Chapter 6

Chapter 6 — I Found My Love

The next morning felt different.

Maybe it was because it was our last day in Kyoto, or because I had woken with a strange happiness in my heart.

Nina was the first to get out of bed. She looked at me and smiled.

"Oh, Yuri! Your skin looks so good without makeup!"

I laughed.

"Really?"

"Yes! Look at yourself."

I turned toward the mirror and stared at my reflection. It had been a long time since I had really looked at myself.

I smiled faintly.

Maybe I had changed—not only on the outside, but inside too.

I walked to the hotel window. The winter air felt fresh, and the hills beyond it were beautiful, their trees scattered with red, orange, and gold leaves. It was the kind of morning that made you want to remember every detail.

I quickly got ready in the clothes I had bought with money I had been saving: comfortable sweatpants, a warm top, a cap, and sports shoes.

When I came outside, Lia laughed.

"Yuri, you look like a professional hiker."

"Really?"

"Yes! You're ready to climb a mountain."

Everyone teased me, but I didn't care. We were exploring one of Kyoto's most beautiful places, and I wanted to be comfortable.

After breakfast, we left the hotel for Kiyomizu-dera.

The walk through Chawan-zaka was beautiful. Traditional wooden shops lined the narrow uphill street, selling sweets, souvenirs, tea, and local treats. Soon, we reached the famous streets of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka.

Everything looked like another world. Wooden houses stood beneath the autumn leaves, making the streets seem almost magical.

Everyone stopped constantly for pictures.

"Yuri, come here!"

"Wait, let me take one!"

"Everyone, group photo!"

Somehow, James stayed beside me through nearly all of them. Whenever I stopped, he stopped. Whenever I moved ahead, he followed.

I didn't know why, but I didn't mind.

Actually, I liked having him around.

I had begun looking for him without realizing it.

We finally reached Kiyomizu-dera's entrance. The enormous red Deva Gate stood before us, and everyone fell quiet for a moment.

We passed through it and continued toward the three-story Sanjunoto Pagoda. Its bright red structure stood against the autumn sky, impossible to ignore.

Michael took photographs while everyone posed. James stood beside me.

"Smile."

"I am smiling."

"That's not a smile."

"It is."

"No, it isn't."

I turned toward him.

"Stop annoying me."

He laughed.

"You look cute when you're angry."

I froze.

He walked away before I could respond, leaving my face warm.

What was that?

I tried to ignore it, but his voice stayed in my head as we continued toward the Main Hall.

The famous wooden stage stretched over the hillside, offering an incredible view of Kyoto. I walked to the railing and looked out at the peaceful city.

James joined me.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Yeah. I don't think I'll ever forget this."

"Me neither."

For some reason, I looked at him instead of the scenery. He was already watching me. His eyes stayed on mine a second longer than necessary before we both looked away.

My heart began beating faster.

I wondered if he felt it too.

After exploring the Main Hall, we walked toward Okunoin Hall, where we could see the Main Hall from another angle. Everyone began taking pictures again.

Michael raised his camera.

"Yuri! James! Stand there!"

"What?"

"Just stand there!"

Before I could protest, James moved beside me.

The camera clicked.

Another memory. Another picture of us together.

I didn't know it then, but it would become one of the memories I treasured most.

From Okunoin Hall, we made our way toward Otowa Waterfall. The sound of flowing water grew louder as we approached. Three sacred streams flowed from the waterfall, each believed to offer a different blessing: health, success, or love.

I looked at them.

"Lia, which one are you choosing?"

"Love, obviously!"

We laughed.

I chose one too, but I kept my wish to myself.

Maybe it was silly, but I wished for love.

And somehow, James's face came to mind.

I quickly looked away.

After exploring the temple grounds a little longer, we continued downhill. At some point, I realized Nina, Lily, and Lia were nowhere in sight.

"James?"

"Yeah?"

"Where did everyone go?"

He looked around.

"I don't know."

We were completely alone.

Then my phone rang. It was Nina.

"Yuri! Where are you?"

"I don't know! Where are you?"

"We're already going down the hill. Come quickly!"

"Okay!"

I ended the call, suddenly nervous.

"What if we took the wrong path?"

James looked at me.

"Relax, Yuri. I'm with you."

The words eased my worry.

I sat on a wooden bench for a moment, letting the cool air brush my face. James sat beside me. His eyes were warm, and something in his expression made me feel safe.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he reached for my hand.

I didn't pull away. Instead, I held it tightly. His fingers were warm against mine, and the quiet around us seemed to change.

We began walking downhill together. Then James grew quiet.

"Yuri."

"Hmm?"

"I want to ask you something."

"What?"

I expected another joke, but he looked at me seriously.

"I like you."

I stopped.

"What?"

"I like you so much."

I couldn't speak. He smiled nervously.

"You really never noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"I've given you so many signs."

I stared at him, remembering all the strange things he had said. Once, when our English teacher was absent, he had jokingly told me he loved me almost a hundred times. I had assumed it was a dare.

He laughed.

"You really are too innocent."

I didn't know what to say.

"James..."

"I don't know what our future will look like," he continued. "But I don't want to lose you. What if you leave after school? What if we end up in different cities?"

He squeezed my hand.

"I don't want that. After school, we could move to the same city, start our relationship properly, grow together, travel, and eventually settle down."

My heart raced.

"You want me to be your girlfriend?"

He smiled.

"Yes."

I looked down.

"But why me? There are so many girls around you."

"Because you're different."

I looked at him.

