The Next Day
Hinata's quiet words drifted between us, barely louder than a whisper, yet warm enough to soften the cool morning air inside the classroom.
"You looked happy," she said again, almost as if she herself was surprised by it.
I tilted my head slightly. "Do I look that different?"
She blinked, then nodded. "You do. Your eyes look lighter today."
Her fingertips brushed the edge of my sleeve again, just a gentle tug, but it carried a weight of concern and curiosity mixed together. For a moment, she looked as though she wanted to continue, yet hesitated.
Before she found the courage to speak, our homeroom teacher entered the room, and everyone scrambled to their seats with the familiar rustling of bags and footsteps.
But even as class began, I could feel Hinata's gaze drifting toward me every now and then, soft and steady, like she was trying to read a hidden message behind my expression.
And honestly… I didn't dislike it.
The first period passed without much excitement. Then the second. Then the third. By lunch break, the classroom buzzed with life as students hurried out, dragging chairs and pushing desks together to form their small lunchtime kingdoms.
Hinata stood up from her chair and approached mine, lightly tugging my sleeve once more.
"Yukito… do you have a moment?" she asked, her eyes moving toward the hallway.
I nodded. "Sure. Want to go somewhere?"
She smiled. "The rooftop. I brought something."
So the two of us made our way up the stairs. With each step, the faint chatter from below faded away, replaced by the soft echo of our footsteps.
When we reached the rooftop door, Hinata pushed it open gently. A gust of wind greeted us, brushing through our hair as the sky opened above like a vast canvas.
The sunlight made her light brown hair shimmer, and for a second I found myself staring without meaning to.
She noticed. "What?"
"Nothing," I said quickly, looking away.
She grinned. "You definitely stared just now."
"I did not."
"You totally did."
"Fine, maybe a little."
She laughed softly, then walked toward the bench near the railing. From her bag, she pulled out a neatly wrapped lunch box.
"This is for you," she said, holding it out with both hands.
"Huh? Why?"
"Because you forgot your lunch today, right?"
I blinked. "How did you know?"
"You always bring your own bento. But this morning, you didn't check your bag before leaving. Plus, you acted like someone who skipped breakfast and was trying to pretend otherwise."
My shoulders slumped. "That's… absurdly accurate."
"Exactly," she replied with a satisfied nod.
I opened the lunch box. Inside were rice balls shaped with care, two rolled omelets, small sausages cut into octopus shapes, and a few cherry tomatoes that added a pop of color.
"You made this?"
"If I say yes, will you be happy?"
I looked up at her.
"Yes."
Her cheeks warmed slightly, a soft pink that spread little by little. "Then yes… I made it."
"It looks delicious."
"It tastes better than it looks."
I picked up one of the rice balls and took a bite.
It was good. Really good.
After watching me chew with a bright smile, Hinata finally relaxed and sat beside me.
"See? I told you."
"If you cooked this every day, I'd probably forget mine on purpose."
"No, you will not. I am not going to spoil you."
We continued eating, enjoying the breeze and the bright sky.
After a while, Hinata's tone shifted slightly.
"By the way, Yukito," she said, twirling the edge of her hair around her finger, "what made you so happy this morning? You said it was nothing, but I can tell when you are lying."
I paused. Even the wind seemed to quiet down for a moment.
Did I want to tell her? Honestly… yes.
But how could I put it into words without sounding weird?
"Well," I began, "yesterday was… nice. The walk home. Talking with you. I guess it just made me feel lighter."
Her eyes widened a little, then softened.
"…I see."
For a heartbeat, she said nothing more. But her expression told me everything she kept silent. Her lips quivered ever so slightly, forming a shy smile.
"I am glad," she said.
A quiet moment passed between us, uninterrupted by the world around. Even the clouds above seemed to drift more slowly.
Then she stood up abruptly.
"Okay. Good. That is all. Lunch break is almost over. We should go."
She said it quickly, almost too quickly, before turning toward the door.
"Hinata?"
She didn't look back.
But her ears were a shade too red to ignore.
After school ended, I walked out of the building and headed toward the front gate. The sky was still bright, and the faint hum of cicadas filled the air.
I glanced around. Hinata usually waited near the vending machines. Most days, we would walk home together, although we never officially called it a routine.
Today wasn't any different.
