It was the second day of Hana's "bucket list," and things were already starting to feel... complicated.
The morning began innocently enough. Kaito had insisted on starting the day with a trip to the local bakery, where Hana's task was to pick out the most bizarre pastry on the menu. She had chosen something called a "mango-coconut croissant," and Kaito, of course, had declared it "amazing" even before tasting it.
As they walked toward the park to cross off "Have a picnic" from their list, something shifted between them. The atmosphere, once light and full of playful energy, felt thick with unspoken tension.
Kaito had noticed that Hana was quieter than usual—too quiet. Every time he asked her something about the upcoming days, she'd give a vague answer or change the subject. He had chalked it up to her being reserved, but it was starting to bug him.
"What's going on, Matsui?" Kaito asked, finally fed up as they sat down on a bench, their picnic blanket spread out in front of them. "You've been acting... different lately."
Hana paused, looking up at him. Her fingers picked at the edge of the picnic blanket, avoiding his gaze. "Different how?" she asked, her voice almost too casual.
Kaito's frustration grew. "You're avoiding the question. You're not telling me anything. Not about what's going on, not about why you're leaving... nothing."
Hana's hand stilled on the blanket. She glanced at him, her eyes clouded with something unreadable. "I told you, Kaito. I don't want to talk about it."
"You don't want to talk about it, or you can't?" Kaito pushed, his voice sharp. "You can't just expect me to pretend like it's nothing. You've been so... closed off. I don't even know why you're leaving. All you've said is it's because of your dad's job, but that's it. Is that really all there is?"
Hana stood up abruptly, the sudden movement surprising Kaito. "I don't owe you any more explanations," she snapped, her voice cold now. "It's not like it changes anything."
Kaito stood too, feeling the heat of the argument building. "No, it doesn't change anything, but I'm not stupid, Hana. I can tell you're hiding something. If we're going to spend these last days together, I'd at least like to know what I'm up against."
"You're making it sound like some kind of war," Hana shot back, her voice rising. "I don't want to talk about it, okay? Can you just drop it for once?"
"Why are you shutting me out?!" Kaito's frustration boiled over. "I'm trying to make the most of your last days, but you won't even let me in! It's like I don't even matter."
Hana flinched as if his words stung, but she quickly recovered, her face hardening. "Maybe that's because it doesn't matter. I'm leaving, Kaito. You're not going to see me again. Why does it even matter?"
Kaito was taken aback, the force of her words leaving him speechless for a moment. The anger in his chest began to mix with something else—something more painful. "So, that's it then?" he said quietly. "You're just going to shut me out until you leave, and I'm supposed to just be okay with it?"
"Maybe that's for the best," Hana muttered, turning her back to him. She picked up her bag, her shoulders tense. "It's easier this way."
Kaito's heart sank, and for the first time in days, he felt the weight of the looming deadline—her departure. Everything about this moment felt like a reminder that she was slipping away from him, and he didn't know how to stop it.
The Aftermath
For the rest of the afternoon, they didn't speak. Hana was withdrawn, staring off into the distance, while Kaito couldn't shake the sharp sting of her words. Neither of them felt like continuing the bucket list.
When they finally parted ways that evening, Kaito's mind was spinning. He had never felt this frustrated in his entire life.
It didn't help that Hana was right. He didn't know what was going on, and every time he tried to ask, she pulled away. But the thought of just giving up and letting her leave without ever knowing the truth gnawed at him.
Late Night Reflection
As the day turned into night, Kaito found himself sitting at his desk in his room, staring at the ceiling. His phone lay on the bed beside him, silent and still.
His thoughts were a whirlwind of anger, confusion, and a deep, gnawing sense of helplessness. He had only tried to get closer, to make sure that her last days didn't just pass by in a blur. But now, he felt like he had pushed her too far.
But wasn't he right to be frustrated? He just wanted something—anything—to hold on to before she was gone.
He reached for his phone and typed a message. We need to talk.
He hesitated for a moment before hitting send.
A Silent Resolution
The next morning, Hana walked into school, feeling a heavy weight on her chest. The argument from yesterday still lingered, the words exchanged echoing in her mind. She hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly, but she couldn't pretend that what Kaito said didn't bother her.
She didn't want to shut him out. She wanted to share everything with him. But the thought of telling him the truth about why she was leaving—the real reason—was too much. It would make everything too real.
When she saw Kaito by their usual spot, waiting for her, she didn't know what to say. His expression was guarded, and there was a subtle tension between them, but it wasn't the same carefree energy they'd shared the previous days.
Hana took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Kaito..."
He looked at her, his face softening just slightly. "We're not done, right? With the bucket list. We're still going to make these last days count, even if we... fight."
She nodded, grateful for the unspoken forgiveness in his words. But she couldn't shake the feeling that, despite the bucket list and everything else, some things were left unsaid—and maybe some things had to stay that way.