Morning sunlight spilled softly through the curtains, dust motes dancing lazily in the air. Toshio blinked awake, the sound of piano notes still echoing faintly in his dreams.
It wasn't just music anymore. It was her voice.
"Airi…" he murmured.
He couldn't stop thinking about her — her soft smile, the sadness in her eyes, the way she said okay like it was a secret she was afraid to keep.
He had promised to listen. And somehow, that promise had begun to mean more than he expected.
At school, everything felt louder — footsteps, laughter, gossip. But Toshio barely noticed. His eyes kept drifting toward the window, where cherry blossoms swayed beyond the glass.
Then, the door slid open.
Airi stepped inside.
The entire class went quiet.
She was wearing the standard uniform — simple, neat — but there was something about her presence that made everyone stare. Maybe it was the calm in her movements, or maybe it was the faint grace that followed her like a whisper.
She scanned the room, her eyes finding Toshio. A tiny smile tugged at her lips.
"Toshio," she greeted softly.
He blinked, surprised. "You… transferred here?"
She nodded. "My uncle arranged it. He said I needed to 'socialize more.'"
Murmurs spread across the room instantly.
"Wait, she knows him?""Since when did Toshio talk to Airi Misaki?""Lucky guy…"
Toshio rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly aware of the stares. "Guess we're classmates now."
She smiled again — quiet, gentle, and devastating. "Looks like it."
During lunch, she sat beside him on the rooftop. The wind tangled her hair as she unwrapped a small bento box.
"You made this yourself?" Toshio asked.
"Mm-hm. I used to cook a lot for…" Her voice faded before she finished the sentence.
He didn't press further. Instead, he smiled. "It smells good."
She hesitated for a moment, then pushed a piece of tamagoyaki toward him with her chopsticks. "Here."
He blinked. "You're feeding me?"
"Just try it," she said, trying not to smile.
He leaned forward and took the bite. Sweet. Soft. Perfect.
"Whoa. That's actually amazing."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You could open a café with this."
She giggled — the sound light and unexpected. "You exaggerate."
But her cheeks flushed slightly, and for a fleeting second, Toshio realized just how much that laughter meant to him.
After school, the two walked home together. The sky was tinged with orange, and the air smelled faintly of rain and spring.
"Hey, Toshio," Airi said, glancing sideways. "Do you ever feel like… meeting someone changes the rhythm of your life?"
He thought for a moment. "Yeah. Like suddenly, everything that used to be quiet gets a heartbeat."
She stopped walking. "That's exactly how I feel."
Their eyes met, and for the first time, neither of them looked away.
The distance between them felt almost nonexistent — like one more breath would be enough to close it.
Then a shout broke the moment.
"Yo, Toshio! You're walking home with her?"
It was Ryuu, his loudmouthed friend, smirking from across the street.
Toshio groaned. "It's not what you think!"
Airi laughed softly beside him, hiding her smile behind her hand.
But even as they parted ways that evening, Toshio could still feel it — that silent electricity between them.
That almost.
That heartbeat away.