The weekend air in Earthland was fresh, a soft breeze brushing through the bustling streets as Sakura Mall towered ahead like a beacon of excitement. At the main entrance, Haruto, Souta, and Tadao stood waiting. Souta scrolled casually through his phone, while Tadao leaned against a pillar with his usual calm expression. Haruto, however, kept glancing toward the direction of the station.
"Think they'll be late?" Souta asked, smirking.
"Beru and Luna? No way," Haruto replied, adjusting his bag strap. "Beru's always on time. She's—" He stopped mid-sentence as the girls finally came into view.
Beru, with her cheerful smile, walked alongside Luna. She wore a soft pastel dress, paired with a light cardigan, her hair loosely tied back. Haruto saw her in casual clothes almost every day—they were neighbors, after all—but for some reason, today felt… different. She looked radiant, glowing even more under the weekend sunlight. His chest stirred with a strange warmth he couldn't quite name.
"Sorry for the wait!" Beru waved brightly.
"You're right on time," Tadao reassured with his calm tone.
Souta's eyes flickered teasingly toward Haruto, who quickly turned his face away with a slight cough. "Let's just get going," he muttered.
---
Inside the mall, the group moved from shop to shop, their chatter filling the air. At the bookstore, they carefully picked out thick astronomy guides, star maps, and manuals on telescope use. Beru's eyes sparkled as she flipped through a beautifully illustrated stargazing journal.
"Look, Haruto! Doesn't this one look amazing?" she held it up.
"Yeah," Haruto said, smiling faintly at her enthusiasm. "It suits you."
Her cheeks warmed at the words, but she quickly tucked the book under her arm, pretending not to notice.
At another shop, they browsed through models of constellations, glow-in-the-dark stickers, and posters. For the heavier equipment—like a telescope stand and star projector—the staff promised to have them delivered directly to Sakura High's new astronomy clubroom the next day.
The highlight of their search came when they spotted a unique telescope, sleek and slightly larger than the others, with golden accents engraved with constellations.
"It almost looks… magical," Luna whispered in awe.
"It's perfect," Beru said, eyes shining. "This should definitely be ours."
The group agreed, and after arranging its delivery, they left with satisfied smiles.
---
At noon, they stopped at a cozy family restaurant inside the mall. Over plates of steaming pasta and sandwiches, their conversation shifted from schoolwork to random jokes. Souta made everyone laugh with a terrible impression of one of their teachers, while Luna kept rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself.
By evening, their shopping bags were full. Just before heading home, Souta volunteered to get ice cream for everyone.
He returned with cones for all, but when he handed Luna hers, it was a strawberry cheesecake flavor—the exact one she always bought.
"Wait a sec," Tadao raised an eyebrow. "Why does Luna get her favorite flavor while we get random ones?"
"Yeah," Haruto added with a sly smirk. "Are you playing favorites, Souta?"
"W-what? No! I just… happened to remember, that's all!" Souta protested, his face turning red.
Luna tilted her head with a mischievous smile. "Oh? So you do pay that much attention, huh?"
"Don't twist it!" Souta shouted, and the group burst into laughter, teasing him relentlessly as Luna enjoyed her ice cream smugly.
---
As the sky darkened into a deep velvet, the friends parted ways at the mall exit. Beru and Haruto walked home together, the streets quiet except for the hum of cicadas.
Beru clutched her bag close, her steps light with excitement. "Haruto, I can't wait for tomorrow. Our own club, our own room, our own telescope… it feels like a dream come true!"
Haruto glanced at her, noticing how her eyes gleamed under the streetlights. He couldn't help but find it… cute. A smile tugged at his lips.
"Yeah," he said softly. "I think… we have some kind of connection with the stars."
Beru blinked, her heart skipping at the unexpected words. "A connection… with the stars?"
"Mm." Haruto lifted his gaze upward. The night sky stretched endlessly above them, countless stars scattered like diamonds across the black canvas. "See? They're shining so brightly tonight. Almost as if they're watching us."
Beru followed his gaze, her chest filling with warmth. Her crush, her feelings—she kept them hidden, yet moments like this made her dream that maybe, just maybe, someday he would see her the same way.
And under the starlit sky, their footsteps echoed side by side, carrying them home.
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To be continued...