Chapter 14. Caught Between Fire and Frost

"No. Revise this." Akihiko stated, his tone sharp and uncompromising as he sipped his coffee.

He dropped the draft onto the polished surface of his desk with a dismissive flick of his wrist.

"What?!" Ayaka shot up from her chair, her frustration bubbling over. She leaned forward, her palms flat on the desk as she glared at him.

"Again? I've been revising this chapter week after week! When is it ever going to be good enough?"

Akihiko's icy-blue eyes barely flickered in response to her outburst.

He tilted his head slightly, studying her like a curious puzzle. "When it stops reading like amateur hour." He replied coolly.

"I'm not rewriting that again!" Ayaka snapped, her voice rising, but Akihiko remained unfazed, his stoic expression locked in place.

It had been three grueling months of late nights, endless drafts, and countless revisions. They were now stuck on chapter 12, the pivotal moment where the male and female leads were supposed to embark on their first unintentional date. But every version Ayaka submitted was met with the same icy criticism.

Akihiko leaned back in his chair and picked up the contract resting on his desk, his fingers flipping casually to the last page. He held it up like a lawyer in a courtroom. "Under rule number nine; Conditions Proposed by Akihiko Nakamura..." he began, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.

"This section must be strictly followed by Ayaka Yamamoto AKA Ms. Midnight. Terms are non-negotiable. Would you like me to read the fine print for you?" His eyebrow arched as a sly smirk curved his lips.

"I know what's written in that stupid contract!" Ayaka shot back, her cheeks flushing with indignation.

"Then..." Akihiko said smoothly, his piercing gaze locking onto hers, "Do what you're supposed to, Ms. Midnight, satisfy your number-one fan." His voice softened into a teasing lilt, but the intensity in his eyes made Ayaka's heart skip involuntarily.

"Ugh!" Ayaka groaned, snatching the draft off his desk. "You're impossible to please!" With a dramatic turn, she stormed out of his office, leaving Akihiko chuckling softly behind her.

As she marched down the hospital hallway, the murmurs of nurses and other staff reached her ears. "Dr. Nakamura and Ms. Yamamoto seem to be getting along very well lately."

"They're always together! Could it be...?"

Ayaka rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "Yeah, right. If only they knew the living hell I have to endure dealing with that Ice Prince." She clenched the draft tighter and kept walking, only to spot her brother, Kei, waving at her from the far end of the corridor.

A genuine smile broke across her face as she ran toward him. "Kei!"

"You're here so often lately, but you only ever visit Dr. Nakamura." Kei smirked, his tone teasing as he ruffled her hair. "I'm starting to get jealous. Is this what it feels like when your little sister gets a boyfriend?"

"D-Dr. Nakamura is not my boyfriend!" Ayaka stammered, her face turning crimson.

She swatted his hand away, crossing her arms defensively. "We're just talking... for business."

"Oh? What kind of business?" Kei asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

Ayaka leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm making him the male lead for my upcoming romance novel."

Kei's eyes widened, and he nearly choked on his laughter. "Wait—him?! He actually agreed to that? Dr. Nakamura—"

"Shhh!" Ayaka clamped her hand over his mouth, glancing nervously around the busy hallway as curious eyes turned their way. "You're too loud!"

Kei finally managed to pull her hand away, grinning mischievously. "Alright, alright! But seriously, how'd you get him to agree? He never says yes to anyone!"

Ayaka straightened, her expression smug. "I have my ways."

"Sure, sure." Kei chuckled, patting her on the back.

"Well, good luck with your... collaboration. Make sure that novel becomes a hit!" With a wink, he turned and disappeared down the hallway.

As his footsteps faded, Ayaka's confident facade crumbled, replaced by a deep sigh. She plopped down on a bench just outside the hospital, clutching the draft in her hands.

"How am I supposed to write an unintentional date?" she muttered, tapping the pages against her forehead. "Nothing about that Ice Prince is unintentional."

Her thoughts wandered back to Akihiko's smirk, his teasing remarks, and the way he could reduce her carefully constructed confidence into a frustrated mess. With a groan, she let her head fall back against the bench, staring up at the sky.

-----

Moments later, Ayaka stormed back into the office, her frustration bubbling over like a pot left on the stove too long.

Dropping into her chair, she glared at the computer screen. The blinking cursor seemed to mock her failed attempts.

"This is the nth time I'm erasing this!" she muttered through clenched teeth, dragging the mouse to highlight the offending paragraph.

With a sharp click, it disappeared into the void of her creative despair.

Just as she prepared to start over, her phone buzzed insistently on the desk. She glanced at the screen it was Akihiko. His smirking profile picture only added fuel to her irritation.

