Haruto sat on his bed, staring at his phone screen. The clock read 8:59 PM. His room was dim, the only light coming from his bedside lamp, casting soft shadows on the walls. The rest of the apartment was quiet—too quiet.
Ever since Sakura called him the other night, he'd been thinking about it. How natural it felt. How easy it was to talk to her until sleep took over.
He had told himself he wouldn't get attached. That he wasn't the kind of person who needed someone else's presence to feel at ease. But now, lying here in the silence, he felt something missing.
I don't think I've ever called anyone before, much less a girl…
Just before the clock hit 9:00 PM, he exhaled and pressed the call button. The ringing lasted only for a few seconds before the familiar sound of her voice filled his ear.
"Haruto?" Her tone was slightly surprised, but soft, like she had been hoping he would call.
Haruto shifted on his pillow. "Hey. Since you called me last time, I figured it was my turn to return the favor."
There was a small pause, then a quiet chuckle. "So, you missed me that much, huh?"
He rolled his eyes, even though she couldn't see him. "Don't get ahead of yourself. I just got… used to hearing your voice, that's all."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, her voice came through, quieter than before. "Yeah… I know what you mean."
Haruto didn't push for more. Instead, he shifted again under his covers, making himself comfortable. "So, how was your day?"
Sakura sighed. "It was fine. Same old stuff. School felt kind of boring without you."
Haruto smirked. "Oh? So you're saying I make school fun for you?"
"More like you make it chaotic," she teased, but there was warmth behind her words.
He chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."
A comfortable silence settled between them. He could hear the faint sound of rustling blankets on her end, like she was getting cozy too.
"Hey, Haruto," she murmured.
"Yeah?"
"Do you ever wonder what things would be like if we had met earlier? Like, before high school?"
Haruto thought about that for a moment. "I don't know. I think I was a different person back then."
"How different?"
He hesitated, then said, "I wasn't as confident. And I didn't really… let people in."
Sakura was quiet for a while, then said softly, "I think I would've liked you anyway."
Haruto's breath caught for just a second. He swallowed. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Another pause. Neither of them needed to fill it with words.
Then, after a moment, Sakura sighed. "I should probably sleep soon…"
Haruto glanced at the time. "…It's only 10."
She laughed. "Are you trying to keep me up?"
"Maybe."
Sakura hummed in amusement. "Alright then. You have my attention. What else do you want to talk about?"
Haruto smiled to himself. "Anything. As long as it keeps you here a little longer."
And just like that, they talked. About school, about random childhood memories, about stupid things that made them laugh. They shared stories, small confessions, little pieces of themselves.
The hours slipped by unnoticed.
By the time Haruto checked the clock again, it was 4:07 AM.
A soft, steady breathing sound came through the phone. Sakura had fallen asleep.
Haruto smiled, staring at the ceiling. "Goodnight, Sakura."
He didn't hang up. Instead, he let the call stay connected, listening to her quiet breaths as sleep finally took him too.
+++
Haruto walked through the bustling hallway, his bag slung over one shoulder. The usual school chatter filled the air—laughter, distant footsteps, the occasional slam of a locker. He wasn't paying much attention until—
"Oi, Aoki! Got a second?"
Haruto stopped mid-step. That voice.
He turned, and there stood Ryohei, hands tucked into his pockets, leaning casually against a locker. The usual smugness was gone, replaced by something unfamiliar—relaxed, maybe even friendly? Haruto's fingers twitched slightly, still expecting some kind of confrontation.
"What do you want?"
Ryohei pushed off the locker, walking up with an easy stride.
"Relax, man. I come in peace. Thought I'd try this whole… being a decent human thing for a change."
Haruto narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh. Since when?"
Ryohei smirked, but there was no malice behind it. "Since you kicked my ass."
Haruto tensed slightly, expecting resentment, but Ryohei just chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"I mean it." Ryohei went on… "That fight we had—it made me realize something. I lost because I was too full of myself. You, though? You fight for something real. That's why you won."
Haruto studied him, searching for deception. Was this a trick? A setup for something? But Ryohei's face held no mockery. If anything, he looked… genuine.
"So what, you suddenly want to be friends?"
Ryohei shrugged.
"Maybe. Or at least stop being enemies. Let's just say I'm done with pointless rivalries."
Haruto crossed his arms, still hesitant.
"And what brought this on? Some life-changing dream?"
Ryohei shook his head, his smirk faltering for just a second.
"Nah… just some things I realized about myself. And let's just say, I don't like the guy I used to be."
For a brief moment, there was an unusual weight behind his words. Haruto noticed it but chose not to press.
A pause stretched between them. Ryohei stood there, arms relaxed, waiting for Haruto's verdict.
Finally, Haruto sighed, shifting the strap of his bag. "Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you in the future."
Ryohei grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
And just like that, the tension that once existed between them faded—not entirely gone, but different. A new thread of understanding had formed.
