After visiting one of Kyoto's sacred shrines, the sky suddenly darkened, and heavy rain poured down. With no umbrella, So Jin and Hikari were completely drenched within minutes. Seeing no other option, Hikari glanced at him and said, "My apartment is nearby. You can dry off there."
So Jin simply nodded, following her through the narrow, rain-washed streets until they arrived at a small but cozy apartment tucked away in a quiet alley.
Stepping inside, water dripped from their soaked clothes, pooling onto the wooden floor. Hikari turned to him. "You should change before you catch a cold," she said, disappearing into her room and returning with a set of her father's old clothes.
So Jin accepted them without hesitation. "Thank you."
They took turns using the bath, the warmth soothing their chilled bodies. When So Jin stepped out, wearing a simple T-shirt and sweatpants, Hikari was already in a light yukata, her damp hair loosely tied back.
The rain still hadn't stopped, and as hunger crept in, Hikari checked her small kitchen, her face falling. "I only have flour and onions…" she muttered, sighing.
So Jin, noticing her hesitation, stepped forward. "Let me handle it."
Hikari blinked in surprise. "You can cook?"
A rare smirk played on his lips. "Of course. An Indian friend once taught me something perfect for a rainy evening."
Within minutes, the scent of crispy pyaz pakoras filled the apartment, the golden-brown fritters sizzling in the pan. Hikari hesitated at first, then took a small bite… and her eyes widened.
"This is… delicious!" she exclaimed, immediately taking another bite.
So Jin chuckled lightly. "Food tastes best when shared."
As they ate, their conversation naturally drifted to archery.
Their Conversation
Hikari glanced at him, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "You were a judge at the tournament… but I never saw you in any archery events before. How did you meet Hikawa?"
So Jin took a sip of water. "Hikawa was once my student."
Her chopsticks froze mid-air. "Wait—Hikawa? Asia's best archer? Your student?"
He nodded casually. "It was years ago. Back then, he was talented but lacked precision. I trained him for a short while before leaving the scene."
Hikari was still trying to process it. "Then… why did you leave?"
So Jin's gaze turned distant for a moment, as if recalling a memory he had buried. Then he answered simply, "I had my reasons."
A silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
After a while, Hikari spoke again. "At the tournament… you said something before shooting the arrow. Something about having more experience than anyone there. What did you mean?"
So Jin met her eyes, his voice calm yet firm. "Exactly what I said. I've practiced archery far longer than you can imagine."
Hikari felt a shiver—not from fear, but from realization. Whoever So Jin truly was, he wasn't just skilled… he was on an entirely different level.
As the night deepened, the rain continued to pour. They both lay in separate rooms, but neither could sleep, their thoughts lingering on each other.
"He's sleeping just a few steps away from me…" Hikari thought, her cheeks turning red.
"She's under the same roof as me… Why am I thinking about this?" So Jin wondered, closing his eyes and exhaling.
Despite their restless thoughts, exhaustion finally overtook them, and they fell asleep.
---
The Next Morning
So Jin awoke before dawn, his body trained to rise early. The rain had finally stopped, and a cool morning breeze drifted through the slightly open window.
Not wanting to disturb Hikari, he quietly went to the kitchen and made two cups of tea. As he poured the tea into cups, he heard soft footsteps.
Hikari rubbed her eyes, her voice still groggy. "You're making tea…?"
So Jin handed her a cup. "It's a habit."
She took a sip, warmth spreading through her chest. "It's good."
A comfortable silence settled between them as they sipped their tea. But eventually, So Jin stood up and walked toward the door. "I should head back to my hotel."
Hikari followed him, standing at the entrance as he reached for the handle. Just as he was about to open the door, a strange feeling settled between them—a sorrow neither could fully understand.
Parting felt… unnatural.
For a brief moment, neither spoke. Then, So Jin turned back slightly, looking at her. "…Thank you for last night."
Hikari's fingers clutched the edge of her yukata. "…Yeah."
The door opened, and So Jin stepped out into the morning light. As the door slowly closed behind him, Hikari exhaled, placing a hand on her chest.
"Why… do I feel like I'm losing something important?"
.....to be continued.....