A new year had begun, bringing with it new dreams and new achievements. Since the release of their first single on the website, the band had been receiving more and more visits and positive comments.
Jun and Kenji spent most of their days working on new songs, replying to comments, and organizing ideas for the future of the band.
Meanwhile, Sayuri and Yume enjoyed the last days of winter break resting, going out together, and watching closely as the boys' project grew.
"So… how are you and Jun doing?" Yume asked while they walked down the street carrying shopping bags.
Sayuri smiled before answering.
"Everything is perfect… almost too perfect. That scares me."
"Scared? Why?"
"I'm afraid it might all end suddenly..."
Yume gently held her arm.
"Relax. Nothing is going to make Jun leave you. That boy is completely crazy about you."
Sayuri smiled, feeling her cheeks warm.
"And I'm crazy about him..."
That afternoon, the two girls bought snacks, soda, and drinks to take to the cabin where Jun and Kenji had been rehearsing since early morning.
"Heyyy! We're here!" Yume announced, lifting the bags.
Kenji stood up.
"Oh! What did you bring?"
"Hey, love," Jun said, wrapping an arm around Sayuri's waist. "How was your walk?"
"It was good. Did you manage to finish the song?"
Jun scratched his head, frustrated.
"Not yet… something is still missing."
Yume stepped closer, curious.
"What is missing? Maybe we can help."
Kenji laughed immediately.
"You? Since when do you understand composition?"
"Maybe I can't write lyrics," she replied, crossing her arms, "but my critical sense is perfect."
"Conceited."
"Realistic."
Sayuri laughed at their argument.
"Okay, okay," Jun interrupted. "First, let's eat because I'm starving."
After they finished eating, Kenji showed them some of the new tracks they were working on.
The girls listened carefully.
"Hmm… it really feels like something is missing," Yume said. "What do you think, Say?"
Sayuri looked thoughtfully at the guitar resting on the sofa.
"Maybe a stronger chorus would help."
Jun quickly lifted his eyes.
"A chorus..."
Kenji grabbed the lyric sheet.
"Wait… that might actually work."
From that moment on, the four of them spent hours sketching ideas, exchanging words, and adjusting melodies until finally—
"Now it's good," Kenji said excitedly. "Let's try it, Jun?"
"Let's go!"
While the boys recorded the new version of the song, Sayuri and Yume sat at the laptop reading comments on the website.
After a while, Yume narrowed her eyes at the screen.
"Hmm..."
"What is it?" Sayuri asked.
"It looks like the boys have an obsessive fan."
Sayuri laughed.
"Obsessive? What do you mean?"
"Look at this."
She pointed at the screen. The same name appeared repeatedly among the comments.
Usagui.
Support messages.
Compliments.
Affectionate words.
Always her.
"I think she really likes their songs," Sayuri said.
"So what are you looking at?" Jun asked, sitting beside her.
Yume turned the laptop.
"We're reading comments from a mysterious fan."
"Really? Who?"
"A girl called Usagui."
Kenji opened a beer at the mention of the name.
"Oh… her."
Sayuri looked at him.
"You know her?"
"No," he replied quickly. "But she comments every day on the site. It's kind of weird."
It was almost eleven at night when, completely exhausted, everyone started heading to their rooms.
"Good night, everyone," Yume said while going upstairs.
"I'm heading too, lovebirds," Kenji added with a tired smile.
When they were finally alone in the living room, Jun sat beside Sayuri and pulled her closer.
"Finally… just us."
She snuggled into him.
"Warm..." she whispered.
They stayed like that for a while, talking about the future, their dreams, and childhood memories. Until sleep slowly began to take over Sayuri.
"I think I'll go upstairs… I'm almost falling asleep here."
"Then let's rest."
They walked upstairs together. At her bedroom door, Jun gently held her hand before letting go.
"Sleep well, love..."
Sayuri bit her lip softly.
"You too."
She entered her room and closed the door slowly. The silence made her heart beat strangely fast. She took a deep breath, went to the bathroom, and took a warm shower to relax.
Then she changed into her pajamas and lay down, but sleep wouldn't come. She turned from side to side, closing her eyes again and again.
"I must be going crazy..." she murmured.
After a while staring at the ceiling, she got up and walked toward Jun's room. Her hand stopped before the door handle.
"What am I doing…?"
She hesitated, but then knocked.
When Jun opened the door, he was wearing only shorts, his hair messy. Sayuri instantly lost her breath.
"I can't sleep… can I stay here with you?"
His gaze softened immediately.
"Of course… come in."
While Jun dried his hair with a towel, Sayuri watched him in silence. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn't hide it.
"Want to lie down?" he asked calmly.
She walked toward him slowly, touched his face, and kissed him. A slow kiss, full of feeling. Her hands slid gently over his body, making Jun hold his breath.
"Say..." he murmured against her lips. "I don't want to lose control with you..."
She kissed him again without answering, took his hand, and led him to the bed.
"Love..." his voice was low. "Are you sure?"
She looked deeply into his eyes.
"More than ever."
Jun carefully lifted her into his arms and laid her down on the bed.
His fingers slowly opened the buttons of her pajamas, as if afraid of hurting her.
Sayuri looked into his eyes, and in that moment she was certain:
That was where she wanted to stay forever.