The next morning, Kaito was already waiting for Hana at her desk when she arrived. His usual slouch was replaced by an almost suspicious energy, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"What are you doing here so early?" Hana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Planning your last nineteen days," Kaito said, holding up a notebook. Its cover was decorated with haphazard doodles, and across the top in bold letters was the title: Hana's Bucket List.
Hana blinked. "My what?"
"You heard me," Kaito said, flipping the notebook open with a flourish. "If you're leaving, we're not wasting a single day moping about it. Instead, we're doing everything you've ever wanted to do before you go."
Hana crossed her arms. "And what makes you think I have some grand list of things I want to do?"
"Please," Kaito scoffed. "Everyone has something. And if you don't, don't worry—I've got ideas."
Hana sighed, but she couldn't hide the faint curiosity in her eyes. "Fine. What's on this 'bucket list' of yours?"
Kaito cleared his throat dramatically. "Alright, listen up. Item one: A karaoke night, where you actually sing."
Hana frowned. "Pass."
Kaito ignored her. "Item two: Take a selfie with every teacher in school. Bonus points if we get Principal Yamamoto to do a funny face."
Hana stared at him. "Why would I—"
"Item three," Kaito continued, undeterred, "visit the old bookstore downtown and find the weirdest book we can. Item four: Eat the legendary four-scoop sundae at the diner. Item five—"
"Kaito," Hana interrupted, holding up a hand. "This is ridiculous."
"Exactly!" Kaito said, grinning. "That's the point. You're always so serious, Matsui. These next nineteen days, you're going to live a little. No excuses."
Hana hesitated, her defenses cracking slightly. She didn't want to admit it, but the idea of doing something fun—something impulsive—was oddly appealing.
"Alright," she said finally. "But on one condition."
"Name it," Kaito said, leaning forward eagerly.
"I get to add my own items to the list," Hana said, smirking slightly.
"Deal," Kaito said, holding out his hand.
Hana shook it, feeling a small spark of excitement.
Starting the List
They spent the rest of the day brainstorming ideas, passing the notebook back and forth between classes. Hana surprised herself by getting into the spirit of it, adding items that ranged from simple ("Have a picnic at the park") to oddly specific ("See the sunrise from the rooftop").
By lunchtime, the list had grown to include twenty-seven items, each more whimsical than the last.
"I'm pretty sure some of these are illegal," Hana said, pointing to Kaito's suggestion to "sneak into the teacher's lounge and try their coffee."
"Relax," Kaito said, waving her off. "We'll save that one for later."
Hana rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile.
First Adventure: The Four-Scoop Sundae
That afternoon, Kaito dragged Hana to the diner downtown, a cozy spot with checkered floors and retro booths. The famous four-scoop sundae was a local legend—a towering monstrosity of ice cream, whipped cream, and enough sprinkles to put a carnival to shame.
"Are you sure about this?" Hana asked as the waitress set the sundae in front of them.
"Absolutely," Kaito said, grabbing a spoon. "This is a rite of passage. Dig in."
Hana hesitated, then took a bite. The cold, sugary sweetness made her smile despite herself.
"This is actually pretty good," she admitted.
"Told you," Kaito said, already halfway through his second scoop.
By the time they finished, both of them were laughing and groaning from the sugar overload.
"That was insane," Hana said, leaning back in the booth.
"And totally worth it," Kaito replied, grinning.
Ending the Day
As the sun set, they walked back to the school together, the notebook tucked under Kaito's arm.
"So, how was Day 1 of the bucket list?" Kaito asked, glancing at Hana.
She looked up at the sky, her expression thoughtful. "It was... fun."
Kaito smirked. "Just wait. We've got eighteen more days to top it."
Hana smiled softly, a warmth blooming in her chest. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't just passing through. She was living.
And maybe, just maybe, leaving wouldn't be as simple as she thought.