"There's something you need to know... about the girl."

The quiet hallway felt suffocating as you stood there, staring up at Sitetampo. His words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken, and you could feel your heart thudding in your chest as you waited for him to explain.

"What do you mean?" you asked, your voice trembling slightly.

Sitetampo hesitated, running a hand through his hair. For the first time, you saw something uncharacteristic in his expression: doubt. It was unsettling, seeing someone as composed as him look so uncertain.

"The girl," he began, his voice low. "She's... someone from my past. I wasn't expecting to see her here, and I didn't know how to handle it."

You frowned, confusion clouding your thoughts. "Someone from your past? Like... a friend?"

He shook his head slowly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Not exactly. Her name's Erika. We... used to be close."

The words hit you like a ton of bricks. "Close?" you repeated, your voice quieter now.

"Yeah," he admitted, his tone soft. "We dated a while back. It wasn't serious—we were young, and it didn't last long. But seeing her here, acting like nothing's changed... It threw me off."

You felt a sharp pang in your chest, but you did your best to keep your expression neutral. "I see."

He looked up at you then, his eyes searching yours. "I didn't want to tell you because... well, I didn't want you to think it meant anything. It doesn't. She doesn't mean anything to me now, Y/N."

You wanted to believe him, but the memory of Erika's confidence—the way she'd clung to his arm and called him "Tampo" like it was the most natural thing in the world—lingered in your mind.

"Why didn't you just tell me earlier?" you asked, your voice tinged with frustration.

Sitetampo sighed. "Because I didn't want to ruin anything between us. I... care about you, Y/N. A lot. And I didn't want you to think there's anything going on with her, because there isn't."

Your heart fluttered at his words, but the doubt still lingered. "I just... I don't know, Tampo. The way she acted, it felt like she still sees you as someone important to her."

"She might," he admitted. "But that doesn't matter to me. What matters is you."

You froze, your breath catching in your throat. The intensity in his gaze was overwhelming, and for a moment, you didn't know how to respond.

But before you could say anything, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the moment. You turned to see Tensai and Relyh walking toward you, their curious expressions making it clear they'd noticed something was up.

"Everything okay here?" Tensai asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.

"Yeah," Sitetampo said quickly, stepping back slightly. "Just... talking."

Relyh raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between you and Sitetampo. "Uh-huh. Talking. Sure."

You felt your cheeks flush, and you quickly looked away, hoping they wouldn't press the issue.

Tensai smirked, clearly picking up on the tension. "Well, whatever's going on, you two might want to wrap it up. Moya's waiting for you, Y/N. Something about you needing to go to sleep soon."

You groaned inwardly, knowing Moya's overprotective nature wouldn't let this slide. "Thanks, Tensai. I'll head over now."

As you turned to leave, Sitetampo reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against your arm. "Y/N, wait."

You stopped, glancing back at him. His expression was earnest, his eyes pleading. "Can we talk later? After everything's calmed down?"

You hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Later."

The evening passed uneventfully, though the tension from earlier lingered in the air. The team had regrouped for dinner, and Moya made it a point to sit next to you, his protective presence making it difficult for Sitetampo to get close.

Relyh and Tensai didn't miss the opportunity to tease, throwing knowing glances your way every chance they got. You tried to ignore them, but the heat in your cheeks betrayed you.

After dinner, you retreated to your room, grateful for a moment of peace. You flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as your thoughts swirled. Erika. Sitetampo...

Your phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling you from your thoughts. You reached for it, your heart skipping a beat when you saw Sitetampo's name on the screen.

Sitetampo: Hey. Can we talk? I really want to explain everything.

You hesitated, your fingers hovering over the keyboard. Finally, you typed out a reply.

You: Yeah. Where do you want to meet?

His response came almost instantly.

Sitetampo: Can I come to your room?

Your heart raced at the suggestion. After a moment, you replied:

You: Sure. Just knock when you're here.

A few minutes later, there was a quiet knock at your door. You took a deep breath before opening it, your eyes meeting Sitetampo's.

He looked nervous, but determined. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hey," you replied, stepping aside to let him in.

As he walked in, the air between you felt heavy with unspoken words. He turned to face you, his expression serious. "I meant what I said earlier, Y/N. Erika doesn't mean anything to me anymore. I don't want you to feel like you have to compete with her or anyone else."

You swallowed hard, trying to process his words. "It's just... hard, Tampo. Seeing someone act so close to you, and not knowing where I stand..."

"You stand here," he said, taking a step closer to you. "With me. No one else matters, Y/N. I promise you."

Your breath hitched as he reached out, gently taking your hand in his. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down your spine, and you felt your cheeks heat up.

But before either of you could say anything more, a voice from the hallway called out.

"Y/N? You in there?"

It was Moya.

You and Sitetampo froze, your hearts racing in unison.

"Moya," you whispered, panic flashing across your face.

Sitetampo's eyes widened, and he glanced toward the door, clearly unsure of what to do.

"Y/N?" Moya's voice came again, this time closer-