Page 338 of Faking the Goal

"He loves with everything he has. Once he lets someone into his heart, there isn't much he wouldn't do to keep them safe."

The words settle heavily inside my chest.

Because...I already know that.

I've seen it in every little thing he's done for me. In the way he translated twelve volumes of manga just so I could read them. In the way he never let me walk anywhere alone. In the way he sat beside this hospital bed for three days, refusing to leave even for a proper night's sleep.

And that's exactly why I asked him to stay away.

Because if loving me means he'll keep throwing himself in front of every danger meant for me...

I don't know how to live with that.

The door to my hospital room opens, and the moment my eyes land on Kentaro, my heart performs that ridiculous little stumble it always does whenever he walks into a room.

As if the traitorous thing has somehow reached across the distance between us and tugged on his, Kentaro looks up at the exact same moment.

The expression he wears beside Detective Matthews is hard and guarded, his jaw set tightly as they step inside, but it softens the instant our eyes meet. A small, achingly tender smile touches his mouth—one meant only for me—and warmth spreads through my chest despite the guilt already twisting beneath it.

Because his smile might be gentle, but his eyes are not.

There is a loneliness in them, a quiet sadness he is trying to hide from everyone in the room, though I know exactly who put it there.

Me.

I told him to leave. Told him he should stay away from me after he had opened his heart and placed it, trembling and defenseless, into my hands. I had watched him walk out of this room carrying the pain I caused and still let the door close behind him.

Now every part of me aches to reach for him.

I want to stretch out my hand and tell him I was scared. That fear made me stupid and cruel. That I never wanted him to leave, not really. I want to tell him the words that nearly tore their way out of me last night.

I love you too.

They rise into my throat again, heavy with everything I have been too afraid to give him, but Detective Matthews steps farther into the room, and I force them back down.

For now.

I drag my gaze away from Kentaro and offer the detective a tired smile. "Detective Matthews."

A warm smile touches his face as he walks over to my bedside.

"Miss Lewis." His tone is gentler than I expect. He studies my face briefly, taking in the bruising and the bandage near my temple. "It's good to see you awake."

"It's good to be awake."

"I imagine so." He gives a small nod. "How are you feeling today?"

"I've definitely felt better," I admit with a faint smile. "But the doctors seem happy with how everything's progressing."

"They'll probably keep a close eye on you for a little while longer," he says. "After everything you've been through, they want to be thorough."

"I figured as much."

Harumi rises from her chair then, smoothing the front of her blouse before looking between Detective Matthews and Kentaro.

"We should probably give you all some privacy."

She leans down to hug me one last time, careful of my injuries.