"Kenji! Kenji! Help me out here! Take these boxes to my room," Yume called, balancing several shopping bags in her arms.
"Damn, Yume… did you buy all of Paris?" he complained, grabbing two boxes.
"Seriously? You're gonna criticize me today? It's my birthday! And I only bought the essentials."
"Can't imagine what would've happened if it wasn't essential," he teased.
Yume rolled her eyes.
"Ugh… Sayuri should be here helping me. But nooo, her mom had to drag her to that investor meeting in Osaka. I just hope she gets here in time."
"Yume! Hurry up, I don't have all day."
Kenji's phone rang.
"Yeah… talk to me," he answered. "Yeah, I'll be there. Fifteen minutes."
"Where are you going?" Yume asked suspiciously.
"Something came up. I gotta go."
"What do you mean— KENJIII!!"
He dropped the boxes by her bedroom door and ran off.
"You can put your shopping away by yourself. See you later at the party!"
"Unbelievable…" Yume muttered.
"Sayuri? Sayuri? Stop staring at your phone and pay attention, sweetheart. This is your future."
"Mom, I am paying attention…" she replied, trying to sound convincing. "But you know it's Yume's birthday today."
"You know what your father and I think about that friendship."
Sayuri sighed impatiently.
"I know… but can we go now, please?"
"We will. Thirty more minutes. If you promise to actually focus."
"Deal…"
On the train ride back to Kyoto, Sayuri finally gave in to exhaustion. The gentle sway of the tracks made her sleepy.
As soon as she got home, she checked the time and instantly lost all traces of fatigue. She only had a few hours to get ready and leave.
The moment she entered her room, she dropped her bag on the floor and rushed to shower.
"Where's Sayuri?" her father asked.
"Getting ready," her mother answered. "She's going to a birthday party. She must be running late… you know how she is with time."
"I hope she doesn't come home too late," he grumbled.
After her shower, Sayuri hurriedly dried her hair, sat in front of the mirror, and carefully started doing her makeup.
"Better not overdo it," she murmured to herself. "The mask's going to cover most of my face anyway."
After several minutes of brushes and warm tones, she finished. She glanced at the clock again, and her heart nearly stopped.
"Crap… I'm so late!"
She rushed to her wardrobe and quickly changed into a black dress with delicate red lace details.
"My mask… where is it?"
She searched everywhere before finally remembering.
"Oh!"
It was on top of the wardrobe, where she'd left it to dry. She carefully picked it up: a handmade mask decorated with black lace, golden details, and tiny red gemstones that reflected the light with subtle elegance.
She finished with a soft peach perfume, took a deep breath, and left her room.
"I'm leaving! See you later!"
"Don't come home at dawn," her father said seriously.
"Behave yourself," her mother added.
Yume's party was a spectacle of silver.
Metallic curtains reflected the light like liquid stars. Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead, scattering icy reflections across the ballroom. Every detail—from the tables to the decorations—radiated elegance and perfection… almost untouchable.
And in contrast, the guests dressed in black and red looked like living flames moving through the ice.
Sayuri stopped at the entrance for a moment. The mix of colors was hypnotic, and somehow… she belonged there.
Her black dress with red lace fit perfectly into the atmosphere.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside. The ballroom pulsed with laughter, music, footsteps… all wrapped in silver light that made the night feel unreal.
"SAYURI!"
Yume appeared glowing and, naturally, completely covered in silver. Her dress looked like something out of a fairytale, reflecting every movement of the ballroom lights. The delicate silver mask made her look like a queen.
"You look perfect," Yume said, holding Sayuri's face affectionately. "Seriously… you stole the spotlight."
Sayuri laughed shyly.
"You're the star tonight."
"I am, right? But you came here giving me serious competition," Yume joked, hugging her.
Across the ballroom, Kenji noticed first.
"Okay… now the party officially started."
Jun turned without much interest. In his eyes, Sayuri looked beautiful. No matter how much he denied it, he liked seeing her.
But the moment he saw the two of them approaching, he looked away, lifted his drink to his lips, and stepped back.
"You look gorgeous," Kenji said, taking her hand and lightly kissing it.
"Thank you…"
Sayuri answered, but her attention wasn't there. Her eyes searched for Jun through the crowd, and when she finally found him, he was already with another girl, his arm around her waist like it belonged there.
He looked comfortable.
"Come on, let's go say hi to Jun," Kenji said.
Consumed by jealousy, Sayuri walked over and greeted him.
"Hey, Jun. How are you?"
"Fine…" he answered, trying not to look directly at her while keeping the other girl close.
He acted like her presence didn't matter at all.
As Sayuri watched him whisper something into the girl's ear, her stomach twisted painfully.
"I'm gonna grab something to drink," she said, forcing herself to sound casual.
"I'll go with you," Yume immediately replied.
