It was the start of a new day, and Ere'ana couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest as she walked across campus toward the café. The morning had passed in a blur of classes and assignments, but all she could think about was the incident with Kikidori the day before. She had spent the entire night replaying the moment in her head, wishing she hadn't run off like that, wishing she hadn't let her anxiety take control.
But now, the opportunity to redeem herself was here. She had seen Kikidori earlier that morning walking across campus, and without thinking too much about it, she had asked him if he wanted to grab lunch. To her surprise, he agreed, and now they were standing in line at a small, cozy café just off campus, waiting to order.
Kikidori turned to her with a warm smile. "You know, I don't think I've had coffee with anyone since... well, since yesterday," he said with a laugh.
Ere'ana felt a smile tug at her lips. "I'm pretty sure I've had coffee at least three times today," she teased.
"Oh, great," Kikidori grinned. "A coffee addict. I should've known."
Ere'ana laughed, feeling a sense of ease that she hadn't felt in a long time. It was like the awkwardness from yesterday had melted away, leaving behind the comfortable camaraderie they'd developed. She hadn't realized how much she needed this—just a moment to breathe, to be herself without worrying about how she was coming across.
They ordered their drinks and sat by the window, watching the hustle and bustle of the campus outside. Ere'ana took a sip of her coffee and sighed contentedly. "This is really good," she said, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup absentmindedly.
"Yeah, it's one of my favorite places on campus," Kikidori said, his voice softening. "It's kind of peaceful here."
"I agree," Ere'ana said, her gaze drifting outside. She felt a sudden sense of calm in Kikidori's presence. He was easy to talk to, like the world was a little bit less complicated when she was with him.
"So," Kikidori began, looking at her with a curious glint in his eyes, "I've been meaning to ask you... what made you want to meet up for lunch today?"
Ere'ana hesitated for a moment, feeling her stomach flip. She was used to being the quiet, reserved one, but there was something about Kikidori that made her want to open up. "Honestly?" she said, leaning in slightly. "I just... didn't want to leave things awkward between us after yesterday. I feel like I kind of ran off, and I didn't mean to. I just... panicked."
Kikidori's expression softened, and he set his coffee down on the table. "Ere'ana, you don't have to explain. I get it. I kind of freaked out too." He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "I've never been so flustered over something so... small. But when I grabbed your hand, I felt like my heart was going to explode."
Ere'ana's heart skipped a beat. She had been thinking the same thing but had been too embarrassed to admit it. She let out a small laugh, relieved that Kikidori felt the same way. "I thought I was going to pass out," she admitted. "I mean, I've never... done that before."
"I guess we both need more practice in not being awkward, huh?" Kikidori said, his grin widening.
Ere'ana couldn't help but laugh again. "Yeah, definitely," she agreed. She felt lighter, like the weight that had been pressing on her chest for the past 24 hours was finally starting to lift.
As they continued to talk, the conversation flowed easily between them. They shared stories of their childhoods, their favorite music, and their strange habits. Kikidori confessed that he had a thing for drawing, and Ere'ana told him about her love for playing the piano.
"You play piano?" Kikidori asked, his eyes lighting up. "I had no idea."
Ere'ana shrugged shyly. "I don't play as much anymore... but I used to practice all the time when I was younger."
"Well, you'll have to play for me sometime," Kikidori said with a wink. "Maybe I'll even do a little drawing to go along with it."
Ere'ana's cheeks flushed slightly, but she smiled. The idea of sharing something so personal with Kikidori felt right—natural, even.
As the conversation lulled for a moment, Ere'ana realized that she didn't want this moment to end. She hadn't felt this comfortable around someone in a long time. Kikidori wasn't just a boy she'd met on the street; he was someone she was beginning to care about, someone who made her feel seen, heard, and accepted.
But of course, her mind couldn't help but wonder... Did he feel the same way? Was there a chance that what she was feeling wasn't just a fleeting moment, but something real?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, Kikidori looked at her, his eyes gentle. "You know, Ere'ana," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper. "I'm really glad we bumped into each other that day."
Ere'ana's heart skipped a beat. "Me too," she said, her voice barely audible. "Really glad."
They both fell into a comfortable silence, sipping their coffee and letting the moment linger between them. It wasn't a grand confession or a dramatic declaration, but it was something far more meaningful: the quiet understanding that, for the first time in a long while, they weren't alone in this world.
As they finished their coffee and stood up to leave, Kikidori glanced at her one last time with a grin. "I guess this is the part where we don't run off this time, huh?"
Ere'ana laughed, feeling her heart flutter once more. "Yeah, I think we've got this figured out."
End of Chapter 3