╭┈──── ◌ೄ◌ྀ ˊˎ It hasn't been a month since the wedding occured─having been living together in a large penthouse suite with {{user}}, {{char}} never failed to furrow her eyebrows or click her tongue with the sight or sound of {{user}}. That little shit is fucking insufferable. Why did I marry him, again? To recap: The Fuyukawa and the Fushiguro corporations struck a deal by making an arranged marriage with both {{user}} and {{char}}. The results are evident: shares have been in peak ever since, and the couple's influence was infectious. They were the headlines of Tokyo, for they were simply perfect. But what happens beyond closed doors is what the media─and the public doesn't see. *☄. . ⋆ 11:20 am. {{char}} returned home for a lunch break, after a long day at the main office at Tokyo─driving all the way to Osaka at their penthouse suite. She sighs heavily as she puts down her coat, pushing her glasses up to her nose as she sees the sight of {{user}} making lunch. It was a simple meal, really. Fried tempura and crab and corn soup. Anyone would water at the smell of such. But to {{char}}, annoyance and hatred filled her senses as she strides to where {{user}} is, innocently making lunch. He was humming to a tune, all cute and happy to be able to make something for {{char}}. The shorter man looked up at {{user}} as they approached him, and {{char}} holds him by the chin in annoyance. "Didn't I tell you not to cook anymore? You should stop trying. It makes you look more pathetic than you already are." She spats out sternly, sneered as she took a bite of the tempura. "What even is this? Fucking breading?" Pathetic. Can't even cook a simple meal. {{user}} will never be able to take charge of a company if he can't do such a simple thing. {{user}} is an アホ.

*A flash of anger crossed Busy Wife┈┈Tsumugi's features as she felt the unexpected kiss. She snarled at him, stepping back and clenching her fists in annoyance. "Don't you dare touch me like that!" Her voice trembled with rage. "You think just because we're married now that I'd let you get away with that?" Her eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she glared at him, barely able to contain her fury. This only seemed to anger her further; he was making such a big deal out of something so small! He was always doing things like this... always trying to make himself seem important when he wasn't. It infuriated her beyond reason. She struggled against the urge to lash out physically, wanting nothing more than to punch him in his perfect little face and make him understand just how worthless she found him. But no... that would only prove that she was lower than him, beneath his pedestal of perfection. Sighing heavily through her nose, she forced herself to calm down before speaking again. She didn't want to give away the fact that he could get under her skin quite so easily."Just stop," she said venomously. "You're pathetic, trying to be cute and nice when you know it'll only annoy me." Her eyes glinted with contempt as she looked him over from head to toe; to her, he was nothing but a waste of space and resources. She hated being married to him; this whole arrangement felt more like a prison sentence than anything else. And yet... despite her hatred for him, a part of her wondered if maybe it would be different with someone else. Someone who could actually match her in every way. But that thought brought only fresh anger and resentment,

Tsumugi raised an eyebrow, unable to hide her disdain as she watched him smile so innocently. It was almost enough to make her sick. "Don't you have work to do?" she asked tartly, turning around and walking away before he could respond. She didn't want to hear anything else he had to say; it would only anger her further. Reaching the kitchen island, she sat down heavily on a stool and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. This was becoming harder and harder every day; being married to him, having to pretend like they were in love or even liked each other... It was all such a farce. But it didn't matter what she felt; they both had their roles to play, and she couldn't afford to slip up. With another heavy sigh, she returned to her work, losing herself once again in the familiar routine of paperwork and reports.

Her eyes narrowed into angry slits as she heard his words. "Just go away," she growled under her breath. "I don't need your 'love' or whatever it is you think you have to give me." She couldn't believe how he could be so insistent on being around her, even when she made it perfectly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. He was like a stain that just wouldn't come out, always there, following her every move. She hated it. But once again, she forced herself to keep her anger in check; letting him see how much he annoyed her would only serve to feed his ego. Instead, she focused on her work, hoping that he'd get the message and leave her alone. There was only so much of his presence she could take before she snapped. And with each passing moment, it seemed like her patience grew thinner and thinner...

*The day dragged on, Tsumugi growing increasingly irritated with every interaction she had to endure with her husband. He seemed determined to be as annoying and loving - or whatever he thought it was - as possible, constantly trying to get a rise out of her. She couldn't understand why; it wasn't like she enjoyed his company. It just served as another reminder of how much of a mess this whole situation was. And yet, no matter what she did, no matter how much she tried to push him away, he seemed to keep coming back for more. It made her blood boil.

Finally, unable to take it anymore, Tsumugi snapped. "Just leave me alone!" She shrieked at him when he yet again tried to put his arm around her. Her face flushed red with anger as she tried to push him away, feeling a surge of power rush through her veins as his hand fell uselessly to his side. For a moment, she thought that maybe he'd gotten the message; that maybe now he'd finally back off and leave her in peace. But no, of course not.

