The day I'd been waiting for... finally came.
It was New Year's Eve.
The world was buzzing - with fireworks waiting to be lit, with cheers ready to count down the seconds.
But for me?
It wasn't about the year ending or beginning.
It was about Yui.
Papa called out from the front door,
"Hideki, time to get ready!"
Mama came over with a scarf in her hands. She gently wrapped it around my neck - warm and soft like her hug.
"Hideki will feel warm with this," she said with a smile.
I nodded, my voice muffled by the scarf.
"Mmm. Thank you, Mama."
She crouched down and gave me one last check.
My beanie was snug on my head.
My jacket zipped up tight.
Gloves hugging my hands.
And thick socks warming my feet inside my boots.
She looked at Papa and said softly,
"We're ready."
We stepped out into the crisp winter air.
The sky was pale and sleepy, but the wind whispered like it had secrets to tell.
I didn't forget the most important thing-
Shiba-inu.
I held my plush close to my chest, his little face poking out of my coat.
"We're going to see Yui soon," I whispered.
I made Shiba nod with my hand.
He was just as excited as I was.
We got into the car.
The engine hummed as Papa drove us through quiet streets.
Houses glowed with soft lights. Some had music playing.
But my heart was already ahead of me - sitting by the front gate of Yui's house.
And then...
We arrived.
I saw the house I remembered - with the pink mailbox and the little wind chime that Yui once said sounded like fairy wings.
Papa stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock.
I clutched Shiba tight in my arms.
I smiled.
Because in just a moment, I'd see her again.
My best friend.
Yui.
The door opened.
Yui's papa stood there, smiling kindly.
He greeted us with warmth.
Papa nodded, Mama smiled, and they exchanged grown-up words I barely listened to.
Because my eyes were already peeking through the space between their legs-
Searching.
And then...
I saw her.
Yui.
She stood at the center of the room like the softest part of a dream.
Usually, she wore pink - always pink.
Because pink was Yui's favorite.
But today...
She wore white.
A white dress that looked like it was made from snowflakes.
Soft, light, glowing under the warm lights.
She looked like a snow angel had wrapped her up in a hug.
My breath caught.
She was beautiful.
But...
Yui wasn't alone.
There were other kids around her - boys and girls about our age.
Laughing, talking, smiling.
One boy said something that made her giggle.
Another girl linked arms with her.
And for a moment, I just stood there.
Still.
Wanting to call out to her.
To wave.
To shout: "YUI!"
But...
My voice didn't come out.
Not even a whisper.
Yui's mama, who was chatting with another auntie I didn't know, suddenly noticed us by the door.
She turned with a bright smile and called out:
"Ahh, Hideki-kun~!"
She waved happily.
Her voice was warm - like it always had been.
I smiled back and waved softly.
Then-
"HIDEKIIII!!!"
Her voice.
Clear. Loud.
Familiar.
Yui.
She ran.
Not walked. Not strolled.
She ran past the other kids.
Dodging them like little trees in a forest.
Straight toward me.
Her white dress fluttered behind her like a flag of light.
Yui's ponytail bounced with every step as she ran -
hopping like it had a rhythm of its own.
So full of life.
So Yui.
I just stood there, not moving,
not blinking -
watching her like a scene I didn't want to wake up from.
Then-
She reached me.
She grabbed my hand with both of hers, warm and a little out of breath.
"Hideki! You came!!" she said, eyes shining like the night sky.
I nodded and smiled back.
"Hideki will always be there for Yui."
Her smile stretched wide, and we both giggled together -
the kind of giggle that makes your chest feel like it's glowing.
Then she leaned forward, curious.
"Hideki... are you wearing Yui's present?"
I blinked, then rolled up my jacket sleeve slowly -
and showed her.
Our bracelet.
The one she made.
Letter beads spelling Yui & Hideki.
Still there. Still bright. Still ours.
Her eyes sparkled the moment she saw it.
She held up her wrist too -
hers matched mine exactly.
We stood there for a second -
hands side by side, bracelets glinting under the ceiling light.
Then, without a word,
Yui took my hand again and pulled me toward the table.
Her friends were already there -
boys and girls I didn't know.
Their eyes followed us.
Curious.
Some whispering softly to each other.
I could feel it -
the way they looked at me.
Like I was a stranger stepping into a story they already knew.
But I didn't mind.
Because Yui was holding my hand.
And for that moment...
I felt brave.
Yui stood tall with her voice clear and proud,
"Minaa~ this is Hideki! Yui's best friend!"
She said it like it was the most important thing in the world.
I felt my cheeks warm as everyone turned to look at me.
Without thinking, I bent my body slightly and said,
"Hideki Hoshino... four years old."
Some of the boys started introducing themselves one by one.
I nodded quietly, not really hearing all the names -
because I was still caught in the moment.
Caught in the way Yui smiled beside me.
Like she had waited so long just to say that I was hers.
Then Yui's mama called out from across the room,
"Everyone~ it's time to blow the cake!"
The chatter stopped, and all the kids gathered around the table.
Yui stood in the center, her bunny plush tucked close by.
Yui's papa lit the candle -
a tiny flame dancing on top of her birthday cake.
Then the room filled with voices.
We all sang.
I clapped along while singing,
my voice joining the others -
soft but steady.
Yui closed her eyes.
Just for a second.
Then leaned forward and blew out the candle in one breath.
Fuuuuuh~
Everyone clapped.
Her girl friends leaned close and whispered,
"What did you wish for, Yui?"
But Yui didn't answer with words.
She just turned her head...
and looked straight at me.
Our eyes met.
And even without her saying it,
I knew.
I didn't know how I knew...
I just felt it.
Like her wish had floated gently through the air -
and landed right into my chest.
Then Yui's mama took the knife and guided Yui's hands.
Slice by slice, the cake was cut.
The first piece went to Yui's papa.
Then to her mama.
The other kids started whispering again,
"Who's next?"
"Do we have to wait?"
"Maybe she'll give it to one of us!"
But Yui didn't hesitate.
She walked straight over to me -
holding out a plate with a slice of cake.
She tilted her head slightly and said with the softest voice:
"Yui's heart... to Hideki."
Then she smiled.
A smile that made everything else disappear.
I looked down, shy and warm inside,
and took the plate gently from her hands.
"Th-thank you..." I whispered.
And right at that moment-
Click!
Mama snapped a picture with her phone.
Yui and me.
Her smile.
My shy eyes.
A cake.
A plate.
A moment that would live forever.