The morning sun shone softly through the thin curtains of my bedroom window, painting golden lines across the wooden floor. Dust floated lazily in the light, and the gentle sound of chirping birds drifted in from outside.
My room was simple. Bookshelves lined one wall, overflowing with novels, notebooks, and drafts. A small wooden desk sat in the corner, cluttered with pens and a closed laptop. My black hoodie hung over the back of my chair, and the faint scent of ink and old paper lingered in the air.
I was curled up in bed, buried under a dark gray blanket, my head nestled against a pillow still warm from sleep. The sheets were messy—just like they always were after a night of restless turning.
I didn't want to get up yet. The bed was warm. The sunlight felt softer than usual. So I turned away from the window and closed my eyes again.
But then, the door creaked open—
And someone jumped onto me.
"Urgh—!"
My eyes flew open. A groan escaped me as the sudden weight pressed down on my chest.
Hovering just above me was a familiar face.
She had long, light-blue hair that spilled over her shoulders like silk. Her skin was fair, and her ocean-blue eyes looked straight into mine—clear, bright, and full of energy. Eyes that made my heart skip a beat.
It was Kuruha Mizuno—my childhood best friend.
She was wearing her usual sleepwear: an oversized hoodie that I was pretty sure used to be mine, and soft cotton shorts that showed her folded legs as she sat comfortably on top of me like it was the most normal thing in the world.
She smelled faintly of fresh soap and shampoo.
"Morning, Yehoshua," she said in a sing-song voice, smiling.
"Morning, Kuruha… You're up early," I mumbled, still half-asleep, my voice rough from sleep.
I stared up at her for a moment.
Same blue eyes. Same playful energy. Same warmth.
But why was my heart pounding?
And why did I feel so nervous just because she was this close?
She pinched my cheek gently, grinning.
"Yeho, get up. We have class today," she said.
"Oh, right… I forgot," I replied with a tired smile, trying to play it cool even as heat crept up my cheeks. "So... could you get off me so I can actually stand?"
She giggled and slid off the bed, letting me sit up and stretch my arms.
Sunlight continued to pour across the wooden floor as I grabbed the towel hanging from my bedpost.
"Kuruha, what time is it?" I asked, heading toward the closet.
She glanced at her phone.
"It's 6:30. You should take a bath—your hair's a mess."
I smirked, towel over my shoulder, and looked at her.
"Hey, Kuruha… want to join me?" I teased.
She froze.
Her face turned bright red, and she quickly looked away.
"U-uh… um…!"
I burst out laughing.
She looked like a tomato—and it was honestly adorable.
"I'm just kidding," I said, chuckling.
"Yeho! You're such a tease," she muttered, puffing her cheeks, still flustered.
I headed into the bathroom. The tiles were cool under my feet, and the mirror was slightly foggy from last night's shower. After a quick bath and brushing my teeth, I changed into my school uniform, which I had neatly folded on my chair the night before.
When I stepped back into the room, Kuruha was sitting on my bed, legs crossed, flipping through a notebook I'd left open.
She looked up at me and smiled.
"You ready?"
She looked beautiful in her school uniform. A crisp white blouse tucked into a dark blue skirt, with a red ribbon tied perfectly at her collar. Her light-blue hair was brushed down smoothly, glowing faintly in the morning light. Her ocean-blue eyes caught the sun like they were holding it.
I paused, caught in the moment.
"Yeah," I finally said, eyes lingering just a second longer than they should have. "Let's go."
We walked out the front door together, stepping into the cool morning air. The sky was pale, streaked with gold and hints of blue. Our shoes clicked softly against the pavement as we made our way to school, side by side.
We laughed. Teased each other. Bumped shoulders.
To anyone watching, we probably looked like a couple.
That's how close we were.
But only I knew—
How much I wanted us to be one.