"Love? He called me love?" she repeated, letting out a soft sigh.
Knock knock knock.
Sayuri smiled.
"Jun…" she whispered as she opened the door.
"Hey. Are you hungry?" Kenji asked, standing there.
Her smile faded almost instantly.
"A little."
"Then let's make a bonfire outside… roast some marshmallows."
Her eyes lit up like a child's.
"Wow, that's so cool! I've never done that before. I'll get ready and come down."
"Don't take too long, cutie," Kenji said, heading downstairs.
Later, they were sitting around the bonfire. The warmth of the flames contrasted with the cold night air. Kenji picked up a guitar, gently 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 Flower. It's beautiful."
Kenji let out a small laugh.
"He doesn't like that one, Sayuri…"
"I'll sing it," Jun replied immediately.
Kenji raised an eyebrow in surprise, but started playing anyway.
Jun's voice filled the silence between the pine trees, and with every verse, Sayuri's heart softened more and more. He wasn't hiding anything… and neither was she.
"This song is beautiful…" Yume murmured.
"Very…" Sayuri replied, unable to look away from him.
Kenji watched, and something about it… didn't feel right.
"I think I'm going to sleep," he said, standing up. "I'm exhausted."
"Me too," Yume said, yawning. "What about you, Sayuri?"
Without taking her eyes off Jun:
"I should go too…"
Everyone went inside, except Jun.
"I'll stay a bit longer… I'm not sleepy yet."
Kenji walked Sayuri to her room.
"It's cold, huh…" he said, scratching the back of his neck. "If you want… I can stay here… keep you warm until you fall asleep."
"Kenji…"
"I just—"
"Better not."
He went silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright… I understand."
He kissed her cheek, a little too close to her lips.
"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.
"You took your time."
"Jun…" she rested her head on his shoulder. "Tomorrow I'm going to talk to Kenji."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. He's crossing the line… and I don't feel comfortable."
Silence.
She pulled back, looking serious.
"Aren't you going to say anything?"
He looked at her… and smiled slightly.
"You look even more beautiful under the moonlight."
"Juun…"
She tried to stand, but he pulled her by the waist, making her fall into his lap.
"Love…" he said quietly. "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 held her tighter.
"Love… my love."
In that moment, only the two of them existed. They kissed intensely… but they weren't alone.
From the cabin window, Kenji was watching in silence. His gaze was cold.
He slowly closed the curtain and lay down on his bed.
"…I knew it."
He turned to the side, but didn't sleep. Just stared into nothing, thinking, calculating. His pride outweighed everything else in that moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
"It's fine…"
A pause.
"I can still turn this game around."