Aki walked through the school hallways feeling the lingering weight of yesterday's rain. The dampness had seeped into her shoes, but it was nothing compared to the heaviness in her chest. Every time she thought of Lua, the memory of his hand on her shoulder under the umbrella replayed like a fragile, intoxicating dream she could not escape. She tried to push it away, tried to focus on classes, on homework, on anything that would let her breathe without her heart accelerating. But it was impossible. He had invaded her thoughts entirely.
During lunch break, she found herself wandering toward the courtyard where a few students had gathered near the bulletin boards. Lua was nowhere in sight, thankfully, but that did not ease the tension coiling in her stomach. She scanned the area with automatic vigilance, a habit that had become second nature. She had spent too many years with him to stop noticing him, even in absentia.
She almost didn't notice it at first—a small stack of old photos perched on the edge of the art room display table. Curious, she moved closer. Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked one up. It was a picture of the two of them from years ago, taken in the very same courtyard. They were much smaller, faces bright and unselfconscious, Aki's hair a little shorter, Lua's white locks untamed, both of them smiling at the camera.
A wave of nostalgia washed over her. She remembered the day clearly. They had spent the afternoon racing around the schoolyard after class, laughing until their sides ached, and a student had taken the photo. She had been holding a small, squashed flower she had found by the fence, proud to show it to him. He had laughed at her overly dramatic display of admiration, teasing her for the tiny bloom she had insisted was extraordinary.
Aki's chest tightened. The memory was a reminder of everything she had always cherished about him. He had always been there, steady and constant, the kind of person who made the world feel safer simply by existing nearby. And yet, now, she realized that every memory was tinged with a new ache. She wanted more than friendship, more than the simplicity of those past days, but the thought terrified her. She could not risk losing him.
As she turned the photo over, her heart skipped a beat. Lua had appeared behind her suddenly, his shadow stretching over the table.
"You're looking at that again?" he asked, his voice soft, almost amused.
Aki jumped, clutching the photo to her chest like a shield. Her face burned red as she spun around to face him. "I… I was just… remembering," she stammered.
Lua's red eyes softened as he smiled at her. He reached out casually, touching the corner of the photo. "We were so small," he said, his tone wistful. "It feels like a different lifetime."
Aki nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from him. The way he looked at her now was different. He was closer than usual, leaning slightly forward, a subtle intensity in his expression that made her heart flutter. She felt her knees weaken just from the proximity, the nearness of him sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
"Do you ever think about those times?" he asked quietly.
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "All the time," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Every fiber of her being wanted to lean toward him, to close the distance and feel his warmth again, but fear held her back. She was terrified of what she might feel, terrified of what he might see in her eyes.
Lua tilted his head, watching her carefully. "You're quiet today," he teased gently. His hand brushed lightly against hers as he pointed to the photo, and Aki's chest clenched violently.
Her fingers twitched, wanting to reach for him, to feel the connection more, but she could barely move. Her mind was flooded with a mixture of longing, panic, and something intoxicating she had never allowed herself to name. Her heart beat erratically, and the memory of yesterday's rain under the umbrella returned in a rush, making her knees feel weak again.
"Lua…" she whispered, just his name, but it carried more emotion than she intended.
He smiled softly, leaning just slightly closer. "I know," he murmured. "I remember everything too."
Aki felt herself melt a little under the weight of his gaze. She had always known Lua was special, but now, confronted with the full scope of her emotions, she realized that she could no longer deny the truth. He was everything she wanted, everything she needed. Her thoughts were a tangle of fear and desire, jealousy at every girl who noticed him, longing for every moment he shared with her.
A gentle breeze fluttered through the courtyard, lifting stray strands of hair across her face. Lua reached out almost instinctively, brushing them back behind her ear. The contact was simple, casual, yet it sent shivers through her entire body. She felt dizzy, weak, and completely vulnerable.
"You are still just as stubborn as ever," he said, teasing softly. "Do you remember how you refused to let me carry your backpack when you were seven?"
Aki laughed nervously, though her heart was still racing. "I… I remember," she admitted. "I did not want you to spoil my independence."
He smiled, his red eyes gleaming warmly. "And yet, here you are, still letting me be close."
Aki's breath caught. The way he phrased it, the warmth in his gaze, the gentle teasing—all of it combined into a force she could not resist. Her chest tightened painfully, her lips parted slightly, and she felt herself leaning forward just enough to shorten the distance between them, though she quickly pulled back, trembling.
Lua noticed, of course. He reached out slowly, taking her hand gently. The touch was light, tentative, and yet it sent electricity through her body. Her fingers curled reflexively around his, and her heart seemed to stall, then race uncontrollably.
"I… Lua," she began, but the words faltered. Her voice shook with emotion. "I… I cannot…"
He held her gaze, his thumb brushing softly over her knuckles. "Shh," he said quietly. "You do not have to say anything. I know."
The honesty in his tone, the quiet intensity, left her completely unarmed. Aki felt weak, exposed, and more alive than she had ever been in her life. Every memory, every laugh, every shared secret from their childhood came rushing back, mingling with the new feelings that had blossomed in her heart.
For a moment, the courtyard, the school, and the world beyond seemed to vanish entirely. There was only Lua, his hand in hers, his red eyes locked on her, and the overwhelming realization that she had loved him all along.
Aki's knees trembled slightly, and she allowed herself a small, shaky smile. She felt dizzy, almost as if the weight of all the years and all her feelings had finally lifted just enough to make her see clearly. Lua had always been her home, her constant, and the one she could not imagine living without.
She squeezed his hand gently, her voice soft but determined. "I… remember everything too," she whispered.
Lua smiled brighter this time, and for the first time in days, Aki felt the warmth of relief wash over her. They stood there, hand in hand, surrounded by the echoes of their shared past, the photos, the memories, and the beginnings of something that went far beyond friendship.
She realized then, with a fluttering heartbeat, that no matter how jealous, afraid, or flustered she felt, she wanted nothing more than to stay by his side. To hold his hand. To feel his warmth. To be his.
The ten steps between their houses, the years of laughter, the moments they had shared—everything had led to this fragile, tender realization. And Aki could finally admit it to herself, if not yet to him: she was completely, irrevocably in love.