Outside, Daejin leaned on the wall until Bora and Hanna finally emerged. Junho stepped forward. "Where's Seri? Didn't she go in after you?"
"Wait, Seri went in too?" Bora asked, blinking.
Hanna shrugged. "Maybe she's still… handling her top-secret mission."
"Yeah," Bora added, "like defusing a toilet bomb."
They laughed, but Junho's eyes flicked toward the door. Before anyone could check, Seri appeared from the opposite corridor, a little breathless. "Sorry. Are you guys waiting for me?"
Bora grinned. "Nope. We were waiting for Taehyun to propose to me. But fine, welcome back."
Seri gave her a flat glance and kept walking.
Daejin squinted. "Why are you coming from that way? The bathroom's on the left."
"Oh, right. It was full," Seri said, her chuckle light but unconvincing. "Went to the other one further down."
Bora frowned. "There's another bathroom? I thought this place only had vending machines and perfume."
Taehyun cut in before the tension could grow. "Unless anyone needs a third restroom tour, let's move. That nice Japanese guy in glasses is still standing there like he's auditioning for Men in Black,Kyoto Drift."
Daejin smirked. "He blinked once. That's progress."
The group moved on, tension folded neatly under Taehyun's smooth interruption. As they walked, Taehyun's gaze found Seri, and she met it without flinching. Something unspoken passed between them, a brief exchange layered with meaning, as if they were holding on to a secret only the two of them could understand.
The black Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin moved smoothly through the quiet Kyoto streets, its tinted windows mirroring the historic rooftops and narrow alleyways passing by. Inside, the van felt more like a private lounge than a vehicle, fitted with face-to-face seating, cream leather chairs, and a low hum from the soft overhead lighting.
Bora had claimed the corner seat, her floral neck pillow perched like a crown around her neck, a glittering pouch sitting in her lap. Seri and Taehyun occupied the seats opposite Junho and Hanna, the air between them holding a taut, unspoken tension.
A small wooden table rested between the rows, topped with bottled water, a box of Japanese sweets, and a discreet panel displaying the hotel's name in soft amber light. The faint scent of cedarwood lingered, blending with the crisp linen freshness of the upholstery.
From the driver's seat, a tall Japanese man in a perfectly tailored black suit turned slightly to address them. His voice was calm, precise, the tone of someone used to delivering instructions.
"Dinner will be served at the hotel's VIP lounge upon arrival. Mr. Shigemura from Baekdu Japan will meet you there."
The van eased into a turn. Junho's gaze shifted toward Seri. She sat with her head lightly against the glass, her phone in hand, thumb scrolling through a series of unread updates.
Daejin, sitting closest to her, leaned forward slightly. "Are you alright? You look like you have been up all night with the project prep."
Seri smiled faintly. "Maybe just tired. Managing things across two time zones isn't exactly spa treatment."
Junho said nothing, but his eyes stayed on her longer than they should have, his expression carefully guarded.
Bora broke the quiet with a long, exaggerated sigh. "A VIP van, a luxury hotel, and Taehyun sitting right across from me. Should we just call this the start of our honeymoon trip already?"
Junho did not look up from the file in his hand. "Bora. Focus. This is not a sightseeing tour."
She muttered under her breath, glaring at him. "Mr. No-Fun strikes again." With a dramatic flourish, she pulled a rice cracker from the snack box and took a loud bite. "Bet if I sat next to Taehyun-oppa, he wouldn't say that."
Daejin smirked. "He would probably kick you out the window if you ate that loud."
"Rude," she said with mock offense, still chewing.
Taehyun glanced up briefly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I can hear you from here."
Bora grinned to herself. "Worth it."
The van rolled to a stop in front of Hotel Nishiyama Premier, where traditional Kyoto elegance met modern opulence. Lanterns glowed softly outside, their light reflecting off black lacquered panels and the delicate blossoms of sakura trees flanking the entrance.
A fine mist had begun to fall, coating the building in a sheen that made it glisten under the warm exterior lights. A doorman in a crisp black suit and white gloves stepped forward, bowing deeply as the group exited the vehicle.
Inside, the lobby was serene and ambient, lined with tatami textures and minimalist stone decor. A water feature trickled in the background, while delicate shoji screens separated the check-in space from a cozy lounge.
Bora was the first to step inside, dragging her pink Hello Kitty luggage with dramatic flair. She flicked her scarf over her shoulder like a celebrity entering a press event.
"Is this heaven? No wait,this is where rich people meditate with miso soup," she said with a grin, eyes sparkling.
