The first night of the festival was perfect. Families, friends, and couples filled the entire place, enjoying themselves everywhere.
"Look, Sayuri, that photo mural is so pretty! We have to go there," Yume said excitedly.
"Of course, let's go."
"Hey, I want to go too," Kenji said, making puppy eyes at them.
Yume looked at the scene, stunned by her friend's attitude, and started laughing uncontrollably.
"Let's go then, before it gets too crowded."
With every pose, every flash, Sayuri's smile appeared more and more, standing out. She looked radiant, as if she had finally allowed herself to enjoy being there… having fun with Kenji. But she knew she needed to confront him.
"Kenji… can I talk to you?"
"Of course, what is it?"
"Be honest with me…"
He stepped closer, gently touching her face.
"Of course. Always…"
"Why did you lie to Jun about us?"
"Lie? What are you talking about?"
He already knew exactly what she meant.
"Why did you tell him we were dating?"
He tensed at the question, because his answer could ruin everything between them.
"When did you talk to him?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"It doesn't matter," she said, looking straight into his eyes. "Tell me the truth, Kenji!"
"Sorry… I just said that because I thought it was the right thing."
"The right thing?"
"You were hurting so much because of his childish behavior… I just wanted to help."
"Don't you think I should be the one dealing with that? This is about me… my feelings."
"I'm sorry… I didn't think it through. Please."
Sayuri stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"It's fine… but don't do things like that behind my back."
"Okay, Kenji…"
"Trust me… I won't disappoint you again."
Kenji knew that if he told Jun the truth, it would only be a matter of time before she ran back into Jun's arms, and that made him uneasy.
"I'm starving, let's eat?" he said, trying to take her hand, but she pulled away.
"Let's go."
"Yume, come on," Kenji called. "Let's eat."
They sat near a dumpling stand, and while waiting, Kenji kept trying to make her smile—not because he enjoyed seeing her happy, but because he was worried about what she was thinking.
Jun, who had already arrived at the festival, watched from afar. Sitting on a wooden bench across the stalls, alone, he looked at her.
She seemed to glow in the crowd. When she smiled, it brought a strange relief… but also discomfort.
He knew Kenji had played dirty to stay close to her—lying about them dating and saying he liked someone else. He couldn't accept it.
"Hey, look, it's Jun!" Yume said, waving.
Kenji immediately looked at Sayuri, but she was distracted.
Jun simply nodded from a distance, not approaching. But Yume, as always direct, stood up and walked over to him.
"Hey, stranger! Didn't you hear me calling?"
"Sorry…" he replied, looking away.
"Come sit with us."
"Better not… I'm not in the mood."
Yume rolled her eyes, grabbed his arm, and pulled him anyway, despite his resistance.
"You're crazy, Yume," he said, trying to free himself. "Stop pulling me."
"No."
Sayuri felt it the moment he got closer… his scent. Even without changing her expression, her heart raced. It was inevitable.
"Hey, Jun, sit here. What do you think of the festival?" Kenji asked, wrapping an arm around Sayuri.
Jun noticed immediately. He knew it was a provocation—Kenji had always been like that, competitive, unable to accept losing.
"It's not bad," Jun replied, picking up the menu. "I'll get some mulled wine. Anyone want some?"
"I do," Yume said quickly.
He looked at Sayuri, about to ask, but before she could answer, Kenji stood up.
"I'll get it for you, Say."
The two of them walked to the counter without exchanging a word. It was strange between them.
Kenji went to pay while Jun brought the drinks back to the table.
When he handed Sayuri her cup, their fingers brushed lightly. She blushed, and Jun smiled… a soft, different smile. Sayuri was surprised. He had never looked at her like that before.
Something about him had changed. And in truth, something had changed—he had stopped fighting what he felt. Every time he tried to run from it, he only got more lost in it. So Jun had decided to end all the lies.
