Knew You Were Trouble | KAZUJIN

Chapter 25: Smell of Coffee

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow across the city as Yunjin and Kazuha walked side by side through the bustling streets. The calm of the evening felt different now—lighter, like they were leaving behind the weight of unspoken things and taking one step closer to something new.

The tension from the past few weeks seemed to dissolve with every step, and despite the lingering questions and uncertainties, a quiet sense of peace settled over them. The laughter and chatter of their friends earlier in the day had faded, leaving them with the rare chance to simply be together.

"So, what's next for us?" Kazuha asked casually, her voice a little uncertain, but her eyes hopeful. It wasn't an easy question, but it had been lingering between them for a while.

Yunjin glanced at her, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Next?" she repeated, as if the word held more weight than it should. "I don't know. I think we just keep going. I'm not in a rush to figure it all out." She paused, her gaze lingering on Kazuha's face, the way her eyes glimmered with both curiosity and trust. "We'll figure it out when the time comes."

Kazuha smiled back, a little lighter now, as though Yunjin's words took some of the weight off her shoulders. "Yeah, I like that. Taking it one step at a time."

The pair continued walking, the noise of the world around them muted by their shared focus on each other. Yunjin reached out, nudging Kazuha's arm playfully. "You know, I think we're doing alright," she said, her voice teasing but with an underlying sincerity.

Kazuha raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. "Doing alright? Is that the best you can do?"

Yunjin laughed, shaking her head. "Okay, maybe we're doing great. But don't expect me to get all sappy on you. I have a reputation to maintain, you know."

Kazuha snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

The moment of levity between them didn't last long before a soft silence enveloped them again. The peace of the evening felt good, but there was still that undeniable feeling—an undercurrent of change, of something building between them, even if they weren't quite sure where it was going yet.

As they reached the café on the corner, the one they had frequented so many times before, Yunjin couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over her. The chaos of everything in the past—of the games, the secrets, the brokenness—seemed distant now, like it was a lifetime ago. And in that moment, surrounded by the hum of the city and the warmth of Kazuha's presence beside her, she felt something simpler. Something real.

Kazuha nudged her again, this time more gently, as they reached the entrance. "You okay?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but full of understanding.

Yunjin turned to look at her, meeting her gaze with a softness that surprised her. "Yeah," she said after a beat, her smile tender. "Yeah, I'm more than okay."

Kazuha grinned. "Good."

Together, they stepped inside the café, ready to face whatever the night held, knowing that they were exactly where they needed to be.

Inside the café, a soft warmth greeted them, paired with the faint scent of coffee and pastries. It was quiet—most people had already filtered out for the night, leaving only a few tables occupied by students and couples, each absorbed in their own world.

Yunjin found them a cozy spot by the window, overlooking the city's streets as dusk turned to evening. The world beyond the glass felt like a distant hum, like something that could wait while they took this moment for themselves.

As they settled in, Kazuha slid her hand across the table, her fingers brushing against Yunjin's, a gentle yet familiar touch that made Yunjin's pulse quicken. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds, just savoring the quiet.