A Kingdom of their own.*

(Side Story-4)

Anjali Ranadivé had always known Han Sen would end up in Sacramento.

She didn't know how, or when, but she knew. Maybe it was intuition, maybe it was just wishful thinking. But from the moment she started asking him for draft suggestions years ago, something in her had believed that one day, it wouldn't just be advice from afar. One day, this would be his team, their team.

And now, standing in front of the estate Han had just bought in Sacramento, the weight of that realization settled over her in full.

It was massive—predictably so. Han had always lived big, whether in Memphis, Cleveland, or now here. But this wasn't just about the size. It wasn't just another house. It was different.

Because this was his choice.

Sacramento wasn't a city players chased. No star had willingly come here, not in the way Han had. And he didn't come for money or clout. He came for something deeper, something beyond basketball.

She came to see it for herself, but more than that, she came to see him.

When the door opened, Han leaned against the frame, arms crossed, eyes flickering with amusement.

"Didn't even text," he mused, tilting his head. "Bold."

Anjali smirked, stepping past him as if she owned the place. "Didn't think I needed an invitation."

"You don't," Han admitted, shutting the door behind her. "You never did."

There was an ease between them, a familiarity that needed no reintroduction.

As she walked further inside, she slowed her steps, taking in the space. The place smelled new—fresh wood, a faint trace of paint, and something distinctly him beneath it all.

It was sleek, modern, but not impersonal. It wasn't a statement house, the kind some athletes bought just to flex. This was designed to be lived in.

She glanced up at the high ceilings, the wide-open windows flooding the space with soft afternoon light. The subtle details—the way the furniture was positioned, the absence of anything excessive—reminded her of him.

It didn't just look like a house. It looked like a kingdom.

"You really did it," she said finally, exhaling as she turned to face him. "You really chose Sacramento."

Han leaned against the kitchen counter, hands braced on the edge. "Told you I'd consider it."

Anjali let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You're the most unpredictable person I know. But somehow, I still saw this coming."

Han's lips twitched. "Maybe you know me too well."

"Maybe I do."

Silence stretched between them, not awkward, just heavy in the way things were when there was too much history to put into words. Their relationship had never needed a definition. It existed in the spaces between moments, in the quiet certainty that no matter where they were, they would always find each other again.

She turned, stepping toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Sacramento skyline. It wasn't New York or LA. It wasn't even Cleveland. But it had potential. Just like the Kings did.

And Han had always had a habit of turning potential into something real.

"I meant what I said back then," she murmured, still looking out. "I wanted you to come here."

Han studied her, his voice steady. "And?"

"And I wanted it for the team, for the city…" She turned back, her gaze locking with his. "But mostly, I wanted it for me."

She had never said it so plainly before.

Han didn't react right away. He rarely did. He had always been deliberate with his words, never rushing to fill a silence. But his eyes flickered with something deeper, something unspoken, and that alone made her pulse quicken.

"You knew I'd say yes."

"I hoped," she corrected softly. "That's different."

Han pushed off the counter, moving toward her with measured steps until they were just a breath apart. Close enough that she could smell the faint trace of his cologne, feel the warmth radiating off him.

"Hope, huh?"

She didn't back away. "You're here, aren't you?"

His fingers brushed against her wrist, a light, absentminded touch that sent a shiver through her.

For a moment, he just looked at her, his expression unreadable.

Then, finally, his lips curved—not quite a smile, but something close.

"Yeah," Han said quietly. "I am."

And that was all that needed to be said.

---

Translator's note:

Deleted the last chapter of Anjali's POV. @covestar made a valid point—the way it was written didn't really feel like Han and Anjali were dating. Their dynamic came across more like close friends on the verge of something rather than an actual couple.

That made me realize I got lazy. I kind of lost sight of the history they've built over the past years. So I went back, revisited all their past interactions, and made sure this version actually reflects who they are.

Big shoutout to @Rheizz_ and @Raid_Zulfakar for going through my final draft on Discord and giving me solid feedback. Appreciate y'all.