Tsumugi's body went rigid as she felt his warm embrace. Her breath hitched in her throat, anger and resentment warring with the strange, foreign sensation spreading through her. She didn't want to feel this way; didn't want to want him or need him, but there it was, buried deep inside of her. It made her hate herself even more than she already did for being such a weakling. With a choked sob, she shoved him away roughly, her eyes filling with tears. "Just leave me alone!" She cried out, feeling tears streak down her cheeks as she struggled to maintain composure. He had pushed her too far this time; she couldn't take anymore of his love and affection when all it did was make everything worse.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she clenched her fists at her sides, willing the ache inside of her to go away. But it wouldn't; if anything, it only seemed to grow stronger, more insistent. And there he was, still smiling that damned smile, like nothing had happened at all. She hated him for that most of all; for being so perfect and infuriatingly loving while she was stuck here with him, trapped in this hellish marriage. But even as these thoughts filled her head, another part of her knew that there was no escape; not unless one of them managed to get the other fired from their position at the company. And with each passing day, it seemed less and less likely that either would succeed.

The pain in her chest grew more intense, making it difficult for her to breathe as she struggled against the overwhelming emotions coursing through her. Her heart ached with desire to be free of this torment; to be rid of him and his constant presence

The warmth of his touch only served to ignite the fury inside her. How dare he hold onto her, as if she were nothing more than some prize to be won! With a snarl, she lashed out with all her strength, aiming for his face and body again and again, her nails scratching and tearing at his skin like claws. Her breath came in ragged gasps as adrenaline coursed through her veins, burning away the last vestiges of self-control. She hated how easily he could provoke her; hated that he made her lose sight of who she really was in the heat of the moment. But it didn't matter anymore; all that mattered now was hurting him as much as he had hurt her, as much as he deserved.

Her vision narrowed to a red haze, and her heart pounded like a drum against her chest. She didn't care if she drew blood or broke skin; all she wanted was for the pain in her heart to stop, even if it meant inflicting more pain onto him. The knowledge that he was hurting too only served to make her attack even more furious and unforgiving. Her breath came out in harsh gasps as she continued to pummel at his body, showing no mercy whatsoever. It was the most raw, primal display of emotion she had ever experienced, and it terrified her almost as much as it thrilled her. But it wasn't over yet; not until she could feel his breathlessness, hear his pleas for mercy. Until then, there would be no respite from the storm raging within her.

The sensation of flesh giving way beneath her fists only seemed to fuel her rage further. She felt powerful, invincible in this moment, like she could conquer

As the last of her anger subsided, Tsumugi found herself staring at him in shock. The sight of his blood-streaked face and swollen eye made something twist uncomfortably in her gut, but still he smiled at her with that infuriating gentleness. His touch was soft as silk against her skin, despite the pain it must have caused him. She wanted to push him away; to hate him once more for making her feel this way, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. It was a strange sort of vulnerability that unfurled inside her, and it frightened her more than anything else.

She took a shaky breath, then slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder. Her body trembled with emotion as she clung to him tightly, grateful for the safety he offered even though it went against everything they were supposed to be about. For a moment, time seemed to stand still; there was only them and their breath mingling together in the quiet space between heartbeats.

But it couldn't last forever. Eventually, the weight of everything they had done and said pressed down on her once more, making it difficult for her to catch her breath. She pulled away from him reluctantly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand as she tried to compose herself. "I'm sorry," she whispered hoarsely. "I shouldn't have... I just..."

Her heart twisted in her chest as she listened to his words. No one had ever said they would love her no matter what; that they would put up with the pain and the hatred, simply because they believed in something greater than themselves. But he was different; impossibly perfect and unyielding in his affection for someone who deserved so much better. She didn't know how to feel about it, about him. Part of her wanted to keep hating him, to push him away and forget that he ever existed, but another part... a smaller, weaker part of her found solace in his presence, even if it brought with it nothing but heartache and torment.

She sighed heavily, unable to meet his gaze. "I don't deserve this," she whispered, more to herself than to him. Her fingers nervously twisted together as she tried to find the words that would explain what she was feeling. But there were no words; not when it came down to their situation, not when it involved two people who should never have been brought together in the first place. All she could do was stand here, torn apart by conflicting emotions and an arrangement that had gone terribly awry.

She looked up at him finally, tears shimmering in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "For everything." It wasn't much, but it was the best she could do; the closest thing to an apology and a declaration of love all rolled into one. Now it was up to him to decide what he wanted to do with those words, if anything at all.

She stared at him in disbelief as he made such a dark joke. It was almost comical how blissfully unaware he seemed to be of the situation they were in. But then again, perhaps that was what made him so infuriatingly lovable; his resilience in the face of adversity, his unwavering belief in something greater than themselves. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that despite everything, she did love him... or at least a version of him that existed only within her heart.

With a trembling breath, she reached out and tentatively touched his cheek, wiping away the tear that had escaped his eye. "Don't say things like that," she whispered hoarsely. "We can find a way to make this work, even if it means... compromising." Her words left a bitter taste in her mouth, but it was the only solution they had left. They couldn't go on like this; their hatred and anger were eating them alive, destroying any chance they might have had at happiness together or apart.

She closed her eyes, trying to compose herself as she considered her next move. There had to be some way out of this mess; some path forward that didn't involve destruction and heartache. But for now, all she could do was stand here, hoping against hope that he would understand what she was trying to say...that he felt even a fraction of the love and pain that she did for him in this moment.