•4 years ago
On the walk back, Ren glanced at her with a small, satisfied smile.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
Yeamori chuckled softly, brushing dust off her jersey.
“Yeah… it really does.”Her reply was small, but her eyes were clear—she meant it.
Ren softly to yeamori.”yeamori you come with in local tournament to play ”
Yeamori long paused and answered.”okay i come with you”
Ren softly questioned to yeamori.”if local tournament won you come with me in hotel dinner ”
Yeamori his cheek little wormed and say casually.”naah ”
Ren with silly face.”why?”
Yeamori glance ren reaction.”hah haha ” hide his Lough with her hand and say “show your face in mirror your just like a egret ”
Ren is very awkward in this situation and then yeamori answer his question “okay don’t be a serious… i come with you in dinner ”
The wide glass terminal of the airport is filled with a faint, cool light.
Ceiling lights glow softly.
Outside, on the runway, a plane engine hums in the distance — gurr… gurr…
Inside… people move… trolley wheels rolling smoothly… tap… tap… footsteps echo…
But in one spot—everything slows down.
Kasumi.
Souta.
Ren.
Yeamori.
Not standing in a line… but held within the same emotional circle.
No hands move.
No eyes stay steady.
Silence stretches.
“ding—dong…”
An announcement cuts through the air.
A platform number is called.
Kasumi’s gaze, fixed on the floor until now… slowly lifts.
First to Yeamori…
then Souta…
then Ren.
A brief pause…
“Alright… I should go now.”
Her voice is steady… but the weight in her throat is unmistakable.
“Wait.”
Souta’s single word reaches her directly.
He steps forward— tap…
The distance disappears.
Without hesitation… he pulls her into an embrace.
Arms wrap around her.
Warm.
Firm.
Kasumi’s face tilts slightly toward his chest.
Her breath turns uneven—
Souta leans in, close to her ear…
“Never blame yourself… Kasumi.”
Each word soft… but deeply anchored.
Kasumi’s fingers clutch his shirt for a moment…
fabric creases…
then slowly slips free.
Souta steps back.
Yeamori is already moving— tap… tap…
She hugs Kasumi directly.
This time, the grip is tight.
Emotion no longer contained.
“Please… don’t forget us, Kasumi…”
Her voice breaks slightly at the end.
Kasumi closes her eyes…
takes a deep breath— haaah…
Then lets go.
Ren is still standing there.
Observing.
Then he steps forward—
Measured steps…
tap…
tap…
He stops in front of Kasumi.
A second of eye contact.
Then he leans in…
A short hug.
Controlled.
But firmer than expected.
“For your new journey… best wishes, Kasumi.”
His tone calm… straight…
But the pressure of his fingers says everything.
Kasumi says nothing.
No reply.
She just looks at all three of them once more.
Then turns— step…
step…
And starts walking toward the door.
The rhythm of her footsteps— tap… tap… tap…
The distance keeps growing.
Behind her— Souta, Ren, Yeamori… all three stand still.
Their eyes follow her.
Then—
She doesn’t stop…
But for a moment—
Kasumi turns back slightly.
Her hair sways softly — swishh…
Her hand lifts…
A wave.
A tiny smile.
Small… but real.
The moment that smile reaches them—
Souta’s lips lift slowly.
The tension in Ren’s eyes dissolves.
The weight in Yeamori’s chest eases.
All three—
Smile.
Time shifts quietly.
Cold, pale morning sunlight seeps through the gap in the curtains… dust particles floating in the air, glowing in that light.
Ren’s room is completely still.
The bedsheet is badly wrinkled from a restless night of turning and shifting.
He lets out a long, tired breath as he sits up.
The mattress compresses slightly — ffth.
Elbows on his knees… both hands holding his head.
His gaze is locked straight at the closed door in front of him.
His body… unnaturally still.
“Will Yeamori remember what happened yesterday…?”
The thought rises slowly from deep within… and just stays there… leaving him tangled in quiet confusion.
Time moves forward.
At the dining table… breakfast is neatly set.
The faint, warm smell of toasted bread drifts through the air.
The house is silent… making the wall clock’s tick… tick… sound sharper… louder.
Ren sits calmly… but his focus isn’t on the food.
His thumb scrolls without purpose — swipe… swipe…
His face… empty.
Hollow.
Then suddenly—
Ting!
A sharp notification breaks the monotony.
The screen lights up.
Souta.
Ren’s thumb freezes mid-scroll.
He taps instantly… opens the message.
As he reads, something changes.
That dullness in his eyes… shifts.
A faint light returns.
A sense of purpose.
A small, relieved smile slips onto his lips.
“Good… at least I’ve got something to distract myself now.”
His fingers move quickly — tap… tap… tap…
“Okay, Souta.”
Send.
A few hours pass.
Afternoon begins to settle.
The hallway is dim… the TV casting a flickering blue light on the wall.
Ren lies on the sofa in a lazy, half-lean position.
The screen keeps changing scenes rapidly… a movie is playing…
But Ren isn’t watching.
His eyes just… stare.
Empty.
Then—
The phone beside him suddenly vibrates — trrr… trrr…
The screen glows.
Caller ID—
Yeamori.
Ren’s half-lidded eyes snap open — widen.
His heartbeat skips.
“At this time…?”
He mutters softly.
A brief hesitation.
A second where his mind scrambles… what to say… how to sound.
Then—
He swipes.
“Yeah… go ahead, Yeamori.”
