The afternoon bathed the campus in a golden light, the sun's rays filtering through the cherry blossom trees lining the paths. Hikaru Hashima and Honami Ichinose had decided to spend some time together after class, an idea that had spontaneously arisen when they crossed paths in the library. They settled into a small restaurant in Keyaki Mall, a cozy place with wooden tables and dim lanterns that gave it a warm ambiance. The room smelled of green tea and freshly cooked dishes, a mix of fried rice and miso soup wafting through the air.
Hikaru, his blazer sleeves slightly rolled up, sat across from Honami. He played idly with his spoon while watching her devour her bowl of ramen with adorable concentration. Her chestnut hair, tied in a low ponytail, occasionally brushed her shoulder, and she pushed it back with a habitual gesture.
"Are you serious, Ichinose?" he teased, a smirk on his lips. "You're really going to finish all that? I thought you were the type to nibble like a bird."
Honami looked up, a noodle still dangling from her lips, and her cheeks flushed pink. She quickly swallowed, wiping her mouth with a paper napkin. "Hey! Just because I'm… uh, organized, doesn't mean I don't eat, okay?" She frowned, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. "And what about you? You've barely touched your katsu. Too busy judging me?"
Hikaru burst out laughing, leaning his hand on the table and glancing at her. "Touché. But admit it, you're cute when you get mad."
The word "cute" made Honami blush even more, and she looked down at her bowl, fiddling with her chopsticks. "Stop teasing me," she mumbled, but a shy smile stretched her lips. Hikaru felt his heart skip a beat. She had this way of blushing, of looking away, that made him melt without him being able to explain it.
They continued chatting, moving from an anecdote about their overly passionate history teacher to childhood memories. Hikaru recounted how he got lost in a market when he was eight, and Honami, laughing, admitted she cried thinking her cat had run away, when it was just sleeping under her bed. Every burst of laughter, every exchanged glance seemed to tighten an invisible bond between them. Time flew by, and soon, the restaurant began to empty.
"We should go, right?" Honami suggested, glancing at the wall clock. "It's getting late."
Hikaru nodded, paying the bill despite Honami's protests. "It's me who invited you, Ichinose. Let me do this."
She crossed her arms, faux offended. "Next time, it's me, then."
He winked at her. "Deal."
Outside, the air was crisp, the sky turning a deep violet. They walked side by side, their footsteps echoing softly on the sidewalk. The campus was quiet, almost asleep, and the streetlights cast golden halos around them. Honami talked about a book she had just finished, her hands gesturing enthusiastically, and Hikaru listened, captivated by her energy. He loved seeing her like this, passionate, unfiltered.
"You should read it, Hashima, I swear, you'd like it," she said, her eyes shining. "It's kind of like you, actually. A hero who hides his weaknesses behind jokes."
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're comparing me to a novel hero now? Watch out, I might get a big head."
She giggled, giving him a light shove. "You already have a big head, idiot."
They arrived in front of Honami's dormitory far too quickly. The red brick facade seemed almost glowing under the lamp light, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. They stopped in front of the door, suddenly a bit awkward. The silence fell, but it wasn't heavy, just… charged, as if the air vibrated with a tacit promise.
"It was fun, this afternoon," Hikaru said, hands in his pockets, his tone softer than usual. "Really."
Honami nodded, playing with her bag strap. "Yeah. I… I had a great time." Her voice trembled slightly, and she looked up at him, her cheeks flushed from the cold… or something else.
He took a step toward her, hesitant. "Do you want to hang out some more? Like… at your place? I can make decent tea, you know."
She laughed, a clear sound that echoed in the night. "You, make tea? I'd like to see that." Then, after a second's hesitation, she added, "Okay. Come in."
Honami's room was just like her: tidy, warm, with shelves filled with books and a small potted plant near the window. A pale blue blanket was neatly folded on her bed, and a desk lamp cast a soft light. Hikaru sat on the chair by the desk, while Honami put down her bag and took out a kettle.
"Green or black tea?" she asked, rummaging through a metal box.
"Green," he replied, watching her bustle about. "You look like a pro, you know."
She rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. "It's just tea, Hashima. Not surgery."
They sat on the rug, steaming cups in hand. The conversation resumed, fluid, punctuated by laughter. Hikaru teased her about her habit of annotating her books, and she retorted by pointing out his illegible handwriting in his own class notes. At one point, their hands brushed as they placed their cups on the coffee table. Their fingers grazed, and time seemed to slow down. Honami held her breath, her eyes wide, and Hikaru felt a warmth rise in his face.
He didn't think. He leaned in, just a little, enough for their knees to touch. "Ichinose," he murmured, his voice low, almost hoarse. "I… I feel like something's happening here. Don't you?"
She swallowed, her cheeks scarlet. "I… maybe?" Her voice was a whisper, shy but sincere.
He reached out, brushing her fingers, then gently squeezed them. "I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed, his eyes locked on hers. "Your laugh, your weird habits, everything. I think you're not just a friend to me."
Honami opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She was frozen, her heart beating so hard she feared he could hear it. Hikaru leaned in further, slowly, giving her time to pull away. But she didn't move. Their faces were close, so close he could feel the warmth of her breath.
Then he kissed her. Softly, almost hesitantly, his lips brushing hers like a question. Honami closed her eyes, a shiver running through her, and she returned his kiss, timid but determined. Her hands found his shoulders, gripping them slightly, while Hikaru slid a hand into her hair, deepening the kiss with infinite tenderness.
When they parted, breathless, Honami murmured, her eyes lowered, "I… I think I love you too."
Hikaru smiled, a real smile, not his usual mocking smirk. "Good. Because I'm not ready to let you go."
They stayed there, forehead to forehead, the outside world reduced to a whisper.
[Current Price: 140.]
'My stock is rising,' Hikaru thought with a smile.