Saturday Evening – Second Night of the Trip
Time: 5:42 PM
Location: Behind the inn, near the outdoor stage
Alright.
Don't freak out.
You've got this, Tyler.
It's just… a girl.
A girl with killer sarcasm, dangerously sharp eyeliner, and the voice of a thousand monologues. Who dragged you behind a traditional inn to "rehearse a scene" under a half-dead lantern tree.
No big deal.
"You're staring," Iris said, spinning a prop fan in her fingers like a blade.
I blinked. "What? No. I was… thinking."
"About my lips?"
I choked on my own breath. "NO—I mean—what?"
She laughed.
Not the cute anime giggle.
The full-bodied, dramatic "I know I'm dangerous and I'm having fun" laugh.
"You're fun to mess with," she said, stepping closer. "That's rare. Most people either try to flirt back or run."
"I might do both," I admitted.
"Good," she said, dropping the fan into her bag. "You'll need stamina."
She pulled out a crumpled page from what looked like a play draft.
"Alright. You're the wandering swordsman. I'm the warlord's daughter. Forbidden love. Steamy longing. Repressed emotions. You in?"
"I was born for this," I said. "Kind of. Mostly. Okay, no, but yes."
She handed me a bamboo practice sword and stepped onto the makeshift stage—a flat stone with a view of the fading mountains. The golden hour light hit her yukata just right.
Damn.
Focus, Tyler.
I cleared my throat. "You summoned me, Lady?"
She turned. Her expression shifted like magic—soft lips, narrowed eyes, voice honeyed but with bite.
"I told you never to come back."
"And yet, I did."
"Do you not fear death?"
"I fear losing you more."
She stepped closer.
"Then you're a fool," she whispered.
I swallowed. Hard.
"Then let me be one. For you."
Her hand came up—resting on my chest, barely. My heartbeat probably shook her entire arm.
She looked up at me, eyes wide now.
Not acting.
"I hate how good you are at this," she said suddenly.
"Wait, what?"
"Seriously. You improv better than half my club. Do you know how annoying that is?"
I grinned. "Guess I'm a natural."
She crossed her arms, faking a pout. "Or you're just lucky you're pretty."
"Wait, I'm pretty?"
"I said lucky. Don't get cocky."
Pause.
Wind rustled through the leaves. For a moment, she was just standing there, arms folded, eyes locked on mine.
Then she said, quieter—
"…You're not what I expected."
"And what did you expect?"
"Another loud jock with a five-minute attention span."
"Well. You got that. And a heart of gold."
"Gross," she whispered, but didn't look away.
"Want me to ruin it more?"
"Try me."
I stepped forward.
So close now.
Her fingers brushed mine—just barely.
She didn't flinch.
Didn't pull away.
Didn't laugh.
"I like you," I said.
Her lips curved.
"Bold move, Eyebrows."
Then—
"I like you too."
We didn't kiss.
Not yet.
She wasn't the type to rush.
But when she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Same time tomorrow?" I nodded so fast I almost dislocated something.
Tyler returned to the inn half-floating.
Jay saw him walk past the lobby, dazed and smiling like an idiot.
"You good?" Jay asked.
"I might be in a romance manga," Tyler whispered.
Jay: "Should I be worried?"
Tyler: "Yes. Deeply."
(Part Two – Jay's Spirals)
Saturday Night – After Dinner
The inn's halls were quiet.
Too quiet.
Which, considering my class was under one roof, was both a miracle… and suspicious.
Tyler had floated past me earlier like he just survived a confession and a near-death experience in one scene. Which, knowing Iris, might've actually happened.
He didn't explain.
He just smiled.
And said, "She didn't kill me."
Then went to bed.
Which left me… here. Wandering.
I passed the open-air corridor by the koi pond.
Heard giggles from the girls' side.
Heard Amaya humming through the walls.
Heard myself thinking.
Way too loud
Jay's Head – A Flurry of Everything
The trip was supposed to be simple.
Relaxing.
But after the past two days, everything felt… too close.
Emma was acting normal again, but only in the most intentional way.
Sofia had that knowing grin whenever she made eye contact with me.
Amaya kept glancing at my hands like she wanted to hold them and was afraid I'd pull away.
Even Luna looked like she knew something I didn't.
It wasn't tension anymore.
It was expectation.
And I was starting to wonder…
What happens when someone expects something I can't give?
Late Night Balcony – Unexpected Company
I found the side balcony empty.
Cool air. Distant crickets.
Then the shoji door creaked open behind me.
Emma stepped out. Hair tied up. Soft slippers. Still holding a notebook.
"Couldn't sleep?" I asked.
"I was rewriting tomorrow's itinerary."
"Of course you were."
She stood beside me, arms resting on the railing.
We stared out into the dark trees.
"…You've been quiet," she said.
"So have you."
"Does that bother you?"
"No. It's kind of… nice."
She nodded, then added, "I didn't mean to start anything. The kiss, I mean."
I turned slowly.
She wasn't looking at me. Just out into the forest.
"But I don't regret it either," she continued. "And I won't pretend it didn't happen. So…"
A pause.
"Don't pretend you didn't feel something too."
And then she turned and left.
Just like that.
A Few Doors Down – Girls' Room
Luna: "He's on the balcony."
Sofia: "With who?"
Amaya: "Emma."
Noah (from outside): "I CAN HEAR EVERYTHING."
Sofia: "This is war."