Chapter 19 - Escaping Reality II
(Same as last chapter, but Kazuha's POV)
Kazuha had curled up in her usual corner of the couch, her book open in front of her, though her mind was drifting. She wasn’t reading the words, not anymore. Instead, her gaze kept flicking up to the girl sitting on the floor in front of her.
Y/N had a pillow beneath her head, looking incredibly comfortable in the space between the couch and the coffee table. The soft, steady rhythm of Eunchae’s phone tapping away was the only thing cutting through the quiet. Kazuha had always appreciated moments like these—moments where time seemed to slow down, where everything felt right, and nothing needed to be said.
Kazuha’s lips quirked into a soft smile as she closed her book gently, letting it rest in her lap. She wanted to keep watching her members just being themselves, to keep this moment frozen in time.
Eunchae suddenly let out a loud, exaggerated laugh, breaking the quiet air. "Oh my gosh, this video is hilarious!" she exclaimed, showing Y/N the screen, she chuckled slightly.
"I’m going to grab something from the kitchen," Y/N said, her voice soft, the quiet lilt of it pulling Kazuha’s attention fully toward her. "Anyone want anything?"
Eunchae barely looked up from her phone, muttering something about being fine. But Kazuha watched Y/N stand up, the fluidity of her movement graceful and unhurried. There was something in the way she moved, like she wasn’t just going to get a snack—she was creating a moment. Kazuha’s gaze lingered on her as she disappeared into the kitchen, the cool light from the fridge casting soft shadows on the floor.
As her gaze followed her member to the kitchen, their eyes briefly met. Y/N waved at her and they smiled at each other. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that Kazuha noticed the soft flicker of her own emotions—something warm, gentle, and almost... protective. It was odd, the way she felt drawn to Y/N, wanting to be near her, to be in the same space. It wasn’t something she had ever really thought about until now.
Then, Y/N returned, grapes in hand, and to Kazuha’s surprise, Y/N sat a little closer this time. It wasn’t intentional, she could tell—it wasn’t as if Y/N had moved to sit beside her—but it felt... natural. And for a moment, the air between them seemed to shift, something unspoken passing between them as they sat in silence, eating their snacks and watching the quiet moments unfold.
Y/N was eating grapes again, one by one, and Kazuha noticed the way her lips would curl into a small smile whenever she popped one into her mouth as she kept glancing at her through the corner of her eyes. It was a quiet, content smile, and Kazuha found herself mesmerized by how at ease Y/N seemed, even in the middle of the madness that was their busy lives. Y/N had a way of making everything feel calm, like there was no rush, no stress. Even the little things she did—eating a grape, stretching, glancing over at Kazuha—felt significant to Kazuha in ways she couldn’t quite explain.
And then there was the way Y/N would look at her.
Kazuha caught it, of course. That little glance, that flicker of her gaze that would sometimes meet Kazuha’s across the room. It wasn’t just a passing look; it was something more, something familiar. Every time their eyes met, Kazuha’s chest would tighten with a warmth she couldn’t quite describe. It was a simple look—a quiet exchange that said everything without needing words.
She could feel Y/N’s eyes on her again, and Kazuha shifted slightly, pretending to focus on her book. But her mind was elsewhere. She could hear Y/N’s soft breathing, the way she shifted on the floor, the subtle rustle of the pillow beneath her head. Kazuha allowed herself just a moment to study Y/N, the way her hair curled slightly around her face, the way her eyes gleamed with some secret thought. The soft expression on Y/N's face was endearing, and Kazuha couldn’t help but admire her, not just for the things she did but for the way she made everything feel lighter.
"I used to read so much more in Japan," Kazuha said, breaking the silence, her voice quiet but thoughtful. "But here... I feel like I’ve barely had time for it."
Y/N, who had been peeling her grapes, paused for a moment and looked up at Kazuha. "Yeah, I get that," she replied, her eyes meeting Kazuha’s with a soft understanding."It's like everything else takes over, and you forget what it's like to do things for yourself."
Kazuha couldn’t help but smile a little. Y/N had always been like that—understanding, thoughtful, like she could see right through all the hustle and bustle and understand exactly what Kazuha was feeling.
"I miss that feeling,” Kazuha murmured, looking down at the pages of her book as if they held the answers to all the questions she wasn’t asking. "Just... getting lost in a story for a while. It’s like everything else fades away,” she said with a small smile.
Y/N nodded, her gaze softening. "I miss that too. It’s one of the reasons I liked reading fantasy books when I was younger. It was like you could step into another world, one where you didn’t have to worry about anything."
Kazuha’s eyes lingered on Y/N’s face, taking in the warmth in her expression.
"I used to love that. The idea of going on an adventure, finding magic, meeting strange creatures... I guess I got caught up in reality and forgot about the wonder of it all,” Kazuha spoke softly.
Y/N tilted her head, studying her. "You can still go on those adventures. Even if it’s just in your head. The world doesn’t have to stop you from dreaming."
There was a simplicity in Y/N’s smile that made Kazuha’s heart feel lighter, and for a brief second, she found herself lost in Y/N’s eyes, as if everything else in the room had faded. But just as quickly, Y/N shifted her attention back to the grapes, and Kazuha cleared her throat, refocusing.
But Y/N’s words had planted a thought in Kazuha’s mind.
