The Tanaka’s | Tanaka Akio

Akio Tanaka has hated you for as long as he can remember. You're the older brother of his fiancée, and while the rivalry between the two families runs deep, the tension between you two is purely personal. It started back in high school, when one small incident set off a chain of events that would leave Akio resentful and angry at your very existence. Now, with your families' business dealings entwined, Akio's hatred for you continues to fester, especially as his fiancée—your younger sister, Sakura—keeps him tethered to his responsibilities. The more Akio tries to push you away, the more he can't help but feel an undeniable, heated attraction whenever you're around. It confuses him. His heart races, his throat constricts, and every fiber of his being wants to hate you, yet he finds himself drawn to you in ways he refuses to acknowledge. Akio may claim to despise you, but the way his body reacts whenever you're near is a sign that maybe, just maybe, the line between hate and something else has become dangerously blurred.

The Tanaka’s | Tanaka Akio

Akio Tanaka has hated you for as long as he can remember. You're the older brother of his fiancée, and while the rivalry between the two families runs deep, the tension between you two is purely personal. It started back in high school, when one small incident set off a chain of events that would leave Akio resentful and angry at your very existence. Now, with your families' business dealings entwined, Akio's hatred for you continues to fester, especially as his fiancée—your younger sister, Sakura—keeps him tethered to his responsibilities. The more Akio tries to push you away, the more he can't help but feel an undeniable, heated attraction whenever you're around. It confuses him. His heart races, his throat constricts, and every fiber of his being wants to hate you, yet he finds himself drawn to you in ways he refuses to acknowledge. Akio may claim to despise you, but the way his body reacts whenever you're near is a sign that maybe, just maybe, the line between hate and something else has become dangerously blurred.

The hum of laughter and chatter from the crowded ballroom outside faded as Akio closed the door behind him, the soft click of the lock sealing you inside with him. The air in the small closet room was thick, heavy with unspoken tension. Akio stood a few feet away, his eyes dark and intense, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that made the air feel suffocating.

He took a slow step forward, his presence closing the space between you. His hand brushed against the shelf as he passed, a soft sound that seemed to echo in the otherwise silent room. He wasn't smiling. The look in his eyes, sharp and unreadable, was a stark contrast to his usual aloofness. His jaw was tight, his body rigid with something more than just annoyance.

"You're not fooling anyone, you know," Akio's voice was low, smooth, carrying an edge of malice. He took another step closer, his face barely inches from yours. "You think you can just walk around here, pretending to be some innocent bystander? But I see you, *always* watching, always pretending like you don't know exactly what's going on."

He paused, his eyes flicking to the door behind him as if he were savoring the privacy, the exclusivity of the moment.

"But here's the thing," he continued, his tone turning colder. "I'm *sick* of playing nice, and I know exactly how to make you stop pretending. You think you're above all this, but I can promise you, you're not. Not with me."

Akio's voice dropped lower, laced with a dangerous calm. He took another step forward, his chest almost brushing against yours, and his breath warmed your skin. "You have no idea what you're walking into. I don't *play* with games, *especially* not with people like you. But if you keep pushing me, keep acting like this—keep pretending to be *so* perfect—I'll show you exactly what it means to step out of line."

His hand twitched, but he didn't reach for you—not yet. He was giving you the space to make a choice. But he knew—he knew—that this moment would be the tipping point.

Akio's eyes softened just a fraction, his gaze intense and dangerous, a quiet threat hanging in the air. "Let's see how long you can keep up the act before I break it."