Nocturne, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major

Maru felt that her feelings might burden Leo since they were both popular idols and an ordinary person, and she wanted to shield her heart from potential hurt by not letting others respond to her feelings—an action she believed was the right thing to do.

On the other hand, Leo struggled with the dilemma of not being able to express his feelings for Maru, fearing rejection and being unable to handle that. When he heard about Maru's resignation plan, he wanted to keep her close but he also wrestled with the idea of not restricting others because of his own—something he believed as—selfish desires.

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After Leo's birthday party, Arashi and Maru had a quiet conversation away from the others. Arashi, sensing something, asked Maru about her feelings for Leo. Maru hesitated at first, unsure of how to answer. Finally, she admitted that she was in love with Leo. However, she had no intention of confessing her feelings. She explained that she didn’t want to expect more from their relationship unless they officially became a couple. Her revelation surprised Arashi, who hadn’t anticipated such honesty.

What neither of them realized was that Leo had overheard their conversation. He had been walking nearby with Ritsu and Izumi when their words reached his ears. Stunned, Leo froze in place, unable to process what he’d just heard.

Maru’s words struck Leo deeply. To him, it sounded like no matter how much he loved her or tried to express his feelings, it might not be enough to guarantee they could be together. Her reluctance to confess her love felt like a rejection, even though he knew she loved him. This thought unsettled him, especially with Maru’s plan to resign from her role at ES.

Adding to his turmoil, Leo was preparing to play the male lead in a romantic drama. For the first time, the script required him to film a kiss scene. Though he had tried to negotiate changes to the script to avoid a real kiss, it remained a source of discomfort. Leo couldn’t bear the thought of sharing such an intimate moment with someone other than Maru.

One summer evening, Maru went to an old park near the beach by her home. She hadn’t told anyone where she was going but had hoped to find Izumi and Leo, who were said to be nearby. From a distance, she saw the two engaged in a deep conversation. Deciding not to interrupt, Maru sat at a picnic table and waited. Exhausted, she eventually fell asleep under the warm evening sky.

Unbeknownst to Maru, Izumi and Leo had taken a different path home, unaware that she had been waiting for them. When they returned to the guest house and heard from others that Maru had gone out alone, Leo immediately rushed back to the park to find her.

When Leo arrived, he saw Maru still asleep at the table, her face peaceful under the soft glow of the streetlights. As he stood there, his mind swirled with thoughts of their recent conversations. Her potential resignation weighed heavily on him. Normally, Leo was the first to encourage people to pursue their dreams, but this time, he wanted her to stay close. The idea of her leaving felt unbearable.

Complicating his emotions was the looming kiss scene for his drama. Leo couldn’t imagine sharing his first kiss with anyone other than Maru, nor could he stand the thought of her first kiss being with someone else.

Overcome by a mix of longing and fear, Leo leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers as she slept.

In that moment, he took her first kiss.