Chapter 22 - Day Off Part I
The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting playful glimmers on the hotel pool. The sound of water splashing and the carefree laughter of her bandmates filled the air, but Y/N’s mind was a whirlpool of her own. She sat on a couch in the lobby, clutching a bottle of water, her heart still racing from the morning’s wake-up call. A few days have passed since their Game Caterers shoot and it was finally time for their long-awaited “Day-Off” shoot. They’d stay at a resort hotel for two nights and film for their YouTube channel. While it was technically work, the staff promised them enough time off in between filming. The girls were currently waiting for their rooms to be finished so they could start.
“And we’re rolling!” a crew member announced after returning from the front desk.
Quickly the hotel lobby was bustling with energy as the six girls huddled around the front desk. The charming receptionist handed over their room keys, and Chaewon took charge. “Thank you!”
“Alright,” Chaewon said, glancing at the keys in her hand. “Three rooms. Kkura unnie and Eunchae, you take the first. Yunjin, you and Y/N—”
“I want to room with Y/N unnie,” Kazuha said, her voice calm but decisive. The statement caught everyone off guard.
Yunjin’s mouth opened, but no sound came out, and Y/N froze, gripping the strap of her bag. Yunjin cleared her throat, jumping in to salvage the situation. “Uh, well, you see—”
“Actually,” Kazuha interrupted, looking directly at Chaewon. “We’ve been sharing a lot lately, but I wanna spend time with Y/N too. Is that okay?” Her tone was so genuine, so unassuming, that it was impossible to argue.
“Sure, I don’t mind,” Chaewon said, genuinely happy her members got along so well. Remembering the cameras were rolling, she decided to mess with Yunjin a little.
“KIRIN!” Chaewon shouted towards Yunjin, “I’ll sleep by the window.” Y/N shot Yunjin a pleading glance, but her unnie could only shrug helplessly.
“Why??,” Yunjin said with a whine, shooting Y/N an apologetic look. She loved Chaewon, but she knew this stressed the hell out of Y/N. “OK. But if you leave your clothes on my bed again, I’ll donate them,” Yunjin challenged her leader back.
As they headed to the elevator, Y/N tried to steady her breathing. This was fine. Just one night—well, two nights—sharing a room with Kazuha. She’d done that PLENTY of times before. Nothing to worry about. Right?
The room was cozy, with a large queen size bed accompanied by a small nightstand on each side. Kazuha immediately claimed the bed by the window as well, setting down her bag with a satisfied sigh.
“This is nice,” she said, glancing back at Y/N, who was still standing awkwardly near the door in front of the camera crew. “Don’t you think?”
“Uh, yeah. Super nice,” Y/N mumbled, busying herself with unpacking. She didn’t dare look at Kazuha, worried her face would betray her. Kazuha plopped down on her bed and stretched, her movement drawing Y/N’s unwilling gaze. She caught herself staring and quickly turned her focus back to her suitcase.
“So, what should we do first?” Kazuha asked the camera, her tone light. “Pool? Video Games? Movie marathon?”
“It’s a little late for pool today, don’t you think,” Y/N replied quickly, remembering the instructions of their staff. “Game night?”
Kazuha grinned. “Great! I’ll change first,” that was the cue for the staff to leave.
Y/N barely had time to respond before Kazuha grabbed her pyjama and disappeared into the bathroom.
Alone, Y/N slumped onto her bed, pressing her palms to her burning cheeks.
After about an hour the girls were notified their dinner was finally prepared.
“Finally! I’m starving,” Yunjin whined, their last meal was breakfast before arriving at their hotel. The staff brought a few dishes including potato pizza, ramen and chili cheese balls. After thanking the staff for this meal, the girls started their feast. Sakura being the queen of reactions, tried some cheese balls and kept giving thumbs up saying it was so creamy but really spicy. Then she started coughing. For the next minutes she kept fanning herself and drank lots of water. The crew caught her mouthing “never again” into one of the cameras.
“Y/N-unnie, try it. Kkura unnie said it’s spicy!” Kazuha said, holding out a cheese ball on her chopsticks.
Y/N froze, her brain scrambling for a way to politely decline without seeming weird. She hesitated too long, and the other members started to notice.
“Come on, Y/N!” Eunchae teased. “It can’t be that spicy.”
