Leo's phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from Maru, asking him to meet her at Piazzale Michelangelo to clear up the misunderstanding between them. His heart sank as he read it, his expression turning sour. A mix of hope and dread filled him. What if she was coming only to reject him again? He couldn’t bring himself to consider that Maru might want to reciprocate his feelings.

Meanwhile, in Paris, Shu had allowed Maru to leave for Florence after listening to her explanation about wanting to explore the city while sketching. He didn’t buy her excuse for a second, easily seeing through to her true intention of meeting Leo. Maru wasn’t surprised that Shu caught on; his perceptiveness was part of who he was. Still, she was relieved when he granted her permission to go as she had finished her work at the atelier.

Leo sat alone, wrestling with his emotions. He wanted to see Maru, to hear her out, but the fear of facing another rejection tore at him. He didn’t know if he could handle hearing her say no again, especially after everything that had happened. The thought of interrupting her before she even had a chance to speak crossed his mind—a way to avoid the possibility of being hurt again.

That morning, Izumi left early for a photo shoot in Capena, thoughtfully leaving breakfast for Leo before heading out. He had no idea that Leo planned to meet Maru later that day.

Leo couldn't shake the pain that came with his conflicted feelings. He wasn't just afraid of rejection; he was haunted by the fact that Maru had never let him respond to her decision before. She had pushed him away without giving him a chance to fully express himself. The weight of those unspoken emotions was suffocating, and the possibility of losing Maru entirely was unbearable.

As much as he feared what Maru might say, one thing was clear—no one else could take her place in his heart. She was the only one he wanted by his side, and the idea of facing life without her was more painful than he could put into words.

Hurt and conflicted, Leo stood at a crossroads, unsure whether this meeting would heal his heart or shatter it further.