🎵 Recommended Soundtrack: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZEVxPQO-1jIQEOsC-T2c6OOqHrQCoCRj/view?usp=sharing]
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Usually, I'd stay back for club activities, but today, I couldn't sit still. My heart was pounding against my chest. I had to find Arata-kun's address.
I walked toward the teachers' office, my palms sweaty. "Excuse me, Sensei," I said with my best fake smile. "I need to organize the student contact list for the festival. May I borrow the file for a moment?" The teacher smiled back, trusting me completely. My fingers scrolled through the names quickly... Abe... Aoki... Arata. There it was. Arata Hiroshi. I quickly scribbled the address and hid it in my pocket. My hands were shaking. I, the girl who never broke a single rule, had just lied to a teacher.
I didn't go home. I took a train to a part of the city I had never visited before. I sat by the window, watching the buildings blur past. Why was I doing this? Why was I going so far for a boy I barely knew?
After getting off at the station, I spent almost an hour wandering through the narrow, twisting streets. I kept checking my phone, but everything looked the same. My feet were starting to ache, and the humid air made me feel exhausted. I felt like giving up, but then I finally saw it.
It wasn't a fancy place—just a normal, plain-looking apartment building. It looked a bit old and quiet, tucked away from the main road. I checked the paper in my hand. Room 402.
I walked into the dim hallway and took the stairs to the fourth floor. My heart was pounding so hard against my ribs that I thought I might faint. Finally, I stood in front of the door with the number "402" on it.
I looked down at the indigo umbrella in my arms. I was so nervous. My throat felt dry. Taking a deep breath, I reached out and pressed the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
I waited, holding my breath. Just as I was about to turn away, I heard a faint, slow sound of footsteps from behind the door.
The door slowly creaked open.