The crew was filming again, capturing this moment for the variety show. Y/N couldn’t afford to make it awkward. She attempted a funny face and admitted defeat.
“Okay,” she said, leaning forward to take the bite. She made a show of exaggerating her reaction, grinning at Kazuha. “Wow, that’s really good!” Kazuha’s smile widened.
“Is it very spicy?” Y/N nodded with a smile but couldn’t meet her gaze for long. She quickly reached for her drink to avoid her gaze.
“AH,” Yunjin quickly spit it into her napkin. “That’s INSANE!” Chaewon covered Yunjin’s napkin with hand and while doing so she said “Fearnot, don’t eat spicy things if you can’t handle them.” After that she continued eating her pizza like nothing happened. The members laughed because of Yunjin’s behavior –except Sakura who looked like she was done for the day, she kept shaking her head chewing on nothing. Poor Sakura.
The rest of the dinner passed in a haze of laughter and chatter, but Y/N stayed hyperaware of the cameras, capturing her every movement.
“Okay, who’s up for a Game Night?” Eunchae beamed. The warm glow of the hotel room lamps bathed the space in a soft, golden hue. Again, it was Eunchae and Sakura’s shared room that had been chosen as the perfect spot for their evening game night, with cushions scattered on the floor, snacks piled high on the low coffee table, and a palpable energy buzzing in the air.
“Okay, let’s start with Mario Kart!” Eunchae announced, holding up the controllers like they were trophies.
“Don’t let her innocence fool you,” Chaewon said into the camera, leaning back against the couch with a smirk. “She’s ruthless when it comes to gaming.”
“Only because I’m good,” Eunchae retorted, sticking out her tongue. Sakura, seated next to her, chuckled softly.
“She’s been practicing. She's serious about games.” If Sakura said that about someone it surely meant something.
Y/N found herself playing with Yunjin and Eunchae for the first round, much to her mixed delight and dread. These two could get really passionate.
As Kazuha handed her a controller, their fingers brushed briefly, sending an electric jolt through Y/N’s arm. She glanced up and was met with Kazuha’s warm smile. Shit, she was suddenly nervous again.
“I’ll help you, unnie” Kazuha said with a wink.
“Hey! I heard that!” Eunchae squinted her eyes at Kazuha who quickly looked away with a giggle.
“Everyone fighting!” Kazuha then said looking directly at Eunchae now.
The cameraman shifted slightly, adjusting the angle, and Y/N could feel the lens pointed squarely at her and Kazuha. Her heart rate spiked. Stay calm. Don’t look at her too long. Smile at Eunchae. Laugh at everyone’s jokes. You’re fine.
“Yeah,” Y/N replied, her voice a little too high-pitched. “Let’s… win?”
The game started, and chaos quickly ensued. “Who threw that shell?!” Yunjin screeched, her character spinning out on-screen.
“Not me!” Eunchae lied, grinning mischievously as her avatar zoomed past Yunjin’s.
“EunchAEEEE—”
“Fighting Kirin!” Chaewon said, smirking.
Kazuha, meanwhile, was laser-focused, her eyes carefully watching the screen. “Y/N, take the shortcut on the left!” she said, pointing at the screen, her eyebrows furrowed adorably.
Y/N tried, but her car ended up in the water. “Uh… oops?”
Kazuha laughed, the sound light and melodic. “You’ll get it next time,” she said as she briefly patted her arm. Y/N smiled despite herself, momentarily forgetting the cameras as Kazuha’s encouragement warmed her chest.
As the race ended, Eunchae stood triumphantly. “Winner!” she declared, while Yunjin dramatically threw herself onto the couch in mock despair.
“Rematch!” Yunjin demanded, immediately stood up again, the camera crew laughed.
Eunchae smirked, twirling her controller in one hand. “Sorry, Yunjin-unnie, but winners don’t waste time looking back.”
“Winners also don’t gloat,” Chaewon deadpanned, earning a round of laughter.
“No for real. A rematch, but let’s switch it up,” Sakura suggested, leaning forward with a gleam of determination in her eyes. “Eunchae, next game you’re up against me and Chaewon. Let’s see if you can hold onto that title.”
“Ok, ok. Prepare to lose,” a cocky Eunchae said with a grin.
“Fine, WHATEVER!” Yunjin exclaimed. “Zuha, your turn, jump in and win for me, please?”
“Sure, unnie,” Kazuha replied chuckling.
Yunjin grabbed her shoulders, “Listen, you’ve got to end her. Her trick is to save all her Power Ups until the finish line. End her before she ends you.” Kazuha looked frightened for a second but then replied, “Understood,” and cutely saluted to Yunjin. Yunjin was so serious about her rivalry with Eunchae she even dragged Kazuha into this. Lmao.
“This should be fun,” Y/N murmured, unable to stop herself from glancing at Kazuha’s focused expression.
“Place your bets,” Yunjin said around a mouthful of chips. “But my girl Zuha is gonna crush everyone.”
“You just don’t want Eunchae to win again,” Y/N teased.
“Obviously.” The countdown began, the room filled with the familiar sound of revving engines.
“Three… two… one… GO!”
The karts zoomed off, and the race was instantly chaotic. Banana peels littered the track, shells whizzed by, and Eunchae cackled as she sent a red shell hurtling toward Sakura. “Seriously?!” Sakura exclaimed as her character spun out.
“Sorry, unnie!” Eunchae called, though her mischievous grin said otherwise.
“Chaewon, cover me!” Sakura shouted, weaving through the course. “I’m trying!” Chaewon replied, narrowly dodging a green shell.
“Why are there so many items?!”
Kazuha, meanwhile, maintained her calm focus, expertly drifting around corners.
“We’re in first and second, Eunchae. May the best woman win.”
“Yes, ma’am!” Eunchae chirped, her confidence soaring. Last round.
“Chaewon, throw the green shell!” Sakura yelled as the item appeared in her arsenal. The green shell zoomed toward Kazuha, exploding and sending her character flying into the air.
“Ah, no!” Kazuha exclaimed, her calm composure cracking for the first time.
“Yes!” Chaewon and Sakura shouted in unison, quickly fist-bumping as they overtook her.
Sakura's character, now in first place, threw a green shell backward, narrowly missing Eunchae.
“You’ll never catch me!”
“We’re right behind you!” Sakura countered, boosting forward. The finish line came into view, and the tension in the room was palpable.
“Go, go, go!” Yunjin shouted, leaning forward as if she could will the racers to move faster. Anything to see Eunchae lose.
In the final seconds, Sakura managed to stop Eunchae with a green shell, her kart crossing the finish line first, followed by Eunchae, Kazuha, and then Chaewon.
“YEAHHHHH” Sakura tossed her controller onto the couch, raising her arms in triumph.
“Victory!”
Eunchae pouted, crossing her arms. “Unnie, that green shell was cheating.”
“That’s called skill,” Sakura replied, smirking.
Chaewon leaned back against the couch, letting out an exaggerated sigh. “That was stressful. I think I lost five years of my life.”
Kazuha smiled good-naturedly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Good game. You two were impressive.”
The staff were motioning to switch games. Urgh.
“Let’s see… Halli Galli, or maybe monopoly?”
“Hell no, let’s not disband tonight. No monopoly,” Yunjin said dryly. Everyone gasped. Damn.
“Right,” was all Y/N added to that, earning a shrug and smile from the older girl.
“Halli Galli it is then,” Chaewon announced and stood up to get the gamebox.
The tension in the room heightened as Yunjin dumped the cards on the table, shuffling them with exaggerated flair. “Alright, everyone. Halli Galli time. Prepare yourselves for the most nerve-wracking game of your lives.”
Chaewon raised an eyebrow. “Yunjin, it’s a game about fruit and a bell, not Squid Game. Calm down.”
“It’s not just a game,” Yunjin retorted dramatically. “It’s a battle of reflexes, a test of intelligence, and a fight for glory.”
Sakura groaned, leaning back in her chair, “Jinnie, just start the game before you make us lose our minds.”
“I’m already losing my mind!” Eunchae declared, bouncing on the edge of her seat, “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”
Y/N chuckled softly, watching the dynamic unfold. Kazuha, still seated beside her, slid the bell toward the center of the table, her smile contagious.
“Ready?” Kazuha asked, her soft voice breaking Y/N’s thoughts.
“Ready,” Y/N replied, managing a smile that felt a little less forced this time.
“Ready?” Sakura asked, after handing out the cards expertly.
“Let’s go!” Yunjin said, her competitive streak kicking in.
