It was Day 6 of Hana's bucket list, and Kaito had a new idea brewing.
"Today, we're going to do something fun," Kaito declared with his usual grin, pacing back and forth in front of Hana, who was sitting at a bench in the school courtyard. "I'm dragging you to a karaoke party."
Hana raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips twitching. "A karaoke party? Are you serious?"
Kaito nodded enthusiastically. "You said you wanted to make memories, right? Karaoke is practically a must in these situations. Plus, I promised you fun, and nothing screams fun like badly sung pop songs and questionable dance moves."
"I think 'questionable' is an understatement," Hana muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
Kaito extended his hand to her, his grin wider now. "Come on, Hana. Let's see if your voice is as smooth as your artwork."
Hana eyed his outstretched hand and, after a moment's hesitation, grabbed it. "Fine. But only because I have a feeling this will be... interesting."
The Karaoke Night
The karaoke room was packed with Kaito's friends. Laughter filled the air as they sang their hearts out, each person taking turns with varying levels of skill. There was always one person who took it seriously, and another who just wanted to make everyone laugh. Kaito was definitely in the second category, belting out a rock song with exaggerated emotion that had everyone in stitches.
Hana stood quietly at the back, her arms crossed and eyes scanning the room. She was comfortable enough being surrounded by Kaito's friends, but the thought of getting up and singing in front of everyone made her stomach churn. She was the quiet, reserved girl who preferred the solitude of painting—not the center of attention.
"Alright, Hana!" Kaito shouted from the stage, grinning widely. "Your turn! Time to show us what you've got!"
The room went silent for a moment, all eyes turning to her. Hana froze, her heart racing. She wasn't prepared for this. Not at all.
Kaito continued, oblivious to her hesitation. "Don't worry, no one's a pro here, so just have fun with it!"
Hana gave him a nervous smile, but she could already feel the heat rising in her cheeks. The pressure was on. She could feel the weight of everyone's expectations, and for a moment, she considered just walking out the door. But she couldn't back down now—not with Kaito watching her with such enthusiasm.
"Okay, okay," Hana muttered under her breath, stepping forward. "I'll do it, but you owe me big time for this."
The group cheered, and the music started. Hana took a deep breath as the first few notes of an upbeat pop song filled the room. She glanced at the lyrics on the screen and realized they were much faster than she thought.
As soon as she began singing, it was clear this wasn't going to be a beautiful performance. Hana's voice, while earnest, was a little too high-pitched, and she completely missed the rhythm. A few words were off-key, and she stumbled on the lyrics in the middle of the song.
But Kaito? He was practically howling with laughter from the stage, waving his arms dramatically.
"Oh, this is GOLD!" Kaito yelled, unable to control his laughter. "Hana, you're a legend!"
Hana, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, kept going. She was determined to finish the song, even though she felt like her voice was as out of tune as a broken radio. She finished the chorus with a final, loud note that caused the room to fall into stunned silence.
For a split second, Hana felt the heat of embarrassment rise to her face, but then something unexpected happened. The silence was broken by a burst of laughter and applause. Kaito's friends were clapping and cheering, all of them clearly entertained by Hana's brave—and utterly disastrous—performance.
"That was amazing!" one of Kaito's friends called out, wiping away tears of laughter. "You should do a duet with Kaito next!"
"Yeah, Hana! You've got the style," another friend added, still giggling.
Hana looked at Kaito, who was grinning like a maniac. "You are a troublemaker, you know that?"
Kaito winked at her. "You were perfect! A real showstopper. People will talk about this for weeks."
She couldn't help but laugh a little, despite herself. The tension she'd been holding onto melted away, and she found herself enjoying the chaos of the moment. Maybe she wasn't the world's best singer, but she had just made a memory she would never forget.
The Aftermath
As the night wore on, Hana found herself laughing and joining in with the others. There was something freeing about the ridiculousness of karaoke. It wasn't about being perfect—it was about having fun, letting go of the rules, and not taking yourself too seriously.
"Alright, alright," Kaito said later, when it was his turn again. "Now it's my time to shine."
Hana, still recovering from her own performance, shook her head with a smile. "Are you going to really sing seriously, or are you going to make fun of it like last time?"
"I'll make you a deal," Kaito said with a mischievous grin. "If you get up here with me and sing the next song, I'll sing it seriously—no jokes."
Hana raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Really? You, serious? I don't believe you."
"I'll do it. You're going to regret not taking this challenge," Kaito teased.
Hana folded her arms, staring him down for a moment, then shook her head. "Alright, fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
The two of them took the stage together, the crowd cheering them on. Kaito, true to his word, attempted to sing the next song with surprising sincerity, his voice surprisingly good. Hana, for her part, was still self-conscious but sang alongside him, a little off-key but having the time of her life.
By the time the night ended, both of them were breathless from laughing and singing, with a few more new memories in the books.
A New Bond
On their way back home, Hana looked at Kaito, her cheeks flushed from laughter. "That was... something else."
Kaito grinned. "Told you karaoke was a blast. You were a hit! I bet you'll be the talk of the school tomorrow."
Hana snorted. "If I ever have to hear that song again..."
"But you'll remember it," Kaito said with a wink. "You'll remember it for a long time."
Hana smiled softly, looking at the night sky. "Yeah... I think I will."
For once, she didn't feel so out of place. She felt like she belonged—not just in the circle of Kaito's friends, but in this new, unexpected life that was unfolding around her. Even if it was only for a short while, she felt like she was finally getting a taste of something she'd never let herself enjoy before.
And it was all thanks to Kaito.