"No… stay. It's your birthday. I'll bring something back."
"Okay, but don't disappear. I still have to greet more guests soon."
At the bar, the silver lighting reflected off the glasses, making everything feel colder somehow.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked.
Sayuri didn't even think.
"Something strong."
He smirked slightly.
"Good choice."
Across the ballroom, Jun watched Sayuri sitting alone at the bar with a drink in her hand.
That wasn't the Sayuri he knew.
And that dress hugging her body so perfectly was drawing far too much attention.
Something ugly twisted inside his chest.
"What the hell is she doing…" he muttered.
The first drink went down fast.
The second one went down even easier.
Sayuri barely tasted the alcohol anymore. She was drinking too quickly. Every swallow burned, but she didn't care.
She just wanted to drink and forget.
The sounds around her started blending together—the laughter, the music, the voices…
Everything felt distant. Like she was trapped inside a bubble.
"Can't get involved…" she muttered bitterly. "What a load of crap."
Then she looked up and noticed Jun staring at her.
That burned even worse than the alcohol.
"One more," she demanded, pushing the empty glass forward.
The bartender raised an eyebrow.
"You sure?"
"I said… one more."
Across the ballroom, Jun had already realized she wasn't okay by the way she held the glass. The time between drinks was way too short.
He shut his eyes in irritation, trying not to care, but the second he saw another guy approach the bar, that was it.
Jun slammed his drink down, left the girl behind, and crossed the ballroom.
Sayuri lifted the glass to her lips again, but before she could drink, a hand wrapped firmly around her wrist.
"That's enough."
"Jun… I knew you'd come," she slurred softly. "Hug me the way you hug her."
"Why are you doing this?"
She didn't answer and tried to hug him, but he pulled her away. Frustrated and drunk, she raised her voice.
"Then let go of my arm!"
He didn't.
Instead, he took the drink from her hand and set it back on the counter.
"You've had enough."
"So what?" she shot back with a crooked smile. "Now you care?"
His expression hardened.
"I don't care. I just have common sense," he answered coldly.
She laughed bitterly.
"Of course you don't…" she whispered. "You make that very clear."
Jun clenched his jaw.
"Then stop trying to make me feel guilty for something."
He stepped closer, holding her face seriously.
"Stop provoking me, please…"
"Then kiss me."
He let go of her immediately. Sayuri took a shaky breath, her eyes slightly glassy.
"Forget it… you're not who I thought you were."
She lifted her chin and stared directly at him, trying to challenge him.
Then she stepped closer.
"Why did you kiss me? I know you liked it… and now you act like it never happened. I'm going crazy, Jun…"
"He did what?"
A shocked voice came from behind them. Both turned at the same time.
Kenji stood there staring between them, clearly trying to process what he'd just heard.
"Jun…" he said incredulously. "When the hell did you kiss her?"
Jun looked irritated but didn't deny it.
Kenji rubbed the back of his neck and let out a nervous laugh.
"Okay… that I wasn't expecting."
He looked at Jun.
"And you didn't think maybe you should tell me?"
Jun answered flatly.
"It wasn't anything special worth talking about."
The words hit Sayuri like a punch to the stomach.
Kenji looked between them, realizing there was something much bigger going on.
"Okay… clearly I missed an entire chapter of this story."
Jun grew even colder.
"There isn't a story."
Kenji sighed, sensing how heavy the atmosphere had become.
"I think you two need to figure this out—"
"There's nothing to figure out," Jun cut in. "She's drunk and talking nonsense."
"It wasn't anything special?" Sayuri repeated quietly.
She stepped back and walked away toward the dance floor. The music was loud and intense.
Sayuri disappeared into the crowd like she wanted to vanish completely. It didn't take long for another man to approach her.
She didn't refuse. Instead, she moved closer and started dancing with him like she wanted Jun to watch.
And from across the room, he did. In disbelief, he wanted to leave. Wanted to prove he didn't care but he couldn't.
Every movement she made, every smile, every time the guy touched her waist made his blood boil.
He tried ignoring it one last time but the second the man pulled her closer—
Jun snapped.
He crossed the crowd without thinking, without slowing down, without asking permission.
He grabbed Sayuri's arm, spun her around, and before she could react, threw her over his shoulder.
"JUN!!" she screamed in shock. "ARE YOU INSANE?!"
"Be quiet," he said firmly as he kept walking.
"PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW!"
She started hitting his back, struggling wildly.
"I'M NOT A CHILD!"
"Then stop acting like one."
"I HATE YOU!"
"Great," he answered coldly. "Makes my life easier."
People stared as they passed. Some laughed. Others whispered. Jun didn't care at all.
The freezing night air hit them the moment they stepped outside. Jun crossed the stone pathway without stopping, completely ignoring Sayuri's protests.
"JUN, PUT ME DOWN!"
