The soft sensation of hands brushing my forehead slowly pulled me out of the world of dreams. I felt a warm, delicate touch, accompanied by a sweet voice whispering close to me.
—Wake up, breakfast is ready —Kaori said with a calm smile.
I lazily opened my eyes and saw her next to me, her long hair falling gently over her shoulders, her bright gaze watching me. It took me a few seconds to react before answering.
—Good morning, Kaori…
She nodded with a faint smile.
—Get dressed and come downstairs. We're waiting for you. —And without saying anything else, she left the room with light steps.
I sat up slowly, stretching while still feeling the warmth of the sheets. Despite the calmness of the morning, something about the way Kaori woke me left a strange feeling in my chest.
I got dressed quickly and headed to the dining room, where everyone was already gathered. As I walked in, I greeted them in a calm voice.
—Good morning.
The others replied almost in unison, wearing slight smiles.
—Good morning, Leo.
I noticed the atmosphere felt more relaxed than usual. They seemed different after the previous day, as if the festival had brought a change in them. I knelt in my spot and started eating while the others chatted cheerfully with the old man.
—Seems like you all had a good time yesterday —he commented with a calm smile.
—Yes! It was amazing —Sakura said excitedly—. We ate so much, played games, and the fireworks were incredible.
—I can't remember the last time we had that much fun —Ren added with a nostalgic laugh.
The old man nodded, thoughtful.
—That makes me happy. You've all been through so much… it was important to enjoy life a little.
Everyone went quiet for a moment, as if processing his words. I, for one, was surprised. Had this really been their first joyful moment in so long?
After finishing my meal, I gave a slight bow and stood up. I needed to clear my mind.
I went out to the garden to meditate a bit and then began my morning training. The sound of my breathing mixed with the birdsong and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Every movement, every strike and dodge helped me focus.
When I finished, my body was covered in sweat, so I decided to take a bath. I walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
—Is anyone in there?
Silence.
I went to ask the others if someone was planning to use it, but they all shook their heads. When I asked Kaori, she looked at me for a moment with a slight expression of… concern? It wasn't intense, but it showed in her face.
—Are you going in? —I asked her.
She looked away for a second before answering.
—Not for now.
I shrugged and returned to the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and let the hot water fall over my body. As the steam filled the room, I stood in silence, letting my thoughts drift over everything I had experienced so far.
However, my peace didn't last long.
The sound of the door opening pulled me out of my daze.
—It's occupied… —I said immediately, turning my head slightly.
But my voice trailed off when I saw who had come in.
It was Kaori.
My eyes widened, and the heat of the water was nothing compared to the burning in my face. She was only wearing a towel wrapped from her chest to her knees, her damp skin exposed. Her hair, still loose, fell in soft waves, and her eyes looked at me with a mix of amusement and something harder to define.
I turned around immediately, giving her my back.
—Ka-Kaori! What are you doing here?
She let out a playful giggle.
—Why so nervous? We've been together for a while. It's about time, don't you think?
I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm.
—That doesn't make any sense! Besides, we're still young!
—We're the same age, Leo. Don't exaggerate —she replied with a serene voice, with a hint of mischief.
She stepped closer.
—Come on, at least let me wash your back —she whispered with a smile.
My breathing quickened. I turned slightly, and for a moment, our eyes met. Kaori had a playful expression, but in her gaze was something deeper, something that made my heart beat faster.
—N-No need… I can do it myself…
But before I could protest further, she had already picked up a sponge and began rubbing my back with unexpected gentleness.
The silence between us became thick. The feeling of her hand moving gently over my skin was disconcerting.
—Your body's been through many battles —she murmured suddenly—. And yet, you keep going, pushing forward like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
My mind went blank. I didn't know how to respond.
After a while, she finished and set the sponge aside.
—There, now you're clean —she said with satisfaction—. See? It wasn't so bad.
I turned slightly and our eyes met again. For a moment, time seemed to stop. Her eyes shone with sweetness and mischief, as water droplets slid down her skin.
—Kaori, you…
But before I could finish, she stood up naturally.
—Well, I'm leaving before you have a heart attack —she said with a soft laugh, elegantly grabbing her towel.
I just watched her, still processing everything. Before leaving, Kaori stopped at the door and looked back at me with a playful smile.
—Maybe next time it'll be my turn, huh?
And without waiting for an answer, she left the bathroom, leaving behind a trail of steam and confusion.
At that moment, I sank into the water, covering my face with both hands.
—I'm going to die of a heart attack before the next battle…
My face burned like never before.
After that nerve-wracking moment in the bathroom, I got out of the tub and dried off quickly. I put on a shirt and tied the towel around my waist before heading to the room. When I walked in, I saw Kaori sitting on the edge of the bed, drying her hair with a serious expression. Something in her eyes made me feel that something was bothering her.
I thought about breaking the silence and asked in a calm tone:
—What's wrong, Kao? Is something bothering you?
She looked up and stared directly into my eyes. Her expression didn't change, still cold and distant.
—It's nothing —she replied in a neutral tone.
I frowned and walked over to her. I crouched down a bit to be at her level and gently took her chin so she'd look at me.
—Tell me. If something's bothering you, I want to know —I insisted firmly.
Kaori sighed and, instead of answering right away, let her hair fall over her shoulders. Then she looked at me seriously.
—Get changed first. Then I'll tell you —she said without hesitation.
Her tone was so direct it sent a slight shiver through me. I stood up and, without arguing, left the room to get dressed. I didn't want to make her wait any longer than necessary.
When I returned, Kaori was standing by the window, looking outside with the same thoughtful expression. I walked over and leaned against the wall, crossing my arms.
—Alright, I'm ready. What did you want to tell me?
She slowly turned around and looked me straight in the eyes.
