The day after the dinner, Maya arrived at school earlier than usual. She found herself searching for Kaito, scanning the classroom and hallways, but he was nowhere to be seen. Her heart felt uneasy. What if he wasn't coming? She shook the thought away, but her mind drifted back to the previous night. The memory of Kaito's lips brushing against hers replayed like a scene from a dream. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she absentmindedly touched her lips.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her desk. Maya snapped out of her thoughts to see Rika standing beside her. Maya froze. Her chest tightened, and her hands gripped the edge of the desk. Why was Rika here? Was she about to humiliate her again?
Rika hesitated for a moment, then spoke, her tone softer than Maya had ever heard.
"Maya... I wanted to say I'm sorry," she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Maya blinked, stunned. She hadn't expected this.
"I was jealous," Rika admitted, looking down at the floor. "You're always so quiet, so distant, but... Kaito noticed you. I thought if I made things harder for you, maybe he'd notice me instead." She sighed, then looked directly at Maya. "It was childish and I regret it. You didn't deserve any of it."
Maya's throat tightened. She wanted to respond, but words failed her. Instead, she nodded slightly and murmured, "okay."
Rika gave her a small, hesitant smile. "Thank you. I'll leave you alone for now, but... I hope someday we can talk properly." With that, she walked away, leaving Maya feeling a mix of relief and confusion.
P
Later that morning, Kaito finally arrived, strolling into the classroom with his usual carefree energy. He dropped his bag onto his desk and muttered to himself, "Why did I oversleep today of all days?"
Maya spotted him and instinctively stood up, her heart pounding. Each step she took toward him made her pulse quicken. She could still feel the warmth of his lips from the night before, the softness of his touch. She wanted to talk to him, to greet him, but the closer she got, the redder her face became.
When she was just a few steps away, she froze. Her courage faltered, and she turned to retreat.
"Maya!" Kaito's voice stopped her in her tracks.
She turned back slowly. "Y-Yes?"
"Thanks for last night," he said with a casual smile, oblivious to her inner turmoil.
Her cheeks burned even brighter. She tried to act composed, but her fingers fidgeted with her skirt. "W-What do you mean?" she stammered.
Kaito chuckled, reaching out to lightly pat her head. "You're fun to tease, you know that? I mean the dinner. It was nice." His eyes softened. "Also, you looked really beautiful."
Maya's blush deepened, and she waved her hands in protest. "S-Stop saying things like that!"
He laughed, his warm laughter easing her nervousness. For a moment, everything felt lighter.
After school, the two walked home together. The sky was overcast, hinting at rain, but neither seemed to mind. As they strolled side by side, Maya mentioned Rika's apology.
"She came to me today," Maya said quietly. "She said she was sorry."
Kaito nodded thoughtfully. "That's good. You should forgive her."
Maya hesitated. "But... what if she does something again?"
"I don't think she will," Kaito replied. "People can change if they really want to. Give her a chance."
Maya glanced at him, her steps slowing. His words carried so much calm and understanding. It was hard not to trust him.
"Okay," she said softly. "I'll try."
As they walked, Maya's hand brushed against Kaito's. Her heartbeat quickened, and before she could overthink, she reached out and gently held his hand. The warmth of his touch sent a wave of comfort through her.
Kaito glanced down at their intertwined hands, smiling. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
Maya looked away, her face a bright shade of pink. She stole glances at him, marveling at his relaxed demeanor, his easy smile. To her, he seemed almost perfect.
"By the way," she said, breaking the silence. "My brother asked for your number. I gave it to him."
Kaito chuckled. "No problem. Your brother seems cool."
As they neared Maya's house, the first drops of rain began to fall. They quickened their pace, laughing as they tried to dodge the rain.
When they finally reached her gate, Maya's phone buzzed. It was her brother, asking to meet Kaito. She relayed the message, and Kaito nodded, curious but unbothered.
"I guess I'll see what he wants," Kaito said with a grin.
Maya hesitated for a moment, then gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Thank you... for everything."
He smiled, ruffling her hair before heading off, leaving her standing at the gate, watching him disappear into the rain.
Maya stepped into her home, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The rain outside had grown heavier, each drop hammering against the roof like a drumbeat. She leaned against the door for a moment, her breath catching as she realized how quickly the warmth of her house contrasted with the chill of the rain outside.
Her thoughts immediately turned to Kaito. Why didn't I make him stay longer? she thought, clenching her fists in frustration. The rain was so heavy now. Was he okay? Had he made it home safely? A pang of worry twisted in her chest. She wanted to call him, to check on him, but something held her back. Maybe it was the awkwardness of what had happened earlier. The memory of their kiss replayed in her mind, her face flushing crimson as her heart thudded against her ribcage.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed her phone buzzing on the table. Snapping out of her reverie, she picked it up and saw her brother's name flashing on the screen.
