Hikari stared at her phone screen, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. Her room was quiet except for the soft hum of the fan, blowing her bangs gently across her face. She typed the message. Deleted it. Typed again.
"Wanna hang out today? Just us."
Sent.
She threw her phone on the bed and rolled over, face buried in a pillow. "What am I doing…?"
Buzz.
She sat up instantly.
Yuuto: "Sure. Where?"
Her lips tugged into a grin. She didn't even realize she was blushing until she caught herself in the mirror.
Yuuto stood in front of the arcade, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His hoodie sleeves were tugged halfway down his hands, and his bangs still framed his face like always, but he looked like he had actually tried today.
When he saw her, he straightened up a little.
"Hey," he said, almost too quiet for the noise around them.
"You came," Hikari smiled, breath catching a bit. He looked cute today. He always did… but this time, it was just them.
"Of course I came. You asked me."
"Well, yeah, but—never mind," she laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Let's go. I'm totally beating you at the claw machine."
They tried everything—from rhythm games to air hockey—and the claw machine, of course. Hikari missed twice. Yuuto, somehow, got a perfect catch on his first try.
"You're cheating," she accused, crossing her arms as he pulled out a tiny stuffed cat.
Yuuto looked at it, then held it out to her.
"You like cats, right?"
She blinked. "You remembered?"
He shrugged, not looking at her. "You posted one on your story once. It was wearing a bow."
Her heart skipped. "That was months ago…"
Yuuto gave a small smile. "I remember stuff."
She took the plush from his hand slowly. Their fingers brushed. Neither of them moved for a second.
"…Thanks," she mumbled.
Later, they shared a bowl of shaved ice at a food stand. One spoon. One bowl. Both of them were trying not to die of embarrassment.
"This is so awkward," Hikari muttered, cheeks pink.
"You're the one who said we should share," Yuuto pointed out, looking away—but his ears were red.
"I thought it'd be cute, okay?!"
"It is," he said without thinking.
Silence.
They stared at each other. Then both looked away in perfect sync.
"…You have syrup on your cheek," she said, leaning in and wiping it gently with her thumb. His eyes widened.
"Y-you didn't have to…"
"Just say thank you," she smirked.
"…Thank you."
She giggled.
They walked to a quiet hill as the sky dimmed. The first firework shot up, bursting into golden sparks. Both of them stopped walking, watching in silence.
A breeze blew, brushing Yuuto's bangs aside. Hikari glanced at him, and, for the first time, really saw his eyes. Clear. Kind. A little sad.
"You know…" she said quietly, "you don't need to hide so much."
He looked away. "It's just easier."
"From other people, maybe. But not from me."
Yuuto didn't say anything right away. But then, he looked at her. Just looked.
And smiled.
They sat on the grass, shoulders barely touching. Her hand brushed against his once. Then again. He didn't move it away.
"I noticed you were… distant at the beach," she said finally. "Was it because of Toma-senpai?"
Yuuto exhaled through his nose. "Maybe."
She bumped his shoulder. "You really are an idiot sometimes."
He raised an eyebrow. "Thanks?"
"I mean it in a good way," she muttered. "You care too much and say too little."
Yuuto went quiet. But his hand slowly turned over… and her fingers laced with his.
As they walked home under the stars, their steps were slower, like they didn't want it to end.
"I had fun today," she said softly.
"Me too."
A pause.
"Let's… do it again sometime," Yuuto said, voice barely above a whisper.
Hikari smiled. "Next time, we're watching a horror movie. I want to see you scream."
"I don't scream."
"You so do."
They laughed, and their hands stayed held all the way home.
And even though the words stayed stuck in her throat…Hikari knew. She was falling. And soon, she'd have to tell him.
To be continued....