"What now?" she grumbled, snatching up the phone. She swiped to answer, her voice sharp. "What? I'm busy!"

Akihiko's rich, velvety laughter spilled through the speaker, the kind of laugh that could simultaneously charm and irritate anyone. "Busy? You? I was just checking to see if you've started slacking off again."

Ayaka's grip tightened on the phone. "How could I possibly slack off with this impossible task you dumped on me?!" she snapped before abruptly hanging up. Tossing her phone onto the desk, she fumed.

"He'll never stop finding ways to annoy me! And to think I believed he disliked talking to girls!" Her voice rose as she glared at her phone, Akihiko's picture still mocking her from the recent calls.

She leaned forward, jabbing a finger at the screen as if scolding him in person. "Just you wait, Mr. Ice Prince! When this book is published, I'll—"

"Who are you yelling at?"

Ayaka jumped, spinning to see Kazumi lounging casually in her doorway, his arms crossed and a bemused grin playing on his lips.

"K-Kazumi! How long have you been standing there?" she stammered, hastily placing her phone face down.

"Long enough." he replied, walking into the room. His gaze flicked to her phone, spotting Akihiko's name. "Trouble with the doctor again?"

Ayaka sighed, deflating like a balloon. "It's not just him. I can't seem to get this scene right. It's driving me crazy."

Kazumi pulled a chair over and sat beside her, leaning forward with an encouraging smile. "Maybe I can help. What's the scene about?"

"It's supposed to be an unintentional date between the male and female leads, but no matter what I write, it feels forced." Ayaka admitted, rubbing her temples. "How do you make something unintentional feel natural?"

Kazumi's eyes lit up with an idea. "How about this—why don't we go on an unintentional date? We could hit the movies this weekend, see how the day unfolds. It might spark some inspiration for the scene."

Ayaka blinked, caught off guard. "An unintentional... date?" She hesitated, then a glimmer of hope brightened her expression.

"That's actually... not a bad idea. Maybe experiencing it will help me write it better!"

"Great!" Kazumi said with a boyish grin. "I'll pick you up at your apartment at 10 a.m. on Saturday."

"Alright, sounds like a plan!" Ayaka agreed, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.

As Kazumi left the room, a faint blush began creeping into his cheeks.

------

The week flew by in a blur, and Saturday morning arrived, bringing with it the crisp promise of a bright, eventful day.

Ayaka stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the soft pink dress that hugged her figure just enough to be flattering yet modest. Her hair fell in loose waves, framing her glowing face as she added a final touch of gloss to her lips.

"I hope I didn't overdress..." she murmured, turning slightly to check her reflection. Her heart fluttered with anticipation—and a touch of nervousness.

Her phone buzzed on the vanity. Kazumi's text flashed on the screen: I'm downstairs.

"Oh, he's already here!" Ayaka grabbed her bag, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes, and hurried out the door.

Her heart fluttered as she stepped into the hallway, ready to head down. But before she could take more than a few steps, the sound of a door creaking open behind her made her pause.

Ayaka turned, her breath catching. Akihiko emerged from his apartment, dressed casually in a fitted sweatshirt and dark jeans that highlighted his tall, lean frame. His disheveled hair only added to his charm, and Ayaka felt her pulse quicken despite herself.

Determined to avoid him, she focused on the task at hand and turned toward the stairs. But before she could take a step, Akihiko moved, blocking her path with an annoyingly smug expression.

"Excuse me!" Ayaka said, trying to sound assertive, though her voice betrayed her nerves. She stepped to the left.

Akihiko followed, his movements smooth and deliberate, that infuriating smirk tugging at his lips.

She huffed and switched to the right. He mirrored her again, his blue eyes glinting with amusement.

"Seriously, You're in my way!" she snapped, her frustration rising.

Instead of answering, Akihiko stepped closer, his arm shooting out to brace against the wall beside her.

The sudden movement pinned her in place, his body just inches from hers. Ayaka's breath hitched as his intense gaze bore into her, the teasing amusement now replaced by something more magnetic.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice low and velvety, sending a shiver down her spine.

"T-that's none of your business!" Ayaka stammered, trying to push past him, but Akihiko didn't budge.

"None of my business? You have a deadline to meet." he murmured, leaning closer until she could feel the heat radiating from him.

His free hand brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers grazing her cheek. "You look… different today."

Ayaka's face flushed, her heart hammering against her ribs. "I-I'm just going out. Now move!" she demanded, her voice trembling.

But instead of moving, Akihiko's eyes dropped to her dress. His expression shifted, softening into something unreadable.

