Night arrived the way it always did… of course, dumbass— gradual, the cooking fires going from practical to atmospheric, the watchtower lights coming on one by one, the sound of the place shifting from daytime bustle to something quieter and more careful.
Mio jolted upright from where she'd been leaning against my arm, eyes flying open. "AH— I forgot!! My parents are going to be so mad at me—"
She scrambled to her feet, looked at both of us, and then abandoned the panic temporarily to throw both arms around us in a hug that lasted exactly 3seconds before she was already pulling back and running.
"Tomorrow again!! See ya, Strange Ahjussi and Jisoo Noona!!"
I watched her go, weaving between the crowd of people with an efficient navigation of someone who'd memorized every shortcut in this courtyard… or crowd people? I don't know.
"...Strange Ahjussi," I said. "Didn't I already tell her my name?"
