[No-Ah]
It shouldn't matter.
That's what No-Ah told herself.
And honestly—
it didn't.
Not really.
The street was just a street.
The girl was just a stranger.
And the question—
"Your name."
—wasn't anything important.
People asked for names all the time.
Normal.
Forgettable.
Small.
No-Ah adjusted the strap of her bag as she walked, her steps steady, unhurried.
"...No-Ah."
She clicked her tongue softly.
"...why am I even thinking about that?"
It slipped out under her breath before she could stop it.
Annoying.
She frowned slightly, pushing the thought aside almost immediately.
It wasn't worth thinking about.
Just some weird interaction with a random person.
That was it.
Nothing more.
Her gaze lifted forward again, expression flattening back into its usual calm.
"...small matter."
And just like that—
she dropped it.
Or at least—
that's what she told herself.
The days passed quietly.
Too quietly.
No sudden encounters.
No unexpected interruptions.
No—
him.
At first, No-Ah didn't notice.
Why would she?
Her routine stayed the same.
School.
Home.
Yun-Ra talking too much.
Assignments piling up.
Normal.
Everything was normal.
Exactly how it should be.
"Okay, but listen—what if he actually comes here?"
"No."
"No as in 'no way' or 'no as in don't want him to'?"
"Both."
Yun-Ra groaned dramatically, slumping onto the desk.
"You're so boring."
No-Ah didn't even look up.
"Good."
"You met him."
"I didn't."
"You literally did."
"I didn't know it was him."
"That doesn't erase the fact that you did."
"It does to me."
A pause.
Then—
"You're impossible."
"I've been told."
No-Ah turned a page in her notebook, her movements calm, unaffected.
Or at least—
they looked that way.
☆☆☆
A week passed.
No-Ah didn't meet Kei at all.
It shouldn't have mattered.
And yet—
she noticed.
Not at first.
Not in a way she could point out.
Just—
small things.
Too small to mean anything.
The alley.
She avoided it.
Not consciously.
Not on purpose.
But her steps would slow slightly before reaching it—
then shift.
Turn.
Take another route.
Every time.
"just a habit." she muttered once, barely audible.
But even she didn't sound convinced.
Her phone buzzed one afternoon.
Yun-Ra.
Of course.
| YOU NEED TO SEE THIS
No-Ah stared at the notification for a second before opening it.
A video.
She almost didn't press play.
Almost.
But she did.
The screen filled with movement.
Chaotic.
Fast.
Three figures.
Then—
him.
Kei.
Even through the shaky camera, it was obvious.
The way he moved—
sharp.
Controlled.
Every motion precise, like it had been calculated before it even happened.
It didn't take long.
It never did.
The video ended abruptly.
No-Ah stared at the screen for a second longer before locking her phone.
"…so?"
She slipped it back into her pocket.
No reaction.
None.
| you watched it, didn't you?
Yun-Ra's message came immediately after.
Too quick.
No-Ah exhaled lightly.
| yeah.
| And???
| What about it.
| WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT ABOUT IT
He got into a fight.
No-Ah texted back flatly.
| So what.
| So what?! So what?? That's your reaction??
"Yes."
A beat.
"…you're actually unbelievable."
No-Ah didn't respond.
Because—
what was there to say?
It wasn't her problem.
It had nothing to do with her.
It didn't matter.
That night—
she couldn't sleep.
It wasn't unusual.
Sometimes it just happened.
Her room was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that made small thoughts feel louder than they should.
No-Ah shifted slightly, staring at the ceiling.
"…"
A breath.
Then—
without meaning to—
her mind drifted.
"...No-Ah."
His voice.
Clear.
Too clear.
The way he said it—
slow.
Like it mattered.
She turned onto her side abruptly, pulling the blanket up slightly.
...it doesn't.
The words came out in her mind sharper this time.
Firm
Like she was correcting something.
Or someone.
Silence.
…I didn't even know it was him.
A pause.
…and I don't care.
Another pause.
Longer.
…so why—
She stopped.
Mid-thought.
Her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of the blanket.
"…no."
A quiet exhale.
Then—
she shut it down.
Just like that.
☆☆☆
Morning came like nothing happened.
"No-Ah."
"Mm."
"You look tired."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Shut up."
"…you're annoying."
"And you didn't deny it properly this time."
No-Ah clicked her tongue softly, grabbing her bag.
"I'm leaving."
"Hey—wait—!"
She didn't.