"This dress…" he murmured, his voice dropping even lower.

"What about it?" Ayaka whispered, her breath shallow as his face inched closer.

"It's bothering me..." he said, his tone almost a growl. His gaze traveled over her, lingering just enough to make her feel exposed despite the modest cut of the fabric.

Before she could respond, Akihiko leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he whispered, "Seeing you like this makes me want to be selfish..."

Ayaka's knees went weak as his words sent a wave of heat coursing through her. "W-what are you talking about?" she managed, turning her face away to avoid his intense gaze.

Akihiko took advantage of the movement, his lips grazing her bare shoulder lightly, making her gasp.

"H-hey..." she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.

His lips quirked into a sly smile as he leaned back slightly, his face hovering just inches from hers. "That's a close call..." he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

"Ayaka! We have to go to the cinema alre-"

The spell shattered as Kazumi's voice echoed down the hallway. Akihiko straightened but didn't move away entirely, his eyes flicking over Ayaka one last time before turning toward the approaching figure.

Kazumi froze when he saw them, his eyes narrowing as his jaw clenched. "What's going on here?"

Ayaka pushed past Akihiko, her cheeks flaming. "Kazumi! I—I'm sorry! Let's go!"

Before she could escape, Akihiko grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not painful.

"Wait." he said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'm coming with you."

Kazumi's jaw tightened. "No, you're not. It wouldn't be a date if all three of us went."

"Date?" Akihiko echoed, a flicker of confusion crossing his face before his lips curved into an amused smirk.

"It's not like that!" Ayaka blurted out.

"We're just… trying to portray the characters on an unintentional date for the story. I thought it might give me some ideas."

"I see..." Akihiko said with a soft chuckle, his sharp gaze shifting to Kazumi.

His smirk widened into something almost predatory. "But since I'm the 'main character,' shouldn't you be going on a date with me? I'm the inspiration after all."

Ayaka felt like she was caught in a whirlwind, her heart pounding for entirely different reasons now. "W-wait! Let's all just go! It's just a movie, right?"

Akihiko's smirk softened into a victorious smile. "Sounds fair."

Kazumi gritted his teeth, muttering under his breath as he shot Ayaka a glance filled with frustration and something deeper. "Fine. But don't think I'm paying for your ticket, Doctor."

Akihiko chuckled as he released Ayaka's wrist, his confidence unwavering. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Ayaka sighed, glancing between the two men. This was going to be far more complicated than she had planned.

The tension between the three lingered as they made their way down the building's stairs.

Ayaka walked ahead, her mind racing as she tried to diffuse the awkwardness brewing between Akihiko and Kazumi.

Her cheeks were still warm from Akihiko's earlier proximity, and she couldn't quite bring herself to meet either man's gaze.

Kazumi stayed close behind her, his hand brushing hers briefly, sending a jolt through her. He opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated, glancing back at Akihiko, who followed them with an easy, unbothered stride. His casual demeanor only served to irritate Kazumi further.

As they stepped outside into the bright morning sunlight, Kazumi's car gleamed just a few feet away. He exhaled sharply, making a decision.

Before Ayaka could react, Kazumi grabbed her wrist gently but firmly, pulling her toward his car. "Let's go." he said, his tone sharper than usual.

"W-wait!" Ayaka stumbled slightly, surprised by the sudden movement. "Kazumi!"

Kazumi didn't stop, opening the passenger door for her with a quick, almost possessive motion.

"Get in." he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers with a mix of determination and something deeper.

Ayaka hesitated, glancing back at Akihiko, who stood just a few steps away.

His posture was relaxed, his hands shoved casually into his pockets, but there was a subtle tension in the way his jaw clenched.

Akihiko's blue eyes flicked to Kazumi, his expression unreadable, though the glimmer of irritation in his gaze betrayed him. Still, he smirked, masking whatever jealousy he felt with his usual air of confidence.

"Impatient, aren't we?" Akihiko said smoothly, his voice laced with a quiet challenge as he leaned against the stair railing.

Kazumi ignored him, his focus entirely on Ayaka. "Come on, Ayaka." he urged, his voice softening. "We'll be late."

Caught between them, Ayaka felt her pulse quicken. She nodded and slipped into the passenger seat, her heart pounding as Kazumi shut the door behind her.

Akihiko's smirk widened slightly, though his eyes darkened as he watched the car pull away. He tapped his fingers against the railing, his calm exterior betraying none of the storm simmering inside him.

As they drove off, Ayaka glanced at Kazumi, who was gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than usual.

She felt the weight of the unspoken words between them and the lingering presence of the man they had left behind.