Rain drizzled lightly, casting a gray hue over the schoolyard as recess began. Sakuno sat on a her seat, her bento untouched, chopsticks hovering over it like a hesitant painter contemplating their canvas. Tomoka eyed her with concern.
"What's wrong, Sakuno?" she asked, leaning closer, her voice soft yet insistent.
Sakuno flinched slightly and brushed her bangs aside, replying, "It's nothing, Tomo-chan." But the weight of her thoughts was heavy, and Tomoka wasn't convinced.
"Really?" Tomoka pressed, her brows raised in curiosity.
Sighing, Sakuno finally gave in. "Well, actually..."
With a knowing nod, Tomoka leaned in, eager to listen. "What is it?"
"Ryoma-kun has been acting odd lately," Sakuno admitted, her cheeks dusting crimson as she spoke his name.
"Odd how?" Tomoka asked, tilting her head, intrigued.
"It's... hard to explain. He's been kind of clingy," Sakuno stumbled over her words. "He always asks if I need help at home or school. He waits for me to walk to school or back home together. He even helped me clean the house! And oh, he tried to help cook once... I couldn't stop laughing when he confused salt with sugar." A giggle escaped her lips at the memory.
Tomoka grinned widely. "See? I told you he likes you."
"Mou, Tomo-chan... I'm not sure." Sakuno's blush deepened, conflicted emotions swirling in her chest. "We've always been friends, and I'm used to him just being there…"
"Then do you not want something more?" Tomoka queried, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I don't know." Sakuno exclaimed, frustration laced with confusion. She finally picked up her bento, taking a small bite as she gazed out at the gloomy sky, which threatened rain. Tomoka joined her in staring, both lost in their thoughts.
Inside the cafeteria, Ryoma sat with his friends, oblivious to the conversations swirling around him. As they dug into their lunches, Horio nudged him playfully. "So, Echizen, have you decided to court her?"
"Yeah, kind of," Ryoma responded, surprising himself with his honesty.
Kachiro beamed, "That's great! Just take it slow, Ryoma. You got this!"
"Do you even know how?" Horio teased, his eyes mischievous.
"Just relax. Let him do it at his own pace," Katsuo reassured, trying to calm Horio down.
Horio suggested, "Take advantage of the rain. Share an umbrella with her. Pretend that you didn't bring yours."
Kachiro said, "You sure is good Horio-kun."
Outside, the sky darkened, clouds rolling in thick and heavy. The bell rang, signaling the end of class, but rain cascaded down in sheets. Sakuno asked Ryoma, "Ryoma-kun, is the boys' tennis club canceled today too?"
"Yeah. Want to go home together?" he replied, a hint of eagerness in his tone.
Sakuno's heart fluttered as she smiled. "Yes, let's go."
Under the school building, Tomoka and the boys watched them intently as Sakuno opened her umbrella. "Ryoma-kun, where's your umbrella?" she asked, concern etching her voice.
"I forgot it," he admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. He can't believe he just took Horio's suggestion.
"Then... do you want to share mine?" she asked hesitantly.
"Sure," he said, stepping under the shelter of her umbrella. Their closeness sent heat rushing to Sakuno's cheeks. When Ryoma took the umbrella from her grasp, their fingers brushed, igniting a spark of electricity between them.
"Let me hold it," he said, his expression serious yet soft.
"Okay," she whispered, barely able to breathe as they walked side by side. Outside, the rain splashed against the pavement.
As they approached her house, Ryoma shielded her from the rain, ensuring she didn't get splashed by passing cars. When they arrived, Sakuno's grandma, Sumire, greeted them with a warm smile, momentarily oblivious to the burgeoning feelings between the two teens.
"Come in, you two." Sumire called, ushering them inside. They were both slightly damp from the rain. Before Sakuno could head to her room, Ryoma said, "Wait."
He handed her a towel. "Let me dry your hair; don't get cold anymore," he instructed gently, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Ryoma-kun, don't be so nice to me..." Sakuno protested, her heart racing.
"Why not?" he asked, his eyes earnest.
"I might misunderstand you," she stammered, feeling vulnerable.
