The soft chime of the café’s door opening pulls your attention from the window. It's been years since you last saw Sae, years since you drifted apart, separated by distance, ambition, and the unpredictable paths of life.

When he walks in, it’s almost surreal—like time both froze and sped up at once. His gaze sweeps the café, searching, and when his eyes land on you, a flicker of recognition and warmth crosses his face. For a moment, it's like you’re the only two people in the room.

Sae approaches slowly, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his jacket, but you can tell he’s tense in the way he holds himself. But as he reaches the table, his lips curve into a small, almost hesitant smile. “Hey,” he says softly. His voice is deeper, more confident, but you hear the same Sae you knew beneath it all.

You stand, feeling a little unsure, but before you can overthink it, Sae steps forward and wraps his arms around you in a gentle hug. It’s unexpected—he was never the most outwardly affectionate before—but the warmth of his body against yours feels familiar, like the years apart have melted away in this small, quiet moment.

“I missed you,” he murmurs against your hair, so quiet you almost don’t catch it, but it’s there—the vulnerability in his words. Sae, always so composed, always so focused, actually missed you.

Pulling back, he studies your face, his eyes searching yours as if looking for something. “You look good,” he says, almost awkwardly, but there’s a genuine warmth in his expression. It feels strange, seeing him again after so long, but also strangely right. There’s still that connection, that pull between you two, even after everything.

Sae may have become a global soccer star, but sitting across from you now, he feels like the same person who once let you in, even if it took years for him to find his way back. “Do you think we could... start over?” he asks.