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RYO X READER

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CIRCUS

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Word count: 1179

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The excitement in the air was almost tangible as Y/N and her best friend, Kim Soojin, hurried toward the massive circus tent that had set up in their town for six days. The vibrant red and gold stripes gleamed under the festival lights, and the chatter of the eager crowd filled their ears.

“This is going to be amazing,” Soojin grinned, holding tightly onto her ticket.

Y/N nodded, barely able to contain her own excitement. She had always loved the mystique of the circus—the daring performances, the magic of it all. As they took their seats in the fourth row, the lights dimmed, and a single spotlight illuminated the stage.

A tall, charismatic man in a showman’s coat stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Sky High Circus!” he announced with a grand gesture. “I am Oh Sion, your host for tonight. Our journey started in a small village, but now, we stand before you as one of the greatest circuses in the world!”

The audience erupted into cheers, Y/N and Soojin clapping eagerly.

The first act was introduced—a young performer named Sakuya, who entered riding an elegant elephant. The majestic creature moved gracefully, lifting its trunk as Sakuya waved at the audience. Laughter and applause filled the tent, and Y/N and Soojin cheered for the talented boy.

Next came Riku, a fire-breathing performer. The lights dimmed once more, and with one deep breath, he blew out a stream of fire, shaping it into mesmerizing patterns. The crowd roared with excitement, and Y/N felt her pulse quicken at the sheer thrill of it all.

During the intermission, she and Soojin scrolled through their phones, reliving the best moments so far, until they spotted a familiar figure weaving through the crowd.

“It’s Jaehee, the famous clown!” Soojin whispered excitedly.

Children surrounded him, eagerly reaching for the colorful balloon animals he created with expert ease. Noticing Y/N and Soojin, Jaehee approached with a playful grin.

“What’s your favorite animal?” he asked.

Soojin immediately answered, “Tiger!”

Jaehee nodded, twisting the balloon with practiced precision until a perfect tiger-shaped balloon appeared in his hands. Soojin gasped, handing him a tip before admiring her new balloon. Y/N laughed at her friend’s delight as Jaehee bowed dramatically before returning to the excited children.

The second act resumed, with Sion introducing the next performer. “Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be amazed by the master of the wild—Yushi!”

Yushi entered on a black horse, leading a tiger and a lion behind him. Gasps echoed throughout the tent as he lit a giant hoop on fire. With a single command, the tiger leaped effortlessly through it, followed by the lion. Yushi continued his routine, jumping with his animals in perfect synchronization, the energy in the crowd reaching a fever pitch.

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.

“And now, the most famous performer of the Sky High Circus... Ryo!”

The crowd collectively held their breath as Ryo appeared high above the stage, balancing on a thin wire. Gasps filled the air when he unhooked himself from the safety harness.

“No way,” Soojin murmured, eyes wide.

Ryo began his daring walk across the wire, every step filled with precision and grace. When he reached the other side, he bowed before dropping down effortlessly, flipping mid-air before landing smoothly on the ground.

The audience erupted into cheers, and Y/N found herself clapping the hardest.

As the final music played, all the performers returned to the stage with their animals, waving as Sion gave his closing speech.

“Thank you for coming tonight! We hope to see you again!”

Y/N and Soojin left the circus tent in awe, their minds replaying every breathtaking moment.

The next morning, Y/N made a quick trip to the grocery store. She wandered through the aisles, grabbing essentials, when she spotted three familiar figures near the fruit section.

Sion. Yushi. And Ryo.

Heart pounding, she mustered the courage to approach them. “You’re from the Sky High Circus, right? I saw your performance yesterday—it was amazing!”

Sion turned to her with a friendly smile. “Thank you! We appreciate it.”

Before she could say anything else, Ryo spoke up, his gaze fixed on her. “You were in the fourth row, right?”

Y/N blinked, shocked. “Uh… yeah, I was.”

Yushi and Sion exchanged surprised looks. “Dude, that’s a weird question. How did you know that?” Sion asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ryo only shrugged.

Y/N felt her cheeks warm, quickly bidding them goodbye and walking away. But from that moment on, she started seeing Ryo everywhere.

At first, it was coincidence. Running into him at the park. At the café. Near her university.

But after the third time, it no longer felt random.

“You again,” Y/N joked as Ryo approached her at a bookstore.

“Seems like fate,” he teased, leaning against the bookshelf.

They began talking more, meeting intentionally instead of by accident. Ryo shared stories about his journey, how he trained tirelessly to become the circus’s most daring performer. In return, Y/N told him about her studies in science, her passion for understanding the world in a different way.

Day by day, their friendship deepened.

But all good things had an end.

The circus was leaving.

On their last night together, Y/N hugged Ryo tightly. “Take care, okay?”

Ryo hugged her back. “You too.”

Even after he left, they kept in touch, texting and calling whenever they had time.

Then, months later, Y/N received a notification that Sky High Circus would be performing three towns away.

She and Soojin didn’t hesitate—they packed their bags and traveled.

As the circus tent came into view, Y/N felt a rush of emotions. When the performance started, she saw Sion glance in her direction, smirking before winking at her in recognition.

During Ryo’s act, she cheered the loudest.

And when the final bow came, Ryo looked directly at her and Soojin, waving with a soft smile.

From that moment on, she spent nearly every waking moment with Ryo—except when he was performing. They explored the town, shared meals, and laughed like they had known each other forever.

One day, Ryo seemed unusually happy.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” Y/N asked.

“Sion just told us we’re getting a holiday break.”

Y/N’s eyes widened in excitement. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him. “That’s amazing, Ryo!”

He chuckled, hugging her back.

It was in that moment that something shifted. Their friendship had always been strong, but now… there was something more.

And then, one quiet evening, as they watched the stars, Ryo finally confessed.

“I think I’ve been falling for you since the day I saw you in the fourth row,” he admitted.

Y/N’s heart pounded. “Funny… because I think I’ve been falling for you too.”

Smiling, Ryo reached for her hand.

And under the circus lights, their story truly began.

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