A sudden silence hung between them, and then Ryoma confessed, "I want to make you misunderstand."
The air crackled with tension as they locked eyes. Just as Ryoma was about to say more, Sumire peeked around the corner, interrupting their moment.
"What are you two still doing here?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.
Both flinched, shifting awkwardly before Sakuno quickly recovered. "Oh, Grandma! I wanted to tell Ryoma-kun something. I'm heading to my room now."
"Yeah, me too," Ryoma added hastily, retreating to his own space.
As they shut their doors, they leaned against them, hearts racing, cheeks flushed. After dinner, Ryoma knocked on her door, his invitation making her heart skip a beat.
"Want to go to the playground?" he asked.
They found themselves on the swings, the world quiet around them. Sakuno breathed deeply, gathering her courage. "Ryoma-kun…"
Before she could elaborate, Ryoma interjected. He looked at her, his expression shifting from pensive to serious. "Ryuzaki, I... lack many things, I don't talk much and I can't read what you think, I can't be romantic like the other guys too, but recently, I've been thinking about you." He swallowed hard, his heart pounding louder than the creaking of the swings.
Ryoma glanced down, his cheeks turning slightly pink as he gathered his thoughts. "What I mean is… I'm not very good at this, but I want to be together with you." His voice softened, the weight of his words hanging in the air between them.
Sakuno's heart raced—her mind spun with disbelief and joy. "Ryoma-kun…," she stammered, overwhelmed. "I…"
"That's okay," he said quickly, relief washing over him. "It's too sudden, right?"
Just then, the air thick with unspoken feelings, Sakuno leaned closer, compelled by an unseen force. In a moment of pure impulse, she pressed her lips against his cheek. Ryoma froze, his eyes widening in astonishment, a blush creeping onto his face.
"I—I didn't mean to…" She attempted to pull away, but Ryoma caught her wrist gently, stopping her. He looked deeply into her eyes, vulnerability etched on his features. "Can I think that means you also like me?"
Sakuno's heart skipped a beat. "Ryoma-kun…" Her cheeks flushed crimson, and suddenly, tears fell unbidden from her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" he murmured, using his fingers to wipe away the tears that stained her cheeks.
A giggle escaped her lips, a mixture of embarrassment and pure happiness. "It's just happy tears."
"Happy tears?" Ryoma echoed, tilting his head, intrigued.
She nodded, her voice barely audible. "It's because… I like you too, Ryoma-kun."
His heart soared, a smile breaking across his face. He leaned in closer, resting his forehead against hers. "Really?"
"Yes," she whispered, nodding shyly.
Their eyes locked, the world around them fading into nothing but the connection shared in that fleeting moment. As if drawn together by an invisible thread, they both closed their eyes and leaned in, their lips meeting softly. Time seemed to dissolve as they shared a sweet, innocent kiss, filled with all the unspoken promises and dreams of youth.
When they finally pulled apart, laughter bubbled between them, their foreheads still touching.
"Let's go back home," Ryoma said, a grin spreading across his face, the usual stoic demeanor softening into boyish delight.
They eventually made their way back to the house, their fingers brushing one another timidly, electric but unsure. As they stepped inside, Sumire, who had been waiting up, raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparkling in her gaze.
"Where did you both go this late at night?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.
Sakuno blushed, looking down at her feet. "We just took a walk," she said quietly, and Ryoma scratched the back of his head, equally bashful.
"Ah, just a walk, huh?" Sumire grinned knowingly, watching the two with a hint of mischief in her eyes. 'Something is happening here…' She thought.
When Sakuno climbed into bed later that night, she felt a giddy rush of excitement. Her phone pinged while she was getting ready to sleep. She picked it up, her breath hitching at the sight of a message from Ryoma. A simple goodnight, but it filled her heart to the brim.
Smiling widely, she typed back, her fingers dancing across the screen. "Goodnight, Ryoma-kun! 3 3 3"
On the other side of the screen, Ryoma chuckled softly, his heart warm as he read the message, feeling a lightness he hadn't known before. With a satisfied grin, he set his phone down and allowed himself to drift into sleep.