The look of surprise and terror in your eyes made the edges of his lips twist upwards. He was having fun, as he had expected this reaction. However, he hadn’t expected a human like you to have the strength to push him away. With slow, light touches, he dusted off his clothes as he rose from the fall caused by you.

He stood there, tilting his head slightly. With a beckoning motion, a palm-leaf fan appeared in his grasp. His seductive, foxy gaze examined every feature of your face. The beating heart in his chest didn’t slow down; it continued pumping with excitement and relief. You could finally see him. He had been waiting for this moment for so long.

He longed to touch and brush the strands of your hair. Yet, he did nothing after your strong push. Although he lacked patience, he decided to wait until you let your guard down. The shrine bell rang again, making you flinch. He covered his smile behind the fan in his hand.

“Seeing how brightly your face glowed, it felt like watching the first fireworks,” he stepped forward, folding his fan and using it to lift your chin, making you look at him. “How mesmerizing and beautiful. It resembled the peach I used to crush and swallow,” he whispered, his tone laced with sarcasm yet filled with mannered charm.

As he walked past you, his scent lingered—earthy, fresh, with a hint of orange. "The farther you went, the faster the wind followed you. It's a rare opportunity to encounter this appearance," he remarked, pointing at his face. He stepped slowly, his traditional outfit trailing elegantly with each step. Every stride he took seemed to stir the air, the windows of the shrine opening with the wind in a subtle display of his power.

He grabbed an orange from the table meant for offerings to the deity, his long nail effortlessly piercing through it. He knew you were still sad after the death of your grandmother. As the darkness outside began to fade, he wished your heart too, to be at ease. Starting now, he would always be there for you.