She parked her oversized suitcase like it was on display, striking a fake model pose beside it as if she were on a shopping network.
Daejin raised an eyebrow. "Planning to move in? Or just opening a Hello Kitty branch in Kyoto?"
Taehyun smirked. "She probably brought a spare kimono for every mood."
"Well excuse me for being culture-ready," Bora shot back, flipping her hair.
Just behind, Junho and Seri walked in. Junho scanned the lobby while Seri's eyes quietly caught the layout, the security camera angles, and all exits like it was second nature.
A refined hotel concierge in a tailored charcoal suit approached with a tablet in hand. "Welcome, honored guests. A private dinner has been arranged for your team in the Kiyomizu Room on the top floor. Hosted by Hyunmyeong Group. The meal will begin in one hour."
Hanna adjusted her sunglasses on her head with cool ease. "Such thoughtful timing."
Bora clapped slowly under her breath. "I knew it. This trip is a destiny trip. Dinner with candlelight… project briefing with wasabi."
Seri remained quiet. She didn't react much, but her eyes briefly flicked toward Taehyun, then Junho.
"Let's check in and not embarrass ourselves," Daejin said.
"Too late," Bora whispered to herself as she dragged her Hello Kitty case. "I already embarrassed the luggage carousel with this baby."
Everyone began moving toward the elevators.
They stepped off the elevator and began peeling away toward their assigned suites, the quiet hallway lined with soft amber light and shoji-style doors. The air smelled faintly of hinoki and fresh rain drifting in from the garden courtyard.
The atmosphere in Hotel Nishiyama Première's suites was serene as golden lights washed over the elegant rooms. In her own suite, Hanna sat near a window cracked open to the Kyoto breeze, quietly brushing her long, glossy hair. In another, Daejin lay sprawled sideways on the lounge chair, one slipper on, one off, a soft snore barely heard under the low hum of the air conditioner.
Across the hall, Bora was already unpacking with the speed of someone setting up camp for a month. She sat cross-legged on the bed in a pink robe, surrounded by unpacked cosmetic pouches, matching silk hairbands, and an LED mirror flashing like a runway.
While in his own room, Junho stood near the balcony doors, gaze fixed on the rain-slick streets below.
In another room, the space was dimly lit, wrapped in soft gold and deep shadow. Sleek, modern but Seri never trusted what the surface offered. She moved silently, methodically. From a hidden compartment inside her travel case, she pulled out a compact black device… sleek, matte, military-grade. She swept it across the walls, beneath the lamp, along the TV console. A soft pulse glowed blue…all clear.
She checked the bathroom, the dresser, even the smoke detector. Only when satisfied did she exhale lightly and open a second compartment. Out came a small, timeworn doll. Threadbare but lovingly preserved, its hair was frizzy in one corner, a little bow askew. Its button eyes still gleamed softly, stitched lips frozen in a faint smile.
Seri sat at the edge of the bed, gently placing the doll down. "We're almost home, Hannachan…" she whispered with a smile. She smoothed the doll's dress and propped her up against the pillow, just like she used to.
Ding-dong.
A chime echoed sharply in the quiet room. Seri blinked. The doorbell. She straightened, instinct flickering in her eyes. Her hand brushed lightly near her waist,not reaching for anything, just aware. She walked to the door, steps soundless, and paused. She checked the peephole, then opened it.
Taehyun stood there, hands in pockets, his gaze deep and unreadable but not cold. The hallway's glow framed him like a silhouette from memory.
"I don't need room service, thanks," Seri said, arms crossed. "I haven't even touched anything yet, except for scanning the place. No bugs. So… you're off the hook."
"Cruel," he replied with a smile, leaning on the doorframe. "I come all this way and still get treated like a security threat."
"Old habits," she said faintly, glancing around the room before her eyes landed on the doll sitting quietly on her bed. "It's temporary. But she's home."
Taehyun's gaze shifted to the doll, his expression softening. "…That doll…"
"It's her. The one I cried over like the world ended."
He chuckled, stepping further inside. "The same one you accused me of stealing for two straight weeks?"
"Well, you were always sneaking around back then."
"I was trying to train, not kidnap a doll," he grinned.
"She disappeared during Kyoto drills. I thought she was gone forever."
"And now she's back… just in time," he said quietly, watching her.
"Kenji gave her back to me. Said he kept her safe all this time."
"Wow… That doll's got better instincts than most people I know," he murmured with a smirk. "She really found her way home, huh? Right when you need her most."
"She always does," Seri replied, running her fingers gently along the doll's ribbon.
"Just like you," he said softly.