KC

The cold London air felt heavier than anything Lily had ever known in Japan. The moment she stepped out of the station with her suitcase clutched tightly in her hand, the city already seemed far too large for her. The streets were crowded, the buildings endless, and everyone around her looked so confident and intimidating that she almost regretted coming at all. Yet the words her mother had told her before she left continued repeating in her head like a warning she could never escape: six months. Lily had exactly six months to become the top student of Saint Thomas Art Academy. If she failed, she would be forced to return to Japan, inherit the family company, and accept the arranged marriage waiting for her there. No second chance. That pressure followed her everywhere, buried beneath every breath, every sketch, every sleepless night. Completely lost in the unfamiliar streets, Lily wandered around London trying desperately to find the academy. Her map made no sense anymore, and every turn only confused her further. Eventually, she reached the harbor, where the salty wind brushed against her face and the sound of waves mixed with distant voices and ships. That was when she noticed someone sitting quietly on a small stone wall facing the sea. A tall boy wearing a dark pullover sat there alone, sketchbook resting on his knees as he calmly drew a seagull pecking at a piece of stale black bread. Curious despite herself, Lily stepped closer to look at the drawing. The detail was unbelievable. Every line felt alive. For a moment, she completely forgot her anxiety. Then her stomach growled painfully, reminding her that she had barely eaten since arriving in England. Without even looking at her properly, the boy held out the old piece of bread toward her. “You want some?” Lily stared at the moldy bread in disbelief. “That’s disgusting.” “You looked hungry.” His voice remained perfectly calm, almost emotionless, which only irritated her more. To her, it sounded rude and arrogant. “You’re seriously so impolite.” Turning away angrily, she started walking off, but before she disappeared into the crowd, his quiet voice stopped her. “Saint Thomas Academy is north from here. Two streets left, then straight ahead.” After finally arriving at Saint Thomas Art Academy, Lily was welcomed by the headmaster and one of the professors, who explained the academy’s rules, ranking system, and expectations. Before she could overthink too much, a cheerful girl suddenly burst into the room. “You must be Lily! I’m Dorothy!” Dorothy instantly attached herself to Lily, talking nonstop while showing her around the academy grounds. Unlike the cold atmosphere of the school, Dorothy felt warm and comforting, and within hours the two girls had already become inseparable friends. Lily soon moved into the small boarding house managed by a woman named Sam, where both she and Dorothy stayed during their studies. Not long after settling in, Lily overheard students talking excitedly about the academy’s top-ranked student: Kit Church. A genius painter. Untouchable. Number one in the entire school. When she finally saw him enter one of the studios, her eyes widened in horror. It was him. The rude harbor boy with the moldy bread. From that moment on, Lily decided she absolutely hated him. Worse, she wanted to beat him. If Kit Church stood at the top of Saint Thomas Academy, then he was the obstacle standing between her and freedom. Yet as the weeks passed, things slowly became more complicated. Although Kit remained distant, quiet, and impossible to fully understand, Lily began noticing small moments nobody else seemed to see: the way he quietly helped struggling students without wanting credit, the softness hidden behind his cold expression, the loneliness in his eyes whenever he thought nobody was looking. He was still her rival, still frustrating beyond belief, but little by little, the image she had created of him started breaking apart. More than a month passed since Lily arrived in London. Then one evening, small pebbles suddenly tapped against her bedroom window. Confused, Lily opened it carefully, only to find Kit standing below under the pale moonlight, one hand resting on a bicycle. “Come with me,” he said quietly. “To where?” “The moon lilies. They’re blooming tonight.” Without fully understanding why, she hurried to grab her sketchbook and supplies before sneaking outside to join him. The ride through the quiet London streets felt strangely peaceful, the cold night air brushing against them as they rode farther away from the city lights. Eventually, they reached a hidden field glowing softly beneath the moonlight. Countless pale lilies shimmered silver under the night sky, moving gently with the wind like something out of a dream. For once, neither of them spoke much. They simply sat beside each other among the flowers, sketchbooks open on their knees, quietly drawing beneath the moonlight while the world around them faded into silence.