April 24, 2026
The morning sun shone brightly through the classroom windows.
A gentle spring breeze drifted inside, causing the curtains to sway softly.
The classroom was unusually quiet.
Only the teacher's voice echoed through the room.
"...Therefore, the answer is obtained by substituting the value into the equation."
Most students listened.
Some secretly yawned.
A few struggled to keep their eyes open.
Meanwhile—
Kentarou Izumi quietly copied the notes into his notebook.
His eyes never wandered toward the window.
His pen moved steadily across the page.
Every explanation.
Every formula.
Every important point.
He wrote them all down without missing a single word.
From the seat beside him, Hayashi Senku couldn't help but glance over.
"He's really changed..."
There was a time when Kentarou would spend half the lesson staring outside.
Thinking.
Daydreaming.
Sometimes even writing story ideas instead of notes.
But now—
His attention never left the blackboard.
Senku smiled to himself.
"Looks like he's finally getting back on track."
---
The lunch bell rang.
Students immediately rushed out of the classroom.
Some headed to the courtyard.
Others went to the canteen.
As usual—
Kentarou and Senku found a quiet place beneath the shade of a large tree.
Both opened their lunch boxes.
For a few minutes—
Only the sounds of chopsticks and the distant chatter of students filled the air.
Then Senku broke the silence.
"So..."
"How was the library yesterday?"
Kentarou swallowed his food before answering.
"...Interesting."
Senku laughed.
"That's a very Kentarou answer."
Kentarou smiled slightly.
"I met the girl again."
"The one from yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Hee-Young."
Senku nodded.
"So... did she interrupt your writing again?"
"No."
"This time we actually talked."
"Oh?"
Kentarou looked down at his lunch.
"She told me something."
"What?"
"...Apparently I have a fan."
Senku stopped eating.
"...You what?"
"A fan."
"A real fan."
"She said her friend reads every chapter I upload."
"And..."
"...gets upset whenever I'm late."
Senku blinked twice.
Then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"So someone actually waits for your updates?"
Kentarou scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...Seems like it."
Senku smiled warmly.
"That's amazing."
Kentarou nodded.
"...Yeah."
"I never thought someone I don't even know..."
"...would look forward to my stories."
Senku looked at him for a moment.
Then smiled.
"See?"
"I told you your writing was good."
Kentarou shook his head.
"You never said that."
"I was thinking it."
"You should've said it out loud."
"Fine."
Senku cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ahem."
"Mr. Izumi_Ken."
"Your novel is officially worth waiting for."
Kentarou chuckled.
"...Thanks."
For the first time in days—
His smile looked genuine.
---
The school day quietly came to an end.
---
Evening.
The orange sunset painted the city streets with warm colors.
Kentarou walked along the familiar road.
His laptop bag rested comfortably over his shoulder.
A gentle breeze brushed past him.
As he walked—
His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
"So-Yul..."
"I wonder what kind of person she is."
"Hee-Young said she's my biggest fan..."
"I wonder why she likes my novel so much."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Maybe..."
"Today's chapter will finally move forward."
---
A few minutes later—
He arrived at the library.
The automatic doors slid open.
Whoosh.
The familiar scent of books welcomed him once again.
The library was as peaceful as ever.
Kentarou quietly walked toward his usual table.
Then—
He stopped.
Someone was already sitting there.
No.
Not one person.
Two.
One of them noticed him immediately.
Hee-Young stood up with a bright smile.
"You're here!"
Sitting beside her—
Was another girl.
She had long, neatly tied hair and held a copy of More Closer open on her phone.
The moment their eyes met—
She quickly stood up as well.
Her heartbeat raced.
For the first time—
The author she had admired through countless chapters...
Was standing right in front of her.
___
So-Yul stood there, staring at Kentarou in disbelief.
Her phone, which displayed the latest chapter of More Closer, slowly lowered.
"I..."
She blinked twice.
"I can't believe it."
Kentarou tilted his head.
"What?"
"The author I've been reading all this time..."
She pointed at him.
"...is actually a teenager?"
Hee-Young couldn't help but laugh.
"I had the exact same reaction yesterday."
So-Yul looked at Kentarou from head to toe.
"I thought Izumi_Ken would be someone in his twenties..."
"...or maybe a famous novelist wearing glasses."
Kentarou smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"No!"
She waved both hands immediately.
"It's just..."
"...you're younger than I imagined."
A brief silence followed.
Then So-Yul's eyes sparkled.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How do you write emotions so realistically?"
Kentarou looked down at his laptop.
"...Because..."
"...I've experienced most of them."
The atmosphere became quieter.
Hee-Young and So-Yul exchanged a glance.
Now they truly understood why every chapter had felt so real.
---
The three of them sat together.
What started as a short conversation slowly became an enjoyable one.
They talked about novels.
Writing.
School.
Funny comments readers had left under Kentarou's chapters.
Every now and then—
So-Yul would excitedly mention her favorite scenes.
"I loved the birthday chapter!"
"And the balcony scene!"
"And when Kentarou gave Violet the necklace..."
She suddenly covered her mouth.
"...Sorry."
"I got carried away."
Kentarou chuckled.
"It's fine."
"I'm just happy someone enjoyed reading it."
So-Yul smiled.
"Enjoyed?"
"I practically waited every day for updates."
"If you uploaded late..."
"I kept refreshing the page every ten minutes."
Kentarou laughed.
"...I should apologize."
"You really should."
The three of them laughed together.
For the first time in days—
Kentarou felt relaxed.