The street outside was busier than usual.
People talking.
Moving.
Living their lives like nothing had changed.
Because nothing had.
Right?
No-Ah adjusted her sleeve slightly as she walked, her pace steady.
Unbothered.
Calm.
Normal.
Her steps slowed.
Just for a second.
The practice building stood across the street.
Tall.
Familiar.
Unavoidable.
"…why am I even looking at this."
Her gaze shifted away immediately
Too fast.
Like it burned.
It didn't matter.
He wasn't there.
Even if he was—
it didn't matter.
"…a week," she muttered under her breath.
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Her brows knit slightly.
…so what.
She turned.
Walked.
Didn't look back—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Hard.
Sudden.
No-Ah's breath hitched sharply—
her body reacting before her mind could catch up.
"What—?!"
She was pulled off balance instantly, dragged sideways—
into the narrow space between buildings.
Her shoulder hit the wall lightly as she stumbled, panic rising fast, sharp, immediate.
"Hey—let go—!"
Her voice came out louder this time, strained, her free hand already pushing against the figure in front of her.
Her heart was racing.
Too fast.
Too loud.
Her mind jumped—
too many possibilities—
none of them good.
"...Aren't you gonna treat my wounds again—"
Her movement froze.
"...No-Ah?"
Silence.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her breathing was still uneven, chest rising and falling too quickly—
but the panic—
shifted.
Not gone.
But—
different.
"…you—"
Recognition hit.
Her shoulders dropped slightly, tension loosening just enough.
"…are you serious right now?"
Kei leaned back slightly, one hand still loosely around her wrist before letting go completely.
Up close—
he looked worse than the video.
Bruising along his jaw.
A cut near his lip.
Faint marks along his knuckles.
"…you scream louder than I expected," he muttered.
No-Ah stared at him.
Flat.
Unimpressed.
"…you dragged me into an alley, dumbass."
A pause.
"…what did you expect?"
He exhaled quietly, running a hand through his hair.
"…fair."
A beat.
"…you're injured," she said, tone shifting slightly.
Not soft.
But—
focused.
Practical.
Her eyes scanned him quickly, already assessing.
"…again."
Kei let out a small huff.
"…you gonna ignore it this time too?"
No-Ah clicked her tongue softly, stepping closer without answering.
"Sit."
He raised a brow slightly.
"…you're giving orders now?"
"Do you want help or not."
A pause.
Then—
he sat.
The space between them settled into something quieter.
Familiar.
Strangely.
No-Ah reached into her bag, pulling out the same small kit she hadn't bothered taking out since that night. movements steady despite the earlier panic still lingering faintly in her chest.
"…why did you pick a fight again?" she asked, her tone made Kei unsure of what she was feeling. "Didn't I tell you too—"
"I don't pick them."
"..."
"...they started it."
"Are you sure?"
"…maybe not."
No-Ah stopped. Then raised her head.
"What do you mean?"
A pause.
Then—
"... maybe I picked them."
"Why?"
Kei smirked and gazed into her eyes.
She stared back.
"Your attention."
No-Ah blinked once.
Did i hear wrong? My attention..?
"...you... could've gotten hurt." No-Ah's words were clipped.
"At least I can get your—"
No-Ah cut in.
"Shut up and just let me treat you."
Her fingers were careful.
Precise.
Light against his skin as she cleaned the cut near his lip.
Kei didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Just watched.
"…you're thinking too much again," he said suddenly.
Her hand paused for half a second.
"…I'm not."
"That was too fast."
"…don't start."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"…you sound familiar."
She didn't respond.
Silence settled again.
But this time—
it wasn't empty.
"…done," No-Ah said after a moment, pulling her hand back.
She started packing her things immediately, like that was it.
Like this was just—
another small matter.
"Wait."
She paused.
"…what."
Kei stood, rolling his shoulder slightly.
"…I'll treat you."
No-Ah blinked once.
"…what."
"For helping."
"I didn't ask."
"Too bad."
"…I'm not—"
"Ramen."
A pause.
"…you're bribing me."
"Yeah."
"…that's cheap."
"I know."
Silence.
No-Ah exhaled quietly, adjusting her sleeve again.
"…fine."
The word came out reluctant.
Hesitant.
But—
not a no.
Kei glanced at her, just for a second.
Then looked away.
"…good."
They stepped out of the alley together.
Not too close.
Not too far.
And for the first time in a week—
the silence didn't feel as heavy anymore.
☆☆☆