---
Seoul — Six Months Later
Ken stood beneath a banner that read "World Taekwondo Exchange Conference", dressed in a sharp black dobok with golden trim. Cameras flashed. Students bowed. Foreign dignitaries greeted him with admiration.
He smiled politely for all of them.
But the real Ken — the one who used to laugh without thinking, who once burned bright in a stupid condo next to a stupid bad boy — that Ken was buried.
> Because Arashi never came.
Not one call.
Not one message.
It was like he'd erased Ken from his life.
But Ken didn't know the whole truth.
---
Tokyo — Arashi's Side
The bar empire was growing — now four clubs across the city, his name whispered in the nightlife scene like a legend.
And yet, Arashi felt emptier with every success.
He still remembered that day at the airport. Still tasted the words he never said.
He wanted to chase Ken. He tried.
But someone else got in the way.
Souta.
A charming, well-dressed investor who had started helping Arashi with his second club. He was always supportive, always present. And subtly, slowly, he started talking.
"Ken's already moved on," Souta would say casually.
"I saw pictures. He was hugging someone."
"He probably got tired of waiting."
And when Arashi didn't respond, Souta twisted the knife deeper.
"Besides, did he even call you before leaving? Seems like he was ready to walk away."
Souta wasn't wrong — and that's what made it worse.
Ken hadn't said goodbye.
Arashi convinced himself maybe that slap really was the end.
So he buried the ache and moved forward.
Or so he thought.
---
Back in Seoul
Ken scrolled through his phone late at night, seeing photos of Arashi standing beside Souta in a business article. The headline read:
"Tokyo's Club King Expands — With Right-Hand Man by His Side."
In the photo, Arashi was smiling.
Souta had his hand on his shoulder.
And Ken's chest felt like it had cracked open.
> "So he did move on."
He closed his phone and turned it off.
No more questions.
No more hope.
---
Meanwhile…
In Arashi's office, Souta poured two glasses of whiskey.
"You're doing great," he said warmly. "Really proud of how far you've come."
Arashi nodded absently.
Souta sipped, then added smoothly, "By the way… Ken's academy in Seoul? There's a rumor he's engaged to a Korean coach."
Arashi's hand froze.
But he didn't ask. He didn't want to look desperate.
Souta smiled behind the rim of his glass.
> Everything was going according to plan.
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