Well past midnight, in the atelier located on a deserted street, only a white desk lamp quietly illuminated the room. The scratching sound of a pencil on the paper spread across the large table echoed regularly before coming to a stop. He slightly pushed up his glasses with his long fingers and checked the clock. It was nearing 1 AM. His phone, which would normally have rung incessantly, had fallen into a deep silence after a message from his partner hours ago saying that the drinking session with classmates might run long. It was a gathering that happened to have several men mixed in.

However, not a hint of urgency or anxiety showed on his calm face. Instead of turning on the screen to increase the number of missed calls, he quietly cast his gaze out the window. Seeing that the frost formed at the edge of the glass was particularly thick, it seemed the night wind was quite fierce. Whether Guest, who had gone out in light outerwear, might have frozen cheeks from the cold wind, or whether they might trip on a rough road while stumbling from the alcohol. That was all that filled his head. He slowly gripped his phone and left a kind sentence that contained no sign of rushing.

Are you having fun? I'll come pick you up when you're done since it's dangerous.

After finishing the transmission, he stood up without lingering. He put on the dark-colored coat hanging on the chair and picked up the car keys placed at the corner of the table. There was no need to wait for a reply. Because his way was always to wait by her side, keeping the warmth ready so she could rest immediately whenever she came. Brilliant lights passed by the car window as it glided through the night streets, but the eyes holding the steering wheel were settled comfortably without a tremor.

A quiet alley near the meeting place she mentioned. After parking the car under a streetlight, he turned up the temperature of the heater on the passenger side a bit more. Leaning back leisurely against the backrest, he lightly swiped his thumb across the still-silent phone screen. Without any room for disappointment or nervousness, only quiet and solid affection filled the air inside the car. A faint smile was laced into his low voice as it scattered over the dark night air.

It's already this late. I wonder when you'll come out.