The competition was just a few days away, and Tsukiko had spent the entire afternoon in the final discussion with her teammates, going over every detail of their presentation, refining their arguments, and rehearsing their delivery.
Exhausted but focused, Tsukiko walked home, her bag slung over her shoulder, her thoughts drifting as she passed the familiar streets.
The sun was starting to dip, casting a warm glow over the city, and the gentle breeze swirled around her, carrying the faint hum of city life.
As she walked, Tsukiko tried to push the weight of the upcoming competition out of her mind. She had done everything she could, and now there was nothing left but to wait for the moment when everything would be put to the test.
But then, a strange sensation crept over her.
A feeling that had become all too familiar lately. It was as though someone was watching her. She paused for a moment, glancing around, her senses heightened.
She took a breath and then called out without turning around, her voice firm yet carrying an edge of curiosity. "Stop hiding."
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, from behind a nearby streetlamp, a figure stepped forward, his face flushing with surprise and embarrassment.
Kai.
He scratched the back of his head, awkwardly stepping out from the shadows, his usual confident demeanor faltering under Tsukiko's sharp gaze.
"You caught me," he admitted, his voice a little sheepish.
Tsukiko raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you following me?"
"N-no! I mean, yes, but not like that!" Kai stammered.
Tsukiko sighed, clearly exasperated, but there was also something almost amused about the way she looked at him. "Let's talk," she said, turning toward the park nearby.
Kai blinked in surprise. "Wait, seriously? You want to talk to me?"
Tsukiko gave him a long look. "I didn't say it was going to be a pleasant conversation."
Kai quickly trotted behind her, his heart still racing but now filled with a sense of anticipation. They arrived at the park, and after a moment of standing near one of the benches under a large tree, Tsukiko sat down and patted the space next to her.
Kai hesitated for only a second before sitting beside her, eager to get to the heart of the matter.
"So…" Tsukiko started, her gaze thoughtful as she looked at him. "How do you know that I like sweets?"
Kai's expression faltered as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Uhh… well, I saw you looking at the cakes in the bakery window the other day. You were staring at them for a while. So, I kinda… assumed?"
Tsukiko narrowed her eyes. "So you ARE stalking me."
Kai flailed. "No! It was a coincidence! I just happened to see you there! maybe I'm a little guilty of wanting to be around you more often. But it's not like I'm stalking you, I promise! I just—" He stopped himself, realizing he was rambling.
She studied him, unsure if she believed him, then sighed. "Why do you like me, anyway? We barely know each other." she asked, her voice suddenly softer, more serious.
Kai blinked, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't expected her to ask him this directly, but the moment felt like it was closing in on him. He wasn't sure how to answer.
He scratched his head nervously, avoiding her gaze at first. "Well… if you put it that way, I guess it is hard to explain." He let out a short, awkward laugh, trying to cover the nervousness in his tone. "But, um… I guess I could say it was love at first sight?"
Tsukiko raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Love at first sight?"
Kai nodded, though with a sheepish grin. "Yeah. I mean, when I first came into the flower shop, you were taking care of the flowers… and there was this, like, quiet elegance to the way you handled them. It was like… you blended in with them. I don't know how to explain it, but it was like you belonged there, with the flowers. I couldn't stop thinking about you. It was like every time I saw you, my heart… kind of skipped a beat."
Tsukiko blinked, taken aback by his words. She hadn't expected him to describe her so… poetically.
She remained silent for a long moment, her eyes downcast as she mulled over his words.
The park was quiet, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Tsukiko looked down at her hands, unsure of how to continue. Finally, she sighed, breaking the stillness. "I appreciate your feelings, Kai," she said softly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye, "but I'm not looking for a relationship right now."
Kai stood frozen, her words hitting him like a sudden downpour. Tsukiko's voice was honest, but something about the situation felt off to her.
Was she being too harsh? She didn't want to hurt him, but the truth was, relationships were the last thing on her mind.
She had too many things to achieve. There was no room for distractions.
Still, as she felt Kai's gaze on her, she added almost absentmindedly, "Plus, there's nothing charming about me. If you get to know me better, you'll find I'm really boring."
Her voice carried a hint of reluctance, as though she didn't entirely believe her own words. But it was easier to deflect, to keep a safe distance. She didn't want to give him false hope.
Before she could dwell on it further, Kai's response came, quick and unexpected.
"That's funny."
Tsukiko blinked, confused. "Funny?"
Kai smiled, his tone light yet sincere. "I mean, I've always believed that the most intriguing people are the ones who don't try to be charming. You're like a hidden gem—one of those rare finds like an uncharted book, with pages I can't wait to read. If you think you're boring… I'd say you're the kind of boring I wouldn't mind getting lost in."
Tsukiko's eyes widened in surprise. The way he said it… it wasn't just flattery. There was a sincerity in his voice that made her heart do a strange little flip.
She cleared her throat, trying to regain some composure. "Fine, fine," she said, her voice unusually soft as she turned away, her heart racing. "I have to go. My grandma is waiting for me."
Without another word, she started walking, hoping to escape the sudden surge of warmth in her chest. But before she could take more than a few steps, Kai's voice called out after her.
"Wait! Tsukiko!" he yelled, his tone louder than usual, carrying a bit of excitement.
Tsukiko stopped in her tracks, turning around to see him standing there with an eager expression. His face was lit up with hope. "So.. can we meet again sometime?" he asked, his words almost bubbling out of him in his usual cheerful way.
Tsukiko blinked, a little caught off guard by his sudden question.
She looked at him again, and this time, there was a small smile on her lips. One that wasn't forced, one that wasn't hiding behind her usual indifference.
"Yeah, sure," she said, her voice a little quieter than before.
Kai's face broke into the widest grin she'd ever seen, and before she knew it, he was practically hopping in place like a kid who'd just gotten his favorite candy. "Yes! I'll make sure to make it worth your time!"
Tsukiko's lips twitched into a smile of her own, though she quickly turned away before he could see it. "Okay, then," she muttered, shaking her head.
As she walked away, she could hear him calling out to her, "I'll be waiting!"
For the first time in a while, she felt a strange sense of lightness as she made her way home. It wasn't so much the fact that she had agreed to meet him again, but more the unexpected warmth of the situation. It felt… nice.