Tachibana Aiko's day started long before the sun peeked over the horizon. The gentle hum of her phone's alarm vibrated on the bedside table, a soft but insistent reminder that it was time to rise. She opened her eyes slowly, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The room was still bathed in darkness, the only light coming from the faint glow of her phone screen.
Bzzt bzzt!
With a deep breath, Aiko swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet meeting the cool wooden floor. She allowed herself a moment to stretch, her arms reaching above her head as she inhaled deeply. The air was crisp and refreshing, filling her lungs with a sense of renewal. There was something peaceful about these early mornings, a quiet solitude that she had come to cherish.
Aiko slipped out of her room, careful not to wake her mother who was still fast asleep in the adjacent room. The small apartment was silent, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards under her feet. She moved through the familiar space with practiced ease, her steps light and deliberate.
The kitchen, though modest, was always the first stop in Aiko's morning routine. She set about preparing a simple breakfast—nothing extravagant, just a bowl of miso soup, some rice, and pickled vegetables. As the rice cooker hummed softly, Aiko stood by the stove, stirring the pot of miso soup with a calm, rhythmic motion. The aroma of dashi and miso filled the air, a comforting scent that made the small apartment feel like home.
Once breakfast was ready, Aiko placed the food on the table, arranging everything with care. She prepared a second bowl, slightly smaller, for her mother. Even though her mother wouldn't wake up for another hour, Aiko liked to have everything ready for her. It was a small gesture, but it made her feel connected to her mother, despite the long hours they spent apart.
After eating quietly, Aiko cleaned up, washing the dishes with efficient precision. Her mind was already beginning to drift towards the day ahead. School, as always, would be busy. She had assignments to complete, a quiz in math, and a meeting with the student council during lunch. But what lingered in the back of her mind was the quiet anticipation of the weekend—a weekend that promised something different, something she couldn't quite put into words.
Yosh~!
With everything in order, Aiko returned to her room to get ready. The first rays of sunlight were beginning to filter through the curtains, casting a soft glow on her neatly organized desk. She picked out her uniform from the closet, smoothing out the creases before slipping it on. Aiko prided herself on her appearance, not out of vanity, but because she believed it was a reflection of her character. She wanted to present herself with poise and confidence, no matter how she was feeling on the inside.
As she brushed her hair in front of the mirror, Aiko's eyes caught the photograph sitting on her desk—a picture of her father during his flag football days.
His confident smile, his athletic stance, the way he held the football as if it were an extension of himself—it all served as a reminder of the legacy she was determined to uphold. But today, she didn't allow herself to dwell on it. Today, she wanted to focus on something else, something lighter.
She left the apartment quietly, locking the door behind her. The city was still waking up, the streets only just beginning to fill with the hustle and bustle of the morning commute.
Aiko took the familiar route to the train station, her steps quick and purposeful. She liked to arrive at school early, using the quiet time to review her notes or simply enjoy a few moments of peace before the day officially began.
Her thoughts drifted, as they often did during these morning walks, to the people in her life. Her mother, who worked tirelessly to support them both; her friends, who brought moments of joy and laughter into her days; and, of course, Sota, who had become an unexpected but important part of her world.
She found herself thinking about him more often than she'd like to admit, wondering what he was doing, how he was feeling. There was something about Sota that intrigued her, something that made her want to understand him better.
The train ride was over too soon, and before she knew it, Aiko was stepping off at her stop, the familiar sight of Seiryuu High School looming in the distance. The school day itself was unremarkable—classes, as always, passed by in a blur of lectures, notes, and occasional whispers with her friends.
But today, Aiko was distracted. Her mind kept wandering to the message she had sent Sota the previous night, asking if he would go shopping with her over the weekend.
She hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. The way she had paced back and forth in her room, clutching her phone, debating whether or not to send the message.
Her heart had raced, her fingers trembling as she typed out the words. It had felt like such a big deal, even though, logically, she knew it was just a simple request. But there was something about it—something about asking him to spend time with her outside of their usual routines—that had made her nervous.
When Sota had replied, it had been with his usual straightforwardness, a simple "Sure, see you then." Aiko had stared at his response for what felt like an eternity, a mix of relief and frustration bubbling up inside her.
She had wanted more from him, some sign that he was as excited as she was, but instead, he had responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was, she mused, but that didn't make it any less nerve-wracking for her.
The day wore on, and Aiko found herself glancing at the clock more often than usual, counting down the minutes until the end of classes. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Aiko felt a wave of relief wash over her. She gathered her things, slipped her books into her bag with quiet efficiency, and made her way to the student council room for the afternoon meeting.
The meeting was brief but productive, focused on the upcoming school festival. Aiko contributed her ideas, as she always did, but her mind was elsewhere. She was already thinking about the weekend, about spending time with Sota.
It was just shopping for club supplies, she reminded herself, but it felt like something more. A small smile tugged at her lips as she imagined how it might go—what they would talk about, where they might eat lunch, whether he would notice the small details she had paid attention to in her appearance.
By the time the meeting ended, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Aiko made her way to the school gates, her thoughts still preoccupied with the weekend. She wondered if Sota was thinking about it too, if he was as excited as she was. The thought made her heart flutter slightly, and she shook her head, trying to clear her mind.
The walk home was peaceful, the cool evening air a welcome change from the stuffy classrooms. Aiko's neighborhood was quiet, the streets lined with trees that rustled gently in the breeze. As she approached her apartment building, she took a moment to pause, looking up at the sky. The first stars were beginning to appear, twinkling faintly against the darkening canvas.
Aiko let out a soft sigh, a mix of anticipation and nervousness filling her chest. The weekend couldn't come soon enough.
She entered the apartment, greeted by the familiar scent of her mother's cooking. The sound of clattering pots and pans echoed from the kitchen, and Aiko felt a warm sense of comfort wash over her. She slipped off her shoes and padded quietly into the kitchen, where her mother was busy preparing dinner.
"Welcome home, Aiko," her mother greeted her with a smile, her hands deftly chopping vegetables.
"Thanks, Mom," Aiko replied, leaning against the counter. "Do you need any help?"
"No, no, you go relax. You've had a long day."
Aiko nodded, but instead of retreating to her room, she lingered in the kitchen, watching her mother work. There was something soothing about the way her mother moved, the way she handled everything with such care and precision. It reminded Aiko of the way she approached things in her own life, always striving to do her best, to be the best version of herself.
After dinner, Aiko finally retreated to her room, her mind still buzzing with thoughts of the weekend. She sat at her desk, pulling out her textbooks and notebooks, but found it hard to focus. Instead, she found herself staring at the photograph of her father once again, the familiar ache in her chest making itself known.
She missed him. She missed the way he used to cheer her on, the way he always had the right words to say when she was feeling unsure of herself. He had been her biggest supporter, her role model, and she wanted so badly to make him proud.
But tonight, Aiko didn't let herself dwell on it for too long. Tonight, she allowed herself to look forward to the weekend, to the small excitement of spending time with Sota. It was just a simple outing, she reminded herself, but it was enough to bring a smile to her face as she finally settled down to study.
The night was quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of pages as Aiko flipped through her textbooks. But even as she focused on her studies, a small part of her mind remained on the weekend, on the possibilities it held, on the chance to get to know Sota a little better.
And with that thought, she felt a quiet sense of contentment settle over her, a feeling that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay.