𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐓 ➛ ryusae

chpt 33 ➛ sae

Silence.

Not the kind of silence that existed between easy lulls in conversation, but the kind that carried weight. The kind that made the air feel heavier, denser, as if the very space between them had shifted.

Sae didn't react—not outwardly, at least. His expression remained unreadable, his posture relaxed, but internally, calculations had already begun.

So, this was what they wanted.

Of course.

It had been naive to assume this dinner was anything else. They hadn't invited him here just to exchange pleasantries or to gauge how well he was adjusting to Spain. No, this had been the plan all along. A carefully orchestrated setting, a carefully timed revelation.

And Luna—of course, Luna had to be the one to say it.

Sae exhaled slowly through his nose, letting the moment stretch just a second longer before finally speaking.

"I see."

His voice was as steady as ever, betraying nothing. No immediate refusal, no agreement—just a neutral acknowledgment, carefully measured.

Sae had seen this coming from the very start.

Even back in Japan, before he had even set foot in Spain, he had a feeling the club would try something like this. It was inevitable. The way they had pursued him, the way they had dangled opportunity in front of him like a carefully placed chess move—it had all been calculated. They had never intended for his contract to be temporary. They had just been waiting for the right moment to push for more.

And now, here it was.

The club manager leaned forward slightly, his expression calm, assured—like he already knew what Sae's answer would be.

"If you decide to extend," he began smoothly, "you'll be required to stay with the club for a minimum of four more months." He paused, letting that settle before adding, "Your salary will be increased accordingly. Significantly."

It was a tempting offer. Anyone else would have jumped at it.

But Sae wasn't just anyone.

Before he could formulate a response, before he could even begin to untangle the mess of thoughts tightening in his head, Luna let out a low, amused hum.

"Four months?" he mused, as if the idea was mildly entertaining rather than an actual contract negotiation. Then, with the kind of casual audacity that only he could pull off, he slung an arm around Sae's shoulders, pulling him in just slightly.

Sae stiffened.

Luna's smirk widened. "The longer, the better, no? Spain loves you, Itoshi. You should give them more time to appreciate you properly." His voice was light, teasing, but there was something beneath it—something deliberately pressing.

Sae didn't move. Didn't respond.

Because, for once, he didn't know what to say.

He had anticipated their offer. He had even prepared a response in the back of his mind. But now, sitting here, Luna's laughter cutting through the background murmur of the restaurant, the weight of the club's expectations pressing against his skin—he hesitated.

And he hated that he did.

The rest of the dinner passed in silence on his part.

He barely touched his food. Barely reacted when the club officials continued to discuss numbers, potential plans, the future they so clearly expected him to be a part of. His agent handled most of the talking, carefully navigating the discussion in a way that left room for consideration without committing to anything outright.