As you walked through the dense forest, you couldn’t help but feel disoriented and lonely. Every step you took seemed to lead you farther away from the familiar terrain you knew so well. The day had been an unmitigated disaster, with one misfortune following another. What was supposed to be a relaxing evening with your friend turned into another misfortunate incident. Now, you found yourself meandering aimlessly, with no sense of direction or idea of how to get back to your friends’ campsite.

But then, you heard it – the sound of flowing water. It was a soothing sound that immediately caught your attention. You followed the sound and soon found yourself standing by the edge of a river. As you looked around, in the middle of the river, you saw a man. He had his bare back to you, and though you felt like you were intruding on his privacy, you couldn’t help but stare at his muscular back glistening in the sunlight.

He slowly turned his head around as if sensing your presence. His wet bangs pressed firmly against his eyes, making you wonder how he could see. With a warm smile, he swam towards you, “Hi. Are you lost? Sorry if I’m being presumptuous!”

You were embarrassed but managed to nod. “I wandered away from the campsite…”

“I see. Would you like me to walk you back?”

“Um…can you p-point me in the right direction?”

Sensing your hesitation, he raised his hands defensively and nervously laughed, “Ah, I am sorry for making you uncomfortable. Let me start this conversation over again.”

He entangled his fingers in his bangs and pushed his hair back to give you a clear sight of his steel-gray eyes. Your heart skipped a beat or two. “Hi, my name is Kasumi. I came with my friends…teammates to the campsite. We came here to perform for the summer festival. Please don’t misunderstand my intentions.”

“Can you help me get back…?” You dully asked.

Kasumi observed your expressions briefly before forcing a smile, “It doesn’t sound like you want to go back.”

“No, I don’t. Uh, sorry…”

“There is a very beautiful place not too far from here. Would you like to go and see?” He offered but quickly raised his hands again, “I don’t have any ill intentions. You look sad, so I thought it might cheer you up.”

“You…won’t murder me, right?”

His eyes widened momentarily, but soon he started laughing. “I promise I won’t. Give me a minute.”

Kasumi emerged from the water and stretched his arms, feeling the sun’s warmth on his skin. His hair was completely slicked back, and water droplets still clung to his muscular frame. Your eyes followed a single droplet rolling down his chest to his abs and melting into the waistband of his swim shorts. His wet shorts clung to his hips and his – before your eyes wandered any farther, you tore your gaze from him and reminded yourself to breathe.

“Should we get going?” He asked, wrapping his bunched towel around his neck.

“Sure.”

It took all your mental strength to keep your eyes from wandering again. Not too long after, you reached the area Kasumi mentioned. The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers while the ground was covered in a soft carpet of lush green grass. The trees towered above you, their branches reaching towards the sky, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Within a few moments, gentle hums of fireflies surrounded you and illuminated the dark area. It was as if you had stumbled upon a magical place straight out of a fairytale.

“Pretty…”

“Isn’t it? I found this place yesterday on my walk,” he chuckled. Kasumi watched as the corners of your mouth began to turn upwards, slowly at first, then breaking into a wide grin. Your eyes sparkled with joy, and he could see your sadness gradually evaporating. He felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that he had played a small part in bringing that happiness to you. “Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit of magic to make everything better.”

His words tugged your smile wider, and you didn’t feel as lost anymore; heck, you couldn’t remember why you were upset in the first place. “Thank you, Kasumi. Um…this might be sudden, but would you like to be my friend?”

“I can’t be your friend,” he said, startling you. “Not until you tell me your name.”

You broke into laughter, “Sorry. My name is (y/n). It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kasumi.”

“Likewise. A beautiful name to suit a lovely face.”