The drizzle started like an apology.
One second the sky was only heavy and gray, a ceiling pressed low over the embassy grounds. The next second, small drops touched the flags and leaves, barely enough to change the sound of the day. People laughed and stayed outside anyway, pretending it was nothing.
Then the wind shifted.
The drizzle turned into a steady rain.
Not violent yet, but consistent. The kind of rain that makes you realize you will be damp no matter how brave you act.
The game zone changed shape.
Volunteers pulled plastic covers over prize tables. People moved under tents. Music stayed on, but the sound softened in the rain, as if the speakers were trying not to be too loud in front of weather.
JP shook his hands out like he was angry at the sky.
"Of course," JP muttered. "Rain. Always rain."
Cherry glanced up without emotion. "It's just water."
TZ replied quietly, "It's never just water."
NC looked around, recalculating routes like she was plotting a safe path through a battlefield. She wasn't dramatic about it, but her eyes were always scanning. The embassy grounds were huge, and rain made big places feel bigger.
Jihye filmed the rain hitting the tents and whispered, "This is cinematic."
Anna stood close to NC, quiet, like she knew rain made people scatter and scattering made problems.
Kitty held her small gift bag in one hand and the map in the other, even though the treasure hunt was done. It was a habit now, holding something that made the day feel organized.
XH stood beside her under the edge of a tent, watching the rain fall across the lawn. His jacket shoulders were damp. His hair was holding up, but barely. The embassy day had loosened him. The rain started tightening him again.
Kitty noticed the shift in his posture.
"You okay," Kitty asked softly.
XH nodded. "Yeah."
Kitty didn't believe him.
She didn't push. She just stayed close enough that he could feel she was there without needing to look.
A volunteer walked by and called out cheerfully, "Games continue. Dunk tank still open. Prize wheel still open. Please be careful on wet ground."
JP pointed at the dunk tank from under the tent. "We didn't finish our dunk tank war."
Cherry said, "We're not at war."
JP replied, "Speak for yourself."
TZ looked toward the dunk tank seat, then at JP. "You already got dropped."
JP pointed at TZ. "You did it."
TZ shrugged. "Skill issue."
JP made a face like he wanted revenge but didn't want to get wet again. His shirt was still damp from earlier. His pride was still damp too.
Kitty's eyes drifted to the dunk tank. The seat was empty now, the water rippling from rain. The target board was slick, shining under the gray light.
Then Kitty saw two familiar silhouettes near the edge of the game zone.
Thoon and SRM were still there, under a separate tent, laughing like rain couldn't touch them. Thoon's eyes occasionally slid toward the Health Track group like she was checking whether her earlier chaos had left a bruise.
Kitty looked away. She didn't want to give Thoon even the satisfaction of attention.
NC's phone buzzed.
She checked it quickly.
"Andrew says we have a small window before the next program shift," NC said. "We can explore the east side of the grounds. There's a covered walkway."
JP perked up. "Covered."
Cherry nodded, approving. "Good."
Jihye lifted her phone. "Exploration arc."
TZ muttered, "Stop calling everything an arc."
Jihye smiled innocently. "No."
They began walking.
The covered walkway was farther than it looked. The three-acre space played tricks on your sense of distance. The rain made it worse. It made every step feel heavier.
XH walked beside Kitty again.
Kitty's shoes made soft tapping sounds on the wet stone. XH's shoes were quieter. The path curved around a garden and past a small structure that looked like a meeting room. The embassy buildings rose in the distance like calm giants, watching everyone move.
As they walked, XH's phone buzzed in his pocket.
He ignored it this time.
Kitty noticed the decision and felt something warm in her chest. It was small, but it mattered. It meant XH was learning to choose moments over numbers.
JP walked ahead with TZ, arguing softly about whether JP deserved a rematch dunk.
Cherry walked behind them, eyes scanning the grounds like she was memorizing exits. Anna stayed near NC, who was counting heads like a responsible big sister.
Jihye filmed short clips of the rain, then stopped filming when she noticed a small figure standing near a hedge, crying quietly.
It was a toddler.
Small. Maybe three or four. Hair damp. Hood half off. A little hand clutching a balloon string without the balloon, only the string left like proof of earlier happiness.
The child's face was scrunched in panic. Tears mixed with rain. His small mouth kept opening like he wanted to call for someone but couldn't get the voice to come out.
Jihye froze.
Then her phone lowered instantly.
"Hey," Jihye said softly, voice changing. No longer playful. No longer filming. "Hey, little one."
The toddler flinched and took a step back like the world was full of strangers.
NC noticed immediately and moved closer, calm and careful. Anna moved with her, quiet support.
Kitty's hand tightened around the map. XH's posture changed instantly too, the way it always did when something real entered a moment.
Cherry muttered, "Oh no."
JP stopped talking mid-sentence.
TZ went still.
The toddler looked up at the group with wide, wet eyes.