+++
Haruto had been lounging in his room all afternoon, lazily flipping through channels on his TV. It was one of those slow days where the heat pressed against the windows, making the idea of going outside feel exhausting.
Just as he was about to doze off, his phone vibrated on his nightstand.
Sakura.
He picked up without thinking. "Yo."
Her voice came through, light and playful. "Yo? That's all I get?"
Haruto smirked. "What, you want me to roll out a red carpet?"
"Hah, very funny. Anyway, are you doing anything tonight?"
Haruto glanced around his empty room. "Not really. Why?"
"There's a festival happening near the river," she said. "You should come with me."
Haruto blinked. "A festival?"
"Yeah! You know, food stalls, goldfish scooping, fireworks... the whole deal. It'd be fun."
He hesitated. Crowded places weren't really his thing. But then again... Sakura sounded excited.
"Alright, fine. I'll go."
"Really?!"
Haruto chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Where should we meet?"
"I'll text you the spot! Oh, and..." She paused. "Be there by seven, okay? Don't be late."
"Yeah, yeah. I got it."
The call ended, and for a moment, Haruto just stared at his phone.
Why did she sound so happy about this?
+++
By the time Haruto arrived, the festival was in full swing. The street was lined with glowing paper lanterns, casting warm golden hues against the deep blue of the evening sky. Stalls were packed with festival-goers, the air thick with the scent of grilled meat, sweet candy, and fresh takoyaki.
He looked around for Sakura when—
"Haruto!"
His breath caught.
There she was.
Sakura stood near the entrance, waving at him. She wore a soft pink yukata decorated with delicate white sakura patterns. Her hair, usually loose, was tied up in a neat bun with strands framing her face. A small, matching floral hairpin rested above her ear.
She looked... different. More refined. More beautiful.
Haruto quickly shook off the thought as he approached her. "You look... uh, different."
Sakura grinned. "That's what you're going with? 'Different?'"
"I mean—you look nice," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
She gave a satisfied nod. "That's more like it."
Sakura then leaned forward, inspecting him. "You didn't even try, huh?"
Haruto glanced down at his plain blue t-shirt and black pants. "I didn't know there was a dress code."
Sakura laughed, shaking her head. "Fine, I'll let it slide. Now, let's go! There's so much to do."
+++
The festival was bustling with life, and Haruto soon found himself getting pulled from stall to stall by an overly excited Sakura.
First, they stopped for food.
"Takoyaki! We have to get takoyaki!" she insisted, dragging him toward a vendor.
Haruto watched as she picked up one of the steaming hot octopus balls, only to immediately burn her tongue on the first bite.
"Owww—it's so hot!" she whined, fanning her mouth.
Haruto smirked and handed her his water bottle. "Maybe wait before inhaling your food next time?"
Sakura pouted but took a sip. "Hmph. You're no fun."
Next, they tried candied apples (Sakura got her hair stuck in the sticky coating), played a ring toss game (Haruto failed miserably), and attempted goldfish scooping (Sakura managed to catch one while Haruto's scooper broke on the first try).
"Wow, you're really bad at this," she teased, holding up her tiny plastic bag with a goldfish inside.
"Shut up," Haruto grumbled.
She laughed. "Okay, okay. Let's find a game you can actually win."
That's when they came across a stall with a prize claw machine, filled with small plushies, keychains, and a section for jewelry prizes.
Haruto's eyes landed on something—a silver necklace with a tiny star-shaped charm.
It reminded him of Sakura.
"Wait here."
"Huh?"
Before she could question him, Haruto stepped up to the machine and inserted some money. His eyes narrowed as he carefully maneuvered the claw, concentrating harder than he had all night.
The claw lowered... grabbed the necklace... and—
It dropped it right before the prize chute.
"Tch."
"Pfft—Haruto, you're really unlucky, huh?" Sakura snickered.
He ignored her, inserted another coin, and tried again. This time, the claw successfully grabbed the necklace and dropped it perfectly into the prize chute.
Haruto picked it up, turned to Sakura, and without thinking, held it out to her.
"Here. This suits you."
Sakura blinked, surprised.
Then, slowly, she reached out and took the necklace, her fingers brushing against his.
"...Thank you."
Haruto scratched the back of his head, looking away. "Don't mention it."
As the night reached its peak, they found a quiet spot near the riverbank, away from the bustling crowd.
They sat side by side, looking up as the first firework exploded in the sky—a burst of red and gold against the darkness.
Sakura smiled. "It's beautiful."
Haruto, however, found his gaze lingering on her instead. The glow of the fireworks reflected in her eyes, making them shine even more than usual.
She must have felt his gaze because she turned to him. "What?"
Haruto quickly looked away. "Nothing."
Sakura tilted her head, studying him. Then, she grinned. "You know... I'm really glad you came tonight."
Haruto glanced at her. "...Yeah?"
She nodded. "Yeah. I feel like... I got to see a different side of you."
