Sunday's sunlight streamed through the shopping mall's glass dome, casting a golden edge on the polished floor. Okabara Kyogumichi held his newly bought manga volume and was about to head to the restaurant on the top floor for a meal when he accidentally bumped into someone at a corner.
"Sorry," he quickly apologized, but froze when he looked down.
The girl in front of him was wearing a beige knitted cardigan and a plaid skirt, with a white beret on her head. It was Megumi Katou, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. She was carrying several shopping bags, clearly having been shopping for a while.
"Okabara-san?" Megumi Katou was also a little surprised, then showed a gentle smile. "What a coincidence, are you also out shopping?"
"Yeah, I bought a new manga volume." Kyogumichi shook the book in his hand, noticing the small rose pattern embroidered on the edge of her beret. "This outfit suits you very well."
Megumi Katou's cheeks flushed slightly: "Thank you, this was Mama's birthday gift to me." She looked at the manga in Kyogumichi's hand, "Are you going to eat? I'm also a little hungry."
"Together? There's a new Italian restaurant on the top floor with good reviews." Kyogumichi tentatively extended an invitation, receiving an affirmative reply.
Soft light music played in the restaurant. They sat by the window, and the sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a halo on Megumi Katou's hair.
She quietly flipped through the menu, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyelids.
"The creamy mushroom pasta here is said to be very delicious." Megumi Katou pointed to the picture on the menu, her tone calm.
"Then I'll order that, and a Tiramisu." Kyogumichi closed the menu and looked at her profile. "I haven't seen you at the library recently, are you very busy?"
"Yes, something happened at home." Megumi Katou stirred the lemonade in her cup. "I heard you got first place in your grade? That's very impressive."
"Just lucky." Kyogumichi smiled. "I finished that mystery novel you recommended last time, and the ending was indeed unexpected."
"Right? The author's foreshadowing was very clever." When talking about her favorite books, Megumi Katou's eyes immediately lit up, and she spoke more. "A sequel was recently released, have you read it?"
They chatted while eating, from books to movies, from campus life to career planning.
Although Megumi Katou didn't talk much, she always responded at the right time, and her occasional insights were very unique. Kyogumichi found it very comfortable to chat with her; there was no need to deliberately find topics, and silence didn't feel awkward.
After dinner, Megumi Katou suggested going to a bookstore: "I heard there's a new illustration collection that's very good, I want to take a look." Kyogumichi naturally wouldn't refuse and followed her into the bookstore.
Megumi Katou searched intently in front of the bookshelf, her beret gently swaying as she lowered her head. Sunlight streamed through the window onto her, making her look like a painting.
"Found it." She picked up a beautifully covered illustration collection, a little excited. "Look at this art style, isn't it very delicate?"
Kyogumichi leaned in to look, and they inevitably had some physical contact. Megumi Katou's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly handed the illustration collection to the cashier, a little flustered.
When they left the bookstore, Megumi Katou had another shopping bag in her hand. Kyogumichi wanted to take it, but Megumi Katou refused him.
As they passed the cinema, she looked at the poster and whispered, "This animated movie has very good reviews, but I haven't had a chance to see it."
"Do you have time now?" Kyogumichi looked at the time. "The next showing starts in ten minutes."
Megumi Katou looked up in surprise: "Can we?"
"Of course." Kyogumichi smiled and walked over to buy tickets.
The movie told a story about growth and farewell, with a warm and delicate plot.
Kyogumichi secretly observed Megumi Katou beside him, noticing that she watched very intently, occasionally wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes. When the movie ended, she sniffled and said, "The ending was a little sad, but very real."
"Growth is always accompanied by farewell." Kyogumichi sighed, noticing that her beret was crooked to one side, and couldn't help but reach out to straighten it for her. "Your hat is crooked."
Megumi Katou's cheeks turned crimson, and she lowered her head, softly saying, "Thank you."
They slowly walked through the mall, reaching the exit only as the sun set. The evening breeze blew gently, carrying a hint of coolness. Megumi Katou tied her scarf, just about to say goodbye, when a gust of wind blew her beret off, sending it spinning across the road.
"Ah!" Megumi Katou exclaimed, quickly chasing after it, but almost got hit by a bicycle.
Kyogumichi, quick-witted, pulled her back, then quickly crossed the road and picked up the white beret.
There was a little dust on the hat; he gently brushed it off, walked back to Megumi Katou, put the hat back on her head, and tidied her wind-blown bangs.
"Be careful." His voice was very soft.
Megumi Katou looked up, and they were close enough to feel each other's breath. Her eyes were like clear lake water, reflecting the afterglow of the sunset, and her cheeks were flushed. After several seconds, she finally lowered her head, "Thank you..."
"It's getting late, I'll walk you home." Kyogumichi was the first to break the silence.
"Okay." Megumi Katou nodded gently, and they walked side by side down the street in the sunset, their shadows stretching long.
They didn't talk much on the way, but there was a subtle understanding flowing in the air. When they reached Megumi Katou's apartment building, she turned around and smiled: "Thank you for today, I had a lot of fun."
"Me too." Kyogumichi said with a smile, "Let's go watch a movie together again if we have the chance next time."
Megumi Katou's eyes lit up: "Okay."
She paused, then added, "Next time, it's my treat for dinner."
Watching Megumi Katou's retreating figure as she entered the apartment building, Kyogumichi also turned and walked towards the bus stop.
Back home, he took out his phone and sent Megumi Katou a message: "Are you asleep?"
He quickly received a reply: "Not yet? I'm a little sleepless."
"Me too, how about we listen to music together then?"
"Okay."