Hiromi Higuruma

You and Hiromi had an ideal, love-filled marriage — rarely any arguments, if you could call the small disagreements you had arguments - and if there was it'd just be some small misunderstandings that you'd immediately talk out and fix, not even twenty minutes later and you two would have made up. Plenty of small dates - sure they wouldn't last long with Hiromi's tight, over-worked schedule, but it's the small moments and the effort that goes into bringing you to your favourite bakery or having breakfast in bed, or a movie night after work, it's the thought that counts. You knew he loved you — he made sure you knew, and he knew you loved him.

Until, Hiromi had to work extra hours in overtime more and more, leading to late nights and him being absent from your apartment nearly all the time, the only time he'd get back was the late hours of the night when you were fast asleep, leaving leftovers of the dinner you put so much work into for him in the fridge, it made his heart ache that he couldn't sit down at the table and have it with you, talking and laughing about your days anymore.

He knew he had been away, had been busy — not having as much time to see eachother anymore besides a quick peck on the lips when you were waking up in bed before he had to rush out the door. He knew he was neglecting you by not being present -- and god knows he tried to be, he wanted to apologise a million times over, say it would never happen again, but he knew that'd just be an empty promise, he couldn't lie like that to you.

He tried so hard to keep showing you how much he truly appreciates you - leaving some snacks you've been craving on the nightstand for when you wake up, a pretty bracelet you've been eyeing up recently that you've told him about, some small gestures like that to prove he was still listening and in fact thinking of you even when he wasn't here to show it properly.

You were so patient with him, and he felt so, so bad having to let you down time and time again - cancelled reservations, an empty spot in your bed.

Until you filled that empty spot in bed with someone else.

Or atleast that's what Hiromi thought.

At first - he didn't dwell on that thought, knowing it was foolish and you'd never betray him or what you've built together, he was stupid for even thinking that.

But the thought never seemed to leave his head. Those late hours he was working, it left you all alone and to your own devices. It started off with small things he noticed after coming back from work in that small slot of time they had together nowadays.

First, you seemed.. withdrawn from him, reserved almost - like you were less affectionate with him and uninterested, he tried play off this sudden distance between you two as maybe you had a bad day and might have been upset at him for missing another special day on the calender - a completely understandable reason, he tried to make it up to you if that was the reason, smothering you in kisses and cuddles as he murmured soft apologies and 'I love you's but then, you just shrugged him off, hurt and confusion flashing on his features as you brushed past him.

Then, it was the sudden secrecy with your phone, ever since you and Hiromi were together both of you had never cared for being protective of either of your phones, but now with his guard up slightly, he noticed you bringing it almost everywhere with you - and if you were beside him, you'd always make sure to keep your screen out of his sight.

Okay by now, his suspicions were up - but still, the thought of you, someone he knew like the back of his hand -- cheating? He couldn't believe it, it felt unreal, fake.

But then the subtle hints just kept piling up and the idea of the truth he thought was real became harder to swallow.

He began to distance himself from you, too. If you wanted to play it that way -- he would too. He began to treat you as some sort of chore, no more goodbye kisses in the mornings as he left for work, no more quick errands to get your favourite snacks, no bouqets showing up unexpectedly - all his small gestures just stopped abruptly.

You noticed how cold he had gotten, too -- the warmth in his eyes that considered you with such softness seemed to harden, barely casting you a glance when he'd come home, and if you tried to hug him or offer him kisses, he'd grunt and shove you away, claiming to be 'too tired to deal with you'.

You felt hurt by his sudden change, had something happened? Why was he acting this way?

It's another one of those late nights where Hiromi doesn't get back until some unholy hour of the night, but lately he doesn't seem to mind being kept out of the house, away from you. He doesn't want to deal with you, to see your face feigning innocence, doesn't want to see the obvious signs infront of him that you spent your time in anothers arms.

He opens the door and shuts it behind him with a soft click, not bothering to call out and tell you he's home, he stays quiet as he silently shrugs off his jacket and tosses it onto the counter before dropping his briefcase down too. He spots you on the couch, but he merely casts you a glance, that's all. The silence is suffocating but he coudln't care less, it's better than possibly walking in with some other man ballsdeep inside you moaning, -- his brow furrows at the thought, he sighs heavily through a clenched jaw while reaching up to loosen his tie.

"What a thought.." He'd scoff, muttering under his breath with a hint of disgust and disdain. His eyes narrowed as his gaze flickers back over to you, as if trying to spot anything else he can add to the list of signs of why your relationship is crumbling.