The evening was unusually quiet, with a soft breeze rustling through the trees. Kaito was walking home after a late-night convenience store run, his headphones on and his mind buzzing with thoughts of the mural project. As much as he complained, he had to admit it was starting to grow on him—though he'd never admit it out loud.
Turning the corner near the park, he caught sight of something unusual. Under the dim glow of the streetlights, a figure stood by the park's old stone wall, moving deliberately.
Curious, Kaito pulled off his headphones and stepped closer. He recognized the familiar silhouette immediately.
"Hana?"
The girl froze mid-stroke, her paintbrush hovering over the wall. Slowly, she turned to look at him, her expression a mix of surprise and guilt.
"What are you doing here?" Kaito asked, stepping closer. His eyes widened as he took in the scene.
The wall was covered in vibrant colors—a sprawling mural of flowers, trees, and abstract shapes blending together in a harmonious burst of life. The contrast between the dull, crumbling stone and the vivid artwork was stunning.
Hana hesitated before answering, her voice quiet. "I come here sometimes. To paint."
"At night?" Kaito asked, glancing around the deserted park. "Isn't it, like, super sketchy out here?"
Hana shrugged, returning her focus to the wall. "It's peaceful. No one bothers me."
Kaito frowned. "Well, now I'm bothering you."
She didn't respond, her brush moving in smooth, practiced strokes. Kaito watched her for a moment, unsure what to say. The mural was breathtaking, far beyond anything she'd shared with him in the art room.
"This is... incredible," he said finally, his voice softer.
Hana paused, glancing at him. "Thanks."
Kaito leaned against a nearby bench, watching her work. The silence between them was comfortable, broken only by the occasional chirp of crickets.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Kaito asked.
Hana sighed, setting her brush down. "Because it's not something I usually share. This... this is just for me."
Kaito nodded slowly. "Fair enough. But you're seriously talented, you know that? You could—"
"I'm leaving soon."
Kaito froze, her words cutting through the night like a sharp wind. "What?"
Hana kept her gaze on the wall, her hands clenched tightly around the paintbrush. "I wasn't planning to stay at Fujioka High. My parents move around a lot for work. This is just... a temporary stop."
For a moment, Kaito didn't know what to say. The thought of Hana leaving hadn't even crossed his mind.
"So, what?" he said finally, trying to keep his tone light. "You're just going to vanish one day without saying anything?"
Hana's lips pressed into a thin line. "That's how it usually goes."
"That's messed up," Kaito muttered. "You've barely been here a month, and you're already planning your exit strategy?"
"It's not like I have a choice," Hana snapped, turning to face him. Her voice trembled slightly, but her expression remained steely. "You think I want to leave? It's not that simple, Kaito."
He opened his mouth to argue, then stopped. The hurt in her voice caught him off guard.
"Sorry," he said quietly. "I just... I didn't know."
Hana sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It's fine. I'm used to it."
The weight of her words hung between them, heavy and unspoken. Kaito didn't know what to do or say, but he hated seeing her like this—so distant, so resigned.
After a moment, he stood and grabbed a spare brush from her supply kit.
"What are you doing?" Hana asked, frowning.
"Helping," Kaito said simply, dipping the brush into the nearest paint can. "If you're leaving, this mural better be finished before you go. Otherwise, I'll never hear the end of it in my own head."
Hana blinked, surprised, before a small smile crept onto her face. "You're terrible at painting."
"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me anyway," Kaito said, grinning.
For the next hour, they worked together under the stars, painting in comfortable silence. And though the night air was cool, Kaito felt a warmth in his chest he couldn't quite explain.
As they packed up to leave, Hana hesitated, her voice soft. "Thanks, Kaito."
He glanced at her, his usual smirk replaced by something gentler. "Don't mention it. Just... don't leave without saying goodbye, okay?"
Hana didn't answer, but the look in her eyes said more than words ever could.