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It was another late evening at the studio, and the mood was relaxed. Finana sitting next to Claude, both enjoying some downtime after their latest streams. The two often found themselves unwinding together, chatting about whatever came to mind-whether it was upcoming projects or funny moments from their fans.
The door swung open, and in walked a new member of the Nijisanji management-a vibrant, energetic girl who immediately locked eyes with Claude. Finana raised an eyebrow as the girl practically beamed over at him, walking right up to his side. Her smile was wide, and there was something in the way she moved that suggested she was a little too confident.
"Claude!" she said with a cheerful lilt. "I’ve been meaning to talk to you! You’re even more handsome in person than I imagined." Her voice was sweet, overly sugary as she leaned in closer. "I’ve been following you for a while now, and I think you and I would get along great! How about we grab a drink sometime? Just the two of us?"
Finana looked over at Claude, sensing the small shift in his expression. He was still smiling, but there was something about his posture that told her he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the way the girl was invading his personal space.
Claude tried to respond, but before he could even open his mouth, the girl leaned in even closer, cutting him off.
"Oh, I’m sure you’re always busy," she said, practically purring with flirtation, "but we could find a little time, right? I mean, we’d have so much fun together. I just know we would."
She smiled as if she already had him in the bag, her gaze flickering between him and Finana, completely ignoring the latter.
Claude shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He glanced at Finana, hoping she’d notice his unease, but he was still too polite to fully shut the girl down just yet. His smile remained, but the corners of his mouth were taut, his usually confident demeanor becoming strained.
The girl didn’t seem to pick up on the subtle cues. Instead, she continued, her voice a little more flirtatious now, "You’re such an intriguing guy, Claude. I’m sure we’d have the best time just hanging out together. Maybe we could talk more, just the two of us? I think we’d really click."
Claude opened his mouth to speak, clearly frustrated now, but the girl was faster. "What do you say, Claude?" she said, this time almost pressing herself against him, clearly undeterred by his lack of response. "You can’t say no to an offer like this."
At that moment, Finana could feel it-Claude’s patience had run out. His jaw was tightening, and his eyes, though calm on the surface, were starting to betray his growing irritation. He was trying to get a word in, but the girl wasn’t letting him.
Finana sat there quietly, watching the situation unfold. She saw how Claude was trying to keep his cool, but it was clear he wasn’t happy about being interrupted over and over. She recognized the tension in his body, the way he was leaning back just slightly to put some space between them. But the girl wasn’t picking up on it. And that made Finana’s protective instincts kick in.
Finana finally spoke up, her voice light and playful at first, but with an unmistakable edge. "Wow, you’re really persistent, huh?" she said, her tone making it clear that she wasn’t just observing anymore.
The girl turned to her, still confident. "Oh, hey there! I was just talking to Claude. We were getting along so well, don’t you think?"
Finana smiled, but there was no mistaking the sharpness in her voice. "Yeah, I think he’s been getting along just fine, but I don’t think he’s had much of a chance to say anything, have you, Claude?" she said, finally turning her attention to him.
Claude’s expression was no longer the easygoing one it usually was. The frustration was clear now-his brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked at Finana, his eyes tired but also thankful.
"Yeah, I was trying to speak," he muttered, his tone laced with irritation. "But it seems like every time I open my mouth, someone else is already doing the talking."
Finana’s gaze shifted back to the girl, who was now realizing that the atmosphere had changed. The playful, confident energy she once had now seemed to be slipping away as she noticed the building tension between the three of them. Finana leaned forward, her expression firm.
"I think it’s time you realized something," Finana said calmly, but with a warning edge. "Claude’s not interested, and he’s been trying to tell you that without causing a scene."
The girl blinked, taken aback by the directness. "I-“
"Claude’s mine," Finana cut her off smoothly, her tone steady and unyielding. "And he’s not going to entertain anyone else. Not now, not ever."
Claude let out a breath, visibly relaxing now that Finana had stepped in. His shoulders dropped, and he looked at the girl one last time before turning his attention to Finana. He was clearly relieved, but there was still a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
The girl, realizing her chance was slipping away, looked from Claude to Finana, a little embarrassed now. "I… I didn’t mean to make things awkward. I’ll… I’ll just go."
"Good choice," Finana said, her voice softening just slightly as she smiled at her. "No hard feelings, but next time, maybe pay attention to the signals."
Once the girl had left, the room was quiet for a moment, save for the soft hum of the lights. Claude ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply.
"Thanks for that," he said, his voice much softer now. "I was about to lose it."
Finana leaned back into her seat, looking at him with a grin. "I could tell. You’ve got a pretty short fuse when someone won’t let you speak for yourself."
Claude shook his head, chuckling tiredly. "I don’t mind someone being friendly, but that was a bit much. I didn’t know how to tell her to back off without sounding like a jerk."
Finana plopping herself onto his lap. "You don’t have to apologize. I knew it was getting under your skin, and I didn’t want you to have to deal with it any longer."
Claude smiled softly, his frustration finally melting away. "You always know when to step in, don’t you?"
Finana winked and deepened her tone. "I’ve got your back, always."
Claude chuckled again, squeezing her hand. "You really are something else, Finana."
She grinned, her usual playful spark returning. "What can I say? You’re mine. And no one forgets that."
End.