Bzz. The phone on the table beside his bed vibrated insistently. It was late morning, but Kiyoshi lingered under the warmth of his blanket, cocooned in drowsiness. Reluctantly, he reached for the phone, his eyes still half-shut. The room around him was a chaotic testament to his achievements—trophies from science fairs and academic accolades scattered haphazardly across the shelves. He'd spent most of the night buried in research, and the exhaustion clung to him like a second skin.
Navigating through a maze of books and papers, he stumbled toward the washroom. Just as he reached the door, his foot caught on something, sending him crashing to the floor. For a moment, he lay there, suspended in a half-awake daze, before slowly pushing himself up. Rubbing his eyes, he shuffled into the washroom to complete his morning routine.
As he made his way back to his room, he scratched his head, lost in thought. He swung the door open, only to be greeted by the blaring sound of the TV.
"Hello, Tokyo! Today is Valentine's Day, February 14th—the most romantic day of the year. The KOK shopping mall is one of the most popular destinations for couples today, offering special events for lovers," the announcer's voice chirped.
Kiyoshi groaned. "Mom, can you turn that off, please?"
Valentine's Day. The mere thought of it made him grimace. A call from a friend earlier had only deepened his irritation, reminding him of his single status. Kiyoshi's attempts at romance had always been awkward, to say the least. While he was known among his peers, it wasn't for the reasons he wanted. To some, he was the bookworm; to others, the odd one out. Today, he decided, would be different. He'd throw himself into games, join clubs, and finally step out of his shell.
His mother's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Kiyoshi, can you run some errands for me?"
He agreed, though the weight of his solitude pressed heavily on his chest.
Soon, he found himself in the heart of the city, dressed in his usual shabby clothes and clutching a grocery bag. Couples strolled past him, their laughter and closeness a stark contrast to his lone figure. He felt like a white rose in a sea of red. Then, his eyes caught a screen advertising rented girlfriends. In that moment, something inside him snapped. Why not? Why not make the most of Valentine's Day, even if it was just for a few hours?
Without overthinking, he made the necessary arrangements. Back at home, he frantically scoured the website, ignoring the rules and fine print. After an hour of searching, he found her—the girl of his dreams.
He dressed carefully in his best outfit and set off to meet her. From a distance, he spotted her, and his breath caught. She had brownish hair that cascaded down to her hips, and she was about his height. It was her. As he introduced himself, he noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor. She was good at this, he thought. But beneath her practiced charm, he couldn't help but wonder if there was any genuine emotion there. Was she just playing a role, or was there something more behind her smile?
"Hi, Kiyoshi. I'm your girlfriend for the next three hours. Where would you like to go?" she greeted him with a warm, practiced smile.
He stammered, "That's great. Let's go over there."
"Can I hold your hand?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.
"Only hands," she replied, her tone polite but distant.
The rejection stung, but he pushed the feeling aside. They walked to an ice cream shop decorated with roses and heart-shaped ornaments. They shared a special Valentine's Day treat, each spoonful feeling like a small, intimate moment. Yet, her eyes seemed distant, as if she were somewhere else entirely. They played their parts—lovers for a day, but strangers beneath the surface.
After lunch, they arrived at the KOK mall by noon. A wish card shop caught their attention, its colorful displays impossible to ignore.
By 2:00 PM, the unexpected happened—they ran into his parents. Panic surged through him, and he quickly pulled Sakura out of sight, only to bump straight into his mother.
"Kiyoshi? What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Why are you here, Mom?" he shot back, equally startled.
Blushing, she admitted, "I'm celebrating Valentine's Day with your dad."
Feeling awkward, Kiyoshi quickly excused himself, dragging Sakura along.
"Take one of these cards and write a wish. I promise it will come true," a maid-like woman offered. They each picked a card and wrote down their secret desires. Kiyoshi was curious about what Sakura had written, but she kept her card close, her expression unreadable.
As the minutes ticked by, Kiyoshi couldn't help but reflect on the fleeting nature of their time together. Maybe next year, he thought, he'd celebrate with a real girlfriend.
Suddenly, the world around them went dark. A rosy-scented fog enveloped everything, leaving only the two of them in a surreal, dreamlike space. A slow, romantic melody played in the background, and balloons began to float around them. An enigmatic doll appeared, its grin mischievous.
"How about a picnic?" it suggested, snapping its fingers.
And just like that, everything went black.