She stood there with a bottle of cold tea in her hand, her posture relaxed yet neat. When she saw me, she raised the bottle slightly as if greeting me.
"You ready to go?" she asked.
"Yeah."
We began walking side by side, our steps naturally aligning. Clouds drifted lazily across the sky, casting soft shadows along the neighborhood road.
As we walked, Hinata spoke first.
"Yukito, about this morning…"
"Hm?"
She slowed her pace a little. "Do you remember what you said? About yesterday?"
"Yeah."
"Do you really feel that way? That it made you lighter?"
I nodded. "I do."
"Why? What part of it?"
"Everything," I answered honestly. "Talking with you… spending time with you… it just felt right."
She pressed her lips together in a thin line, and her gaze dropped to the ground. Her fingers fiddled nervously with the strap of her bag.
"Yukito…"
"Hm?"
She took a breath.
Then stopped walking.
I turned toward her.
Her eyes met mine.
"I like you."
The wind blew softly, scattering leaves across the pavement.
It took me a second to process the words. No hesitation. No playful tone. Just pure sincerity.
"I… have liked you for a long time," she continued. "I wanted to tell you before, but I was scared. I thought maybe I would only complicate things. And when we drifted apart… I regretted it every day."
Her eyes trembled, yet she didn't look away.
"So when we started talking again… when we walked home together yesterday… I felt like I got a piece of my heart back."
She stepped closer.
"I do not want to lose you again, Yukito."
Her confession was simple, yet it carried the weight of every moment we shared and every moment we missed.
For a few seconds, the world around us faded out. It was only the two of us. Just her voice… and my heartbeat.
I swallowed lightly and opened my mouth to speak.
"Hinata, I—"
Before I could finish, she drew in a shaky breath.
"You do not have to answer right away," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "I only wanted to tell you how I feel. Just that is enough."
I shook my head. "No. I want to answer."
She looked at me, startled.
And for the first time today, I reached out instead. My hand gently touched her shoulder.
"I like you too," I said. "Maybe I didn't realize it before… or maybe I was scared to admit it. But being with you feels natural. Comfortable. And I want to keep walking with you."
Her eyes widened. Then she blinked rapidly, like someone trying to stop tears from escaping.
"…Really?"
"Really."
Her lips trembled again, but this time from joy, not fear.
"Then… can I stay by your side?" she whispered, her voice soft as a prayer.
"You already are."
Her breath caught, and she bit her lower lip, trying not to smile too widely.
"You are so unfair, Yukito," she murmured.
But she smiled anyway.
A smile brighter than the sun above us.
After our confession, the rest of the walk home felt different. The air seemed clearer, the road shorter, the world quieter except for the sound of our steps.
Hinata walked slightly closer than usual, her shoulder brushing mine every now and then. She didn't say much, and neither did I. But it wasn't awkward. It was warm. Peaceful.
Halfway through the path, she looked up at me suddenly.
"Hey… Yukito."
"Hm?"
"Can I hold your hand?"
Her voice was gentle, almost timid.
I hesitated for only a second before nodding.
She slowly reached out, her fingers brushing mine before intertwining them together. Her hand was warm. Softer than I expected. And when our fingers locked, she let out a tiny breath like she had been holding it the whole time.
"…I am happy," she whispered, barely audible.
We continued walking, hand in hand. I didn't say it aloud, but I felt the same.
Maybe even more.
When we reached the point where our paths split, she reluctantly loosened her grip.
"We will see each other tomorrow," she said.
"Of course."
She hesitated again, then stepped closer.
"Good night, Yukito."
"Good night, Hinata."
She walked off slowly, turning back once, twice, both times smiling like she couldn't help it.
I watched her until she disappeared around the corner.
Only then did I realize I had been smiling too.
That night, I lay in my bed staring at the ceiling.
I replayed every moment. Every expression. Every word.
"Yukito, I like you."
And then…
"Can I hold your hand?"
My heart fluttered again, like it was experiencing everything for the first time.
Maybe today really was a brighter morning. Maybe Hinata's smile, her warmth, her presence… had been pulling me forward all along.
I turned to my side, feeling a grin stretch across my face.
Yeah.
Tomorrow would be another good day.
I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep, still holding onto the memory of her hand in mine.
And that was how the next chapter of our story quietly began.