"As soon as she moved back next door, my dull life hit the fast-forward button."
Morning sunlight washed in through the curtains of Yuu's bedroom. A gentle breeze fanned out the lace at the window, and the faint smell of bread came through the kitchen.
Yuu Hayasaka moaned, stirring underneath the covers. The day before flashed in Yuu's head in a jumbled mess:
Hina walking home with him.
The nostalgic stories she told him.
Hina tripping and almost panicking at ending up in his home.
Hina smiling like she was so relieved that he remembered her.
And then...
Hina running away, bright red and yelling something he could not understand.
Yuu buried his face into his pillow.
(Why does everything seem so unreal...?)
It was not a bad dream.
It was not a memory hallucination.
She really did come back.
His childhood friend, who disappeared a decade ago, had come back even more beautiful than he ever thought she'd grow up to be.
Still kind of sleepy, Yuu sat up.
(...I probably should get ready for school.)
He yawned and stood up. That was when he heard it:
A recognizable voice echoed from outside his window.
"Okay! Time to do this!"
A loud crash followed.
And then another crash.
And then—
"Owie—! Why is this so heavy?!"
Yuu froze.
That voice... It sounds really familiar.
Slowly he walked to the window and finally tilted his head up.
And his spirit left his body.
Because right there, standing beside a moving truck parked on the street, was Hina.
Struggling to carry a cardboard box literally half her size.
"H-Hina?!" Yuu said.
Hina turned to him, her cheeks puffed from effort. When she saw him, her face broke out in a huge grin.
"Ah! Good morning Yuu-kun!"
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm moving in!" she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Moving in.
Moving in.
Yuu blinked multiple times.
Am I dreaming...?
Hina pointed to the house right beside his.
"Starting today, I'm moving back in! Just like before!"
Yuu's heart sank hard enough to nearly hit the floor.
She's... literally next door?! Again?!
He took a step back from the window, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
Nope. Still real.
Hina Kashiwagi, beautiful, graceful, slight tomboy, and dangerously flustering, moved in next door again.
Yuu's quiet life ended at this very moment.
Yuu rushes outdoors.
Still somewhat in denial, Yuu bolted down the stairs. The worn wooden staircase groaned under him as he all-but hopped down, his mom was already working on breakfast in the kitchen.
"Good morning, Yuu," she greeted him, without turning to look.
"Mom—Hina—she—next door—moving—"
"Oh, yes!" Akira Hayasaka said with her trademark welcoming smile. "Reina-chan told me about it last week, and I forgot to tell you. My bad."
Forgot?
For a whole week?
(How do you forget something so absolutely world-altering!?)
Before he could make any case for needing clarity, his mother added in a relaxed tone,
"I'm making extra breakfast today. For Hina-chan, of course."
"Wait—what!?!"
His mother winked at him. "She is helping bring in some boxes, so she'll come over afterward. Is that such a blessing?"
Blessing?
BLESSING???
Yuu could feel his social anxiety crumpling up and dying in a corner.
"W-wait—"
But Akira Hayasaka was already humming giddily to herself while cooking the next piece of toast.
His father, reading the newspaper, looked over the top of the wrinkled paper:
"So our daughter-in-law is back," he said deadpan while he nodded seriously.
"She is not—!" Yuu shouted, but his father just disappeared back under the newsprint, fully uninterested.
(What is my family!?).
He grabbed his shoes, opened the door, and hurried outside.
And what he found was pandemonium.
Hina's Tomboy Strength
Next to the moving truck, Hina stood holding a large box that read, "Kitchen Stuff."
But the box was not the issue.
The issue was, despite her apparent sophistication…
Hina lifted the box as if it was empty.
Yuu ran over to her. "H-Hina! Let me help!"
"Ah! Good morning again, Yuu-kun!"
"Are you okay?! That looks heavy!"
"It's not heavy at all!"
The box swung back and forth.
It had to be heavy!
She was smiling and making the most of it, trying not to drop the box.
"Are you sure—"
Yuu reached to take it—
And immediately felt his arms almost snap when he picked it up.
"THIS IS HEAVY!!"
Hina froze.
"H-huh…?"
"You were carrying this!?"
"I thought it felt… light…?"
"Hina, are you secretly made of steel—!?"
"N-no! I'm refined now!" she yelled, red in the face.
She dropped the box down with a GRUNT and a smack on the ground as she panted and took deep breaths.
"I probably… got carried away…"
(No kidding!)
But seeing her distress, Yuu could not even be mad. Hina nervously tucked some hair behind her ear.
