Sayu looked at the message.
[Hayato]:Hey, about the jacket, can we meet tomorrow?
She quickly typed back.
[Sayu]:Sure.
Sliding her phone back into her pocket, she followed the others.
"Sayu?" Kanna called out, turning and seeing she's behind.
"Coming." she said jogging catching up with them.
"This way, please," Taeyang said, gesturing toward a corner table by the window.
The soft city lights stretched across the glass, glittering like spilled jewels against the dark.
They sat down, the plush seats sinking slightly beneath them. A waiter approached almost instantly with a practiced smile, setting down small porcelain plates and handing out menus.
Dae Woo waved a hand dismissively. "No need for menus, we'll just go with whatever Ji-Hoon says is best."
The waiter nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
The next hour passed in a blur.
Plates arrived one after another, each more elaborate than the last; the sizzling grilled beef glazed to perfection that made Kanna's eyes sparkle.
Sayu found herself laughing at Dae Woo's playful commentary about the "proper" way to eat certain dishes, while Kanna insisted on taking pictures of everything before they could even take a single bite.
"Oh my God, the girls are gonna be mad when they see they missed this," Kanna said, snapping yet another picture.
"I know," Sayu chuckled.
"Especially Rin! Knowing her, she's gonna be sulking for a week."
Taeyang stopped by now and then to check on them.
The evening flowed slowly and warmly, the kind that makes you forget about time until the plates are empty. After thanking Ji-Hoon for the food and hospitality, they finally decided it was time to go.
They walked out together, passing through the revolving doors of the hotel and into the cool night air.
A sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of them, its headlights cutting across the pavement. Dae Woo stepped up to the driver's side window, leaning in to speak briefly with the man inside before slipping a folded bill into his hand.
"Take them to Sakura University," he instructed.
"Oh, you didn't have to," Kanna said, glancing at the car. "You already treated us to dinner."
"No, I'm the one who invited you here," Dae Woo replied firmly. "I can't just let you walk home."
He moved to the back, opening the car door for them with a small gesture to get in.
"Sorry I can't walk you two back myself," Dae Woo added, checking his phone. "I promised Ji-Hoon I'd help with the closing tonight—he still has a ton to wrap up."
"It's fine," Kanna said with an easy wave. "We're big girls. We can handle getting home."
"Yeah," Sayu agreed, offering a small smile. "Thanks for inviting us. It was… nice."
"Glad you came," he said, stepping back toward the entrance. "You two get home safe, alright?"
They nodded, watching as he jogged back inside. The driver shut the door behind them, and soon the car eased forward into the quiet streets, carrying them away from the warm glow of the hotel lights.
* * * * *
The Next Day…
The morning light slipped through the half-open curtains, a soft golden hue spilling across the room. Dust motes floated lazily in the beam of sunlight, dancing in the quiet air.
Hayato lay sprawled across his bed, tangled in his blanket like it had fought him in his sleep.
Buzzz.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Hayato groaned, buried deeper under the pillow.
Buzzz.
He shifted slightly, pulling the blanket up to his chin.
Buzzz… Buzzz…
The persistent vibration crawled under his skin. He tried to will it away, but the sound seemed to drill straight into his head.
"Ahh… seriously!" he muttered, his voice low and muffled.
With one lazy hand, he reached out blindly toward the nightstand, knocking over a pen before finally grabbing the phone. His eyes were still shut as his thumb swiped the screen.
Click.
"He… rroo…" His greeting was barely audible, his voice groggy and broken, like he'd swallowed sleep itself.
—"Hello? Hello? Hayato, do you hear me? Who is she?"
The voice on the other end was sharp and direct.
Hayato frowned, still caught between sleep and consciousness. "What?"
—"Who is this girlfriend of yours?" the voice pressed again, louder this time.
'Ugh… what the hell… who's blabbering nonsense this early…?' he thought, prying one eyelid open.
The name on the screen came into focus: [Call connected — Mom: 0:24]
That woke him up faster than any alarm clock. Hayato sat up, pushing his messy hair back. "H-Hey, Mom… Eh.. Good morning…" His voice suddenly smoother, more alert.
—"Answer me, Hayato. Is what I heard from the Kanzaki family true?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
—"The fact that you said you have a girlfriend?! Which girl, exactly, that I'm not aware of?"
"E-Eh, well… you know, Mom…"
'Shit… why did I say that yesterday? Damn it, I wasn't even thinking!'
—"How can you not tell me, huh? I must know who's dating my son!"
"Well… maybe because you'd act like this?" he muttered under his breath, though his tone stayed light.
—"Whatever it is, I want to meet her. End of discussion."
"What?! Meet? Well… I don't think she's ready yet…"
—"Ready? There's no need to be ready. Unless…" Her voice grew sharper. "She's not real."
"Of course she is, Mom!" he said quickly, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
'If she finds out I lied… I'm doomed.'
—"Well good, then there's no problem. Bye."
"Hey, hey! Wait, Mo—"
Click.
The call ended.
Hayato stared at his phone, his shoulders slumping as he fell back onto the bed.
"…Great," he sighed, dragging a hand down his face.
The ceiling stared back at him in silence.
He ruffled his hair in frustration. "Ugh!"
'What the hell am I gonna do now…?'