"From up here everything looks peaceful… like nothing ever happened," Kenji sighed while looking down at the small town from the top of the hill.
He watched every snowflake fall and blend with the warm lights of the little houses in the valley below.
"I think this time… I went too far with my pride," he reflected. "I think after tonight, she'll never forgive me again…"
As he opened the beer can, he felt a tear slide down his face.
He was alone and he felt guilty about everything.
Yes, he had lied but he had also hidden his true feelings because he knew it was the right thing to do.
Morning arrived calm and cold. The smell of coffee filled the hallways of the cabin, and birds slowly began leaving their nests.
Sayuri woke up still sore from the fall, but her fever had gone down. She looked to the side and there he was, asleep in the chair beside her bed.
Jun looked so peaceful in that moment. She leaned a little closer and gently ran her fingers through his hair.
"You're awake? How are you feeling?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Relax, I'm okay… I feel better…"
"Are you sure? We should check your temperature," he said, standing up.
She grabbed him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry, Jun…"
"Hey, you don't have to apologize, love… none of this was your fault."
Sayuri looked into his eyes.
"I'm sorry for not listening to you… I'm sorry for doubting you and not giving you a chance…"
He interrupted her.
"Please don't apologize. The mistake was mine and Kenji's…"
Jun lowered his head and suddenly looked like he was about to give up.
"Maybe we should stay away from each other…"
Sayuri instantly stood up, irritated.
"How can you say that? After everything? Like it's easy? You're hurting me… why?"
Tears started falling before she could even finish the sentence.
Jun closed his eyes for a moment as if he hated himself for saying it.
Then he pulled her close.
"I'm sorry… I'll never say that again, I promise. Now calm down, okay?"
"Okay…" she answered between sobs.
"How could I stay away…" he whispered, "when you're the most important thing in my life?"
He looked straight into her eyes.
"You're the air I breathe… and without you, I wouldn't survive."
Her stomach suddenly let out a small "grrrnnn," completely ruining the moment.
Sayuri immediately covered her face.
"Pretend you didn't hear that."
Jun laughed softly.
"Haha, I think someone's hungry. Come on, let's eat something."
He took her hand and guided her toward the kitchen.
On the way, they ran into Yume.
She looked exhausted.
"Good morning, Yume."
The second she saw Sayuri, she burst into tears and hugged her tightly.
"Sayuriiii… are you okay? I was so worried…"
Sayuri got embarrassed and didn't know what to say, only hugging her back while Jun tried not to laugh.
"Everything's okay now, Yume. The worst is over. Now can we eat something?"
Yume wiped her tears and looked at him.
"Do we have cake…? I like cake when I'm nervous…"
The moment Jun and Sayuri heard that, they couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Come on already," Jun said while leading the two of them.
The second Yume spotted the cake, her entire expression changed.
"Wow… how can cake make someone this happy?" Jun teased.
"Shhhh," Sayuri said. "Come on, let's eat."
"But don't you think we should wake Kenji up?" Jun asked.
Yume answered with her mouth full.
"He still hasn't come back."
"Hasn't come back?"
"He left last night after everything happened. Said he needed to be alone."
Sayuri grew worried. Despite everything, the affection she had for him was still there.
"Do you think we should call and make sure he's okay?"
Jun grabbed his phone and tried calling, but no luck.
Kenji's phone was off.
"He's fine," Yume said. "He'll show up soon acting like nothing happened."
"You sure?"
"Yes, Say. I know that boy very well."
"Excuse me," one of the maids said. "Miss Yume, there's a phone call for you."
"For me? But nobody has the number here…"
She stood up and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Yume…"
"Kenji? Where are you? Are you okay?"
"Haha, relax, Yume… so many questions."
His voice sounded tired.
"I'm fine. I just called to let you know I'll be back late. Can you organize the dinner and the party preparations for me?"
"What do you mean late? Where are you?"
"Yume…" he sighed softly. "Can you do this for me? The drinks and decorations should arrive soon."
She stayed quiet for a moment.
