Chapter 34: A STORY FULL OF ENCOUNTERS

Sunday always felt different for Kai. No school bell ringing, no sound of students’ footsteps in the corridors, no stacks of papers to check. Just peaceful silence, just time flowing unhurriedly. And this morning, Kai decided to enjoy that silence at his favorite place.

Cafe & Rest was a place that always managed to make Kai feel calm. Located on a corner of a not-too-busy street, this cafe had a warm and simple classic atmosphere. Its walls were made of exposed brick that had faded slightly with age, with wooden shelves filled with old books and creeping plants trailing in the corners of the room. There was no expensive furniture here—just simple wooden tables with chairs that were a little worn but comfortable. Hanging lamps with yellow light created an intimate and soothing atmosphere. Several green plants in terracotta pots were scattered in various corners, giving a refreshing natural feel.

The atmosphere inside the cafe was a little busy—several visitors sat at their tables, some reading books, some chatting softly with friends, some just enjoying coffee while staring out the window. But there was no disturbing noise. Only the soft sound of conversation mixed with gentle jazz music from the speakers in the corner of the room.

Kai sat at his favorite table—near the window, where he could watch people passing by on the sidewalk. In front of him, a cup of black coffee was emitting thin wisps of steam into the air. Usually, he never ordered coffee. His favorite drink was always that strange-tasting sweet canned soda. But this morning, for some reason, he decided to try something different.

"You’re ordering coffee. That’s new."

A familiar heavy voice broke the silence. Kai lifted his head and saw a man standing beside his table. The man wore a brown and white jacket with small checkered patterns that reminded one of detective styles in classic films. On his head, a round hat with a wide brim covered most of his face, but Kai didn’t need to see his face to recognize who the man was.

"Leonhard," Kai said in a flat voice, setting down his coffee cup. "Are you following me?"

Leonhard laughed softly, pulling a chair across from Kai and sitting down casually. "Following you? No. I was here before you came. I saw you from over there." He pointed to a table in the corner of the room hidden behind creeping plants. "You didn’t notice me."

Kai sighed. "You always seem to appear in unexpected places."

"That’s because I’m always alert," Leonhard said with a smile. "But you haven’t answered my question. Coffee? You usually order that strange canned drink that tastes like cough syrup. Why the sudden change in taste?"

Kai stared at his coffee cup for a moment, then shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe I’m starting to get tired of that taste. Or maybe I feel like I need to try something new."

Leonhard blinked, then laughed softly. "You’ve changed, Kai. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you like this. There’s something different about you."

Kai didn’t answer. He sipped his coffee slowly, enjoying the bitter taste spreading across his tongue.

"They say you got additional students," Leonhard suddenly said, his voice becoming more serious. "Six students from Class 2-2, right?"

Kai raised his eyebrows. "You already know?"

Leonhard smiled slightly. "I know many things, Kai. That’s my job."

Kai snorted. "You always seem to know everything."

"Not everything," Leonhard said casually, taking the warm tea he’d ordered from the waiter. His eyes moved quickly, then looked back at Kai calmly. "For example, about the woman you met in the park."

Kai was startled. His hand holding the coffee cup stopped in midair. His eyes looked at Leonhard with a surprised expression he couldn’t hide. "The woman in the park?"

Leonhard shrugged, his expression flat. "I don’t know who she is. But I saw you talking to someone in the park a few days ago. I happened to be passing by."

Kai stared at Leonhard with a sharp gaze. There was something in the man’s eyes that made him suspicious. Leonhard never "happened to be passing by." He always had a reason to be somewhere. And the way he said it—too casual, too flat—made Kai certain that Leonhard knew more than he was letting on. But Kai chose not to comment. There was a time to ask, and a time to stay quiet. This was a time to stay quiet.

"I don’t know," Kai finally said, pretending to be casual. "Maybe just a stranger."

Leonhard smiled slightly, not adding anything. He just enjoyed his tea quietly.

They sat in silence for a while. Kai sipped his coffee, Leonhard enjoyed his warm tea.

"I heard your students are quite active," Leonhard finally said, changing the subject. "They even held their own practice on Saturday without you."

Kai smiled slightly. "They’re like that."

"You must be proud of them."

"Yes," Kai said, and for the first time, a sincere smile appeared on his face. "I’m proud of them."

Leonhard observed Kai’s smile carefully, then smiled with satisfaction. "You’ve really changed, Kai. And I’m glad to see it."

Kai didn’t answer, but the smile on his face didn’t fade.

After chatting with Leonhard, Kai decided to leave. He paid for his coffee, waved at Leonhard, and walked out of the cafe. The warm midday air greeted him outside. He walked without a destination, enjoying the bright and peaceful Sunday.

But his leisurely walk didn’t last long. On the sidewalk ahead, he saw a familiar figure.

Rin Scarlet was sitting at the edge of the basketball court near the park. The red-haired girl was holding a basketball in her hands, bouncing it with a steady rhythm. Sweat dampened her forehead, showing that she’d been practicing since morning.

Kai approached Rin with quiet steps. "You’re practicing on Sunday?"

Rin turned, surprised to see Kai. "Mr. Kai?!"

"You should be resting," Kai said, sitting down beside Rin. "Today is Sunday."

Rin frowned. "But the festival is only a few days away, Sir. I have to practice as much as possible."

Kai sighed. "Practicing is important, Rin. But resting is also important. If you keep pushing yourself, you could get injured."

Rin looked down, playing with the basketball in her hands. "I just... I don’t want to let the team down, Sir."

Kai looked at Rin gently. "You won’t let anyone down. What matters is that you try. And you’ve already tried hard. Now, go home and rest."