"Hello?" she answered, her voice soft.
"Hey, Maya," her brother's voice came through, a mix of calm and urgency. "I'll be home late tonight. I'm meeting up with Kaito."
Her heart skipped a beat. "K-Kaito? Why?"
"I just need to talk to him about something," he replied vaguely. "Don't worry about it, okay?"
"Is everything alright?" she pressed, her voice tinged with concern.
"It's nothing serious. Just... some brotherly advice," he said, his tone lightening. "Get some rest. I'll see you later."
Before she could question him further, he hung up. Maya stared at her phone, her thoughts swirling. What could her brother possibly want to talk to Kaito about? A sense of unease settled in her stomach, but she forced herself to push it aside.
Up in her room, Maya sat at her desk, the rain still drumming against the windows. She glanced at the stack of papers before her — her sketches, a collection of moments she had poured her heart into over the past few days. She pulled the top sheet forward, revealing the nearly completed image she had been working on.
It was a portrait of Kaito.
Her pencil strokes had captured him perfectly: the sharpness of his jawline, the easy warmth of his smile, the gentle sparkle in his eyes. She felt a surge of pride as she looked at the drawing, though it was tinged with embarrassment. She'd never drawn someone so meticulously before, but something about Kaito had inspired her.
With a sigh, she picked up her pencil and began adding the finishing touches, shading in the faint lines of his hair, smoothing out the folds in his shirt. As she worked, she found herself smiling softly.
Maybe I'll give this to him, she thought. As a thank you... or something.
Her cheeks burned at the thought of handing him the sketch. What would he think? Would he find it strange? Or would he smile that warm, easy smile that always made her feel like everything would be okay?
Meanwhile, in a quiet park on the other side of town, Kaito stood under the shelter of a large pavilion, shaking droplets of rain from his jacket. Across from him stood Maya's brother, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on his face.
"So," Kaito began, running a hand through his damp hair. "What's this about?"
Maya's brother let out a long sigh, stepping closer. "I wanted to talk about my sister."
Kaito's eyebrows rose slightly, but he said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"She wasn't always like this, you know," her brother said, his voice softer now. "Quiet, withdrawn... hiding herself away. It's been like that for a long time. She's had a tough time trusting people."
Kaito's expression grew serious. "I figured as much. She doesn't talk much about herself."
Her brother nodded. "But ever since you showed up, she's been... different. Happier. Livelier. She smiles more now, laughs more. And it's because of you."
Kaito looked away, a slight blush creeping up his neck. "I don't know about that..."
"I do," her brother said firmly, his gaze steady. "You've done something none of us could. You brought her out of her shell." He paused, his tone shifting to something more resolute. "But I need to know that you're not going to hurt her."
Kaito's eyes widened. "I'd never—"
Her brother held up a hand to stop him. "I believe you. You seem like a good guy, Kaito. But Maya's fragile. I need you to promise me that you won't do anything to make things harder for her. No drama, no games. Can you do that?"
Kaito met his gaze, his expression earnest. "I promise. I'll do my best to make sure she's happy."
For a moment, her brother studied him, then nodded. "Good."
The tension eased, and a small smile played on her brother's lips. "You play soccer, right?"
Kaito blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "Yeah... why?"
Her brother grinned, pulling a ball from behind his back. "We're on the same team, remember? Let's see what you've got."
Kaito chuckled, shaking his head. "In the middle of this rain?"
"Why not?" her brother said, already jogging toward the open field.
Kaito followed, the rain soaking through his clothes as they passed the ball back and forth, their laughter ringing out through the downpour. For a moment, the world felt simple, free of complications.
Back in her room, Maya set down her pencil, staring at the finished sketch. The likeness was uncanny, as though Kaito's warmth and kindness had been captured on paper. She smiled softly, her fingers brushing over the image.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, its steady rhythm matching the beat of her heart. She wondered if Kaito was okay, if he was thinking of her too.
Unbeknownst to her, miles away, Kaito paused mid-game, staring up at the sky. His thoughts drifted to Maya, to her shy smiles and quiet strength.
"Hey," her brother called, breaking his reverie. "You spacing out already? We're just getting started."
Kaito laughed, shaking off his thoughts. "Yeah, yeah. Let's see if you can keep up."
As the rain poured down, the two continued their game, the weight of their earlier conversation slowly washing away