—I just want to tell you something, and I won't take "no" for an answer. Now sit down.
Her tone was so serious that for a moment, I felt a lump in my throat. I shuddered slightly but obeyed and sat on the bed.
Kaori took a deep breath before speaking.
—Tomorrow, my younger sister is graduating from middle school in Kyoto. My mother called me a while ago to ask me to attend the ceremony.
I blinked, surprised.
—That's what's bothering you?
She shook her head and crossed her arms.
—It's not just that… I don't get along with my parents. Since I left home, we've barely spoken, and with my sister… we've never really had a close relationship.
I could hear a mix of nostalgia and resentment in her voice.
—Then… why don't you just tell them you won't go? —I asked cautiously.
Kaori let out a dry, ironic laugh and looked at the floor.
—If I told them that, they'd take it as an act of defiance. My parents have always been strict, and any refusal on my part is seen as unnecessary rebellion.
I stayed silent for a few seconds, processing what she had just told me.
—So… you're going?
She nodded slowly.
—Yes. But I want you to come with me as my important person.
Her request took me by surprise. I didn't know exactly what "important person" meant in that context, but seeing her expression, I knew this meant a lot to her.
—Alright. I'll go with you —I replied without hesitation.
Kaori looked up and, for the first time in the entire conversation, gave me a faint smile.
—Thanks.
The night before, as I was putting on my clothes to sleep, I noticed Kaori sitting on her bed with a worried expression. Her gaze was fixed on the floor, as if her mind was trapped in a sea of thoughts.
I moved a bit closer and, in a calm tone, tried to cheer her up.
—You don't have to worry so much —I said softly—. We're just going to the graduation, watch the event from a distance, and when it's over, we'll go grab something to eat. How does that sound?
Kaori looked up, and after a few seconds of silence, she gave me a faint smile.
—Alright, but I get to choose where we eat, okay? —she said, her tone a bit more relaxed.
I let out a small laugh.
—Deal.
After that, we lay down, and soon the exhaustion of the day caught up with us.
The Day of the Graduation
Morning came faster than I expected. I had barely opened my eyes when I heard hurried footsteps in the room. With my vision still blurry, I made out Kaori, who was already fully awake and fixing herself up in front of the mirror. Her hair still had some drops of water, which meant she had just gotten out of the shower.
—Wake up already! —she said energetically while shaking me gently—. The event's about to start, we have to leave now!
—Huh...? So early? —I mumbled sleepily.
—Move it, Leo!
Her urgent tone snapped me awake. I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. I only took about five minutes to shower and put on some semi-formal, though slightly casual, clothes. When I came out, Kaori was already ready, wearing a simple yet elegant outfit that flattered her figure.
—Let's go —she said without wasting time.
We rushed out of the temple and headed to the transport stop. As soon as we got on the bus, Kaori fell silent, staring out the window with a serious expression. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel uneasy.
I rubbed the back of my neck and, after a while of hesitation, finally dared to ask her something that had been on my mind.
—Hey, Kaori... do your parents know I'm coming with you?
She turned away from the window and glanced at me sideways.
—Not exactly —she replied calmly.
—And what will they say when they see me with you? Won't they get mad?
She gave a faint smile and said in a carefree tone:
—I've got it all under control.
Before I could say anything else, she leaned toward me and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.
I was in shock. I felt the heat rush to my face and, not knowing how to react, I just stared straight ahead, pretending nothing had happened. Kaori, meanwhile, simply went back to looking out the window calmly, as if what she had just done was the most natural thing in the world.
The ride continued in silence, but inside me, the anxiety grew with every passing minute. Not just because I was about to meet her parents, but also because, without realizing it, Kaori and I seemed to be crossing a line in our relationship.
I didn't know what to expect once we arrived at the graduation. The only thing I was sure of was that this day would undoubtedly be unforgettable.
As the bus moved through the streets of Kyoto, the silence between us became heavier. Kaori kept looking out the window, her expression hard to read, though her serious face told me she wasn't as calm as she appeared. I, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel nervous. Not only because I was going to meet her parents, but because there was a chance they wouldn't approve of our relationship—if Kaori really intended to introduce me as more than just a friend.
To ease the tension a bit, I tried to change the subject.
—Hey, what's your sister like? —I asked curiously.
Kaori turned her face slightly and sighed.
—I haven't seen her in a long time. She's very quiet, but also curious. I'm not sure if she'll like me, or if she'll see me as a stranger after all this time —she replied, lowering her gaze for a moment.
I wanted to say something to reassure her, but the bus stopped before I could find the right words. Looking out the window, I realized we had already arrived at the middle school. The place was decorated with banners and floral arrangements, and a group of people stood at the entrance—some with cameras in hand, others chatting cheerfully.
We stepped off the bus, and after just a few steps, Kaori came to a halt.
—Listen, Leo —she said firmly—. No matter what happens, stay calm. I don't want you reacting impulsively if my parents say something you don't like.
—Don't worry, I'm not planning to argue with anyone —I replied with a half-smile, though inside I was wondering just how difficult her parents could be for her to say something like that.
She looked at me for a moment before nodding and continuing forward. I followed closely, feeling my heart start to beat faster with every step we took.
When we reached the entrance to the hall where the ceremony would take place, Kaori suddenly stopped.
—There they are… —she murmured.
I followed her gaze and saw a well-dressed middle-aged couple chatting with another family. The woman had a refined air, her black hair pulled back into a perfectly neat bun. The man, with a serious expression, wore a flawless suit and carried an imposing presence. Between them stood a younger girl in a school uniform, bearing a clear resemblance to Kaori, watching the scene with a neutral expression.
Kaori took a deep breath and walked forward with determination. I followed her, trying to stay calm, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something tense was about to happen.