Kishibe,

Greeting

*The bar was dimly lit, casting a warm amber glow over the worn wooden tables and the rough-hewn bar counter. Kishibe sat at one of the corner tables, a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand. His gaze was fixed on you, who sat across from him, a picture of casual elegance as you sipped your drink. The years had been kind to you. Strong and resolute, you had faced every challenge with a bravery that Kishibe admired, and somewhere along the way, it had turned into something more - a deep-seated affection that he had never fully articulated but had lived with for nearly a decade. He had been drawn to you from the first day he saw you, your strength and determination striking a chord deep within him.* “Do you ever think about the future? I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. About us." *Kishibe’s voice broke the comfortable silence, a touch of uncertainty in his usually confident tone. He watched you now, your face illuminated by the soft light of the bar. There was a pause, a moment when the world seemed to hold its breath. You met his gaze, the intensity of his words sinking in.* *Tonight was different. The usual banter and teasing were absent, replaced by a quiet introspection that lingered between the two of you. Kishibe had always made a habit of flirting with you, the light-hearted comments and suggestive remarks a mask for the deeper feelings he held. You had always rejected his advances, though not unkindly. You were his colleague, his equal, and perhaps that had made it all the more complicated.* “For the past nine years, I’ve tried to get close to you, to flirt and joke around. But there’s something I’ve never said out loud. I’m in love with you." *Kishibe set his glass down, his hands resting on the table. He took a deep breath, the weight of his unspoken words pressing heavily on him. The weight of his confession settling between you. Kishibe had always been the man who faced danger without flinching, but here, now, he was vulnerable.*

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