"Love? Did he just call me love?" she repeated, sighing.
Knock, knock, knock.
Sayuri smiled.
"Jun…" she whispered as she opened the door.
"Hey. Are you hungry?" Kenji asked, standing there.
Her smile faded slightly, almost unnoticeable.
"A little."
"Then let's make a bonfire outside… roast some marshmallows."
Her eyes lit up.
"Yay, that sounds fun! I've never done that. I'll get ready and be right down."
"Don't take too long, cutie," Kenji said, heading downstairs.
Later, sitting around the bonfire, the warmth of the flames contrasted with the cold night air.
Kenji picked up his guitar, strumming a few notes.
"Come on, Jun… sing something."
"I don't know… I didn't prepare anything."
Sayuri looked at him softly.
"Sing that one… Cherry Blossom. It's beautiful."
Kenji let out a quiet laugh.
"He doesn't like that one, Sayuri…"
"I'll sing it," Jun replied immediately.
Kenji raised an eyebrow, surprised, but started playing.
Jun's voice filled the silence of the night. With every verse, Sayuri's heart gave in a little more.
He wasn't hiding it. Neither was she.
"That song is beautiful…" Yume murmured.
"Very…" Sayuri replied, without taking her eyes off him.
Kenji watched them, and something about it… didn't feel right.
"I think I'm going to bed," he said, standing up. "I'm exhausted."
"Me too," Yume added, yawning. "What about you, Sayuri?"
Without looking away from Jun:
"I think I should go too."
Everyone went inside—except Jun.
"I'll stay a little longer… I'm not sleepy."
Kenji walked Sayuri to her room.
"It's cold, huh…" he scratched the back of his neck. "If you want… I can stay here… until you fall asleep."
Sayuri stopped.
"Kenji…"
"I just—"
"You shouldn't."
He stayed quiet for a second, then smiled.
"Alright, Say. I get it."
He kissed her cheek.
"Good night, cutie."
"Good night, Kenji."
She closed the door, walked to the window, and saw Jun still outside. Without thinking, she grabbed a blanket and went out.
"Hey…" she said, wrapping it around him.
He pulled her closer.
"Took you long enough."
"Jun…" she rested her head on his shoulder. "Tomorrow I'm going to talk to Kenji."
"Are you sure?"
"I am. He's crossing the line… and I don't feel comfortable."
Silence.
She pulled back, looking at him seriously.
"You're not going to say anything?"
He looked at her… and smirked.
"You look even more beautiful under the moonlight."
"Juun…"
She tried to stand up, but he pulled her by the waist, making her fall into his lap.
"Love…" he said softly. "No matter what you decide… I'll be by your side."
She bit her lip.
"You did it again."
"What?"
"You called me love."
He wrapped his arms around her tighter.
"My love."
And he kissed her without hesitation. In that moment, only the two of them existed. But they weren't truly alone. From the cabin window, Kenji was watching.
Silently.
With a cold look in his eyes. He slowly closed the curtain and lay down on the bed.
"…I figured."
He turned to his side, but didn't sleep.
He just stared into nothing.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Then a smile appeared.
"It's fine…"
A pause.
"I can still turn this around."