"You're hardworking, good at your studies, and you've never been interested in chasing boys. And..."

He paused.

"You're beautiful."

My cheeks grew warm.

"Whenever I look into your dark eyes, I get lost. And when you get angry..."

He laughed.

"You look really cute."

I covered my face.

"Okayyy, stop!"

He laughed.

I had never understood. While I thought James was only annoying me, he had been looking at me differently. Maybe that was why he disliked other boys coming close to me, and why he was always nearby.

Now that I knew, all those moments felt different.

For the first time, I understood.

Maybe I had started feeling the same way.

"I want to focus on my studies right now," I said quietly.

He nodded.

"Okay."

"But after that..."

I hesitated.

"I'll think about it."

His smile widened.

"That's enough for me."

We reached the bottom of the hill, where everyone was waiting and staring.

I realized I was still holding James's hand.

Lia's eyes widened.

"YURI!"

Nina and Lily rushed toward us.

"Where were you? We were so scared!"

Then Lia looked down.

"Wait..."

She pointed at our hands.

"You were holding his hand?!"

I let go immediately.

Before I could explain, Mr. Garret approached.

"Where were you two?"

"We took the wrong path, sir."

He studied me for a moment.

"Well, make sure it doesn't happen again."

I nodded.

We returned to the bus, but my mind remained on that hill—with James, his confession, and his warm hand in mine.

Something between us had quietly changed, even though neither of us had named it.

That evening, the hotel organized a small farewell party, joined by students from the other school. I wasn't feeling completely well, but everyone encouraged me to get ready.

I wore a yellow dress.

When I came outside, Nina, Lily, and Lia immediately began teasing me.

"Yuri and James look so good together!"

Lily shook her head.

"I'm not saying you two aren't good together, but I don't think you're each other's type."

Maybe she was right. James wasn't the kind of person I had ever imagined falling for.

But there was something about him that made me feel comfortable.

Lia smiled.

"But he's definitely into Yuri."

I looked at her.

"What?"

"He told me."

"You knew?!"

"He said he'd tell you himself."

Everyone looked at me eagerly.

"So?"

I took a breath.

"Yes. He told me."

They screamed.

"OH MY GOD!"

"Are you together?"

"No!"

I laughed.

"We decided I need to focus on my studies first. After that, I'll think about the relationship."

They groaned.

"You're so boring!"

We laughed and went outside.

The evening was beautiful, but I felt colder than before.

James eventually came over. My friends exchanged glances.

"Okay, we'll leave you two alone."

They disappeared before I could stop them.

James sat beside me, and we looked through the photographs from our trip. Almost every picture showed us standing together.

He smiled.

"We really took a lot of pictures together."

"Apparently."

I lingered over the photograph from Okunoin Hall. We stood close together, both smiling, and I remembered his shoulder brushing against mine.

I quickly moved to the next picture.

After a while, he noticed me folding my arms around myself.

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

He removed his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.

"Here."

"How did you know?"

"You've been shivering."

He took my hand.

"Your hands are freezing."

He rubbed them gently between his palms. I stared at him. Nobody had ever cared for me like this.

The warmth of his hands made me strangely emotional, and I rested my head against his shoulder.

He touched my forehead, and his expression changed.

"Yuri... you're burning."

"I'm fine."

"You have a fever."

"I'm okay. I don't want to ruin everyone's evening."

He shook his head.

"Come with me."

He helped me back to the room and called Lia. When she arrived, she looked terrified.

"Yuri!"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not!"

James handed me some medicine.

"Take this."

I shivered beneath two thick blankets. Lia stayed for a while, but soon had to leave for her speech.

"Call me if you need anything."

"Okay."

Eventually, only James and I remained.

"You should go enjoy the party," I told him. "This is supposed to be a memorable night."

He shook his head.

"Without you, I don't want to make anything memorable."

I laughed weakly.

"James, I'm not dying."

"Just shut up and rest."

He sat beside my bed.

"Is this okay?"

I nodded.

"I like having you here."

He smiled and touched my cheek. I closed my eyes.

For the first time, I wasn't afraid of depending on someone or being cared for.

My temperature remained around 101 degrees, and I continued shivering.

"Yuri, your fever isn't going down."

"I'll be fine."

I held his hand.

"For the first time... I actually feel comfortable around you."

He looked at me.

"The warmth of your hand makes everything feel better."

I hugged him, and he hugged me back. For a moment, I wished time would stop.

James kissed my forehead gently.

"You'll be fine."

"I know."

After a few minutes, he asked, "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

"I'll bring you a cup of soup what about hot noodles."

I tightened my arms around him.

"Don't go."

He smiled it will takes only 2 minutes

"Two minutes."

He returned with soup and noodles, and we ate together. When I was too tired, he even helped feed me.

"Stay with me," I said.

"I'm here."

Those three words brought more relief than I could explain.

Two hours later, Lia, Nina, and Lily returned.

"Oh my God! The music was so loud!"

"I couldn't even hear my phone!"

They thanked James for taking care of me.

I smiled at him.

"Thank you."

He hugged me gently.

"Good night, Yuri."

By then, my fever had begun to fall. James eventually returned to his room, and I lay beneath my blankets, staring at the ceiling.

I thought about his confession, his hand, his smile, the coat around my shoulders, and the way he had stayed when I was sick.

Maybe I had been wrong about him all along.

Maybe the boy I once called annoying had slowly become the person who made me feel safest.

And somewhere between the temple, the autumn leaves, his warm hand, and that quiet evening, I realized something.

I had found my love.