Once I finished all my preparations, I came down to the first floor earlier than the appointment time. Based on the stillness, people hadn’t arrived yet. There was only one person quietly immersed in meditation. I sat carefully in my chair so as to not break his meditation.

Zhen Sulong was focused on meditation. I deliberately didn’t talk to him because he seemed quite focused. I just quietly sipped tea next to him.

“......”

This lasted for five minutes before Zhen Sulong opened his eyes and spoke to me, “You came early.”

“Yes, I didn’t talk to you because I felt you were quite focused.”

“Yes, I was talking to Raitra for a while.” 

“Oh, you can have a lot of conversations now.’

“Yes, it has been this way since that day.’

‘That day’ was probably the time he left for training in the North Pole. I was looking forward to the showdown with him. I wondered how strong he would be. I told him, “It is a good thing.”

“I want to see you in the finals.”

“Yes, I think so as well.”

I sipped the tea again and quietly savored...