He tried to speak. His lip trembled. A small sob escaped instead.
NC crouched slowly, making herself smaller. "Hi," NC said gently. "Are you lost."
The toddler sniffed hard and nodded once.
Kitty felt her chest tighten painfully. Something about lost children always hit harder than it should. Maybe because a lost child made you understand how fragile safety was. One second you're holding a hand. The next second the world is too big.
XH crouched too, slightly to the side, not crowding the child. His voice was soft. "What's your name."
The toddler shook his head like he didn't know if he should answer.
NC spoke gently again. "It's okay. We're going to help you."
The toddler's small shoulders trembled.
Anna spoke for the first time, voice quiet but warm. "Do you know your mom's name."
The toddler sniffed and whispered something that sounded like "Mama."
Kitty swallowed hard.
JP stepped closer but stayed standing. He looked awkward, like he didn't know how to be gentle without making it weird.
TZ whispered to JP, "Don't scare him."
JP whispered back, "I'm not scary."
Cherry muttered, "You are scary."
JP glared at her, then softened his face and tried to look harmless, which somehow looked even funnier.
The toddler glanced at JP and cried harder.
JP froze. "Okay. I'll stand far."
He stepped back immediately.
XH focused on the toddler again. "What color is your mom's shirt."
The toddler sniffed. "White."
NC nodded. "Okay. White shirt."
Kitty looked around. People were walking under tents. Volunteers in vests. Guests in suits. Too many white shirts. The embassy day suddenly felt too big again.
NC stood up slowly. "We find staff. They can announce."
The toddler clutched the broken balloon string tighter.
Kitty reached into her bag and pulled out a small packet of tissues. She crouched carefully and offered it, not touching, just offering.
The toddler looked at it suspiciously, then took one tissue slowly and wiped his face with small hands.
Kitty's throat tightened. "You're okay," she whispered.
The toddler's eyes looked at Kitty, still wet, still scared.
Kitty forced her voice to stay steady. "We'll find her."
XH stood too and looked toward the nearest staff tent. "I'll get a volunteer."
NC nodded. "I stay."
Cherry looked uncomfortable, but she crouched too, surprising everyone. Cherry's voice was softer than usual. "Hey," she said to the toddler. "You picked a big place to get lost."
The toddler sniffed and stared at Cherry.
Cherry added quickly, "We'll fix it."
The toddler's shoulders shook again.
Jihye stayed near him, not filming, just being present. It was the first time XH had seen Jihye completely drop her performance. She looked like a real big sister now.
XH jogged toward the nearest volunteer tent, rain dampening his hair. He found a volunteer in a vest and spoke quickly but politely.
"There's a lost child near the hedge by the walkway," XH said. "Can you announce."
The volunteer's face changed instantly. "Yes. Absolutely."
Within a minute, a staff member with a microphone began making a calm announcement across the grounds.
"Attention guests. We have a lost child near the east walkway. If you are missing your child, please come to the east walkway tent."
The announcement repeated twice.
NC kept the toddler under the tent edge, shielding him from rain. Anna stood beside her quietly. Kitty stayed crouched near the toddler, offering tissues.
JP stood behind them like a guard, trying not to look intimidating. TZ stood beside JP, calm and steady. Cherry stood on the other side, scanning faces.
XH returned quickly and crouched again, voice soft. "We announced. She's coming."
The toddler sniffed. "Mama."
Kitty swallowed hard. "Yes. Mama."
Minutes felt longer than they were.
People walked past. Some glanced. Some ignored. Some looked concerned. The rain kept falling steady, turning the ground slick.
The toddler began to hiccup from crying. His small body trembled. Kitty felt helpless. She wanted to do something more than just offer tissues.
She looked in XH's backpack and remembered the plush duck inside.
Kitty hesitated, then reached for the backpack and opened it carefully.
XH noticed. "What."
Kitty pulled out the plush duck gently and held it out toward the toddler.
The toddler stared at it.
Kitty spoke softly. "This is your friend while we wait."
The toddler hesitated, then reached out slowly and grabbed the duck. His small fingers squeezed it tightly like it was a lifeline.
His crying softened slightly.
Kitty's eyes stung.
XH watched Kitty's face, and something shifted in his chest. He didn't say it out loud, but he understood. Kitty didn't love loudly. Kitty loved through small acts.
A woman ran toward the tent.
Her face was panicked. Hair damp. White shirt, just like the toddler said. Her eyes were wide with fear.
"Milo," she cried.
The toddler's head snapped up. He screamed, "Mama."
The woman rushed forward and dropped to her knees, pulling him into her arms with trembling hands.
"I'm here," she cried. "I'm here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The toddler sobbed into her shoulder.
The mother's eyes lifted toward the group, tears in her own eyes now.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much."
NC stood calmly. "He's okay."
Anna nodded quietly. "He was very brave."
