That night, Yuuto couldn't sleep.
The city outside the window was quiet, but inside his mind, those words kept repeating.
> "If I had met him in another life…"
"Would I have loved him the same?"
He sat up in bed, heart pounding.
That notebook wasn't business-related. It wasn't random.
It was something else.
Something hidden.
Something meant to be forgotten.
---
The next day, during his break, Yuuto returned to the office quietly. The hotel owner was out for a meeting.
Yuuto stood before the shelf again.
His hands shook slightly as he pulled out the notebook.
He opened it to the middle.
> "He always held his coffee with both hands like he was afraid of losing warmth. I never told him, but I watched him every time."
Yuuto blinked.
He did that.
He always held his mug that way. Even as a child.
He turned another page.
> "I wanted to tell him I remembered. But how do you say 'I missed you before I met you' without sounding insane?"
His throat tightened.
Whoever wrote this… wasn't just sad.
They were in love.
With someone they couldn't reach.
And Yuuto didn't know why…
but he felt like that person was him.
---
Later that evening, Yuuto was walking down a quiet hallway when he almost bumped into Aiden.
Aiden stopped.
Yuuto's breath hitched.
Neither of them spoke at first.
Then Aiden quietly asked, "You look tired."
Yuuto looked up slowly. "Do you write journals?"
Aiden blinked. "What?"
"You know… do you ever keep diaries? Like, personal ones?"
Aiden's expression froze for a second.
"…I used to."
Yuuto watched his eyes carefully. "Long ago?"
Aiden nodded slowly. "Why do you ask?"
Yuuto hesitated.
He didn't want to say it yet.
So he just smiled, forced and quiet.
"No reason."
Aiden didn't press.
But in his eyes, something flickered.
Like a tiny alarm bell had rung.
---
That night – in the hotel owner's private suite
The owner sat at his desk, reviewing a guest file.
Then he noticed…
The notebook on his shelf.
The ribbon was tied. But not the way he usually tied it.
Someone had opened it.
He smiled.
A slow, knowing smile.
> "So… the strings are tightening."