A Home Date with Yukiko (1)
The next morning, at Alina's house. After sharing breakfast with Jaehyuk, she was watching a movie with him on the TV in her room.
"How long is your leave?"
"Until next Monday."
"Lucky you. I only get Sundays off…."
At Alina's dejected tone, Jaehyuk drew her into his arms. The soft, subtle fragrance rising from her hair tickled his nose.
"Then shall I stay with you all day today?"
"That would be wonderful. But you don't have any other plans? Is it really okay if you don't go home?"
"None at all. I already told them at home that I'd return on Monday."
The continuous floral scent drifting from her hair made Jaehyuk's heart beat faster without him realizing it as he gazed at her. The movie happened to be at a romantic scene between the male and female leads, deepening the atmosphere even further.
It seemed the same for Alina. She turned her head to look at him and their eyes met. A strange, rosy current flowed between the two.
"Babe."
"Yes?"
"The more I look at you… the more beautiful you are. Do you know that?"
"......I don't…."
Jaehyuk gently stroked her hair, then looked at her with eyes overflowing with affection. Alina's face flushed like a ripe apple as she met his gaze. Though her expression was shy, she didn't turn away.
As Jaehyuk continued to stare at her face, he slowly leaned in, bringing his lips closer to hers. Just as they were about to touch—
The light knock on the door and Robert's deep voice shattered the rosy mood.
The pair who had been about to kiss jumped in surprise. Alina pouted in clear displeasure and asked in sulky English, "<What's the matter?>"
""
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She rose from the sofa, smiled at Jaehyuk, and said in Korean, "Let's continue what we were doing after we have the snack."
Jaehyuk smiled back at her. "Sounds good."
Meanwhile, at the building where Lee Jeonghan and Yamada Yukiko lived. Having just received Yukiko's message asking him to come over, Jeonghan stood in front of her front door.
Whew… First date. I'm nervous as hell.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Jeonghan pressed her doorbell.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Lee Jeonghan."
"I'll be right out."
A moment later the door opened, and Yukiko greeted him.
"Come in."
She was wearing light-colored skinny jeans and a black long-sleeved t-shirt, with white socks on her feet. Jeonghan stepped inside and looked around.
"Have you eaten lunch?"
"No, not yet."
"Then make yourself comfortable. I'll prepare lunch for you."
"You will, Yukiko??"
When Jeonghan's eyes widened, she grinned at him. "I won't make anything weird, so relax."
"Ah… right."
Feels a little suspicious, though…?
"Rest in the living room or look around the house. By the way, between Korean and Japanese food, which do you prefer?"
"I like both…"
"Then I'll make Japanese for lunch and Korean for dinner."
A short while later, while Yukiko skillfully sliced sashimi in the kitchen, Jeonghan sat on the living-room sofa.
"Yukiko, is there anything I can help with…?"
"No need. Just relax, Jeonghan."
"Okay…"
He watched her work. With practiced hands she quickly removed the fish's head, guts, and bones, neatly arranging the fresh slices on a plate.
Might as well look around the house first.
Jeonghan stood and began exploring. Eventually he stopped in front of the firmly closed door to her bedroom.
"Yukiko. Is it all right if I go inside?"
She paused her work, turned, and gave him a bright smile. "Of course. Feel free to look around."
He opened the door and stepped in. While browsing, his eyes fell on a photograph sitting on a shelf. In it, Yukiko was smiling beside a man at what appeared to be an amusement park. The man looked strikingly similar to Jeonghan himself—almost like a doppelganger.
What the…? He looks exactly like me. Who is this guy? From the pose, it looks like they were dating…
Jeonghan stared at the photo, still unable to believe someone could resemble him so closely.
At that moment Yukiko entered the room. She froze when she saw him holding the photograph, eyes wide with surprise.
"Jeonghan…?"
He turned to her and held up the photo. "Yukiko. Who is this man?"
She hesitated, clearly debating whether to answer. Jeonghan pressed gently.
"Was he your ex-boyfriend?"
"......Yes. He was the man I dated before."
Jeonghan's voice carried a trace of hurt. "Why are you still keeping a photo of the two of you?"
Yukiko's face crumpled with pain and sorrow. Seeing her expression, Jeonghan realized the truth.
Did he pass away…?
Guilt washed over him for having touched such a painful memory.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something so painful…"
He placed the photo back on the shelf. A single tear slid down Yukiko's cheek as she watched him.
"Yukiko?! Are you all right?"
Startled, Jeonghan watched as she approached without a word, wrapped her arms around him, and began to sob.
"Jeonghan… Can I stay like this… just for a little while? Can I… cry a little…?"