"Thanks, Yuu-kun… I forgot how you're not quite as strong as I am."
"I'm not weak! You're just… oddly strong!"
"I-I'm aware! Sorry!" she squeaked.
She bowed her head rapidly and nearly hit her head on the box.
Yuu sighed.
(This girl… she really is the same.)
Unexpected Visitor
"Hellooo, neighbors~!"
A high-pitched voice suddenly interrupted them.
Yuu and Hina turned.
Aoi Minazuki popped her head out from behind the moving truck, sort of like a gremlin sneaking out of its lair.
She grinned widely.
"Wait, Aoi!? What are you doing here!?"
"I could smell romance chaos from three streets over, so I came!"
"You smelled romance chaos!?"
Aoi ignored him and lunged over to Hina to hug her, throwing her arms around her.
"Hina-chan!! I knew it!! You moved next door to Yuu-kun!"
"Y-yeah!" Hina squeaked, "Aoi-chan! You're crushing me!"
"You too are basically doing a childhood friends-to-lovers speedrun!"
"Not… lovers…" both Yuu and Hina shouted in unison.
Aoi gasped in a dramatic fashion.
"KYAAA!! You shouted in unison!! FLAT-OUT UNISON!! THIS IS A SIGNAL!!"
"It's not a signal!" Yuu argued.
"It's definitely a signal!" Aoi argued back.
Hina covered her face with both of her hands, bright red.
(Oh no… Aoi-chan notices too much…)
Aoi leaned in, conspiratorially.
"Hey, Hina-chan… since you're moving next door…"
She smirked.
"How long until Yuu-kun makes a confession?"
"WH—" Hina almost choked.
"AOI!!!" Yuu shouted.
Aoi turned around in a circle.
"I'm just saying. Childhood friends united by fate, separated by time, reunited by destiny—"
"Please don't narrate our lives!!"
Aoi said nothing.
Yuu's Mom Appears
Yuu's front door opened.
"Good morning, Hina-chan~!" Akira Hayasaka said, in an upbeat tone, the kind of voice that carries the warm, teasing tone of a mother who no doubt carefully planned this.
Hina sat up immediately.
"G-good morning Akira-san."
"My, my, are you even cuter than before," Akira said, walking farther down. "Come in, I made breakfast."
Hina blinked. "Breakfast… for me?"
"Of course, you're practically family."
Hina's face turned a little rosy, clearly those words went deeper than anyone expected.
(F-family...?)
Yuu watched Hina process that thought. Hina's eyes flickered for a moment, then softened.
She looked… happy.
As in, dangerously happy.
Akira clapped. "Come, come. You too, Aoi-chan."
Aoi saluted. "Yes ma'am! I will take free food!"
"You'll take anything," Yuu muttered.
Aoi elbowed him. "Free breakfast is a bit different."
"You're incredible…"
Akira gave a gentle wave to Hina, "Come on, dear. There's plenty."
Hina showed signs of hesitation.
"Ah… is it really okay? Just like before…?"
Akira gave a loving nod. "Just like before."
Hina bit her lip, her tone small.
"Thank you… really."
Breakfast Mayhem
Inside the Hayasaka house, the smells of toast, miso soup, and sausages filled the air.
Hina sat at the table, timidly, like a guest who did not want to impose.
Aoi sat like a gremlin who very much DID want to impose.
Yuu sat in defeat.
Akira set plates in front of everyone.
"Hina-chan, eat as much as you can, okay?"
"Y-yes! Thank you!"
She took a bite of toast.
Hina's eyes almost lit up.
"This is good…"
Akira produced a proud smile.
"Of course. Made with the happiness of young love."
"Mom—!" Yuu coughed.
Hina almost dropped her fork.
"Mrs. Hayasaka… i-it's not—"
"Call me Akira-san, dear."
"O-ok… Akira-san…"
Hina's voice trembled with embarrassment.
Aoi leaned a little closer.
"So, Hina-chan... where will your room be located?"
Hina was in the process of chewing her egg.
"Um... upstairs. On the second floor. In my house."
Aoi: "And which side of the house?"
Hina: "Um... the side facing Yuu-kun's window."
Aoi: "Oh ho??"
Yuu: "Don't say it."
Aoi: "Opposite windows! Childhood friend route from window to window! A CLASSIC!"
Hina turned completely red.
"I-it's not like that!!"
Aoi slammed her hands down on the table.
"Hina-chan, pay attention. When two opposite-facing windows line up, romance flags occur."
Akira raised her teacup.
"That's how I fell for Yuu's dad."