He tries to keep his voice normal.
On the other side—
A faint, cool breath.
Then her voice—
“What were you doing…? Why did you take so long to pick up…?”
Soft tone.
But the complaint is clear.
Impossible to miss.
Ren immediately straightens up — jhatk— Back stiff… posture alert.
Warning bells in his head.
“Don’t let her misunderstand…”
He stumbles slightly but covers fast—
“Yeah… yeah, I’m here. Tell me.”
A short pause.
“Hello~ hello… where did you disappear…?”
Now there’s a hint of teasing… mixed with irritation.
Ren slips into defensive mode instantly—
“Ha ha… I’m right here.”
Silence.
A small one.
But heavy.
Ren holds his breath… waiting.
Then—
Yeamori says something that hits him completely off guard—
“Do you remember… when you promised to take me out for dinner at that hotel… after I won the local tournament…?”
The moment Yeamori says that—
The moment Yeamori’s words land—
Ren freezes.
Completely.
His eyes widen slightly… fixed on the wall ahead.
For a brief second—his breathing stops.
Thoughts rush through his mind.
“Y… is this a coincidence…?”
The question surfaces.
Then instantly—
“No… this can’t be a coincidence…”
The past few days…
Yeamori’s behavior…
And now this specific promise—
Everything overlaps in his mind… fast… layered… sharp.
“What happened, Ren…? Lost in your thoughts again…?”
Her voice pulls him back.
A snap.
Back to reality.
Ren exhales—long… deep…
The tension in his shoulders finally drops.
His expression softens.
A natural… quiet smile forms.
“Nothing…”
His voice is soft… warm… steady.
“I remember.”
A small silence on the other side.
But even in that silence—he can feel her smile.
“Good… Ren.”
There’s clear happiness in her voice now… calm… settled.
“Let’s meet this evening.”
Ren’s lips curve wider.
That dull heaviness in his eyes—
Gone.
Replaced by a faint… but unmistakable shine.
A strange sense of calm wraps around him.
“Yeah… of course. I’ll be ready.”
The call ends.
Evening…
Ren stands in front of his full-length mirror.
A sharp black blazer fits perfectly along his frame.
He adjusts the collar with both hands — snap.
Then runs his fingers through his hair… setting it smoothly.
He tilts his head slightly… observing his reflection.
Everything looks composed.
Controlled.
As always.
But beneath that calm—
In his eyes—
There’s anticipation.
Clear.
He steadies his breathing.
He steps out of his flat.
The hallway is quiet.
Yellow ceiling lights stretch forward in a straight line… deepening the silence.
Ren walks with slow, measured steps — tap… tap… tap…
From the outside—
Controlled.
Confident.
But inside—
That subtle thrill of the evening…
That quiet anticipation…
Is building.
He stops at the main entrance.
His hand grips the heavy metal handle — click.
The door opens.
Cool evening air hits his face — whooshh.
He pauses for a second…
Just standing there…
Feeling it.
Then—
He steps out.
Pulls the door shut behind him — thud.
From his blazer pocket, he takes out the keys.
A faint metallic jingle — chhan.
Inserts the key into the lock— click… krrk.
He tests the handle.
Secure.
Locked.
Satisfied—
He turns.
Straightens his posture.
And walks forward into the cool evening— tap… tap…
After a while…
Warm lights glow outside the hotel.
Through the glass entrance, a soft golden ambience is visible inside.
Cars pass by— vrrmmm…
Ren stands near the door, scrolling on his phone— swipe… swipe…
His face is calm… but his eyes flick toward the road every few seconds.
The wait is there.
Clear.
“Ren…”
A soft voice reaches him… carried lightly by the air.
His thumb freezes.
Slowly… he lifts his gaze.
Locks onto her.
Yeamori.
A black dress falls perfectly along her frame… smooth fabric catching the light with a subtle shine.
Her hair rests softly near her shoulders… a slight movement— swishh—
Her eyes were closed for a brief second… a natural, warm smile on her lips.
Ren’s focus shifts completely.
The phone screen dims… his hand lowers slowly.
For a second—
He just looks at her.
Clear.
Undistracted.
“Let’s go… inside.”
Her tone is light.
Ren blinks once… as if returning from a thought.
“Yeah… why not.”
Soft reply.
They walk toward the entrance— tap… tap…
Glass door opens— whooshh—
Warm air wraps around them.
A soft piano melody in the background… faint clinks of plates— ting…
A waiter approaches.
“This way, please…”
With a polite gesture, he leads them in.
Inside the restaurant…
Dim lights… neatly spaced tables… people lost in their own conversations.
Ren and Yeamori take a corner table.
Chair pulls— scrrr—
They sit across from each other.
A second of silence.
Comfortable… but noticeable.
Ren’s gaze settles on her.
Observing—
Her expression… posture… calm presence.
Then he speaks, quietly—
“You remembered…”
A faint sparkle in Yeamori’s eyes.
“Of course… how could I forget?”
They both smile.
Small.
Natural.
For a moment—
Ren’s mind drifts.
Looking at her, he wonders—
What do I even call this feeling…
It isn’t clear.
But it’s strong.
The waiter arrives with the food— clink…
Plates settle on the table.
Steam rises softly— sss—
A warm aroma spreads.
They pick up their forks— tik—
And begin.
Conversation starts to flow—
Light laughter…
Small pauses…
But the space between them—
Is no longer empty.
It’s filling… quietly.
—Chapter 8 end—