The next day as the sun dips lower in the sky, Mitsunari sends Mizuha the time and address of the meeting spot that is a quiet, tucked-away art gallery downtown known for its unique exhibits. He keeps checking the mirror, fixing his hair for what feels like the tenth time before finally heading out. He is dressed casually but clean, a little more put together than usual. On the train, he watches the city pass by while trying to stay calm, but he can't help the flicker of anticipation rising in his chest. Mizuha, meanwhile is pacing her room trying to choose her outfit carefully but not too flashy, not too plain. When she finally leaves, her heart is racing but there's a quiet smile on her lips. They arrive around the same time and when their eyes meet outside the gallery, there's a pause like the moment stretches just a bit longer than normal.
Mitsunari blinks, genuinely stunned. Mizuha looks different outside of school. Her hair done a little nicer, a soft glow in the fading light that catches him off guard. "Wow… you look really good," he says without thinking. Mizuha, already flushed from the walk, turns an even deeper shade of pink. "You clean up pretty well yourself," she replies, half-laughing, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. They both laugh lightly, the tension melting just a little and for a second, it feels like none of the pressure from their separate worlds exists. Just two people, standing in front of an art exhibit, seeing each other clearly maybe for the first time
As they walk through the quiet corridors of the gallery, the soft hum of instrumental music and the occasional murmured conversation surround them. Mitsunari and Mizuha move from one exhibit to the next while stopping to admire paintings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces that spark bits of conversation. Mizuha comments on the colors in a surrealist piece, and Mitsunari admits he doesn't understand half of what he's looking at but finds it fascinating anyway. They laugh easily as the tension from earlier slowly fades as the atmosphere wraps around them in calming hues of creativity and quiet. It feels natural like this moment is just theirs.
As they pause in front of a minimalist installation, Mizuha finally breaks the more casual flow of the conversation with a quiet question. "Did you ever… have doubts about our friendship?" Her tone is soft, but the weight of the question is clear. Mitsunari thinks for a second before answering honestly, "Yeah… At first, I didn't know if you were being genuine or if it was a setup because of everything that happened. I was scared it was just another trap, like someone trying to mess with me while I was already going through it. But… I trusted my gut and I wanted to be friends with you. Something about you felt real when everything else didn't."
Mizuha looks down for a moment, fiddling with the sleeve of her jacket before speaking. "I admire you, you know? What you've done… chasing your dream, getting back up even after it all. I think that's incredible." She glances up at him as her voice is a little more vulnerable now. "But I don't even know what I want yet. I knew I didn't want to be famous, so when all that stuff went viral, I got scared. I didn't want to be dragged into it or make things worse for you or for me. So, I stayed quiet as I was hoping it would just pass. However now that we're actually friends, I don't know how much longer that quiet can last."
There's a pause as they take in another piece but this one abstract and chaotic, almost mirroring the thoughts running through their heads. Both of them are blushing now, caught in the awkward space between vulnerability and possibility. Mizuha steals a glance at Mitsunari, and he does the same, their eyes meeting briefly before darting away. Neither of them says what they're thinking aloud, but the question hangs in the air: Do I like them? Do they like me back? It's unspoken but the growing closeness between them is undeniable.
As they continue walking through the final hallway of the gallery, Mitsunari feels his heart beating just a little faster. Mizuha walks beside him but not too close or not too far and both of them steal quiet glances when the other isn't looking. In their minds, the same question repeats like the beat of a familiar song, Is this something more? Neither of them has the answer yet but maybe, just maybe they're ready to find out…. together