8

                                    

                                          





It was 7:30 AM when Ran called me that following morning.
"Ryann-chan, ohayou gozaimasu! I'm already here in the lobby," he greeted.
Surprised by his early arrival, I replied, "Why so early? I'm not yet done preparing."
"Don't worry, there's no rush. I'll just wait here," he assured me.
Relieved, I said, "Okay, I'll be there in 15 minutes."
"Take your time," he replied.

Within 15 minutes, I hurriedly made my way down to the lobby. However, to my surprise, I encountered a scene filled with wonder and amazement. 
Ran, as famous as he is in Japan, was instantly swarmed by hotel guests who were eager to catch a glimpse of him. They encircled him, creating a bustling atmosphere that captivated everyone's attention.
Secretly hiding behind the crowd, I sheepishly waved at Ran, hoping to avoid drawing attention to myself. Thankfully, he spotted me from afar, but I panicked and swiftly ran away when he approached me. He attempted to politely excuse himself from the crowd.
"Where are you going?!" he screamed as he tried to catch up with me.
I expected this reaction from him, so I ran away fearing that both of us would become targets of the fans who had already recognized me since that unforgettable incident during VNL 2025  when Ran side-hugged me, which they witnessed and even circulated online. 
Aside from that, I ran away from him so he could have a chance to flee from the crowd as well.
Breathless and exhausted, I slowed down until I eventually came to a complete stop. Before I could catch my breath, Ran caught up with me effortlessly. Oh, the advantage of having an athlete's stamina.
"Ryann-chan, why did you do that?" he questioned, trying to regain his breath.
"I just want to. At least you're free. Shouldn't you be thanking me?" I said, teasing him with a mischievous grin.
He chuckled. "Oh, really? You're running away from me after holding my hand just yesterday."
I was caught off guard. I widened my eyes at him in a threatening manner, silently warning him not to continue teasing me. "That was simply just to say thanks!" I clarified.
He burst into laughter. "Then, off we go!" he said and then grabbed my hand and dragged me with him.


Ran introduced me to the wonders of his hometown, Kyoto. From ancient temples to breathtaking gardens, our trip was filled with adventures and explorations. As we strolled through the historical streets of Gion, the scent of spring filled the air.
Later that day, as the sun painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, we visited the famous Kinkaku-ji temple. The shimmering golden façade reflected in the pond, took our breathes away. We spent hours admiring the structure and listening to the stories behind its construction.
After our visit to Kinkaku-ji, we proceeded to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We followed the winding paths, completely immersed with nature. 
"Ryann-chan, let's take a picture here," Ran said as he positioned himself beside me.
Ran insisted on taking selfies at every picturesque spot we encountered. As for me, I preferred to capture the scenery rather than my face.


As evening approached, we stumbled upon a hidden teahouse nestled amidst the bamboo grove. Its traditional wooden structure exuded a timeless charm, and found out it was a teahouse. I immediately insisted to Ran we go inside because I do love teas.