The next morning, the sun streamed through the blinds, casting golden stripes across my room.
I awoke with a lingering sense of happiness, my thoughts immediately drifting to Hina.
Her face, her laughter, her mysterious eyes—they had all taken root in my mind.
I reached for my phone and smiled when I saw her goodnight message from the previous night.
"Today will be different," I said to myself, feeling a sense of purpose as I got ready for the day.
As I looked at myself in the mirror, I took a moment to reflect.
I smiled at myself, pretending to act cool, but in reality i'm the most insecure boy of the entire earth.
"Who are you, handsome guy? Hehehe!" I asked to the mirror in a friendly way.
"I'm Kai Suzuki," I said softly, almost as if introducing myself to someone. "Just an ordinary guy—18 years old, finishing my last year of high school, and living alone in this bustling city while my parents work overseas. A book lover and, until now, quite reserved."
"Oh... Kai-Kyuuun! Your white hair and blue eyes are so amazing...! You're the most incredible-beautiful-handsome-amazing man of this world!" I replied to myself while acting like a fangirl contemplating an actor.
Then, i composed myself , pretending that nothing of this little scene happened.
I had always been a bit of an introvert, preferring the company of my novels to that of people.
That's why i used to act like this in front of the mirror, the only place where i can really be myself without other people judging me.
Yes, i've always been scared of other people's judgement, of what they think of me.
I've always found solace in the written word, escaping into worlds of fantasy and adventure.
School was stable but monotonous, with classes and assignments filling my days.
Outside of school, my life was a series of routines: studying, reading sessions in the park, and the occasional coffee with a few friends.
It was a solitary existence, but I had grown accustomed to it.
I never felt the urge of having a girlfriend until the moment i saw Hina.
A girl even confessed to me before... but i didn't know how to react to something like that and i ended up rejecting her by mistake.
When i think about that moment, a wave of guilt and embarass assaults my whole soul.
But meeting Hina had ignited something within me.
Her presence was like a breath of fresh air, stirring emotions I had long suppressed.
I rapidly dressed up and picked up all my things for the day.
I remember that i was free from school that day and i had nothing to do but for some reason, i felt like i had to something.
I wanted to meet Hina again.
As I left my apartment, I sent her a quick message:
"Good morning, Hina! I hope you slept well. Any plans for today?"
The reply came almost instantly, as if she had been waiting for my message.
"Good morning, Kai-kun! I slept wonderfully, thank you. I'm free today. Would you like to meet up?"
My heart skipped a beat.
She REALLY wanted to see me again.
She didn't lie to me!
"Of course! How about we meet at the café we talked about yesterday?"
"Perfect! See you there at 10?"
"See you then!" I replied, feeling a rush of excitement.
I made my way to the café, my mind racing with anticipation and sometimes jumping like a little kid who was going to an amusement park for the first time.
I felt people giving me strange glares, but i didn't care in that moment.
When I arrived, I saw Hina sitting at a table by the window, just as she had been the day before.
She was looking at some stuff on her phone and had a smile all upon her face.
Her smile was warm and inviting, and as soon as our eyes met, I felt that same magnetic pull.
For an instant, i felt a shiver of danger in my heart, but it was just for 0,01 seconds.
"Hi, Kai!" she greeted me with enthusiasm while getting up from the chair.
"Hi, Hina," I replied, taking a seat across from her. "It's great to see you again."
I have to admit that i was truly happy and i didn't know how i was reacting so naturally with her.
We ordered our drinks and quickly fell into conversation.
Hina was even more captivating today, her laughter infectious and her eyes sparkling with a light that seemed almost otherworldly.
We talked about everything—our favorite books, our dreams, and our pasts. I found myself opening up to her in ways I never had with anyone else.
I told her my biggest dream: To become a famous artist like my father.
She was really surprised about that, but she gave me a beautiful smile.
"Oh? Is your father an artist?" She asked in curiosity.
I nodded at her, smiling proudly.
My father is my biggest reason of pride.
"Yes! He's a famous writer and music composer all around the world!" I said to her before showing her some of his works.
Her eyes widened in surprise after i showed my father's greatest work.
"Oh?! Are you serious? Is your father the creator of "Spirit of Vengeance"? That is my favorite book!!!" She replied in shock.
I nodded at her again, showing a proud smirk.
"Yes! Exactly!" I replied.
Hina's eyes were sparkling.
She didn't expect something like that, but i felt like she had to know everything about me.
I wanted to tell her way more things about me.
But at the same time, not so many people know that i'm the son of a famous artist.
I don't want people to befriend me only because of my father.
I wanted to be accepted for who i am.
Then , me and Hina kept talking about lots of things including the future works from my father.
She listend carefully to every word that came out from my mouth.
I was happy to talk freely to someone for the first time.
It felt truly refreshing.
Then, as we continued our talks, the morning turned into afternoon, Hina suggested we take a walk. "There's a beautiful garden nearby," she said. "I'd love to show it to you."
"Lead the way," I agreed, eager to spend more time with her.
The garden was a hidden gem, filled with vibrant flowers and winding paths.
We strolled leisurely, enjoying the beauty around us and each other's company.
Hina's presence was soothing, and I felt an inexplicable connection with her.
"Thank you for bringing me here," I said as we stopped by a small pond. "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it," she replied, her eyes reflecting the serene water. "There's something special about this place. It's where I come to think and clear my mind."
