The days after the festival felt like the aftermath of a storm—calm, yet charged with an eerie sense that something had shifted. The unmistakable weight of reality had replaced the once-vibrant atmosphere of anticipation. Graduation loomed on the horizon, and with it, the inevitable questions about the future. Each of them had their own path to consider, yet no one seemed ready to confront the choices that awaited them.
Misaki stood in the art room, staring blankly at the unfinished canvas in front of her. The mural she had poured her heart into for the cultural festival had come alive with colors and emotions she didn't even realize she had buried within her. But now, staring at the blank space, she felt adrift. Her hand hovered over the palette, unsure of which color to choose next, unsure of what step to take.
Haruto's voice broke the silence. "Still working on something new?"
Misaki turned, startled, but relaxed when she saw Haruto standing at the doorway, his hands casually in his pockets. His presence was always calming, a quiet strength she had come to rely on more than she realized.
"I'm trying," Misaki replied, her voice softer than usual. "But I can't seem to focus. It feels… different now."
"Different how?" Haruto asked, stepping inside and sitting on the stool beside her.
Misaki sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "Before, everything felt clear. I knew I wanted to make something beautiful for the festival, something that captured who we are. But now, with graduation so close, it feels like I'm being pulled in so many directions, and I don't know which one to follow."
Haruto nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I get that. Everything's changing, whether we're ready for it or not."
The two sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their thoughts palpable. Misaki glanced at him, her eyes searching for something in his expression, something that told her she wasn't alone in this uncertainty.
"Have you decided what you're going to do after graduation?" Misaki asked tentatively.
Haruto leaned back, a faraway look in his eyes. "I've been thinking about it a lot. I know I want to continue with photography, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to make it my career. There's this pressure, you know? To make the right choice. But what if there's no right choice?"
"Huh, wait. Did you just said photography?" Misaki questioned.
Haruto, shocked, "What is that expression for? Did I never tell anyone? Oh, wait, I really never told anyone!"
Kaito, ever the sneaker, listens to the conversation, while drinking cola from a can. After hearing the revelation, his jaw and the can both fell at the same time.
"Never mind," Misaki smiled faintly, appreciating the honesty in his words. "I think that's the scariest part. Not knowing if the path we choose is the right one."
"Maybe there isn't a right path," Haruto mused. "Maybe it's just about choosing something that feels true to who you are. By the way, was it just me or even you heard the sound of a falling can?"
"Yeah, seems like that..."
Meanwhile Kaito, in his thoughts, "What! They just continued like nothing happened."
Across town, Yuki sat at the piano in her family's living room, her fingers idly tracing the keys. The melody she had performed during the festival still echoed in her mind, but it felt distant now, like a memory she couldn't quite grasp. Her dreams of pursuing the performing arts had always seemed so vivid, so certain. But now, as she sat here in the quiet, she couldn't shake the feeling of doubt creeping in.
A knock at the door startled her, and she turned to see Aoi standing in the doorway, her usual smile on her face.
"Can I come in?" Aoi asked, her voice soft but warm.
"Of course," Yuki replied, gesturing for her to sit beside her on the piano bench.
Aoi settled in, her presence comforting. The two sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the occasional creak of the piano bench beneath them.
"I saw you practicing," Aoi said gently. "Are you preparing for something?"
Yuki shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. "No. I'm just… playing. I haven't really thought about what comes next."
Aoi's brow furrowed slightly, her expression thoughtful. "You've always loved music, haven't you?"
Yuki nodded, her fingers absently pressing down a key. A soft note echoed through the room. "Yeah. But lately, I've been wondering if it's enough. If I can really make a future out of this, or if it's just a dream I'm not brave enough to let go of."
Aoi was quiet for a moment, then spoke, her voice tender yet firm. "Dreams are fragile, Yuki. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth holding onto. You don't have to decide everything right now. Maybe it's okay to give yourself time to figure it out."
Yuki looked at Aoi, her heart swelling with gratitude. Aoi had always kept her emotions hidden beneath layers of calm, but in moments like this, Yuki saw just how much wisdom her friend carried.
"You're right," Yuki said softly. "But it's still scary, not knowing what's going to happen."
Aoi smiled, her eyes filled with understanding. "We're all scared, I think. But that doesn't mean we're alone in it."
Meanwhile, Kaito lounged on the rooftop of the school, staring up at the wide expanse of sky. The cool breeze ruffled his hair as he leaned back, arms folded behind his head. He was supposed to be in class, but his mind was too preoccupied with thoughts of the future to sit still. It wasn't like him to worry about these things—he'd always been the one who took life as it came, without overthinking. But recently, with graduation looming and everyone talking about their plans, he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he should care a little more.
His thoughts drifted to Aoi, as they often did these days. Ever since her big revelation, he found himself thinking about her more and more. She had this quiet strength about her, something that intrigued him, something he hadn't noticed before. He couldn't quite explain it, but being around her made him feel… different.
The door to the rooftop creaked open, and Haruto stepped out, spotting Kaito almost immediately.
"Skipping class again?" Haruto asked, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Kaito smirked, not bothering to sit up. "What can I say? Old habits die hard."
Haruto sat down beside him, the two falling into an easy silence. After a moment, Haruto spoke, his tone more serious than before.
"I've been thinking a lot about what comes next," Haruto said. "Graduation, life after high school. It feels… weird, you know?"
Kaito didn't answer right away, his gaze fixed on the clouds drifting lazily above them. "Yeah, it does. I'm not used to thinking about stuff like that."
"Have you decided what you're going to do?"
Kaito shrugged, his usual carefree demeanor faltering for a moment. "Not really. I mean, I could probably do anything if I actually put in the effort. But… I don't know if I want to."
Haruto looked at him, surprised by the uncharacteristic honesty in his voice. "You're smart, Kaito. You could do a lot of things."
"Yeah," Kaito replied, his voice quiet. "But just because I can doesn't mean I want to."
There was a long pause as the two of them sat there, the weight of the conversation hanging between them. For the first time in a long while, Kaito felt the pressure of expectation creeping in, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.
To be continued...