The game began, each player flipping cards and frantically slapping the bell whenever the total fruits added up to five. The first cards flipped over. Bananas. Strawberries. Grapes. “Nothing yet,” Yunjin said, drumming her fingers on the table. A few more rounds passed uneventfully, the members growing more relaxed—until suddenly, Chaewon slapped the bell.
“Five bananas!” she announced triumphantly, revealing the cards.
“No way!” Yunjin exclaimed, leaning over to count. “Ugh, she’s right.”
“Of course I’m right,” Chaewon said, smirking as she added the cards to her pile.
Next round, Sakura had five strawberries on her card. DING.
“Ow!” Y/N exclaimed, rubbing her hand after Yunjin slammed the bell a millisecond before her.
“Sorry!” Yunjin said, not looking sorry at all. Y/N jokingly squinted her eyes and glared at her.
“Y/N’s too quiet,” Eunchae observed, grinning. “She’s planning something.”
“I’m just trying not to lose,” Y/N said, flipping another card.
Kazuha leaned closer, her shoulder brushing against Y/N’s. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”
Y/N’s breath hitched at the proximity, but she quickly nodded. “Thanks, Kaza.”
Kazuha, ever calm, stayed focused, her eyes scanning the table with precision. “Unnie, focus on one specific fruit. It’s easier to spot one instead of all four. Just focus on… the strawberries?,” she whispered with a shy smile. Y/N nodded shyly.
A particularly chaotic round saw all six members shouting simultaneously as four of the same fruit appeared across the table.
“Is it five?!” Eunchae yelled.
“No, it’s four!” Sakura countered.
“I swear it’s five!” Yunjin added, reaching for the bell, but Kazuha’s hand beat hers by milliseconds. The bell rang sharply.
“Let’s see,” Kazuha said confidently, releasing the bell.
“Five grapes!” Y/N exclaimed, laughing.
“Nice one, Kazuha,” Sakura admitted, begrudgingly handing over the cards. Y/N grinned at Kazuha, the tension melting away as she allowed herself to enjoy the moment. A moment later Y/N’s heart even skipped a beat as Kazuha lay her head on her shoulder and for the first time in weeks, it didn’t feel like a bad thing.
By now, the pile of cards was dwindling, and the stakes were high. “It’s between Y/N, Kazuha, and Chaewon,” Sakura announced, leaning back with crossed arms. “Place your bets, ladies.”
Y/N had no idea how she made it past the other girls, she got lucky because Eunchae and Yunjin kept ringing false alarm and Sakura was eliminated almost solely by Kazuha.
“I’m betting on Zuha unnie,” Eunchae said immediately.
“Traitor,” Chaewon muttered.
“I’d bet on Kazuha too,” Yunjin added with a teasing smirk. “Sorry, Y/N.”
Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “No pressure, then.”
The next few rounds were a blur of quick flips and rapid reactions. Y/N managed to snatch a few more cards, her pile growing steadily. Finally, the moment came. Five strawberries appeared on the table.
Kazuha glanced at Y/N, to see whether she noticed. Kazuha hesitated.
Kazuha and Y/N lunged for the bell, their hands colliding.
“It’s mine!” Y/N said, laughing as she rang the bell.
Kazuha raised her hands in mock surrender, smiling. “Fine, you win this one.”
Y/N checked the cards and beamed. “Five strawberries. Victory is mine!”
Kazuha turned to her, her expression softening, whispering “It’s nice to see you smiling again, unnie.”
The group erupted into cheers and groans, with Chaewon throwing her remaining cards into the air in mock frustration.
As the game ended, the group dissolved into easy laughter, recounting the most chaotic moments.
Y/N leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting to Kazuha, who was laughing at something Yunjin had said, the corners of her lips tugging into a soft smile.
After the game the evening was finally winding down, the warm buzz of laughter and playful chatter lingering in the room. Cards lay scattered across the table, a testament to the intensity of their Halli Galli showdown. Chaewon was slumped on the couch, dramatically declaring her exhaustion, while Eunchae lay sprawled on the floor, still laughing about her near-miss moments with the bell.
Y/N leaned back in her armchair, letting out a deep sigh of contentment. She hadn’t realized how much she needed a night like this—a night filled with simple joys and the comforting presence of her members. Kazuha, sitting beside her, nudged her shoulder gently.
