That morning, Airi sat quietly at the dining table, staring at her cup of tea. The spoon in her hand had stopped moving long ago as her thoughts drifted back to yesterday's meeting with Arou.
Across from her, Chika watched carefully with a faint smirk.
"You're daydreaming again," Chika said casually.
Airi flinched slightly.
"Eh? N-No, I'm not," she answered quickly.
Chika leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.
"You've been acting weird since yesterday… coming home late, smiling to yourself, spacing out…"
Airi lowered her head, her cheeks turning red.
"I wasn't smiling," she muttered softly.
Chika stood up and walked closer.
"So… what was your friend's name again?" she suddenly asked.
Airi hesitated before answering quietly.
"A-Arou…"
A faint smile appeared on Chika's face.
"I see…" she said simply before returning to her seat.
---
That evening, Arou walked through the same park where he had last met Airi. His steps were slow as he looked at the stone paths and flowers glowing under the sunset.
On the other side of the park, Airi had just stepped off the swing. She stared at the ground, still feeling embarrassed as memories of their last meeting lingered in her mind.
Then Arou noticed her standing along the small pathway.
"Oh… Airi?" he called softly.
Airi turned around, surprised, but quickly smiled shyly.
"Arou… you came again?"
Arou nodded with a small smile.
"Yeah… I thought maybe we could take a walk together."
Airi nodded timidly.
"Okay… sure," she replied softly.
The two of them walked along the path, surrounded by flowers and tall trees. Every now and then, Airi glanced at Arou before quickly looking away again.
"The weather's nice today," Arou said while looking at the evening sky.
Airi smiled faintly.
"Yeah… it feels peaceful."
A few moments later, they sat side by side on a park bench. The silence between them felt warm, filled with emotions slowly beginning to grow.
Airi looked at Arou for a moment before quietly speaking.
"Thank you… for staying with me."
Arou looked back at her and smiled gently.
"It's nothing. I'm happy to be with you."
"So… you really like this park?" Arou asked casually.
Airi gave a small nod.
"Yeah… this place calms me down."
"And the flowers are beautiful too."
Arou looked around at the flowers before turning back to her.
"You're right. It feels even nicer when you're with someone."
Airi blushed and lowered her gaze.
"Ah… y-yeah, I guess so," she answered softly.
Suddenly, Chika appeared from the pathway together with Airi's parents. They looked surprised to see Arou and Airi sitting together on the bench.
"Airi? Who are you here with?" her mother asked in surprise.
Airi quickly stood up, her face bright red.
"Eh… Mom, Dad… this is…"
Arou stood as well and smiled politely.
"Hello, I'm Arou… Airi's friend."
Airi's father looked at him for a moment before smiling lightly.
"Ah… her friend, huh? Nice to meet you."
Chika gently patted Airi's shoulder.
"So this is… the friend you were talking about?" she teased with a mischievous grin.
Airi stared at her in panic.
"S-Sis… don't say it like that!"
The awkward moment made everyone laugh softly. Airi glanced at Arou, who was smiling at her gently.
So even awkward moments can feel warm… Airi thought quietly to herself.
---
After a while, they sat back down on the bench. Arou lightly nudged Airi's shoulder with his elbow.
"Hey… don't be so tense. Just relax," he whispered.
Airi smiled shyly and nodded.
"Ah… okay."
The sun was nearly setting. The evening air grew cooler, and the shadows of the trees stretched across the pathways.
Arou turned toward her.
"Do you always smile like that?" he asked with a faint grin.
Airi lowered her head, blushing again.
"E-Eh… not really," she replied quickly.
Arou raised an eyebrow playfully.
"If not… then why are your cheeks so red?"
Airi looked down, her heartbeat quickening.
"I-It's not that… I'm just cold," she mumbled.
Arou smiled softly.
"Hm… then maybe I should pretend to be cold too," he joked as he leaned slightly closer.
Airi panicked and held her breath.
"Arou… don't…"
But Arou simply smiled, leaving the distance between them just a little smaller.
Airi lowered her gaze, her heart pounding. She felt awkward… yet strangely warm inside.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Only the sound of rustling leaves and the evening breeze filled the silence.
Then Arou spoke quietly.
"I'm really happy… being here with you like this."
Airi smiled shyly and glanced at him.
"I… I'm happy too," she answered softly.
The sky slowly darkened. One by one, the park lights flickered on, casting gentle light across the pathways.
Arou stood first.
"Should we head home?" he asked softly.
Airi nodded.
"Yeah…"
They walked side by side. Not too close, but not as distant as before.
Their footsteps slowly began matching each other's pace.
Arou glanced at her.
"You seem calmer now."
Airi looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Yeah," Arou answered simply. "Compared to when we first met."
Airi smiled faintly.
"Maybe… because I'm not as nervous around you anymore."
Arou chuckled softly.
"Nervous? Do I really look that scary?"
"N-No!" Airi denied immediately. "It's just… you're always so confident with the things you say."
Arou stopped walking for a moment and looked at her.
"I only say what I truly feel."
Airi stopped too. Her face turned red again.
"You always say things that confuse people."
Arou smiled gently.
"If I ever make you uncomfortable, just tell me."
Airi shook her head softly.
"It's not uncomfortable… I'm just not used to it yet."
They began walking again as the cool night breeze passed by.
Without realizing it, their arms nearly brushed against each other.
Airi instinctively pulled her hand away slightly… then stopped.
A few seconds later, she quietly let it stay close again.
Arou noticed, but said nothing.
He simply slowed his pace to match hers.
"Thank you," Airi suddenly said.
"For what?" Arou asked.
"For… not forcing me," she answered softly.
Arou looked at her.
"I want you to smile because you genuinely want to."
Airi stared ahead, her cheeks warm.
"…you're strange," she murmured.
"Maybe," Arou laughed softly. "But you're still walking beside me."
Airi smiled.
"Yeah."
That night, they walked home together with hesitant steps—
yet their hearts were already beginning to move in sync.
---
Arou and Airi continued walking slowly along the sidewalk near the park.
The evening sky glowed orange while a gentle breeze brushed past them.
Arou turned toward her.
"Wait… we still haven't exchanged numbers, right?"
Airi looked at him shyly.
"Oh… yeah."
They stopped near a quiet roadside far from the benches.
Arou took out his phone and opened a new contact.
"Go ahead and type your name," he said with a faint smile.
Airi typed quietly before handing the phone back.
Arou looked at the screen.
"Airi," he read softly.
Airi lowered her head shyly.
"Yeah… just Airi."
Arou nodded.
"That's enough. Easy to remember."
They continued walking. Their steps were almost synchronized now, though a bit of awkwardness still remained.
Arou tried to start another conversation.
"Then… I guess I'll send the first message."
Airi held her breath for a second.
"Eh… okay."
Arou typed quickly.
Arou: Hi, Airi.
Airi smiled faintly and typed back.
Airi: Hi… are you still on the way home?
Arou replied.
Arou: Yeah, still walking. Your house is pretty far, huh?
Airi nodded, blushing slightly.
"Yeah… it's a little far."
A quiet silence followed as they enjoyed the evening together.
Airi glanced at Arou for a moment.
"Thank you… for spending time with me today."
Arou smiled gently.
"See you tomorrow, okay?"
Eventually, they parted ways at a small intersection.
Airi walked toward her home, while Arou headed in the opposite direction.
A few minutes later, Airi's phone vibrated.
Arou: Did you make it home safely?
Airi smiled softly before typing her reply.
Airi: Yeah, I'm home.
With those simple messages and newly exchanged contacts,
the distance between them suddenly felt much smaller—
even though both of their hearts were still shy and uncertain.