as he pushed the car to its limits.
The tires screeched against the pavement, a blur of speed and anger, and for a moment, he didn’t care where he was going. All that mattered was getting away from the pressure, from Lana’s presence, from the talk he knew was coming.
Arashi stood at the counter, his fingers tapping impatiently as he placed the order—six packs of Solaris beer, his favorite cold brew, and a pack of black bug cigarettes to help him unwind. He needed something to calm the scourge raging in his chest, something to steady his mind as it spiraled out of control.
As the cashier rang him up, Arashi muttered to himself, more to convince his own racing thoughts than anything else.
He breathed out, his grip tightening around his wallet as the receipt printed.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
He stared at the cashier’s face, but his mind was far away. The words echoed in his mind, a desperate attempt to cling to the calm fa?ade he always maintained.
But the more he told himself it was fine, the more the anger inside him flared. There was no escaping it now, no pretending. His chest tightened with every passing second, the bubbling rage threatening to break through at any moment.
As he took his change and grabbed the bag, Arashi tried to shake off the knot in his stomach. But deep down, he knew this wasn’t just about the beer, the cigarettes, or even the talk that was waiting for him back home. It was something darker. Something that had already ignited in his soul.
Arashi sped back toward the garage, the engine roaring beneath him. He’d bought food for Lana, but as the speed blurred everything around him, something shifted inside.
The anger, the need to escape—it was gone. Instead, a strange calm settled over him, like the world was holding its breath.
Arashi pulled into the garage, the roar of the engine finally fading as he stopped the car. The strange calmness from earlier still lingered, and as he stepped out, it brought back that perfect facade of composure he wore so well.
He looked over at Lana, his smile smooth, almost effortless.
he said, his tone light and teasing, as if nothing had changed.
Lana watched Arashi with a mix of confusion and frustration swirling in her chest. she thought to herself, her mind racing.
Her words were caught in her throat, her gaze flickering over to him, but his calm demeanor, that perfected mask, made her hesitate.
FUCK! WHY NOW?! The realization hit her like a wave—he was too calm, too composed. I need to apologize! I need to beg to him! I love him! But with his usual self like this... THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAVE IN MIND!
Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to steady her breath, but everything she had planned, everything she thought she was going to say, felt wrong now. He wasn’t broken. He wasn’t unraveling like she had hoped, like she was.
He should have been just as lost, just as torn as she was. But instead, he stood there, perfectly put together, his smile smooth, a reflection of the mask he always wore.
Why is he like this now?
As Arashi placed the food on the table, his back to Lana, she felt that fierce determination rising inside her. FUCK IT! I’M GONNA SAY IT! IT’S DO OR DIE! LOVE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR! The thought burned through her mind, fueling her resolve.
She moved quickly, stepping toward him, her hand reaching for his as he finished setting the food down. Her fingers brushed against his, her heart racing, but before she could say anything, Arashi’s hand slipped away from hers effortlessly.
He turned slightly to face her, the smoothness of his movements hiding the tension in his body. With a practiced calm, he spoke, his voice sweet yet cold, masking the anger boiling beneath the surface.
Arashi said, his words dripping with sweetness, but there was a chilling edge to them.
The rejection was clear, but it wasn’t just in his words—it was in his eyes, his composure, the way he distanced himself. He hid his disgust, his burning wrath, behind a mask of politeness, and the words stung more than anything.
Lana's voice cracked, and her question hit him like a spitfire, igniting the raw anger burning inside him.
Arashi froze. Her words pierced through him, and for a brief moment, his calm facade shattered. The heat of his anger flared, his body tense, but he kept himself still, forcing the fury down.
He couldn’t look at her. Not now. Not with the question hanging in the air, demanding a response he wasn’t ready to give.
Arashi’s voice was low, tight with restraint, as he slowly turned to face her, his calm demeanor still intact, but the fire in his chest flickering just beneath the surface.
he said, his voice steady but the tension clear in every syllable.
The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of everything unsaid between them. His eyes were dark, and though his expression remained calm, there was a bite to his words that betrayed the anger simmering just beneath.
Lana’s voice shook as she reached out, her vulnerability raw and desperate.
Before she could finish, Arashi’s composure shattered in an instant. His voice exploded, raw and vicious, as if every ounce of pent-up anger had finally burst free.
The words cut through the air like a blade, his rage burning hot and sharp. He couldn’t even look at her now. The anger, the betrayal, it all spilled out in that moment, leaving everything in its wake.
Lana’s tears spilled freely as she moved toward him, her arms wrapping tightly around him. Her voice cracked, desperate.
But Arashi’s fury flared, the heat in his chest rising uncontrollably.
His words were sharp, but his body betrayed him. He couldn’t bring himself to be rough with her—not Lana, not his true love. Still, the anger burned too hot to ignore.