“You’re smiling a lot tonight,” she said, her voice soft but warm. Y/N turned to her, a small laugh escaping.
“Because it was fun.”
“I know,” Kazuha continued, her eyes sincere. “With the cameras, it was a bit much, but… I hope the fans can see how close we all are. Nights like these are special.”
Y/N nodded, her chest warming at Kazuha’s words. “It’s obvious. Anyone watching can tell how much we care about each other. And you’re right—this was special. I’m so grateful for it. Especially after all happened since we debuted.” A small frown appeared on her face, Kazuha immediately grabbed her hand.
“It’s in the past now,” she said with a smile. Y/N nodded in response.
The girls began cleaning up reluctantly, their movements slower as fatigue set in. Yunjin gathered the last of the cards, while Sakura and Eunchae attempted to fold the blankets they had dragged onto the floor earlier.
“Alright, I’m officially done,” Chaewon announced, stretching with an exaggerated groan.
“Goodnight, unnie,” Eunchae teased, flinging a pillow at her. Chaewon nearly got hit in the face and glared at her. Eunchae quickly got up to hide behind Sakura.
As everyone prepared to head to their respective rooms, Y/N lingered by Yunjin. She pulled her into a tight hug, the familiar warmth of her friend grounding her.
“Thank you,” Y/N whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “For always being there. For everything.” Yunjin smiled, squeezing her back.
“You don’t have to thank me, but you’re welcome. I’m just glad you could relax tonight.” Y/N pulled away, giving her a grateful smile.
“Goodnight, Yunjin.”
“Goodnight, Y/N. Sleep well—or don’t,” she said with a wink, Y/N gasped. Girl.
As the entered their room, Kazuha lingered beside Y/N.
“So… wanna continue our movie?” Y/N tilted her head, pretending to consider.
“You mean continue from where we left off?” Order of the Phoenix. Kazuha grinned. “Precisely. Unless you’re too tired,” she sounded unsure. Kazuha didn’t want to push Y/N but she did want to spend some more time with the girl.
“I am tired,” Y/N admitted, then added with a smile, “but I’m still up for it. Right now, I feel like just lying in bed. Might as well watch a movie with you.”
Settling into Kazuha's bed, they dimmed the lights and set up the TV. Y/N adjusted the pillows against the headboard while Kazuha turned on the movie. As Kazuha searched for where they left off last time, they both sank into the comfortable silence of companionship.
As Dolores Umbridge started her interrogations, Kazuha shifted closer, her head resting lightly on Y/N’s shoulder. “I missed this,” she murmured.
“This?” Y/N asked, glancing at her.
“I love our movie nights.” Y/N felt her heart tighten, but it wasn’t painful—it was reassuring.
“I guess it’s been too busy lately.” Lie.
Kazuha looked up at her, her dark eyes steady. “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here. Anytime.” Y/N hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Thank you, Kaza. That means a lot.”
As the movie continued, Kazuha wrapped an arm around Y/N, pulling her closer. Y/N let herself relax into the embrace, a lightness settling over her chest. They whispered softly as the scenes unfolded—Kazuha commenting on how fierce Luna Lovegood was, and Y/N laughing at her insistence that Dumbledore’s Army was doomed from the start.
Kazuha POV
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Kazuha stirred, her senses slowly coming to life. She became acutely aware of the warmth beneath her cheek, the steady rise and fall of soft breathing against her. Her eyes fluttered open, and it took her a moment to process her position—her head was resting on Y/N’s chest. She blinked, her heart quickening as she realized how close they were. Y/N’s arm was loosely draped over her, her face serene in sleep. Kazuha felt a pang of guilt for having fallen asleep so comfortably against Y/N, but the guilt was quickly overshadowed by a flood of admiration. Y/N looked breathtaking in the morning light. Her hair was tousled, her expression relaxed and peaceful. The soft curve of her lips drew Kazuha’s attention, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.
Should I move?
But she couldn’t bring herself to shift away. The warmth, the intimacy—it was all so comforting, so… right. An impulsive thought bubbled up in her chest. Before she could talk herself out of it, Kazuha leaned forward and pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to Y/N’s cheek.
Y/N POV
Y/N stirred at the gentle pressure against her cheek, her eyelids fluttering open. For a brief moment, she didn’t fully register her surroundings. But as her eyes adjusted, she realized Kazuha was still close—too close. The warmth of Kazuha’s cheek lingered on hers, and Y/N’s heart jolted as the memory of the kiss hit her.