Rin looked at Kai, then nodded slowly. "Okay, Sir. I’ll go home."

"Promise?" Kai asked.

"Promise," Rin said with a small smile.

Kai smiled and stood up. "Good. See you tomorrow at school."

Kai continued his walk. Not far from the basketball court, he passed a small park where he saw Ella sitting on a bench reading a book. The girl with long black hair looked calm, enjoying Sunday in her own way.

"Ella," Kai greeted as he approached.

Ella lifted her head, slightly surprised. "Mr. Kai? What are you doing here?"

"Just walking," Kai answered casually. "You’re not training?"

Ella smiled slightly. "Today is Sunday, Sir. I’m resting, like you said."

Kai smiled, glad to hear that. "Good. I’m glad you listened to my advice."

Ella nodded. "I think you’re right. Our bodies need rest."

They chatted for a while about training and the festival, then Kai continued his walk.

In another corner of the city, Kai saw Sera and Maya walking together. The girl with glasses and the shy girl seemed to be shopping at the market. Sera was carrying several shopping bags firmly, while Maya walked beside her with small steps, her eyes occasionally looking around cautiously.

"Sera, Maya," Kai called from a distance.

They both turned. Sera nodded firmly, Maya smiled slightly. "Good afternoon, Mr. Kai," Sera said.

"Shopping?" Kai asked.

"Yes, Sir," Maya answered softly. "Sera is helping me shop. Mom asked me to."

Kai smiled. "Good. But don’t forget to rest, okay? There’s still training tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir," they said in unison.

On the side of the road, Kai saw Nora walking with Liliana. They both seemed to be chatting calmly. Nora, who was usually alert, now looked more relaxed, and Liliana smiled slightly as usual.

"Nora, Liliana," Kai greeted.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Kai," Nora said in a flat voice.

"You two?" Kai asked.

"We’re just walking," Liliana answered softly. "Nora invited me."

Kai nodded. "Good, enjoy your Sunday. But don’t forget to rest."

"Yes, Sir," Liliana said.

At a bookstore, Kai saw Eve and Rina sitting together. They both seemed engrossed in reading. Eve with her round glasses that always slipped down, and Rina who had already opened her small notebook.

"Eve, Rina," Kai greeted.

They both looked up. "Good afternoon, Sir," Eve said flatly.

"You’re reading?" Kai asked.

"We’re looking for books about strategy," Rina said, pushing her glasses up. "For festival preparation."

Kai smiled. "Good. But don’t forget, reading also needs rest."

"Yes, Sir," Eve said.

Near the cake shop, Kai saw Fay and Irene sitting on a bench in front of the shop. Fay smiled to herself, while Irene hopped lightly beside her. In Fay’s hand, there was a small box of cakes that might have just been given by the shop owner.

"Fay, Irene," Kai greeted.

Irene immediately turned around enthusiastically. "Mr. Kai! Look! Fay got cakes from the shop owner!"

Kai smiled seeing Irene’s enthusiasm. "Good. But don’t forget to rest, okay?"

Fay just smiled to herself, but there was happiness in her eyes.

At the market, Kai saw Aria helping her mother shop. The always-anxious girl now looked calmer, helping her mother choose vegetables carefully. Kai decided not to disturb them, just smiling from a distance.

Kai walked past another small park. There, he saw Katrin sitting on a bench with Mira and Iris. Katrin seemed to be talking seriously, while Mira hopped lightly in place and Iris smiled mysteriously.

"Katrin, Mira, Iris," Kai greeted.

"Mr. Kai!" Mira exclaimed enthusiastically. "We’re discussing strategy for the festival!"

Kai smiled. "You’re not resting?"

"We’re resting while discussing," Katrin said firmly.

Iris added, "There’s nothing wrong with discussing, right?"

Kai shook his head in amusement. "No. But remember, rest is important."

"Yes, Sir!" Mira exclaimed.

Kai saw Luna sitting on a park bench, staring into the distance with her half-closed eyes. The silver-haired girl seemed to be enjoying the peace of Sunday. Kai decided not to disturb her, just passing by with a small smile.

The afternoon was starting to set in when Kai felt tired. Meeting his students one by one made him realize that he’d rarely interacted with so many people in one day. Their varied behaviors—some too enthusiastic, some too serious, some too relaxed—made him a little overwhelmed. But on the other hand, he felt a feeling he’d long missed. The feeling of being part of life, the feeling of being part of something bigger.

Kai stopped in front of a vending machine on the side of the road. Coins fell with a clink as he inserted them into the machine. His fingers moved to press the button for his favorite drink—that sweet canned soda he always ordered.

But before his finger pressed the button, his eyes caught something across the street. A woman walked gracefully, her black dress fluttering gently in the evening breeze. Her black hair fell to her shoulders, and her slender posture looked familiar.

Kai blinked. He recognized that woman.

Diana.

The woman who had just moved into his apartment building. The woman he’d helped that night. The woman who worked at a bar called Heaven in Heaven.

Kai lowered his hand from the vending machine. His eyes were still looking toward Diana, who was slowly disappearing around the corner of the street. He remembered that Diana had once said she worked at a bar. And tonight, she might be heading to her workplace.

Kai looked at himself—a simple black t-shirt and long training pants that were a little wrinkled. He wasn’t dressed for going to a bar. If he wanted to meet Diana at her workplace, he’d have to change clothes. He didn’t want to embarrass Diana with his too-casual appearance.

Kai let out a long sigh, making a decision. He pressed the vending machine button, took the soda can that fell to the bottom, and put it in his pocket.

"Tonight," he murmured softly, his eyes still looking toward where Diana had disappeared. "Tonight I’ll go to that bar."

He turned and walked home, with lighter steps.