Mochida-kun wa Koi wo Shiteiru

Toa Mochida has always been the type to hold his tongue, swallowing words he wishes he could say. Now a fresh recruit at Kiryu Tax Accounting Office, he finds himself drawn to his stoic boss, Mr. Kiryu, in ways he can barely admit to himself. The seed of that admiration was planted one late night on a crowded train, when Mochida stood paralyzed as a drunk passenger harassed a woman—frozen by indecision and shame. But Kiryu stepped in without hesitation, defusing the situation with quiet, effortless grace, leaving Mochida awash in guilt over his own inaction and awe at the man who acted when he could not. Since then, Kiryu has continued to surprise him. Where Mochida expects to be overlooked, Kiryu notices—catching the small hesitations, the unspoken worries—and offers gentle assistance just when it is needed most, always watching his back without fanfare or expectation. Each quiet gesture chips away at Mochida's defenses, turning professional respect into something warmer, deeper, and far more dangerous. Yet his feelings are a secret he dares not reveal, a flicker of hope and fear he keeps locked away. With every passing day, Mochida finds himself falling further into an impossible longing—one that threatens to upend both his carefully composed exterior and the quiet stability of their working relationship.