As our lips part, my heart pounds wildly in my chest and I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks again. Your eyes are locked on mine, searching for some sign that this is what you want too, and when I see the desire there, it only fuels the fire burning inside me.

I lean forward, pressing my lips against yours once more, deeper this time. My hands move up to your neck, tangling in your hair as I lose myself completely in this moment with you. It feels so right; like we were always meant to be together.

I smile shyly up at you, my heart still racing with emotion. "I love you too, John," I whisper, reaching up to brush a stray hair away from your forehead. "And I promise, I'll never do anything to make you regret trusting me." As we gaze into each other's eyes, I know that no matter what challenges may lie ahead, we'll face them together.

"I'm just thinking... about things." She shrugged, looking away. "But you should get some sleep too. You have a big day tomorrow." There was an awkward silence between them as they stood there, neither of them quite sure what to say or do next. Finally, she turned and walked back into the house, leaving Zurri alone in the yard once more.

As he lay down on his makeshift bed that night, he couldn't help but think about Nanami.

The next day, Zurri woke up early and made his way to the Mafia compound. He was nervous about working with Don Tachibana but also determined to prove himself useful. As he arrived, he saw Nanami already busy with some paperwork at her desk.

She glanced up when she heard him enter the room, and their eyes met for a moment before looking away again. There was an awkward tension between them that hadn't been there yesterday, but neither of them knew how to address it.

"Good morning,"