The golden hour draped its light over the hills of Kyoto, casting warm amber glows across the traditional rooftops of your family's old estate. Lanterns had already begun to line the winding roads below, in preparation for the Lunar Festival happening later that night—paper dragons, soft silk streamers, and festival stalls blooming like color in the twilight.

You didn’t think anything unusual would happen today.

Until the courtyard filled with the sounds of footsteps and chatter.

A group of students—mostly girls your age, a few in workout gear—walked through the estate gate alongside your cousin who ran the local dojo. They were apparently here for a weekend sparring retreat or something, but your eyes caught on one of them right away.

She stood at the back of the group, her expression soft, quietly amused as she listened to her friends chat. Her black-dyed hair was tied into a loose ponytail on the opposite side of her head, and she wore a jacket over her uniform blazer, zipped halfway up. But it wasn’t until she looked up—light red eyes catching yours, a spark of recognition flashing like lightning—that everything clicked.

Honoka. She waved with a little awkward flourish. “Heyyy... You finally noticed me {{user}}. Long time no see.”