The next few days passed quietly.
Yet somehow, everything felt different.
Kaito Sakamura sat at his desk near the classroom window like always, watching the cherry blossoms drift slowly through the air.
But today, his attention wasn't really on the outside world.
Instead…
It kept drifting toward the front of the classroom.
Toward Hikari Aoyama.
She was talking with Mika and Yui as usual, laughing about something.
Her laugh was bright and carefree.
The kind of sound that filled the room with warmth.
Kaito quickly looked back at his notebook.
Why do I keep looking over there?
He sighed quietly.
Ever since that rainy day when they shared the umbrella…
Something had changed.
He couldn't explain it.
But whenever Hikari was nearby, his heart felt strangely restless.
The bell rang for lunch break.
Students immediately gathered in their usual groups.
Meanwhile, Kaito opened his book and prepared to spend lunch alone like always.
But just as he began reading—
"Kaito!"
He looked up.
Hikari was standing beside his desk.
"Why are you eating alone again?"
Kaito blinked.
"…Because I always do."
Hikari crossed her arms.
"That's a bad habit."
Before he could respond, she grabbed his lunch tray.
"Come on."
She began walking toward her table.
Kaito froze.
"…Wait."
But she was already halfway across the classroom.
Mika noticed immediately.
"Oooooooh look who she brought!"
Yui smiled softly.
"Kaito, right?"
Kaito nodded awkwardly as he sat down.
Hikari placed the tray in front of him.
"There."
She looked satisfied.
"Now you're not eating alone."
Mika leaned closer with a mischievous grin.
"So you're the famous quiet genius."
Kaito didn't know how to answer that.
Yui spoke gently.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
"…Nice to meet you too."
The conversation continued awkwardly at first.
But Hikari kept including him.
"What do you think, Kaito?
"Do you agree?"
Slowly…
Very slowly…
Kaito started answering.
And before he realized it…
Lunch ended.
As they stood up, Hikari smiled proudly.
"See?"
"What?"
"You survived a group conversation."
Kaito almost smiled again.
Almost.
Later that afternoon, they returned to the library.
Even though the project was finished, they still met there.
It had simply become part of their routine.
Hikari sat across from him flipping through a book.
"Kaito."
"Yes?"
"Do you ever think about the future?"
He thought for a moment.
"…Sometimes."
"What do you want to do after graduation?"
Kaito stared at the table.
"I'm not sure yet."
Then he asked quietly,
"What about you?"
Hikari looked toward the window.
The sunset painted the sky orange.
"I want to do a lot of things."
"Like what?"
She smiled faintly.
"Travel."
"See different places."
"Try new things."
There was something unusual about the way she said it.
Almost like those dreams were very important to her.
But before Kaito could ask more—
Hikari suddenly coughed.
It was quick.
But noticeable.
"Are you okay?"
Kaito asked.
Hikari waved her hand casually.
"Just a small cough."
She smiled again.
"Don't worry about it."
Kaito nodded.
But for some reason…
Something about that moment stayed in his mind.
That night, Kaito lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Sleep refused to come.
His mind kept replaying small moments from the past few weeks.
Hikari laughing in the library.
Hikari teasing him during lunch.
Hikari sharing the umbrella in the rain.
Even the way she said his name.
Kaito.
His chest tightened slightly.
What is this feeling?
He sat up slowly.
And then, like a sudden realization, the answer finally appeared.
The reason he looked for her in class.
The reason he waited for their study sessions.
The reason he kept thinking about her.
Kaito covered his face with his hand.
"…I like her."
His heart began beating faster.
He had never felt this way before.
But the feeling was unmistakable.
He was in love with Hikari Aoyama.
Kaito looked out the window at the quiet night sky.
Then he made a decision.
Tomorrow…
He would tell her.
He didn't want to keep this feeling hidden anymore.
For the first time in his life…
He wanted to say something important.
Something honest.
Something from his heart.
"I'll tell her tomorrow."
He whispered those words quietly into the night.
But life has a strange way of changing plans.
Because the next day…
Hikari Aoyama would not come to school.
And Kaito would never get the chance to say those words.