Dance Partners || N.NK ||

Part 51/S2

Again, days passed, and you found yourself questioning the long-buried memory.
You wanted to remember it.
You wanted the memory to resurface.
But it felt impossible—it was just out of reach.

Despite that, life slowly fell back into a routine.
You spent your days with Ni-ki, your conversations filled with ease, laughter, and the quiet understanding that only came from being with someone who had been through everything with you.

But the feeling of something missing never quite went away.

One evening, as you sat on the couch watching TV, Ni-ki walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and his damp hair stuck to his forehead.

"I heard they opened a new restaurant in town," he said casually.

You blinked, momentarily distracted, before tilting your head.
"A new restaurant?"

Ni-ki nodded, running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah. It's been making headlines for weeks. Some big-name CEO opened it, and apparently, it's already impossible to get a reservation."

You hummed, not thinking much of it at first.
"Sounds fancy."

"It is. But I managed to get us in," Ni-ki said, shooting you a small smirk.

Your brows raised in surprise.
"You did?"

"Mmhm," he nodded.
"It'd be nice to go out somewhere new."
There was something about the way he said it—like he wanted to distract you from your thoughts, from the memories you kept trying to reach for.

You hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Okay. Let's go."

Later that evening, you found yourself standing outside the restaurant, staring up at its grand exterior.
The place was grand, its golden signage glowing under the city lights.
Luxury cars lined the entrance, and finely dressed guests stepped onto the red-carpeted walkway, greeted by staff in crisp uniforms.

"Shall we, m'lady?" Ni-ki spoke, giving you a hand to hold on as you walked on your heels.

The both of you stepped inside, the sound of clinking glasses and hushed conversations immediately reaching your ears, filling the space.

As you glanced around, something tugged at the back of your mind—a strange familiarity.

Then, your eyes landed on the large banner near the entrance:
"Grand Opening — A Vision By Ceo Yoshimura Kensuke."

Your breath hitched.

Yoshimura Kensuke.

Your fingers instinctively tightened around Ni-ki's hand.

That name...
It wasn't just familiar.
It was a name you hadn't heard in twelve years.

As the waitress was checking with Ni-ki for the reservations, he noticed the sudden change of expression in you.
"Yn? What's wrong?"

You swallowed hard, your gaze still locked onto the name.
"That's... my father's name," you whispered.

Silence.

Ni-ki's brows furrowed.
"Wait... you mean—"
Before he could finish, a voice called out.
"Yn?"

A chill ran down your spine.

Slowly, you turned, and there he was—your father.

Twelve years.
Twelve years without a single word from him, except for the one call he did on your 18th Birthday.

And now, here he stood, in front of you, as if fate had orchestrated this moment.

His gaze softened, his expression unreadable.
"You've grown..." he murmured.
Your chest felt tight.
You couldn't move.
You couldn't speak.
It felt like a dream to you.

Ni-ki, sensing your turmoil, took a small step closer to you.

Your father's gaze flickered to him before returning to you.
"I think we need to talk."

And just like that, the past you had long buried started to unravel.

~ CLIFF HANGER