He didn't know the details, but it was clear her previous lover's death had left a deep wound. Jeonghan silently stroked her back. The dam finally broke; Yukiko cried like a child, her sobs raw and heartbreaking. Seeing her like that filled him with pity.
After a long time her tears finally slowed. Still sniffling, she whispered, "I'm sorry… for showing you such an ugly side of me all of a sudden…"
"It's okay. I don't know what kind of past you carry, Yukiko, but whenever you feel like crying in front of me, cry as much as you need to."
He gently brushed the tears from the corners of her eyes with his right thumb.
"Thank you… Jeonghan…"
Once she had composed herself, Yukiko spoke again. "The reason I… came to like you… is partly because of my ex-boyfriend. You look so much like him… almost as if he had come back to life…"
Jeonghan listened quietly.
"At first it was simple curiosity toward someone who resembled my dead lover. But the more we talked, the more I was drawn to the parts of you that were different from him. So when I confessed to you the other day… those feelings were sincere."
Jeonghan remained silent for a long moment, deep in thought, before finally speaking.
"Are those feelings still sincere right now?"
"Yes. Even now, toward you…"
"Then that's enough. I don't know whether I'm a better man than he was… but at the very least, I won't be someone who makes you cry every time you think of me."
He pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice filled with resolve. "I promise. You can cry in front of me whenever you want, but I will never let you shed tears because of me."
"Thank you… Jeonghan… And…"
Yukiko drew back, looked straight into his eyes, and spoke from the heart.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Having bared their true feelings, Yukiko closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. Jeonghan closed his eyes without hesitation. For a long while the two of them simply felt each other's warmth, confirming the sincerity of their hearts.
That evening, at a hotel in Seoul. Sakaguchi Taiki, who had arrived from Japan, and his subordinates carried their luggage into their respective rooms.
(Have the weapons been prepared separately?)
— Sakaguchi Taiki, 1st Division Leader of Katsuyama-gumi
(Yes. Everything has been prepared.)
— Tomioka Hideo, Taiki's subordinate and undercover Metropolitan Police agent
Hideo asked, "(But did you receive the president's permission to dispose of Hakuro yourself?)"
"(No. The plan is to neutralize and capture him alive first, then leave the final decision to the president. Whether he'll actually kill him remains to be seen.)"
"(Given the president's personality, it seems likely he'll order an immediate execution.)"
Taiki shook his head as though the idea were ridiculous. "(Given his personality, the president will definitely hesitate. His bond with Hakuro is deeper and far older than the one he shares with me.)"
"(Does President Sakaguchi know Hakuro's face?)"
"(Of course. I trained under the president alongside Hakuro. How could I not know?)"
Taiki gave a sharp grin. "(We've sharpened our skills together for years. I know that bastard better than anyone. You men stay back and only step in when the moment is right.)"
"(Understood.)"
A few minutes later Hideo walked down the hotel corridor. After confirming he was alone, he sent a message.
Hideo: Sakaguchi Taiki is in Seoul. Look for an opportunity and flee the country.
Hakuro: Didn't I tell you to stay in Vietnam? You should have stayed quiet like I said.
Hideo: Is Sakaguchi the only one I need to watch out for?
Hakuro: Haneda Shinichi and Hashimoto Ryuhei came with him.
Hakuro: As I said before, I'm not leaving.
Hideo: Are you insane? Sakaguchi Taiki alone is already difficult. If the others join in, you have almost no chance.
Hideo: And it's not some low-ranking thug—Haneda Shinichi is involved. You know his skill level, don't you?
Hakuro: I'll handle it myself. Just stay out of it.
Hideo: What the hell is this about??
Hideo: Have you forgotten how many of my friends and colleagues died just to keep you alive?
Hideo: Are you going to let their sacrifices be in vain?
Hakuro: I can't forget.
Hakuro: That's exactly why I can't leave.
Hakuro: I have something I want to hear from that lunatic Sakaguchi. About your friend.
Hideo: Understood. But be careful.
Hideo: Katsuyama Junichi doesn't seem to hold any ill will toward you, but Sakaguchi Taiki definitely wants you dead.
Hakuro: Is Katsu doing well?
Hideo: He's been waiting desperately for your return. To the point that I wonder if he's really the same Shadow Demon, Japan's greatest assassin.
Hakuro: I see.
After that final message, Hakuro went silent. Hideo let out a long sigh.
"Haa… This is going to drive me insane…"
He stepped outside the hotel, lit a cigarette, and gazed up at the sky. A full moon hung bright overhead.
A full moon, huh. Come to think of it, the night that friend died… the moon was full then too.
Smoking quietly, he stared at the moonlit sky as though longing for someone long gone.