Haruto let out a soft chuckle. "I could say the same about you."
Sakura turned back to the sky, gripping the silver necklace in her hand.
Another firework lit up the night—this time a brilliant blue and white, crackling before fading into the darkness.
Sakura whispered, almost too quietly for him to hear—
"I hope we can have more nights like this."
Haruto looked at her again.
Something about the moment felt... fragile. Like a fleeting dream he didn't want to wake up from.
So instead of saying anything, he simply sat there, watching the fireworks with her—until the night finally came to an end.
+++
Haruto stepped into his room, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. The festival had been louder and more crowded than he preferred, but somehow, the noise hadn't really bothered him tonight.
Maybe because she was there.
He exhaled, tossing his phone onto the nightstand before pulling off his shirt. His body still carried the faint scent of festival food—grilled yakitori, fried dough, something sweet like cotton candy. He made a mental note to shower in the morning, then collapsed onto his bed with a sigh.
His ceiling fan spun lazily above him, casting slow-moving shadows across the room. Normally, after a long day, sleep came easily. But tonight, something was different.
He turned onto his side.
Then onto his back.
Then onto his other side.
He wasn't tired.
Or rather—his body was exhausted, but his mind wouldn't shut up.
Images of the festival played in his head like an old film reel.
Sakura, dressed in that soft pink yukata.
Her smile when she won the goldfish.
The way she laughed when he burned his mouth on the taiyaki.
Her voice, her warmth, her presence—
Haruto sat up, running a hand through his hair. What the hell was wrong with him?
It wasn't like this was the first time they had hung out. So why was tonight stuck in his head?
Why did he keep seeing the way her eyes lit up when he gave her the necklace?
Why did he feel something tighten in his chest when she whispered, "I hope we can have more nights like this."
He flopped back down onto his bed, groaning. "Tch. This is annoying."
A vibration.
His phone lit up on the nightstand, its glow cutting through the darkness.
Haruto reached for it lazily, expecting some random notification, but when he saw the name on the screen, his heart did something stupid—a quick, unexpected jolt.
Sakura.
His thumb hovered for a second before he tapped the message open.
Sakura: "Hey. Just wanted to say I had a really good time tonight. Thanks for coming with me :)"
Haruto stared at the screen, his fingers tightening around the phone.
After a moment, he let out a quiet breath—something between a scoff and a chuckle.
He didn't reply right away. He just lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling his heartbeat settle into something slow and unfamiliar.
Then, finally, he typed back.
Haruto: "Yeah. Me too."
He hesitated for a second, then added—
"Good night, Sakura."
He hit send, turned off his phone, and shut his eyes.
And for the first time that night, his mind finally went quiet.
+++
Sakura stepped into the house, closing the door behind her with a soft thud. The air inside was noticeably cooler than the warm festival streets, carrying the familiar scent of home—lavender from her mother's diffuser and the faint aroma of evening tea.
She slipped off her sandals, carefully setting them by the door before straightening up. The weight of the festival still clung to her—the gentle hum of music in the distance, the scent of fried food lingering on her yukata, and most of all, the warmth in her chest that refused to fade.
As she made her way into the living room, her mother and stepfather looked up from the couch, where they were enjoying the last few moments of the evening. Her mother's eyes softened instantly.
"Oh, Sakura," she said, smiling warmly. "You look beautiful."
Her stepfather nodded in agreement. "Really suits you."
Sakura let out a small laugh, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks."
Her mother's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "I take it you had a good time?"
Sakura hesitated for half a second—just long enough for her mother to catch it.
"Who were you with?" she teased, setting her teacup down.
Sakura felt warmth creep up her neck. "A… friend."
Her stepfather smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Must've been some friend, if they got you to wear a yukata."
Sakura rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling.
Her mother studied her for a moment before giving a knowing nod. "Well, I'm sure whoever it was… they were captivated."
Sakura's heart skipped—just for a second.
She quickly looked away. "I'm going to my room."
Her mother only hummed in response, but the amusement in her eyes was impossible to miss.
Sakura hurried up the stairs, pushing open her bedroom door and stepping inside. The moment she did, she let out a slow breath, placing a hand over her chest as if to steady the lingering excitement.
The night had been… incredible.
She moved to her vanity, sitting down and staring at her reflection. Her hair was slightly messy from the wind, and there was still a faint trace of the festival's glow on her cheeks.
She touched the necklace around her neck—the one Haruto had won for her.
Her fingers curled around it, a soft smile forming on her lips.
She wanted to say something. To him.
Picking up her phone, she hesitated for only a moment before typing.
Sakura: "Hey. Just wanted to say I had a really good time tonight. Thanks for coming with me :)"
She hovered over the send button, her heart beating just a little faster than usual.
Then, with a quiet exhale, she tapped it.
Setting her phone down, she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment.
The festival lights had faded, the music was gone, but the feeling remained—warm, gentle, undeniable.