He finally stopped once they reached a quieter part of the garden, without a word, he set her down.
Sayuri instantly stepped away, fixing her dress, furious.
"Have you completely lost your mind?! Who do you think you are?!"
Jun didn't answer immediately.
He just stared at her. Then he stepped forward, grabbed her face, and kissed her.
Sayuri froze in shock, confusion, and a heartbeat spiraling completely out of control. Then he pulled away like nothing had happened.
"There," he said coldly. "Satisfied? Isn't that what you wanted?"
"You are…" She shoved him hard. "Unbelievable!"
Her eyes filled with tears instantly, but she refused to look away.
"I never want to…" Her voice cracked for a second. "…hear your voice again."
She inhaled sharply, trying to stay strong.
"…or smell your cologne."
"You pushed me into this."
"Me? Seriously? I tell you I like you and the next day you show up with another girl. How exactly did you expect me to react?"
He exhaled slowly.
"I told you not to expect anything from me…"
"SAYURI!"
Yume came running toward them. Kenji followed right behind her.
"Are you okay?!" he asked, holding Sayuri's face carefully.
"I'm fine…" she answered, still trembling.
Yume looked at Jun, and her expression changed instantly.
"Have you lost your mind, Jun?" Her voice turned sharp and icy.
Jun crossed his arms.
"I didn't do anything."
"Anything?!" Yume stepped forward. "You dragged her through the middle of the party like she was some object!"
"I got her out of there," he answered coldly, "before she did something she'd regret."
"And who are you to decide that?!" Yume fired back instantly. "You don't control her!"
The tension thickened fast, and Kenji stepped between them, raising both hands.
"Okay, okay… can someone explain what the hell is going on?"
"Ask your friend," Yume snapped, pointing at Jun.
Kenji looked at him.
"Dude…?"
Jun looked away, irritated and restless.
"It's nothing."
"Oh, it definitely is," Kenji replied seriously for the first time. "Because there's obviously something happening here nobody bothered telling me about."
Yume laughed humorlessly.
"Oh, there is."
She looked straight at Jun.
"You love playing with other people's feelings."
"I didn't play with anything," he answered sharply.
"Kissing someone and then acting like it meant nothing is what, exactly?" Yume shot back without hesitation.
Kenji looked from Jun to Sayuri… and suddenly understood.
"Wait… this is about that?"
Nobody answered. This had gone way too far. Jun stepped forward again, his gaze darkening.
"You don't know anything. I have my reasons—"
"I know enough. A few months ago you were obsessing over some girl you didn't even know, and now you're trying to mess with Sayuri too."
She inhaled before continuing:
"So why don't you go back to looking for that girl?"
Jun interrupted immediately.
"I don't have to look for her anymore. I already found her."
Kenji understood instantly but stayed silent.
Sayuri, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward.
"Enough."
Her voice was soft but firm. Everyone looked at her.
"This is my fault. I drank too much and got carried away," she continued. "It's your party, Yume. We're not talking about this anymore…"
"Sayuri…"
"Please… go enjoy your birthday."
Jun looked at Sayuri, clearly tormented. She swallowed hard, eyes shimmering with tears.
"I thought you were special… but I was wrong."
She paused briefly.
"Don't worry. I won't come looking for you anymore."
For a second, it looked like Jun wanted to say something.
Like he didn't want this. Like he didn't want her to say those words.
Yume crossed her arms, still furious, while Kenji tried to process everything that had just happened.
"Kenji… take Sayuri home," Yume said firmly.
"Yeah… come on," he replied softly, walking toward her.
Sayuri never looked back.
She walked toward the car with a heavy chest, every step feeling harder than the last.
Kenji opened the door for her, and silently, she got inside. The door shut, the sound echoing louder than it should have.
"Yume…" Jun called quietly this time.
She was still angry.
"What now?"
For the first time, Jun looked genuinely lost. Yume noticed it immediately. He didn't look arrogant anymore, he looked broken.
"Jun… what's going on?"
"I ruined everything. I don't know how to deal with this."
"With what?"
He took a slow breath.
"With everything… with her."
The wind swept through the garden, lightly moving his dark hair.
"Months ago I kept searching for a girl I barely even knew… and now that I finally found her…" He laughed bitterly. "I managed to push her away in one single night."
Yume stood frozen, slowly putting the pieces together.
"Wait…" She turned her head slowly. "What a small world…"
Jun looked at her, confused.
"What?"
"So you're the guy…"
Yume opened her mouth to continue, but the words died before they came out.
Jun narrowed his eyes.
"Guy?"
Yume quickly looked away.
"Nothing… forget it."
She sighed, still unable to believe it.
Jun remained standing there alone in the middle of the garden, feeling the true weight of everything for the first time.
Frustrated.
Guilty.
Lost.
And because he didn't know how to handle his own feelings… he had hurt the one person he never wanted to hurt.