“K-Kaza?” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep and confusion. Kazuha’s eyes widened, her face turning a deep shade of pink.
“Good morning, unnie,” she said softly, attempting to sound casual but failing as her voice wavered. Y/N sat up abruptly, her mind scrambling for an explanation for her sudden flustered state.
“Uh… morning. Uh… I—um—I need to return Yunjin-unnie’s scrunchie,” she stammered, grabbing the first excuse she could think of.
Without waiting for Kazuha to respond, Y/N quickly got up, smoothing her hair as she fumbled for the bathroom door.
(regular POV ig)
Kazuha stared at the closed door, her cheeks still warm with embarrassment. She groaned, flopping back onto the bed and burying her face in the pillow.
“Why did I do that?” she muttered, her voice muffled. She hugged the pillow close, the memory of Y/N’s soft, sleepy expression replaying in her mind. A small smile crept onto her face despite her embarrassment.
Meanwhile Y/N leaned against the bathroom sink, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to cool the heat that had rushed to her cheeks. Her mind replayed the moment over and over—the gentle brush of Kazuha’s lips against her cheek, the soft look in her eyes as she’d wished her good morning.
“What was that?” Y/N whispered to herself looking in the mirror, her heart still racing. You’re being ridiculous. She didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a friendly kiss on the cheek. She’s your friend, and friends do that, right?
She changed quickly into a baby-blue tank top and black shorts, needing to step out and clear her mind. Yunjin, always her confidante, would know how to help her untangle these feelings.
“See you later!” she called over her shoulder before slipping out of the room. But as she stepped out of the hotel room and closed the door behind her, Y/N couldn’t ignore the small smile that tugged at her lips. Despite the confusion, a part of her already missed the warmth of Kazuha’s presence.
On her way to Yunjin and Chaewon’s room, she ran into staff.
“Y/N, you can’t be out here alone. We were about to pick you up,” one of their managers told her sternly.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Right. I forgot,” Y/N bowed in apology and quickly turned around.
“Since you’re up, tell Kazuha you’ll be picked up for breakfast in 40 minutes.” Y/N nodded and head back. Her talk with Yunjin had to wait until after breakfast.
“Change of plans,” Y/N announced, her voice light as she closed the door behind her. “Ran into the staff. They’re picking us up for breakfast in 40 minutes.” Kazuha, who had been sitting cross-legged on her bed, looked up, her brows raised in surprise at Y/N’s quick return.
“Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know.”
Y/N lingered near the door, feeling a familiar awkwardness creep in. She wanted to keep things normal, to squash any tension between them. Clearing her throat, she added, “Uh, Kazuha—about earlier…” Kazuha’s expression softened, though there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, cutting Y/N off. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It was just—well, I wasn’t thinking. I’m really—” “What? No!” Y/N interrupted, waving her hands. She crossed the room in a few quick steps until she was standing in front of Kazuha.
“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Kazuha blinked, looking up at her.
“Really?”
Y/N smiled warmly and, before she could overthink it, reached out to pull Kazuha into a hug. The action felt natural, like something she’d done a thousand times before. Her arms wrapped around the younger girl tightly, and she felt Kazuha hesitate for just a moment before relaxing into the embrace.
“I mean it,” Y/N murmured. “Don’t overthink it. I was just… startled, that’s all.” She didn’t deserve to feel like she messed up, Y/N thought. This is my problem to deal with, not hers. Kazuha let out a soft breath of relief, her arms coming up to hug Y/N back.
“Okay. Thanks, unnie.” Y/N pulled away, patting Kazuha’s shoulder with a grin.
“Now get ready for the day, okay? I don’t want to hear the staff scolding us for being late.” Kazuha chuckled, the tension melting from her posture.
“Right. I’ll be quick.”
As Y/N turned back to her suitcase, Kazuha found herself watching her intently. The hug had eased her earlier worries, but something still felt… off. Y/N had been acting differently lately—not in an obvious way, but in the little things. The way she avoided Kazuha’s gaze sometimes, the sudden silences when they were alone, and the way her smile didn’t always reach her eyes. She’s tired from last month. That’s all.
But deep down, she wasn’t sure if that was true.