TAKE ME BACK
TO THE YEAR
1981
Chapter 10:
"Walking Her Home"
After the festival had come to an end, the streets began to clear as people slowly made their way home. The once lively and crowded atmosphere had quieted, leaving behind only the soft glow of lanterns and the distant echoes of laughter.
Haruto walked beside Souta, their pace slow and unhurried. He insisted on walking her home—partly because it was late, and he wanted to make sure she was safe, but mostly because he wasn't ready for the night to end just yet.
The air was cooler now, a gentle breeze rustling the fabric of their yukatas. They walked in comfortable silence for a while before Souta finally spoke.
"That was fun, wasn't it?" She looked up at him with a small smile.
Haruto nodded. "Yeah. It was."
Souta let out a dreamy sigh. "The fireworks were amazing this year. And the food! I think I ate way too much."
Haruto smirked. "You always do."
Souta gasped dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. "Excuse me?! Are you saying I eat a lot?"
Haruto shrugged, teasingly looking away. "I'm just stating facts."
She playfully nudged his arm. "Rude."
He chuckled, glancing at her. "But really… I'm glad we went together."
Souta's teasing expression softened, and she smiled warmly. "Me too. It wouldn't have been the same without you."
For some reason, those words made Haruto's heart race a little faster.
They continued walking, the streetlights casting long shadows as they neared Souta's house.
When they finally arrived, she stopped at the gate, turning to face him.
"Thanks for walking me home," she said, hugging her arms. "And for winning me that stuffed animal."
Haruto stuffed his hands into his pockets, shifting slightly on his feet. "It was nothing."
Souta shook her head. "No, really. I had a great time today, Haruto."
He looked at her for a moment, the warmth in her voice making it hard to say anything sarcastic for once. Instead, he gave a small nod.
"You should get inside. It's late."
Souta hummed in agreement but made no move to leave just yet. She stared at him for a second longer before grinning.
"Don't forget your promise," she reminded him.
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Promise?"
She rolled her eyes. "That you'd be the one waiting for me tomorrow instead of the other way around. Remember?"
Ah. Right. He had promised that.
Haruto smirked. "Of course, I remember. I'm not that unreliable."
Souta laughed. "We'll see about that."
She finally took a step back, reaching for the door. Before she entered, she turned to him once more. "Goodnight, Haruto."
"Night," he said, watching as she stepped inside.
He remained standing there, waiting until the door clicked shut before he exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Then, with one last glance at her house, he turned on his heel and started walking back to his own.
The night was quiet now, and the stars above twinkled softly.
As he walked, his mind replayed everything—her smile, her laughter, the way she looked under the festival lights.
And for the first time in a while, he found himself looking forward to tomorrow.
———
The Morning After
The night had been short. Or at least, it felt that way.
Haruto's alarm blared at exactly 6:30 AM, dragging him out of the peaceful slumber he barely had. He groaned, lazily reaching out to smack the snooze button before rolling over and staring at the ceiling.
For a moment, he just lay there, blinking up at the faint rays of morning sunlight that seeped through the curtains. His mind was still foggy with sleep, but bits and pieces of last night began creeping back—
The festival.
The fireworks.
Souta.
His heart did an annoying little flip at the thought of her in that light blue yukata.
He squeezed his eyes shut and exhaled deeply. "I need to get a grip."
With one last groan, he forced himself out of bed, stretching his stiff limbs before trudging toward the bathroom.
-Morning Routine
He turned on the faucet, splashing cool water on his face in hopes of fully waking up. As he brushed his teeth, he stared at his reflection in the mirror, feeling oddly restless.
Why was he so... jittery?
It wasn't like this was the first time he was waiting for Souta. They walked to school together all the time.
But this time was different.
This time, he had promised to wait for her.
Once he was done freshening up, he went back to his room and pulled on his school uniform—a crisp white shirt and neatly pressed pants. He ran a hand through his slightly messy hair, debating whether he should actually bother styling it.
"Tch. Whatever." He muttered, grabbing his bag before heading downstairs.
His mother was already in the kitchen, sipping on a cup of coffee while flipping through the morning newspaper. She barely looked up when she heard him coming down.
"Up early for once?" she mused, glancing at the clock.
Haruto rolled his eyes. "I always wake up at this time."
His mother gave him a knowing look. "Sure you do."
He ignored her teasing tone and grabbed a slice of toast from the plate on the table, stuffing it in his mouth as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
"I'm heading out," he mumbled between bites.
His mother raised an eyebrow. "Already? You're usually dragging your feet at this hour."
Haruto avoided her gaze, suddenly feeling exposed. He just shrugged. "I promised someone I'd wait for them today."
His mother hummed knowingly, sipping her coffee. "Oh, someone, huh?"
He groaned. "It's not like that."
She just smirked. "Mhm. Sure. Have fun, then."
Shaking his head, Haruto grabbed his shoes and slipped them on before stepping outside.
Waiting for Her
The morning air was crisp and fresh, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the nearby houses. It was quiet—only a few early risers walking around, the occasional bicycle passing by.
Haruto made his way to the usual spot near Souta's house—the small corner right outside her gate. He leaned against the fence, shoving his hands into his pockets as he waited.
He was early. Probably too early.
He tapped his foot against the pavement, glancing at his phone. 7:05 AM.
"Why am I like this?" he muttered under his breath.
She wouldn't be out for at least another ten minutes, but still, he found himself staring at her front door, waiting, anticipating.
His mind drifted back to last night, to the way she smiled at him before disappearing inside.
"I'm really glad we're going together."
He let out a slow breath, shaking his head.
What was she doing to him?
Just as he was about to check the time again, the front door creaked open, and there she was.
Souta stepped outside, adjusting the strap of her bag as she blinked at him in surprise. Then, a slow, teasing smile spread across her lips.
"Wow," she said, stepping closer. "You're actually here before me."
Haruto scoffed, crossing his arms. "You sound so surprised."
She hummed. "That's because I am surprised. I almost thought I'd have to drag you out of bed again."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, looking away. "I keep my promises, you know."
Souta grinned. "Well, I'm impressed. Maybe you do have some responsibility in you after all."
He rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
As they fell into step beside each other, heading toward school, Haruto felt the restless energy in him settle.
He didn't know why he was so worked up earlier.
Because now that she was here, walking beside him as always—
Everything felt just right.