When they finally reached the park, both of them stopped.
The entire place was empty.
No kids running, no couples walking, no families sitting on benches — nothing. Just silence and the rustling of leaves.
Arashi raised an eyebrow."This is… unusual," he said, scanning the area. "The park is never this empty."
Ayane didn't respond. She just stared ahead, her fingers lightly gripping the strap of her bag. Her heart was beating too fast to speak.
Then she quietly said, "Arashi… let's go to the swings first."
Arashi blinked in surprise."Oh—yeah, sure," he said, hiding a relieved smile.Thank you, God, he thought.I didn't have to ask her to go to the swings.
They walked to the swings and sat down, the old chains creaking softly beneath their weight. For a few minutes, neither of them said a word. The silence wasn't uncomfortable — just heavy with something neither could name.
Finally, Arashi opened his mouth.
"Aya—"
But at the exact same moment, Ayane also spoke.
"Arashi—"
Their eyes locked instantly.
And then both of them whipped their heads away in opposite directions, blushing so hard they could feel the heat in their ears. Ayane gently pushed herself on the swing to distract from the embarrassment. Arashi looked at the sky for no reason at all.
A few seconds passed.
Arashi cleared his throat and tried again."So… Ayane, what were you saying?"
Ayane looked straight ahead, trying to calm her pounding heart."I was thinking…" she said quietly, "that maybe… we should play a game."
"A game?" Arashi asked, curious. "Yeah? What game?"
Ayane finally turned toward him, her eyes soft but nervous."Let's play a game together," she repeated, her voice calm but hiding something deeper.
Ayane gently tapped her fingers on the swing's chain, then turned toward Arashi with a small, almost shy smile.
"The loser…" she said softly, "has to tell a secret. Something they've been hiding from the other person."
Arashi blinked."A secret?"
She nodded. "Yes. Whoever loses has to tell something."
Before Arashi could fully process that, she continued:
"And I was thinking… let's play the shoe-throw game. Whoever's shoe lands the farthest wins."
Arashi froze.
For a moment he just stared at her, stunned.This… this is exactly the game that Mizuki told me about. The same plan. The same setup. How is this even possible?
For a second, he wondered if Ayane could read minds.
Then he slowly inhaled, exhaled, and whispered to himself in his heart,Thank you, God. Thank you so much.
Out loud he said, "Yeah… no problem. Let's do it."
Ayane said lightly."Alright, Arashi. Your turn first."
Arashi confidently lifted his shoe and prepared to throw it with his hand.
Ayane stared at him for two seconds… then suddenly burst into loud, uncontrollable laughter.
"A–Arashi… what are you doing?" she said, half laughing, half shocked.
"What do you mean?" Arashi frowned. "Throwing the shoe. This is how people do it, right?"
Ayane shook her head so fast her hair swayed."No! This is not how the game works at all!" she said, still giggling. "You really don't know how to play, do you?"
Arashi blinked, then looked away in embarrassment."I… maybe I forgot the rules."
"You forgot because you never knew them," she teased.
Before he could protest, Ayane casually hopped back onto the swing and showed him the proper way — balancing, positioning her foot, and preparing the shoe at the edge in that classic style.
Arashi stared like he was seeing advanced rocket science.
"O-Oh… so that is how it's done."
Ayane grinned proudly."Exactly. Now try it properly."
Arashi stepped onto the swing, trying to copy everything she had shown him. He looked like someone performing a dangerous stunt, concentrating way too hard, tongue almost sticking out.
Then — with a determined kick — he launched his shoe.
It flew through the air…
And landed embarrassingly close.Barely any distance at all.
Arashi's eyes widened. "N-No way. Seriously? Am I cursed today?"
Ayane leaned forward, laughing even harder now."Arashi! How can someone be this bad at a children's game? This is actually impressive!"
"It's not impressive!" Arashi snapped dramatically. "It's tragic! Tragic, Ayane!"
Ayane wiped a tear of laughter from her eye."Alright then… my turn. Prepare to lose."
Meanwhile Arashi folded his hands together like he was about to perform a prayer ritual.Oh God… save me. Don't let her win. Please don't let her win…
Ayane steadied herself on the swing, shoe in place, confidence glowing in her eyes.
"Here goes," she said softly.
Arashi immediately closed his eyes, bracing himself. He could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears as he waited for the sound of the shoe landing somewhere — a thud, a bounce, anything.
But nothing came.
He slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw made him freeze.
Ayane's shoe was still right next to the swing. It hadn't gone anywhere. Not even a little. It was as if she hadn't thrown it at all.
Arashi blinked, confused, his heart already racing.
Ayane leaned slightly forward, her lips curling into a small, almost mischievous smile.
"Looks like I lost," she said softly, her voice carrying just enough for him to hear. "So… here's my secret."
Arashi's chest tightened. His heart seemed to skip a beat.
"This… this is my secret," she continued, her eyes locking onto his. "Arashi… I... I really... I really like you."
Time seemed to stop. The swing creaked faintly beneath them, the breeze whispered through the trees, but Arashi didn't hear anything else.
He just stared at her, his heart pounding so violently it felt like it might burst from his chest.
Ayane's confession hung in the air, fragile and perfect, as the evening light brushed softly across the empty park.
And in that quiet moment, nothing else mattered.