The idea wasn't planned—it never was, not with Kaito. It started with an offhanded comment in the art room.
"You ever just... feel like ditching school?" he asked, swirling his paintbrush lazily in a jar of water.
Hana looked up from her sketchbook, her expression skeptical. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious." Kaito leaned back in his chair, grinning. "C'mon, Matsui. You're always so uptight. Let's have some fun for once. Just one day. No classes, no teachers, no rules."
Hana raised an eyebrow. "And do what?"
"Whatever we want," Kaito said, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "I know a great spot by the river. Perfect for skipping school and skipping stones. What do you say?"
Hana hesitated. She wasn't the type to break rules or go along with reckless ideas. But something about Kaito's energy was infectious, and she couldn't deny the small spark of curiosity tugging at her.
"Fine," she said finally, closing her sketchbook. "But if we get caught, it's on you."
Kaito's grin widened. "Deal."
A Day by the River
The walk to the river was longer than Hana expected, but the fresh air and Kaito's endless chatter made the time fly. The sun was warm, and the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers.
"Here we are!" Kaito announced, spreading his arms wide as they reached a secluded stretch of the riverbank. The water sparkled under the sunlight, its gentle current creating ripples that danced across the surface.
"It's... nice," Hana admitted, her lips curving into a faint smile.
"Nice?" Kaito scoffed. "It's a masterpiece! Now, come on. Let's see what you've got." He crouched by the water, picking up a smooth, flat stone. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he sent it skipping across the surface, leaving a trail of ripples behind.
Hana watched, intrigued. "That doesn't look so hard."
"Alright, your turn," Kaito said, stepping aside.
Hana selected a stone and mimicked his stance. She flicked her wrist, but the stone plopped into the water with a loud splash, sinking immediately.
Kaito burst out laughing. "That was terrible!"
"Shut up," Hana said, fighting a smile. She tried again, and again, each attempt ending in failure.
By her fifth attempt, Kaito stepped behind her, adjusting her grip on the stone. "Like this. Use your wrist, not your whole arm."
Hana stiffened at his closeness but focused on his instructions. With a flick, the stone skipped once, twice, then sank.
"Hey, not bad!" Kaito cheered.
A triumphant smile broke across Hana's face, and for a moment, Kaito found himself staring. It wasn't often that she looked so carefree.
"Thanks," she said, brushing her hair out of her face.
"Don't mention it," Kaito replied, shoving his hands into his pockets to hide the sudden flutter in his chest.
Adventures and Laughter
The day unfolded in a series of small, spontaneous adventures. They ventured into the nearby woods, where Kaito insisted on climbing a tree to "get a better view" and promptly got stuck. Hana stood below, laughing so hard she had to sit down.
"Don't just stand there! Help me!" Kaito yelled, dangling awkwardly from a branch.
"You're the one who said you were an expert climber," Hana teased, wiping tears from her eyes.
Eventually, she found a sturdy stick to help him down, and they both collapsed onto the grass, breathless with laughter.
Later, they found a small, hidden meadow where wildflowers bloomed in every color imaginable. Hana pulled out her sketchbook, her pencil flying across the page as she captured the scene. Kaito lay nearby, hands behind his head, watching the clouds drift by.
"You really love this stuff, huh?" he said, glancing at her.
"It's peaceful," Hana replied without looking up. "When I'm drawing, it feels like everything else disappears."
Kaito studied her for a moment, then said, "You're pretty amazing, you know that?"
Hana paused, her pencil hovering above the page. "You're just saying that because I didn't leave you stuck in that tree."
Kaito chuckled. "Maybe. But I mean it."
She looked at him, her expression softening. "Thanks, Kaito."
Skipping Stones at Sunset
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, they returned to the riverbank.
"This was a good idea," Hana admitted, skipping another stone across the water.
"See? I told you," Kaito said, grinning.
They sat side by side on the grass, the fading sunlight casting long shadows around them. For a while, neither of them spoke, content to watch the river flow.
"Kaito," Hana said suddenly, her voice quiet.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for today. It's... it's been a while since I've had this much fun."
Kaito glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. "Anytime, Matsui."
Hana smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made Kaito's chest tighten. In that moment, he realized how much he'd come to enjoy her company—and how much he dreaded the thought of her leaving.
But for now, he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the laughter and warmth of the day they'd shared. After all, moments like this didn't come around often.