Jihye's eyes were wet. She blinked hard like she refused to cry in public.
Cherry turned her face slightly away, but her jaw was tight.
JP exhaled loudly. "Little man scared us."
TZ muttered, "Speak for yourself."
The mother noticed the plush duck in Milo's hands.
"Oh," the mother whispered. "That's yours."
Kitty shook her head gently. "He can keep it."
The mother's eyes widened. "No, that's too much."
Kitty's voice stayed soft. "Please. It helped him."
The mother swallowed hard and nodded. "Thank you."
Milo hugged the duck tighter.
The mother hugged him again, then stood up slowly, still trembling.
She bowed slightly to the group and began walking away, holding Milo's hand, moving carefully in the rain.
Milo turned back once and waved the duck at them like a tiny goodbye.
Jihye lifted her hand and waved back, smiling through wet eyes.
When the mother and child disappeared into the crowd, the tent area felt oddly quiet.
Not empty.
Just quieter.
Like the embassy day had paused and reminded them what mattered.
XH stood there, rain damp on his jacket, and felt a strange ache in his chest. The ache wasn't sadness. It was something like clarity.
Kitty stood beside him, hands tucked into her sleeves again.
Kitty's voice was quiet. "That was scary."
XH nodded. "Yeah."
Kitty looked at him.
"You were calm."
XH swallowed. "I was trying."
Kitty's eyes softened. "You did good."
XH didn't know what to do with praise that felt real. He just nodded.
JP cleared his throat loudly, breaking the moment on purpose. "Okay. I need to dunk someone now. To balance emotions."
Cherry snapped, "You're a child."
JP nodded. "Yes."
They walked back toward the dunk tank area, the rain still steady, the crowd still playing.
The dunk tank now looked different to XH.
It looked like a silly booth again, not a stage for ego.
But then XH saw the target board, and something in him tightened.
For a second, he imagined NS's face on the dunk seat.
Not because he hated NS the way VT hated him. Not because he wanted revenge. Because thinking of NS was a shortcut to pressure. It was a shortcut to everything unsaid. It was a shortcut to the irritation that lived under XH's ribs like a stone.
XH stepped toward the ball rack.
Kitty noticed immediately. "You're going to throw."
XH nodded once.
JP gasped. "He's joining violence."
TZ muttered, "It's a dunk tank."
Cherry crossed her arms. "Don't miss."
XH took a ball in his hand. The rubber was slick from rain. His fingers tightened.
The volunteer smiled. "Aim for the center."
XH looked at the seat above the water.
Someone was sitting there now, laughing, waving at friends. Not NS. Just a random student.
But in XH's mind, for a split second, it was NS. The way NS would smirk. The way NS would tilt his head like he already knew secrets.
XH threw.
The ball hit the center target clean.
The seat snapped, and the student dropped into the water with a loud splash.
The crowd cheered.
JP screamed, "He did it."
TZ's eyes widened slightly. "Nice."
Cherry's mouth twitched like she was almost impressed.
Kitty's reaction surprised even her.
She clapped.
Not softly.
Loud enough that people near them turned their heads.
"YES," Kitty shouted before she could stop herself.
The word flew out of her like it had been trapped under her ribs.
Kitty froze immediately.
Her cheeks turned pink.
She lowered her hands like she had committed a crime.
XH turned to look at her, surprised.
Kitty's eyes widened, embarrassed. "I didn't mean…"
XH's mouth twitched slightly, a small smile trying to appear.
He said quietly, "It's okay."
Kitty's cheeks stayed warm.
JP leaned toward TZ and whispered loudly, "Kitty is cheering like a wife."
Kitty snapped, "JP."
JP held up his hands. "I'm sorry. I'm happy."
The rain kept falling. The flags snapped. The embassy day continued.
But the group's energy had changed again.
They had just helped someone small survive a moment of panic.
They had just reminded themselves they could be good, even when life was messy.
And Kitty had cheered for XH loudly enough that it couldn't be hidden.
That cheer sat in the air like a spark.
Not a kiss.
Not a confession.
Just a moment that revealed something.
NC checked her phone and said, "We have time before the next segment. We can walk the east grounds and then return for the late program."
Cherry nodded. "Good."
Jihye wiped her eyes and said softly, "I want hot chocolate."
JP pointed. "Hot chocolate booth. Mission."
TZ said quietly, "Let's go."
Kitty walked beside XH again as they moved away from the dunk tank, rain dampening their shoulders. XH didn't say it out loud, but he could still hear Kitty's shout in his ears.
YES.
He felt something in his chest warm, then tighten.
Because warmth like that didn't last forever.
And he didn't know how to hold it without crushing it.
The embassy grounds stretched ahead, wet and bright, full of tents and laughter and music.
Somewhere under those tents, the next memory waited.
And the rain, steady and unexplained, kept writing its own quiet foreshadow into the day.