"Okay… I'll take care of it. But Kenji… are you really okay?"
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"I am. I came to meet some friends who were nearby."
Yume didn't completely believe him, but she decided not to push further.
"Okay…"
"See you tonight."
The call ended before she could say anything else.
On the other side of the line, there were no old friends. Just Kenji alone inside his car, ashamed of everything he had done and trying to gather the courage to return to the cabin.
The hours passed quickly. Yume ran around everywhere trying to organize the New Year's party while Sayuri, even with her injured leg, insisted on helping.
"Love… I told you to stay sitting over there and let me do this," Jun complained while taking the balloons from her hands.
Sayuri placed a hand on her waist.
"Hummm… but I want to help."
"And you help by sitting quietly and recovering."
"You sound like a seventy-year-old man."
Jun let out a nasal laugh and carried the balloons into the living room. After a few minutes hanging decorations, he automatically looked toward the armchair where he had left Sayuri sitting.
Empty.
"Oh no…"
He walked into the kitchen and found her helping the maids organize the dinner plates.
Jun closed his eyes for a second.
"She's so stubborn…"
Pling!
Yume's phone vibrated on the table.
She grabbed it immediately.
"Yume, some friends are arriving at 8 PM. Welcome them for me.
Thanks, Kenji."
Yume looked at the clock and widened her eyes.
"Five in the afternoon?! Is he crazy? Oh, when he gets back, he's gonna hear it from me…"
She ran into the living room.
"Sayuri! Jun! Kenji's guests are arriving in three hours!"
"What?! Already?" Sayuri widened her eyes. "I haven't even showered yet!"
"Come on, I'll help you upstairs," Jun said while holding her hand. "Yume, I'll be back to help."
Jun slowly walked Sayuri upstairs because of her injured leg. The moment they reached the bathroom door, he leaned one arm against the wall and smirked.
"Need help taking a shower?"
Sayuri immediately turned red.
"Jun!!"
He started laughing.
"What? I just wanted to help, love."
"Bye, Jun!"
She pushed him outside and shut the bathroom door while hearing his laughter echo from the other side.
Finally, everything was ready for the party. The projector screen had already been connected to the computer for the official launch of the band's website.
The decorations shimmered in gold and silver while guests slowly started arriving. But Kenji still hadn't shown up. Yume tried calling several times.
Nothing.
The clock was almost hitting eleven thirty when the door finally opened.
"I'M HERE!!"
Kenji walked in smiling, wearing a flawless black tuxedo and holding a bottle of champagne.
"Did you miss me?"
Whistles and applause filled the room, mixing with the loud music from the party. Kenji started greeting the guests, and when he saw Yume, he gave her a carefree smile.
She immediately crossed her arms.
"You're unbelievable, you know that?"
"I know," he answered with a laugh.
"I'm only not hitting you right now because I don't want to ruin the party."
"I knew you missed me."
He quickly hugged her before she could complain again.
Jun walked over to him.
"You okay?"
Kenji looked surprised by the question.
"Yeah…"
He looked away.
"About yesterday's punch…"
"Jun," Kenji interrupted. "Let's leave that in the past."
A brief pause.
"Tonight is the beginning of our future, brother."
Jun took a deep breath and shook his hand.
"I'm glad you came back."
"Hey!" Yume shouted from the other side of the room. "It's about to start!"
Jun and Kenji walked toward the computer while everyone gathered around the projector screen.
The countdown began.
"Five…"
"Four…"
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One!"
With their hands together on the mouse, the two of them clicked the publish button.
The band's first song was finally online. The room exploded into celebration.
Kenji raised his glass.
"To our future."
Jun raised his too.
"To the future."
Then his eyes found Sayuri in the middle of the crowd. She was smiling beautifully while watching the screen.
The song Jun had written for her had been chosen as the band's very first official release.
Sayuri placed a hand over her chest and whispered softly, even from far away:
"I love you…"
He walked toward her through the party lights, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her without hesitation.
Fireworks exploded outside the cabin.
"Happy New Year," he whispered against her lips.
"Happy New Year, Jun…"