We sat on a nearby bench, and for a moment, we simply enjoyed the silence together.
Then, Hina turned to me, her expression was deadly serious.
"Kai, can I ask you something?" she whispered with a very sharp tone.
Her voice was enough to send me shivers down my spine.
"Of course," I said, feeling a slight tension in the air.
"Do you believe in destiny?" she asked, her voice soft.
I considered her question and tried to find the best answer for her question.
"I'm not sure. I think that sometimes things happen for a reason, and people come into our lives when we need them the most." I replied, while still thinking about what else i could say to her.
She smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I like that answer. I believe that we were meant to meet, Kai. There's something about you that feels...familiar."
Her words struck a chord deep within me.
"I feel the same way," I admitted. "It's like I've known you forever."
Hina reached out and gently took my hand. "I'm glad you feel that way. I want you to know that you can trust me, Kai. No matter what happens."
The intensity of her gaze made my heart race. "I trust you, Hina," I said, squeezing her hand.
As the afternoon wore on, we continued our walk, talking and laughing as if we'd known each other for years.
But in the back of my mind, that faint whisper of unease persisted.
There was something about Hina that I couldn't quite put my finger on, something hidden beneath the surface.
When the sun began to set, we made our way back to the café.
We kept talking about other things like our lives.
Hina started to ask about my friends again, wanting to know more and more from me.
Sadly , i didn't have many friends to talk about.
The only people i used to hang out with were some of my classmates and some friends from my small group of nerds.
The thing that i noticed the most during my time with Hina is that during our walks, no people disturbed us, instead they all took distance from us.
People respecting something like that was surely surprising in a certain way.
Then, Hina's phone buzzed with a message, and she glanced at it quickly before putting it away.
I saw the smile from her face fading for a second, replaced by an expression of anger.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, noticing the brief flicker of concern in her eyes.
"Yes, it's nothing," she replied, smiling. "Just my uncle checking in."
Her mood changed in an istant.
"Are you sure that you're okay? I can take you home if you want." I said , trying to comfort her.
Hina gave me a small smile and shook her head.
"Thank you, Kai-Kun. You're too kind to me but i must refuse for now... Try to understand." She said.
Her voice was carrying a glimpse of sadness.
I felt the urge of hugging her but my instincts told me not to.
"Uhm... okay then... Are you free tomorrow?" I asked. "Because i want to see you again, that's for sure."
Hina was surprised to hear my words.
"Yes... for you i'll be free, but in the afternoon." She said. "Thank you for understanding, Kai-Kun".
"Okay... So i'll meet you after school." I replied.
Hina nodded and then asked "Do you go at the Takashima Academy?"
I was really taken off guard.
How did she know my school? I didn't mention it to her.
"Yes! I go there, how do you know?" I asked, curious.
"Well, i go at that school too... I asked because i thought that i've seen you there already. I just wanted to be sure..." Hina said while looking away in a shy way.
"For real?? I never saw you at school! The world can be so little sometimes! Haha!" I replied while letting out a small but friendly laugh.
"That would be a nice idea! I'll text you!" Hina said, before looking straight into my eyes.
After that, our gazes were locked into each others.
Once again, i felt another shiver around my spine.
"Kai..." She whispered while getting close to me.
"H-Hina..." I whispered back while standing there, not moving a muscle.
I felt butterflies in all my body, flying into the depths of my soul.
My heart was feeling all kind of emotions. Too many to explain.
Too much to explain in words.
Hina got closer to me and closed her eyes, while gently wrapping her arms around my neck.
"Oh..." I thought, swalloing some salive.
I was too nervous.
By instinct, i closed my eyes too and suddenly, i felt something pressing against my lips.
Hina kissed me.
That was my first kiss, the first real one.
It was really rapid, but it felt like an eternity.
I could stay locked like this for hours, days and even years.
It felt so amazing...
Her lips were so soft... so amazing...
Then, our lips gently parted and Hina took her arms off from me.
She was slightly blushing.
"T-That was my first... you know..." Hina said while looking away, embarassed.
"H-How surprising... it was my first too." I replied back.
I had the word "Embarassement" written all upon my face but i tried my best to act in the coolest way possible.
"R-Really? I'm so happy..." Hina whispered, with joy in her voice, but her smile was... strange.
It was so joyful that it seemed... crazy, in a certain way.
After that, we remained silent from some seconds , before both bursting into a laugh.
My first kiss, and it was with a stunningly beautiful girl.
Ater our little moment, we took a look at the stars and we exchanged goodbyes.
I watched as Hina walking away, her figure blending into the twilight.
As I headed home, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
I felt drawn to Hina in a way I couldn't explain, but there was also a nagging sense of caution that I couldn't ignore.
"A-Am i in love...?" i said to myself, still blushing from the memories of my first kiss.
That night, as I lay in bed, my thoughts returned to Hina. I replayed our conversations, her smiles, and the way she made me feel so alive.
But then, a small whisper of unease started to raise inside of my heart, like a shadow lurking at the edge of my consciousness.
I didn't know why i was feeling like this, maybe it was because i was too happy and i was scared that someone could steal my happiness from me.
For now, I chose to focus on the possibilities that tomorrow might bring. But deep down, I knew that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't yet comprehend.