His words were harsh, desperate, but even as he pushed her away with his voice, his body remained tense with the conflict he couldn't resolve.
Lana refused to let go.
The words stung like a lash, but Arashi fought to maintain the edge of his rage.
Arashi slowly, almost gently, broke free from the hug, his body trembling with the weight of the words he needed to say. His hands gripped her arms for a moment, as if steadying himself, before he pushed her away. His voice rose, raw with anger, yet dripping with disappointment.
With that final, venomous sentence, Arashi turned and quickened his pace toward his room, slamming the door behind him.
Lana stood frozen, her body shaking from his words, yet something about the force of it made her want to stay. She didn’t—couldn’t—follow him.
Inside, Arashi’s fury exploded. He screamed, throwing everything in sight—glasses, monitors, anything he could reach. The sound of breaking glass and crashing objects filled the room, a violent symphony of destruction. It was a calamity in every sense of the word, fierce and uncontrollable, a force of nature that consumed everything in its path.
It was a disaster behind the closed door, but somehow, she was untouched. It was dangerous, deadly, and it swept everything in its wake—but it did not reach her. The weight of his words, the violence of his anger, it had broken her inside, torn her apart in ways she couldn’t explain. She felt the ache in her chest, the guilt, the sadness, the desperate need to reach out, to fix it. But she couldn’t.
There was a strange, almost quiet relief. A sense of safety. She stood on the outside, watching the catastrophe unfold, and though her heart felt shattered, she felt something she hadn’t expected—thankful. Grateful. Grateful that the storm, for now, hadn’t touched her. That she was, in this moment, safe. And then, she realized something deep inside: Arashi could never truly hurt her. Not out of weakness, but out of love. His anger, his fury, it would never be physically unleashed to her. He might lash out, but his heart would always protect her from the worst of it. And that’s why, despite everything, she remained untouched.
Arashi’s body shook with the intensity of his anger. He couldn’t control it anymore. His voice roared again, filled with the fury he couldn’t hide, even as he fought to keep himself from going further.
he screamed, his voice trembling with rage.
He knew he was at his limit. He knew that if she stayed there, if she didn’t leave, he might hurt her. Not because he wanted to, but because everything inside him was unraveling. He clenched his fists, his body shaking with the effort of holding back.
His mind screamed at him to stop, to control himself. I won’t hurt her... But the rage inside him was so overwhelming. His body burned with it, and he could feel the fury threatening to spill over.
Go away, he thought, his voice now cracking under the weight of his emotion. Go away before I can’t hold back anymore.
His room was in chaos—broken objects scattered everywhere. He was running out of things to throw, but it didn’t matter. Nothing seemed to help. His mind, his body, everything was on the edge.
A long awaited moment later, Arashi’s rage had faded, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. The air felt thick with unresolved tension. Then, through the silence, a faint sound broke through—the sound of a baby crying, soft yet desperate. It took a moment for Lana to process, and then it hit her: it was Arashi.
Her heart clenched as she slowly approached his room, each step feeling heavier than the last. As she reached the door, she hesitated for a brief moment, her hand trembling as she pushed it open.
Before she could even step inside, Arashi’s voice reached her, low and stammering, like a boy struggling to find his words while his heart broke. His voice cracked with emotion.
His words were a jagged mixture of anger, hurt, and raw emotion, each syllable cutting deeper.
Lana stood frozen at the door, the weight of his words crashing over her like a wave. His pain was palpable, his tears breaking through the anger, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to do, how to fix the broken pieces between them.
Lana’s voice trembled as she stepped closer, her eyes filled with desperation.
She reached for him, her hand shaking, but pulled it back, too afraid to get too close.
Her words were broken, raw, as she stood there, vulnerable and completely lost without him.
Arashi’s voice was cold, but his words hit harder than any slap. He turned his back to her, as if trying to distance himself from the pain she had caused, but also from the pain he was trying to hold back.
he said, his tone sharp.
His voice was clear, but beneath it, there was something more—a deep, unspoken hurt that lingered in the air. The silence that followed was deafening, and Lana’s heart broke all over again. She stood there, unable to move, unable to respond, torn between wanting to stay and knowing that he was asking her to leave.
Lana stood there, her heart shattering with every beat, every breath that passed between them. Arashi’s words were like a final verdict, an irreversible truth.
With those words, her heart broke into fractals, every piece of her shattering like glass. She turned away from him, the powerlessness of the moment sinking deep into her bones. She stepped out, her movements slow, deliberate, as if each step was a goodbye she wasn’t ready to make.
She ordered an Uber to leave the garage, leaving her broken car there and unwilling to even see his car, let alone drive it, the numbness in her chest growing with every second that passed.
The perfect storm might not have broken her limbs and bones, but it did something worse—it shattered her heart, piece by piece, leaving her standing in the ruins of what they once had.
TO BE CONTINUED.
