Sea chuckled softly at Kisumiâs remark, the glint in his eyes never wavering. He wasnât offended, only amused by the younger manâs curiosity. "Kiumi is my last name," he clarified, his tone casual but still carrying that air of confidence.
He turned and pointed across the street to a striking, elegant hotel that stood tall against the skyline, its lights reflecting off the glass. "The hotelâs right there," he said, his finger gesturing toward the building. "
â-ahhh.â Kisumi replied as he tucked his hands into the pockets of his overcoat as he looked out at the direction that sea had pointed to. The damn hotel was within walking distance.
He had an apartment here in NYC, just like he had one in Tokyo. It wasnât near here that was for certain. Kisumi looked at the beautiful building. It was a new build, the glass panels bounced the night lights off of them. It shone like a diamond amongst the downtown night.
âBeautiful..â he mentioned without even a hint of sarcasm. It truly was a sight to behold by someone who took an appreciation of architecture. âSo are you going to invite me up or am I going to have to rudely invite myself?â Kisumi asked suddenly as he took a quick glance back at Sea.
Sea raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised by Kisumi's sudden boldness, before a soft chuckle escaped him. Without breaking stride, he reached out and placed a firm yet gentle hand on Kisumiâs shoulder, his touch both grounding and teasing. "To my hotel now?" he mused, his lips curling into an amused smile. "Youâre not ready yet."
He stepped back, his hand sliding away as he turned toward the hotel. "Well, keep in touch, juggler," Sea said over his shoulder, his voice smooth, with just a trace of playful finality.
As he walked away, Seaâs mind lingered on the interaction, his stride confident yet measured. He found himself entertained by Kisumiâs boldness but also acutely aware of the cracks in his demeanorâuncertainty wrapped in bravado. Sea liked to play, to test limits and explore dynamics, but Kisumiâs sharp comment earlier about being a "home wrecker" revealed more than the young man might have intended. It spoke of boundaries, hesitation, and perhaps even ideals that didnât align with the game Sea was used to playing.
Sea smirked to himself, the night air cool against his skin. Kisumi was intriguing, no doubt, but he wasnât readyânot for Seaâs world, and certainly not for the role heâd have to step into if he ever wanted to follow through. For now, the juggler was a story left unfinished, and Sea was more than content to leave it that wayâfor the moment.
