"W–Wait, Shizumi!!"
The brown-haired boy shouted, his voice cracking as it reached the girl ahead of him.
"Gasp!"
She stopped and turned around, tears already streaming down her face.
"Daisuke?" she whispered, wiping her eyes.
Warm spring air surrounded them. A massive cherry blossom tree loomed above, petals drifting gently to the ground—like a silent witness to their emotions, a symbol of love itself.
"S–Shizumi… I—"
Daisuke tensed up, his chest tight. For a moment, the words refused to come. But he swallowed his fear and let his heart speak.
"Shizumi!!! I–I love you!!!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs, his confession echoing beneath the sakura tree.
"Gasp!"
Her eyes widened. "R–Really?" she asked, covering her mouth in disbelief.
"Yes."
His expression was serious—no hesitation left.
"Daisuke…"
Tears of joy streamed down her face as she ran toward him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"Shizumi…"
He hugged her back, holding her as if he would never let go.
—
"Wow… what a cliché ending."
Kuroki lay sprawled across his bed, lazily holding the final volume of The Ultimate Childhood Friends Romance.
"I can't believe this is one of the highest-rated manga right now," he muttered in a monotone voice. "The ending was way too simple."
ggrrrr~
His stomach growled loudly.
"…Guess I'm still hungry."
He climbed out of bed and headed to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator.
"Mmm… let's see."
His eyes scanned up and down.
"Tch… it's completely empty. That old hag forgot to go shopping again," Kuroki sulked.
"Guess I'll hit the convenience store."
He threw on his black sweater, slipped into his crocs, and stepped outside.
"I'm off."
The night was quiet as he walked toward the nearest convenience store. As he got closer, he noticed someone ahead of him.
"Mmm… who's that?"
He slowed his pace, keeping his distance. The figure entered the store just before him.
It was a girl.
When he caught a glimpse of her face, his eyes widened.
"…Aohana."
He frowned slightly.
"I didn't know she lived this close," he thought. "Better stay hidden. I don't feel like talking right now."
Kuroki lingered near the back of the store, pretending to browse while waiting for her to leave.
"Ping! Thank you very much."
The cashier bowed. Aohana paid for her items and exited the store.
Only then did Kuroki approach the counter, placing his haul down.
Two cups of 3× spicy ramen.
A large bag of spicy chips.
Three chicken-mayo onigiri.
And a mango drink.
The cashier stared.
"…All this just for you?"
"Ping! Thank you very much."
Kuroki grabbed his bag and left.
On his way home, his thoughts drifted.
"Aohana… guess she was on a late-night run too."
That's when he noticed something.
"Mmm?"
He turned his head.
Someone was kneeling beside a cardboard box, feeding a stray cat a fish stick.
"…Is that Aohana?"
He watched quietly from a distance. The girl smiled softly as the cat meowed happily.
"…Cute."
The word slipped out before he could stop himself.
"Mmm? I thought I heard something…"
Aohana glanced around.
Kuroki froze, quickly ducking behind cover.
"Meow."
She smiled again and returned her attention to the cat.
"You idiot…" Kuroki muttered, lightly smacking his own head.
"All right, bye, kitty."
She stood up and walked away.
"Meow."
After waiting a moment—
"…She's gone. Thank god."
Kuroki stepped out and looked at the cardboard box.
"Mmm?"
The cat stared up at him.
"Meow."
"Okay, okay… here."
He handed it one of his onigiri.
"Meow!"
The cat eagerly devoured it.
"She's probably been taking care of you for a while," Kuroki said quietly. "But couldn't take you home…"
He hesitated, then gently picked the cat up.
"…But maybe I can."
"Meow."
"What do you think?" he asked.
"Meow."
"…Guess that's a yes."
He smiled faintly.
"Let's go home."
As he walked off, the cat curled up comfortably in his arms.
"What should I call you…?"
He thought for a moment.
"…Kuro. Since you're a black cat."
"Meow."
"Heh. Kuro it is."
Kuroki continued toward his house, unaware—
That from a distance, Aohana had been watching the entire time, a gentle smile on her face.