Chapter 8: "A Dream That Felt Too Real”

Yuki walks closer and sits beside him.

After 30 minutes 

The group strolls down the street, the sun glowing warmly overhead. Kai clutches his rumbling stomach like a man on the edge of starvation.

Kai “If I don’t eat something in the next ten minutes, I might actually die…”

Toie “Again? You said that five minutes ago.”

Kai: “And I meant it both times!”

Mina,laughing “Let’s go to that grill place. The one with the cute waitress and amazing meat.”

They enter the restaurant, and as promised, a bubbly waitress with a stunning smile greets them.

Waitress  “Welcome! Table for five?”

Kai  “Whoa… That smile could literally end wars.”

Yuki’s eyes widen. Kaoe slowly turns her head to look at Kai. Silence.

Yuki,gasping theatrically “Oh. My. Stars.”

Kaoe “He’s doing it again.”

Yuki,puts hand on chest “Here lies Yuki tragically ignored and emotionally betrayed… in a grill restaurant of all places.”

Kai: “Wha-Wait what?! I was just being nice!”

Yuki,leaning in dramatically “Next time, just propose to her and order a ‘love platter for two,’ why don’t you?”

Kaoe “Careful, Yuki. He might ask for extra sauce with that betrayal.”

Kai,laughing nervously “C’mon guys, don’t team up on me!”

The waitress, clearly oblivious to the brewing storm, leads them to the table.

Mina “Should I turn her into a frog? I’ve been practicing my transformation spells.”

Kai,panicking “No! Please! She’s innocent!”

Yuki,pretending to cry “Innocent?! She smiled like she wanted to adopt him!”

Kaoe  “And he wagged his tail like a stray dog.”

Kai “It was a compliment!”

Yuki “I hope you and your new smiley soulmate live happily ever after. I’ll just sit here... alone... sipping sadness through a straw.”

Everyone bursts out laughing as the food arrives. Yuki still pouts dramatically, but her cheeks are red from laughter more than anger. Kai, grinning, sneakily pushes his dessert toward her.

Kai “Truce?”

Yuki,snatching the dessert “Only because you gave me the pudding of peace.”

Even Kaoe smirks, and the warm feeling of friendship returns. Well… with just a pinch of jealousy left for flavor.

Mina stretches her arms after the meal.

Mina “That hit the spot. Hey Kaoe, Toie wanna come watch a movie? There’s this horror-romance mashup I’ve been dying to see!”

Kaoe “Sounds weird. I’m in.”

Toie “I guess I’ll watch, but I’m sitting in the middle so you don’t scream in my ear again.”

Mina “No promises!”

Kai “Yuki and I are gonna head back. Horror isn’t really my thing after almost dying in my dreams.”

Yuki “Plus, I don't trust horror movies. Last time I screamed louder than the monster…”

The others laugh as they part ways. The sky above Kai and Yuki is soft with sunset hues. The streets are calm, golden leaves drifting with the breeze. Yuki walks beside Kai, arms crossed behind her back, her pace slow and relaxed.

Kai “So… alone at last, huh?”

Yuki,smirking “Took you long enough to ditch the rest.”

Kai “I didn’t ditch them, they ditched us. Big difference.”

Yuki  “Uh-huh. You sure it wasn’t your plan to get me alone, Mr. Flirty-at-the-grill?”

Kai,laughs nervously “You’re never letting that go, are you?”

Yuki  “Nope. I’ve added it to the permanent list of ‘Kai’s Dumbest Moments.’”

They share a warm laugh. A gust of wind rushes past, and Yuki brushes her hair behind her ear as it flutters.

Kai “Hey… you know something?”

Yuki “Hmm?”

Kai “I’m really glad you’re here. Like… in this life, in that dream… doesn’t matter where. You being next to me makes everything feel less scary.”

Yuki blinks. Her cheeks tint pink.

Yuki  “D-Don’t say that so seriously… I might actually fall for you all over again.”

They stop walking. Silence. The wind rustles the trees around them. Kai looks at her, his expression sincere.

Kai: “Then fall. I’ll catch you.”

Yuki turns away quickly, hiding her face.

Yuki: “You’re cheesy.”

Kai “But it worked, didn’t it?”

She peeks at him with a sideways glance, then slowly slips her hand into his.

Yuki: “Shut up and walk me home, hero.”

They continue walking hand-in-hand under the glowing sky, the kind of silence that feels full rather than empty. Just two hearts getting a little closer with every step.