Ch.19 Reconcile Part-03

After the evening conversation with K, Amber and Fiora left for home, still insisting that K patch things up.

Once his shift ended, K also left the place.

He was troubled about how to start a conversation with Aurora. It was his first time having to make the first move, unlike with others. Walking toward his apartment while pulling his bicycle, he kept thinking about it.

Soon, the clear sunny sky turned dark as thick clouds gathered. Thunder rumbled above, and as always, K, who carried a folding umbrella, opened it right away.

“It’s a good thing I always keep an umbrella with me,” he murmured to himself. As he walked, small raindrops began to fall, quickly turning into a heavy downpour.

“I should hurry to the apartment. Even with an umbrella, rain like this will drench me soon,” he said, picking up his pace. As he passed near the park, his instincts warned him of something.

“Well, if I’m not wrong... then maybe here is—” He peeked toward the park ground and noticed a familiar figure standing there.

“Knew it…” he muttered, feeling conflicted but deciding to approach.

The familiar figure—Aurora—was looking up at the dark sky, letting out a heavy sigh.

“So, you’ve returned to the same place where you started, huh?” K said quietly.

Aurora turned at his voice, but then looked away, pretending to focus on her phone, clearly ignoring him.

It’s troublesome, K thought with a sigh. Why do I have to patch things up when I didn’t even say anything wrong? If she doesn’t want to talk, isn’t that fine too?

“Well, I know you’re upset about what I said yesterday,” K began calmly, “but let me make this clear—I wasn’t wrong.”

Aurora kept ignoring him as he continued.

“What I said to Fiora wasn’t wrong. It might’ve sounded rude because I said it directly, but that doesn’t change the fact. I just… I just know myself better than anyone else.”

Aurora finally closed her phone and turned toward him.

“If you’re done, could you please leave?” she said sharply, still angry.

K sighed and replied, “Well, I’ve said what I had to say. I won’t repeat it.”

Then, from the bushes nearby, he noticed some movement.

“Hey, you two—this is alright now, right? I can go back?” he called. From behind the bushes, Amber and Fiora appeared—both completely drenched in the rain, having overheard everything.

Seeing them, Aurora was both confused and surprised.

“Amber? Fiora? What are you two doing here?”

“Uh… well, we were… haha…” Amber stammered with a nervous smile, failing to come up with an excuse.

“Aurora-senpai, please forgive K-senpai!” Fiora said with determination shining in her eyes.

“What…?” K said in frustration. He had never asked for forgiveness, yet here they were. “Hey, what are you—”

Before he could finish, Amber quickly covered his mouth with both hands.

“Please, Senpai!” Fiora pleaded, her eyes soft and sincere.

Realizing her friends were trying hard to fix things, Aurora sighed and nodded.

“Alright, I’ll forgive him. But if he keeps that attitude again, then—”

Before she could finish, K managed to free himself from Amber’s grip.

“Are you all stupid?! I never asked for your forgiveness! Don’t make me sound so guilty when I’m not!” he protested.

“K-senpai! Isn’t it great that Aurora-senpai forgave you?” Fiora said cheerfully.

“Are you even listening to me?” K yelled, but the three girls ignored him completely, chatting happily in the pouring rain, their clothes completely soaked through.

Seeing that everyone was completely ignoring him, K sighed in defeat. He reached into his bag, pulled out a small notebook, scribbled something quickly, tore the page, and placed it on the shelter pole nearby.

Without saying a word, he turned and walked away, the rain still pouring around him.

“Huh? Where’s K?” Aurora asked, looking around once she noticed his absence.

“He left?” Amber blinked, glancing at the wet road beyond the park.

“Maybe…” Fiora said softly, squinting before she noticed a note fluttering slightly under the shelter. She picked it up to read—and immediately froze, her face turning bright red.

“What? What did he write?” Amber asked, moving closer. As she read over Fiora’s shoulder, her cheeks also flushed crimson.

Aurora frowned and leaned forward curiously. “Let me see that.”

The note read:

“It would be good if you dry your clothes before heading home.”

Aurora stopped, realizing how drenched she was. The heavy rain had made their clothes see-through, clinging tightly to their skin. Her cheeks turned scarlet as she quickly crossed her arms.

“Didn’t he need to say that first instead of walking off like that?!” Aurora shouted, her voice echoing under the shelter as Amber and Fiora stood beside her—still red-faced and speechless.