A ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, slicing through the mist like a blade. The snow-laden eaves, the damp streets, the countless windows, all caught the light in irregular, shimmering lines.
The snow had quietly stopped.
The golden light fragmented the layers of buildings below, creating a strangely poetic scene. Logan and Sumika held each other close, standing in the breathtaking Tembo Galleria, peacefully letting time slip by in the quiet.
As the sky grew brighter, they finally had enough of their sweet moment and prepared to take the elevator down.
"Logan, you didn't finish your answer earlier… What was I like back then?" The elevator was surprisingly empty except for them. Through the transparent glass, the sprawling cityscape rapidly drew closer, like descending from the peak of a Ferris wheel, where dreams and tenderness eventually returned to reality.
Amidst the hum of machinery, Sumika clung to Logan's arm, watching the approaching ground with reluctance. She swung his arm lightly. "You said you remembered everything, like it was engraved in your heart…"
She wasn't just fishing for compliments, though that was part of it, but also because she found the idea of Logan describing it utterly amusing.
Pressed against him, soft and sweet, Sumika was impossible to resist. Logan, well-versed in the little games of love, maintained a perfectly composed expression.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened at the 350-meter observation deck, and a few passengers stepped in.
"..."
Logan cleared his throat and swallowed his words.
The atmosphere was still quiet, but now tinged with a different kind of awkwardness. The newcomers subtly furrowed their brows, sensing an unusual, couple-y aura in the air.
Logan gave Sumika a placating smile, hoping to drop it, but the usually shy and reserved girl, with her cheeks flushed, dug her fingers into his palm and insisted, "Tell me."
"Ah." Logan hesitated. This wasn't the right place, but his girlfriend was determined.
This man who could face knives and shuriken without flinching now felt oddly embarrassed. He squeezed her hand, "Not now..."
But Sumika wasn't having it. She squirmed, restless and unrelenting. Logan's eye twitched.
"Fine, fine! Ugh, it was just… how could I forget?" Logan finally caved, "The scene back then was so intense, the snowstorm raging, me gripping the steel beams, climbing up like…"
'Wait, wasn't I asking about the later part? Why was he suddenly recounting the beginning?'
Sumika quickly realized he was dodging the question. Her face fell, and she puffed her cheeks.
"You have no idea… The helicopter blades were spinning just meters away, and that guy pointed a gun at me, started counting down without hesitation—"
Somehow, Logan got carried away. Sumika, despite pretending otherwise, was drawn in, because, of course, she was on his side.
"…And then fighter jets showed up in the sky! Crazy, right? If I hadn't…"
The other passengers, who had been tolerating this with gritted teeth, finally snapped at the mention of fighter jets. One particularly blunt man shot Logan a look that screamed, 'Could you make it any more unbelievable?'
"Pfft…" Sumika burst out laughing, her earlier frustration completely forgotten. She smacked Logan's shoulder, giggling, "See? Even strangers can't stand you. Tone down the tall tales..."
Logan spread his hands innocently. What else could he say?
As the elevator reached the ground floor, someone muttered under their breath, "Some kind of people are…" Sumika, thoroughly amused, pushed Logan out while still laughing.
"Is it that funny? Hey…"
Well, he had no choice but to laugh along.
But after a moment, Sumika abruptly stopped, 'Oh no, this is too harmonious. I can't let him off that easily.'
She straightened her expression and said calmly, "By the way, there's something I haven't settled with you yet."
"Settle what? What could there possibly be?"
Still wary of the earlier topic shift, Logan blinked in confusion. But as Sumika fixed him with a serious stare, he inexplicably began to feel guilty.
"That girl in the Ninja World… Mai, was it? Care to explain?"
'Yikes.'
'Of all things to bring up…!' Logan stiffened, but quickly steadied himself, "Oh, that."
"Hmm?"
Sumika's gaze sharpened, entering the universal girlfriend interrogation mode.
'Well, it was bound to happen eventually.' Logan mentally wiped his brow. He had prepared for this kind of question, it was just a bit sudden.
"Her name is Hasegawa Mai..."
One wrong word, and the consequences would be dire. But the truth was on his side, so Logan spoke righteously, "She moved to the Land of Fire and became a Ninja for various reasons. When I went back, I just happened to run into her."
"Mai and I…"
"Mai?'" Sumika cut in like a scalpel, eyes narrowing.
'Isn't it normal to use first names…?' Logan grumbled internally.
"Well, Mai, I mean, Hasegawa Mai, she… sigh." With another slip-up, Logan caved, unsure how to proceed.
"Since you saw it, it's just like in the manga."
In the end, this was his weak defense.
Sumika watched Logan fumble, his flustered, earnest demeanor. Then, silence settled between them.
'Hmmmm.'
Just as Logan scratched his head, about to salvage the situation, Sumika took his hand.
Her cool fingers transmitted warmth, understanding, "Alright, I'll stop teasing you."
Her red agate-like eyes were serious yet tender, "I saw everything. I understand what it meant."
The manga made it all too clear, Mai had fallen for the man who opened her heart, while Logan saw her only as a little sister.
A fleeting rainy season, a complicated chase… yet the truth was simple.
So Sumika had only been playing a small joke. No lengthy explanations were needed, as his stumbling words were proof enough.
"Look how scared you got."
"...Glad we're good." He almost forgot that Sumika is the epitome of understanding, gentle, wise, beautiful and virtuous.
"But…" Sumika tugged his hand, leading the way as she glanced back. Softly, she said, "You can't just leave her like that… right?"
He froze. The wind lifted strands of her hair, and beneath her usual gentleness, her words carried a quiet weight.
Sumika noticed something and stopped. Reaching out, she deftly straightened Logan's collar.
"You'll have to go back once more, won't you?"
"..."
After a long pause, Logan nodded.
"That girl… and a few other things. I need to tie up loose ends."
Amidst the bustling crowd, they stepped out of the Skytree plaza.
As Logan spoke, he turned back once. High above, the tower's spire still bore traces of unmelted snow.
In another world, the snow was still falling.