"I tried to forget Jun and like Kenji… I swear I tried."
Yume kept looking at Sayuri in silence.
"But I can't…" she took a deep breath. "Because no matter how hard I try… it's always Jun."
A small smile formed on her lips.
"And when he finally confessed… it felt like everything made sense, you know?"
Yume tilted her head.
"Actually… I think I do. At least a little. But what about Kenji? Have you told him yet?"
Sayuri closed her eyes.
"I just need a little time… I'll tell him after New Year's."
Yume stepped closer and hugged her warmly.
"Even though I don't really trust Jun's feelings… I always knew you were the girl he fell for, and he was the one keeping you awake at night…"
Sayuri interrupted.
"What? Since when?"
"Well, you two are really good at hiding things… so it was easy to figure out."
Sayuri smiled, relieved, and Yume continued.
"You look happy, and that's what matters."
She paused briefly.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt again."
Sayuri hugged her back.
"Thank you, my friend… it feels so good to finally tell you."
Footsteps came from outside, and the door opened.
"We're back!" Kenji said cheerfully. "So, girls… Friday we meet here early."
Yume made a face.
"Do we have to be that early? Come on… it's vacation!"
Kenji shot back:
"Of course, Yume. We hit the road early so we can enjoy the day at the cabin."
Sayuri looked at Jun, who was standing right in front of her.
"I can't wait for this trip… it's going to be amazing."
Jun gave a small smile in response, agreeing. For the rest of the night, they stayed there planning everything.
"I think it's perfect like this."
"So… how about we watch a movie?" Yume suggested.
Everyone agreed and settled on the couch. The atmosphere was calm.
Until—
"Rrrr…"
The sound came out loud. They all turned at the same time. Kenji was completely out, snoring like a tractor.
Yume burst out laughing.
"I knew it! Every time he drinks, he's the first one to pass out."
Still laughing, she stood up.
"I'll grab a blanket for him, be right back."
As soon as Yume left, Jun took the chance and grabbed Sayuri's hand.
"Come with me."
Without giving her time to react, he led her to the balcony.
"God… I've been dying to hold you."
Sayuri looked around nervously.
"Jun… someone might see us…"
"Relax…" he stepped closer. "Kenji's not waking up tonight… and Yume won't even notice."
He pulled her gently and kissed her.
"I wish I could stay like this forever…" he whispered.
When they came back, the studio was completely dark.
"Huh… they turned off the lights…" Sayuri said. "Maybe we should go."
Jun placed a finger over his lips.
"Shhh… come with me."
They went into an empty room. Sayuri stopped near the bed, visibly nervous.
"Jun… we can't…"
He approached slowly, holding her face.
"Relax…" he said softly. "I'm not going to do anything… I just want to be with you."
That completely disarmed her.
They lay down. Jun held her gently, respecting every boundary. And there… they started talking.
About everything.
About nothing.
About them.
"Jun… can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"That song… 'Cherry Blossom'… you wrote it…"
He smiled, interrupting her.
"I wrote it for you."
She smiled.
"Then sing it for me…"
Jun laughed shyly.
"I don't know…"
"Please."
She insisted, and he gave in.
He started singing softly, almost a whisper. Slowly, Sayuri cuddled closer… until she fell asleep in his arms.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Sayuri opened her eyes, still sleepy.
"At this hour…?"
"Stay…" Jun murmured. "Don't go…"
But the knocking continued.
"Sayuri? Are you there?"
Her eyes widened.
"Yume?!"
Jun got up and opened the door.
"What is it?"
Yume blushed instantly.
"OH MY GOD!!"
She turned her face away.
"Where's Sayuri?!"
"What is it?" Sayuri said, appearing.
Yume looked at both of them, stunned.
"Have you lost your mind? What are you doing here with Jun?!"
"We were just talking…"
"Yeah… sure. But if Kenji sees this, it won't be good."
Sayuri put a hand on her forehead.
"Damn… I forgot about that…"
She looked at Jun.
"I need to go."
"Why? We didn't do anything."
"Cut it out, Jun. Save your hormones for another time. Come on, girl."
Yume pulled Sayuri away to another room, and Jun, laughing, went back to sleep.
"Soooo…" Yume said teasingly. "You two, like… you know…"
"What?" Sayuri asked, confused.
"Oh, come on… don't hide anything from me. How was it?"
Realizing what she meant, Sayuri got flustered.
"Ew, Yume!! We didn't do anything. We just talked and fell asleep."
"Hmm… sure…" Yume continued. "Then why was he shirtless?"
Sayuri had no answer—because she didn't know either.
"Yume, stop imagining things. Nothing happened." She yawned. "Wow… it's still early… let's sleep a bit more."
When Kenji woke up, he didn't see anyone in the studio. Still half-asleep, he stretched on the couch.
"Those idiots… left me here and went to sleep in beds."
He chuckled and stood up slowly.
He folded the blanket, ran a hand through his hair, and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he came out refreshed… but his stomach growled.
"Damn… I'm starving."
He went to the kitchen, turned on the coffee maker, and started searching the cabinets.
Milk, juice… pancakes.
"Perfect."
As he prepared the batter, he got an idea.
"If I'm doing this… might as well do it right."
He made several pancakes… and carefully shaped one into a heart. He placed it on a plate… and added a small flower beside it.
He looked at it for a second.
"Now that's perfect."
Satisfied, he clapped his hands lightly.
"Time to wake these troublemakers."
He went upstairs and knocked on the girls' door.
"Come on, come on! Before breakfast gets cold!"
Then he knocked on Jun's door. The door opened… and there he was, still sleepy… and shirtless.
Kenji made a face.
"Wow… what a horror show."
Jun smirked immediately.
"Oh come on… I know you want to hug me."
He stepped forward, pretending to grab him.
"Stay away!" Kenji laughed, dodging him.
Yume, right behind, burst out laughing.
"You two are impossible!"
Sayuri appeared shortly after… and when she saw the scene, she couldn't hold back a small smile.
"Wow… I wish I got that hug right now…"
The words slipped out quietly… almost by accident.
Yume froze mid-step and slowly turned.
"Oh my God… I did not just hear that."
Sayuri widened her eyes, embarrassed.
"Yume!"
But her friend was already heading downstairs.
"Are you coming or staying there flirting?"
Minutes later, the four of them were gathered in the kitchen.
The smell of coffee filled the room, mixed with the sweetness of fresh pancakes.
"Wow… you really outdid yourself," Yume said, already grabbing a plate.
"Of course," Kenji replied proudly. "I went all out today."
Sayuri sat down, and her eyes stopped on the plate in front of her. The heart-shaped pancake… and the small flower beside it. For a moment… her smile faltered.
"Thank you, Kenji… it's beautiful."
He smiled, satisfied.
"I made it thinking of you."
Yume watched everything in silence, mouth full, while Jun simply picked up his coffee.
"So…" Kenji said excitedly. "This trip is going to be amazing."
"It really is," Yume replied. "I already want to eat everything at that cabin."
"Of course you do," Jun teased.
She made a face.
"Very funny."
They laughed, and everything felt normal.
No tension.
No secrets.
No lies.
Just four friends sharing breakfast.