"STOP, MOM. YOU ARE NOT HELPING."
Hina had completely given up on defending herself. All she could do was sink lower and lower in her seat, like melting marshmallows.
(A-ah... it's just like before... Yuu-kun's family is just so warm...)
She grasped her chest softly.
She wasn't used to it.
She also wasn't ready for it.
More than she realized, she missed it.
From Home to School
The trio exited the house after eating breakfast. Yuu closed the door and took a deep breath.
"Why do things always need to escalate like this...?"
Aoi tilted her head in confusion. "Because you create chaos."
"I don't!"
"You do."
"Stop acting like it is the end of the world!"
Aoi responded by grinning. "It is."
"Having fun over there?" Hina asked, who's standing beside him, giggling.
"It's nice... to be walking with you again Yuu-kun." Looking at her, Yuu noted the continued phrase.
"You say that a lot."
"Because I mean it."
She smiled softly.
Warm.
Genuine.
(Stop! Stop being cute so early in the morning...)
He looked away quickly.
Suddenly Hina leaned in and whispered:
"Your mom is really nice... I'm glad she still remembers me."
"Of course she would have remembered you. You were here all the time."
Hina's fingers curled slightly.
"I'm just glad...I wasn't forgotten."
Finally at School
As they went up to Hoshizora High, students started to turn to stare at them.
Some whispered.
Some giggled.
Some gazed upon Hina like she was a celebrity.
Aoi grinned.
"Looks like Hina-chan already gained some fans."
Hina panicked "W-what—!? I-I don't wanna have fans!"
"That's the problem," Aoi said dramatically. "Cute girls just attract attention."
"(I don't want attention… I'm just here to be beside Yuu-kun…)" Hina thought while feeling her face immediately heat up.
Of course, Yuu never heard this.
He was too busy trying blend back in the wall.
But as soon as Hina walked beside him, the staring grew.
Aoi cackled. "You two are a walking drama CD!"
"Stop narrating our lives, Aoi!!"
Classroom Atmosphere
As soon as they arrived in the classroom, Miyako Satonaka looked up from her desk.
"Oh. Good morning, Kashiwagi-san. Hayasaka-kun. Minazuki-san."
"Good morning, Miyako-san," Hina said politely.
Miyako looked at Hina for a bit, then sighed.
"How can you be this perfect even in the morning...?"
"E-eh!? I'm not perfect at all!"
"You are. It hurts."
Then, Ryou Shinonome, tall and quiet, came in.
He stopped, blinked, then spoke.
"Kashiwagi-san. You're… glowing this morning."
Hina panicked. "G-glowing!? I-I'm not glowing!"
"Ah," Ryou nodded slowly. "You are. It's quite blinding."
"(Why is everyone complimenting me today!? I am just trying not to fall)"
Aoi tapped Yuu on the shoulder.
"Ryou-kun even noticed her light, which means she is serious-wife-material level."
"I'm begging you not to create new categories!"
Lunch on the Rooftop
The group had lunch together on the rooftop. The wind ruffled their hair. Clouds floated lazily in the sky.
Hina sat next to Yuu.
Next to!
Close.
So close.
Aoi took in the moment.
"Hina-chan, why did you sit there? Why not in front of him?"
Hina gasped. "Eh!? because—because—"
Aoi squinted at her. "Is it because you want to sit next to Yuu-kun?"
Hina stopped.
Yuu almost died.
"Hina?" he asked, his voice shaky.
Hina grasped her lunchbox like a lifeline.
"I... I'm just used to sitting beside you..."
Yuu's heart was about to burst.
(Stop. Stop. STOP. I can't breathe--)
Aoi smiled.
Ryou nodded knowingly.
Miyako sighed.
Hina was getting redder by the moment.
After School,
On their way home, Hina suddenly stopped walking.
"Yuu-kun—"
"Hm?"
Hina turned to him slowly.
"Thank you—for today."
Yuu blinked. "For what?"
"For everything," she said, "for welcoming me back. For walking with me. For… for remembering me again."
She took a step closer.
"You don't know how much it means… that you let me back…"
Yuu stared.
(Why does she say that with such earnestness…)
He swallowed.
"I should be thanking you," he said softly. "For coming back."
Hina's eyes widened.
Then she smiled.
Soft. Sweet. Bright.
As bright as a sunrise after 10 years of night.
Aoi's Life Lesson
Once in a while, life speeds up when the right person returns back into your life. People do not re-enter your life by chance--some people are just meant to continue their connections. Time is completely irrelevant.
–Aoi Minazuki