Chapter 10: Meeting (Patreon)

Kusanagi Godou was seriously taken aback.

Or more accurately, he was completely stunned by the other person. He never expected to see an Asian in this unfamiliar, far-off place.

And not just any Asian—this was an exceptionally handsome young man with an aura of otherworldly elegance!

His features were finely sculpted, with sharp, phoenix-like eyes that held a commanding intensity.

But it wasn't just his good looks—his demeanor was free-spirited and untamed, carrying a mysterious, almost transcendent quality. He was definitely the type you only had to see once to remember for a lifetime.

Even as a guy, Godou was struck by how ridiculously good-looking he was, let alone the women crowding around.

If he were a girl, he'd probably be just as captivated.

Then—a glance.

"?!"

In situations like this, Godou usually knew his place—he'd either keep walking or hang back as an onlooker.

He knew his own limits. Back in Japan, his looks and height were decent enough, but next to someone like that? He might as well be completely average. Besides, he was just an ordinary high school student.

So, naturally, Godou moved aside with his luggage, stepping out of the flow of people and into a corner.

But what caught him off guard was that just as he was spectating from the sidelines—while the striking young man was heading toward a luxury car—he glanced right at him.

That one look sent an instant jolt through Godou, as if half his body had been flash-frozen.

It felt like an invisible mountain had just dropped onto his shoulders!

"???"

But the next moment, just as Godou was reeling from the weird pressure, the other man looked away, got into the car, and drove off.

"Whew… Was he some kind of big shot? It was just a look… so why did it feel so heavy?"

After the handsome stranger left, the crowd that had gathered around him gradually dispersed, leaving Godou alone on the sidewalk, puzzled.

He had no idea what just happened. For a second there, it was like he'd been thrown into an ice cellar.

If that guy had stared any longer, Godou was sure he would've collapsed to his knees right then and there.

It wasn't that he was cowardly—it was that the other's presence was just that overwhelming. It was like they were from two different worlds.

Oh well. He's gone now, and it's not like our paths will ever cross again.

Leaning against the wall, Godou took a moment to steady his breathing and his nerves. Then, doing his best to stay inconspicuous, he picked up his luggage and melted back into the crowd.

As he walked, he took in the local atmosphere, occasionally pulling out his map to ask passersby for directions. He wasn't sure how long he'd been wandering.

In Japan, Western tourists never hesitated to ask locals for help, and he'd taken a page from their book—though he tried to pick people who looked like they weren't in a hurry, so he wouldn't bother them too much.

Even though the local language wasn't English, with the map and some gestures, he could usually get his point across.

And since he wanted to see the sea first, Kusanagi Godou made his way toward Cagliari Harbour.

Narrow alleys stretched out before him, with freshly washed laundry hanging overhead everywhere he looked.

Taking in this peaceful, everyday scene, Kusanagi Godou felt his mood soften. Soon, he arrived at a large square dominated by the impressive Duomo Cathedral.

He lingered there for a little while, wandering around the beautiful plaza before finally moving on.

And from that point, the view opened up—Cagliari Harbour and the sea, a stunning emerald green, spread out before his eyes.

He'd never seen an ocean this beautiful back in Tokyo. A natural excitement bubbled up inside Godou, and his pace quickened almost on its own.

He headed down a sloping street, practically hurrying toward the water's edge.

But as he was walking along the shore, he ran into a figure who was familiar... no, wait. Not familiar—more like a total stranger, yet one he'd met before.

There, leaning against the wall of a warehouse-like building, stood that same incredibly handsome young man. He was gazing out at the open sea, the ocean breeze sweeping through his hair. The sight was strangely captivating, almost surreal.

How could he even describe it? It was like a painting come to life.

It's him!

Godou had been sure their paths would never cross again, and yet after just a short time exploring the town, here he was.

"Konnichiwa."

"...."

"Ni... ni hao."

"..."

"Hello?"

"..."

A slight nod.

After cycling through three different languages, the other man finally seemed to understand.

But the young man overlooking the sea only gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod in return before turning his attention back to the vast ocean view.

Guess he came to see the sea too?

Since they didn't seem interested, Godou figured a simple greeting was enough. He found a spot to enjoy the view himself, though his mind couldn't help but wander.

So he's not completely perfect after all, he mused. Guess he's not great with foreign languages either, just like me.

The thought brought him an unexpected sense of relief.

Some encounters were just meant to be brief. Godou was usually sociable and chatty, but he can't figure out if he know japanese or not, what could he do? They each enjoyed the sea in their own silence.

Besides, the other guy didn't seem interested in talking anyway. No point in forcing a conversation with someone he'd only met twice.

After a while, the sky began to darken.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, the two of them, as if by unspoken agreement, turned and made their way back toward the town.

Walking one after the other, neither seemed to notice the figure waiting on the path ahead.

Or maybe they did notice, but simply didn't pay it much mind—until—

[Scusi! Signori! Mi dispiace disturbare, ma avrei bisogno di un aiuto...]

The voice spoke in Italian. Godou, of course, was completely lost. He didn't understand a word.

But even without understanding the language, he was instantly captivated by the girl who had appeared.