"Wow, it's getting cold… are you cold, Say?" Kenji asked, trying to hug her.
"I'm fine…" she replied, pulling away slightly.
Kenji started getting irritated. He was about to lose control of the situation when the food arrived, filling the air with a delicious smell.
"Wow, I'm starving," Yume said, grabbing a piece and eating it immediately.
While they ate, Sayuri noticed Jun wasn't eating. She picked up a piece with her chopsticks and offered it to him.
"Here… open your mouth. It's amazing."
Jun froze. Instinctively, he turned his face away. But Sayuri insisted, and Kenji became visibly uncomfortable.
"Hey, Sayuri… leave him. He's not a child that you need to feed."
Jun noticed Kenji's reaction… and because of that, he opened his mouth and accepted the food, giving Kenji a teasing smile.
"I think I've had enough," Kenji said, his tone turning serious.
"Wow, I ate too much too," Yume laughed, patting her stomach. "But now I want to go to the mirror house."
"Me too," Sayuri said, looking at Jun. "It sounds fun."
Kenji noticed she was engaging with Jun and quickly finished his drink, the burn sharp in his throat.
"Then let's go."
Sayuri, Kenji, and Yume walked ahead. Jun followed behind in silence.
When they arrived at the glowing structure, excitement filled the air. It was a house of mirrors, with golden frames and distorted reflections shimmering everywhere.
"Look!" Yume said, entering without hesitation.
Kenji followed, then Sayuri… and finally Jun.
Inside, the world felt different—endless reflections, broken images, shifting light… like a dream.
Sayuri walked slowly, enchanted, until in one of the mirrors she didn't just see herself… she saw him.
Standing on the other side, looking at her.
"Sometimes we try to run so we don't get hurt…"
"But maybe running hurts more than staying…"
"Then… what should a complicated heart do?"
"It should find someone to simplify it…"
"Then… I think I already found them…"
Jun didn't want to run anymore. And she knew it.
Without realizing it, they began to move closer.
Mirror after mirror.
Their eyes locking… holding… growing deeper.
Until—
"What do you think you're doing?"
Kenji's voice cut through the moment.
Jun didn't answer.
Kenji stepped closer, irritated.
"You know what I find funny, Jun? You always said you didn't care… and now that Sayuri and I are doing well, you suddenly show up with this childish game?"
"You and her?" Jun laughed.
"Yes. Me and her!!"
"I'm not playing any game," Jun said. "And you should stop lying to get what you want."
He took a breath.
"Now I just want to do what I should have done since that first kiss."
He looked at Sayuri, and she smiled.
"So it was special for you too…"
"It always was," he replied.
"No," Kenji cut in sharply. "You're not doing this now."
"Tell her the truth," Jun whispered. "Or I will."
Kenji lost control and grabbed Jun by the collar.
"You're not the right guy for her… give up, let her move on."
Jun tried to break free, but accidentally pushed him. Kenji fell in front of Sayuri, hitting his head.
"Kenji!" she shouted. "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
"I'm fine…"
As she helped him, her expression changed—this time with anger.
"What is your problem?"
Jun stepped forward.
"My problem?"
"Yes! Why did you do that?"
Before he could answer—
"He's always been like this," Kenji interrupted. "He doesn't accept losing."
"Me?" Jun said in disbelief.
Sayuri clenched her fists and looked at him.
"For a second, it seemed like you had changed… but now, with this attitude, you just prove how… I don't even know what you are."
He tried to explain.
"But—"
"Enough!" she cut him off firmly. "Please… just go."
That made something inside him snap.
In a burst of emotion, Jun punched the mirror.
CRASH!
The sound echoed through the place as glass shattered across the floor, scattering broken reflections everywhere.
Blood slowly ran down his fingers. Sayuri looked at it, panicked… but he didn't care about the pain. He turned and walked away… stepping over the shards.
She tried to follow him, but Kenji held her back.
"My head hurts… please, let's get out of here."