---
After a while—
Hee-Young rested her chin on her hand.
"There's actually something I've been wondering."
Kentarou looked at her.
"What is it?"
She pointed at his laptop.
"If you're writing your own love story..."
"...then why did the novel stop after the rival appeared?"
So-Yul nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah."
"I wanted to ask the same thing."
"The story suddenly felt..."
"...unfinished."
The smile on Kentarou's face slowly faded.
He looked at the blinking cursor on his laptop.
For a few moments—
He remained silent.
Then—
He quietly began speaking.
"...The rival..."
"...is real."
Both girls looked at him attentively.
"He loves the same girl."
"And..."
"...he's my cousin."
Neither of them interrupted.
Kentarou continued.
"I thought..."
"...if I stepped back..."
"...everyone would be happier."
"So..."
"I decided to stop approaching her."
His voice became softer.
"I even thought about ending the novel there."
Silence filled the table.
Only the faint sound of pages turning elsewhere in the library could be heard.
Hee-Young and So-Yul looked at each other.
Neither spoke immediately.
Then Hee-Young smiled gently.
"You know..."
"I think you're misunderstanding something."
Kentarou looked up.
She continued.
"If your novel had ended there..."
"...I would've been frustrated."
So-Yul nodded.
"Me too."
"Not because I wanted a happy ending..."
"...but because the story wasn't over."
She looked directly into Kentarou's eyes.
"Neither your novel..."
"...nor your feelings."
Kentarou remained silent.
Hee-Young leaned forward slightly.
"You never confessed, did you?"
"...No."
"Then how can you say you've already lost?"
Kentarou couldn't answer.
So-Yul smiled warmly.
"As your reader..."
"...I'm going to be a little selfish."
Kentarou blinked.
"I don't want the author I admire..."
"...to give up before even writing the ending."
Those words struck him deeply.
He slowly looked at the blank document on his laptop.
The cursor continued blinking.
Waiting.
As if it, too, wanted the next chapter.
Hee-Young smiled.
"Whether your love succeeds or not..."
"...that's something the future will decide."
"But if you stop now..."
"...you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
So-Yul nodded with a determined smile.
"So..."
"Keep writing."
"Both your novel..."
"...and your love story."
Kentarou quietly looked at the two girls.
Just yesterday—
They had been strangers.
Today—
They were encouraging him to move forward.
A small smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...Thank you."
For the first time since Violet's birthday—
Those words didn't feel heavy.
They felt...
Hopeful.
___
The evening sky had already darkened.
A cool breeze drifted in through the half-open window of Kentarou's room.
His laptop sat closed on his desk.
The words of Hee-Young and So-Yul continued to echo in his mind.
"Neither your novel... nor your feelings are over."
"Don't give up before you've written the ending."
Kentarou lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"...The ending..."
He quietly repeated those words to himself.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"...Maybe they're right."
Knock. Knock.
Before he could think any further—
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Kenta peeked inside.
"Brother?"
Kentarou sat up.
"Hm?"
Kenta walked in, holding a mobile phone.
"Grandpa wants to talk to you."
Kentarou looked slightly surprised.
"Grandpa?"
"Yeah."
"He called just now."
Kenta handed him the phone before leaving the room.
"I'll tell Mom you're talking."
The door quietly closed.
Kentarou placed the phone against his ear.
"Hello, Grandpa."
A cheerful laugh came from the other side.
"Hahaha! Kentarou!"
"How are you doing?"
"I'm doing well."
"And you?"
"This old man is still alive."
Kentarou couldn't help but smile.
"That's good to hear."
His grandfather chuckled.
"I heard you've become busier these days."
"School?"
"And writing novels?"
Kentarou scratched his cheek.
"...Word travels fast."
"Your mother tells me everything."
The two laughed softly.
They spent the next few minutes talking about ordinary things.
School.
Kenta's endless mischief.
Life in Korea.
Family.
The conversation felt warm.
Comfortable.
Like it always had.
Then—
His grandfather's voice became calmer.
"Kentarou."
"...Yes?"
"Tell me something honestly."
Kentarou straightened up slightly.
"...What is it?"
"Are you still practicing?"
Kentarou immediately understood.
Martial arts.
The art his grandfather had patiently taught him since childhood.
Long before they had moved to Korea.
The countless mornings.
The endless training.
The discipline.
Everything flashed through his mind.
He lowered his gaze.
"...No."
A brief silence followed.
His voice became quieter.
"...I stopped."
"...I'm sorry."
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
His grandfather laughed gently.
"Hahaha..."
"So that's how it is."
Kentarou blinked.
"...You're not angry?"
"Why would I be?"
"There are times in life when people stop walking."
"They get tired."
"They lose sight of the path."
"That happens to everyone."
Kentarou quietly listened.
His grandfather continued.
"But remember this..."
His voice carried the calm confidence of someone who had experienced countless victories and defeats.
«"The greatest regret doesn't come from losing."»
«"It comes from convincing yourself you've already lost... before taking the final step."»
A silence followed.
The words settled deep within Kentarou's heart.
His grandfather spoke once more.
«"Whether it's a dream..."»
«"...a promise..."»
«"...or someone precious..."»
«"If your heart still walks toward it..."»
«"...don't be the one who tells your feet to stop."»
The call became silent.
Kentarou slowly lowered his eyes.
Those words...
They weren't about martial arts alone.
He knew that.
A small smile quietly appeared on his face.
Outside—
The night breeze gently moved the curtains.
And somewhere beyond the stars—
It felt as though his path had become just a little clearer.