"Hey, do you want to go for a walk?" Kazuha asked suddenly, her voice light but sincere. "It’s still nice out, and I think we could use a break from the dorm."
Y/N blinked, surprised for a second, before smiling and nodding. "Yeah, I’d love that."
The air outside felt different—cool and fresh, with a slight breeze that ruffled their hair. Kazuha was glad for the face masks they both put on to keep their identities hidden, and the peacefulness of the walk gave her space to think. Y/N walked beside her, a comfortable silence falling between them as they strolled along the city streets, the night air making everything seem a little more magical.
When they reached the Han River, Kazuha couldn’t help but smile at how the city seemed to pause around them. The sound of the water rushing against the shore was calming, and Kazuha’s usual tension eased as she walked beside Y/N.
"I love it here," Kazuha said, her voice quiet but full of warmth. "It’s peaceful. It’s like... you can just forget everything for a while."
Y/N nodded, her expression matching Kazuha’s sentiment. "Yeah, I feel that too. It’s like the whole world slows down when you’re near the water."
Kazuha felt a strange sense of connection in that moment, something more than just friendship. It was easy to be near Y/N, easy to share these moments of peace together.
As the evening stretched on, the two of them ended up at a small corner store by the river.
Kazuha looked at Y/N with a mischievous smile. "Do you want to try something? I’m craving ramen," Kazuha asked, noticing Y/N’s eager expression.
Y/N’s eyes lit up. "Oh, sure!! I’ll get spicy ramen."
Kazuha grinned and grabbed Y/N’s hand, pulling her toward the store. Kazuha grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the store with a grin. "Then it’s a good thing I’m buying."
They found a small bench to sit on, the air slightly colder now, but the warmth of their shared ramen made everything feel just right. Kazuha watched Y/N slurp her noodles happily, noticing the way her eyes sparkled every time she took a bite.
Kazuha kept stealing glances to look at Y/N with a teasing smile. "You know, I have to admit. I was too confident with the weather today," she said, her voice slightly embarrassed. It was unusually cold for the end of June. "But at least it’s not raining."
Y/N laughed, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I don’t mind," she said, her eyes glinting. "The spicy ramen helps, you can always have some of mine."
Kazuha raised an eyebrow, both intrigued and surprised. "Oh? But you love it so much."
Y/N gave her a sheepish grin. "Well, I do, but it’d be bad if you got sick." Her concern shone through.
Kazuha smiled softly, clearly touched. "You’re too kind, unnie.” She leaned forward, taking a sip of her ramen before pushing her cup toward Y/N.
“Don’t worry, I’m not feeling that cold. You should have most of it. It’s your favorite flavor, after all."
Y/N smiled in return, her heart warming at the gesture. "Thanks, Kazuha."
The two of them ate in companionable silence, the connection between them deepening in those simple moments. Kazuha could feel her heart-tugging gently at her chest—something about this felt right, so natural like they were meant to share this moment.
"Hey, I was thinking... do you want to take a picture? I know we’re just hanging out, but it’s kind of nice, don’t you think?" Kazuha asked suddenly, her voice playful.
“A picture?”
"We could post it—or not post it.”
Y/N was stunned.
“We could keep it as our little secret. Just for us." She suddenly realized how vulnerable she felt asking Y/N such a question.
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat at the suggestion. The idea of a secret shared only between the two of them, a picture that no one else would see—it made her heart race in a way she didn’t expect.
"I think I’d like that. A secret picture, just for us." Y/N said, a soft smile spreading across her face.
Kazuha grinned, taking the phone and snapping the photo, her hand brushing against Y/N’s in the process. The sensation lingered, leaving Kazuha feeling a little breathless.
When the picture was taken, Kazuha let out a soft sigh of contentment, her smile growing warmer. "There, just for us," she said, her voice filled with a quiet joy.
Y/N met her gaze, her smile radiant. "I’m glad you asked, it’s a nice memory."
Kazuha felt a flutter in her chest, a new, subtle bond growing between them, something that felt special in ways she couldn’t quite define.She found herself hoping that this moment—this feeling—wasn’t just a fleeting one.
Perhaps, just perhaps, it was the beginning of something more.
As if dragged away from those thoughts Y/N placed her beanie onto Kazuha’s head. "There," she said, smiling. "Now you won’t have a cold forehead."
Kazuha blinked in surprise, then smiled softly, her eyes smiling in that way they only do when Y/N is around. "You’re always so thoughtful, unnie," she said, her voice a little breathless, like she was touched by the small gesture. "Thank you."
Y/N couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a quiet joy in her heart. "It’s nothing. I just want to make sure you’re warm." Y/N didn’t know it was neither the ramen nor her beanie that kept Kazuha warm that night.
After finishing their ramen, the two of them found themselves standing outside the convenience store, looking at each other with soft smiles.
"Hey," Kazuha suggested, her voice bright and full of warmth, "What do you think about getting some snacks for the others when we head back?"
Y/N’s face lit up. "I was just thinking the same thing!"
They both laughed, the simplicity of the moment making it all the more perfect. As they walked back, hand in hand, Y/N’s warmth lingering in her palm, Kazuha realized that some moments were just meant to be cherished—moments like this, where the two of them existed simply as they were, with no pressure, no expectations. Just two people, enjoying a peaceful evening together.
Kazuha could only smile, her heart feeling fuller than it ever had before.