“Come on, what’s with your techniques? Didn’t you buy my book? Watch. With this part…”

While Skaya was hosting a free lesson in one corner of the auditorium, Rahmadat ran into his old lover, Joya Vishuta.

“...It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah! Has it?” Rahmadat said coolly. Actually, it didn’t feel like much time had passed for him. It felt like it was only a few days ago when she cried while telling him not to go before he tore her hand away. “Have you been doing well, Joya?”

“...Yeah.” Her shoulders slumped, and she looked down. There was nothing else that she could say. While Rahmadat had been trapped in the cold ice, she had lived a good life.

‘If you compare my pain to yours…’ 

It would be a sin to even say that she had struggled.

While she stayed silent, Rahmadat checked his watch. “Oh. Unfortunately, I have to get going. I’m worried about the other places.”

“Ah, yeah. It was nice to see you.”

“It was nice to see you, too.” Rahmadat grinned and held out his large hand. “Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“...Yeah.” She took his hand and slowly shook it. Unlike her wrinkled hand, Rahmadat’s hand was as hard as a rock, like it had always been...