But now, he couldn’t ignore the thought that she might leave one day.

That she might slip away when he wasn’t looking.

Leo realized that he wanted more. He wanted Maru not just as a friend but as someone who would stay with him, who would let him love her fully and be loved in return.

He said, as a person who was terrible at confiding his feelings into words.

Leo couldn’t shake the thought that Maru might leave someday. The idea that she could slip away when he wasn’t looking gnawed at him. It dawned on him that he wanted more than just their friendship—he wanted Maru to stay by his side, to let him love her completely, and to accept his love in return.

But things began to change. Maru started pulling away, though at first, it seemed innocent enough—she became busy with work-related tasks and college responsibilities. Gradually, Leo noticed she was avoiding him more and more. He couldn’t help but believe that Maru shared his feelings, yet her distant behavior left him second-guessing. What could she possibly be hiding from him?

This was the beginning of a misunderstanding that would soon lead to a little quarrel.

Maru explained that her schedule was demanding and that she might not visit as often, but she promised to still make time for him whenever possible. She reassured Leo that once her temporary assignment at the moving agency office ended, things would go back to normal. Her words eased Leo’s worries a little, but they couldn’t completely silence the uneasiness in his heart.

Leo understood that Maru was her own person, free to chase her dreams even if it meant they would grow further apart. Still, the thought unsettled him. To cope, Leo began finding ways to support her quietly. As an idol, he used his influence to help promote Maru in her field of scenography, hoping she’d get better opportunities.

Yet, the emotions he bottled up began to weigh on him. His difficulty in expressing his feelings left him with countless unfinished song drafts, each one a fragment of what he wanted to say. It wasn’t until Tsukasa suggested turning those drafts into a self-produced album that Leo found a way to channel his emotions.

The idea gave Leo clarity. He wasn’t just an idol—he was a composer, someone who could weave his feelings into music. If he couldn’t tell Maru how he felt directly, perhaps he could show her through his songs.

Maybe that was the way to win her over, he thought, given that Maru had long been one to listen to Leo's music.

One afternoon, Maru was taking a break from her work at Saison Avenue when she received a message from Leo. Just a photo, classic Tsukinaga Leo who loves to send photos without context. Yet, she understood, it was a subtle invitation “Hey! I’m here. Join me, come!” Worried that he might need her, she went to meet him.

They spent the day together by the shore, walking and talking as the waves lapped at their feet. The conversation drifted from lighthearted reminiscing to thoughtful silence as they gazed at the twilight sky, the sun setting on the sea’s horizon. Leo turned his eyes toward Maru, gathering the courage to speak.

At first hesitant, Leo opened up about his self-produced album. He explained that it was meant for his fans, but in (other) truth, every note and lyrics carried pieces of his feelings for Maru. Knowing her love for art, he asked if she would design the album cover. He suggested she use the demo tracklist as inspiration, though he secretly worried she might see through his intentions.

Maru, unaware of the deeper meaning behind his request, agreed without hesitation.

What Maru didn’t realize was that Leo’s project wasn’t just about music—it was also a plan to keep her close. By involving her in his work, he hoped to spend more time with her under the guise of “working together as partners”. For Leo, it was his way of holding onto her, even as she seemed to drift further away.