The school playground was alive with noise—children laughing and running under the warm afternoon sun.
Rai sprinted awkwardly, trying to keep up. Of course, she tripped again, falling hard onto the dirt. Scratches quickly appeared on her knees and arms. She touched them carefully, wincing.
Yuki jogged over, her hair bouncing in the sunlight, concern written across her face.
"You're really terrible at sports, Rai-chan," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "You always fall! Look at all your cuts every time we play."
Rai lowered her head, blinking back tears. Not because of Yuki's words—but because of the sting of her wounds.
Just then, the school bell rang sharply across the playground.
Quickly, Rai wiped her tears with her sleeve.
No one should see me like this, she thought.
Later, while walking home with Yuki, something caught Rai's attention near the school gate.
A colorful poster was pinned to the bulletin board.
Piano Competition for Young Students
A grand piano gleamed under bright stage lights in the picture.
Rai stared at the black-and-white keys. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat. The notes in the picture seemed to call to her in a quiet, gentle voice.
"That looks nice," Yuki said, leaning closer. "Are you going to try it, Rai-chan?"
Rai's lips curved slightly.
"Um… I'll ask my grandma."
When Rai got home, she ran straight to her grandmother.
"Grandma! I saw a poster about a piano competition at school. I want to learn how to play the piano!"
Her grandmother, calm as ever, smiled warmly.
"Then we'll start tomorrow morning. Early, okay?"
Rai nodded eagerly.
That night, her mind was filled with images of black-and-white keys and soft piano melodies she had never played before.
The next morning, sunlight poured gently into her small bedroom.
Excited, Rai got dressed quickly and followed her grandmother outside. The morning air was crisp, and birds chirped softly in the distance.
Rai stepped into the small piano room.
The black-and-white keys stretched before her.
She hesitated for a moment…
Then she pressed a single key.
A soft note filled the quiet room.
For a moment, everything felt frozen.
Then—
Blurred.
Rai slowly opened her eyes.
She was lying on the floor of the piano room.
Sheets of music paper were scattered around her. Small drawings and paintings leaned against the walls.
Her eyes quickly moved to the clock.
"Oh no…!"
She jumped to her feet and hurriedly changed her clothes.
Before rushing out the door, her gaze landed on a framed photo resting quietly on the table.
Her grandmother's gentle smile looked back at her from the picture.
"I'm heading out now, Grandma," Rai whispered softly, bowing her head slightly.
Rai hopped onto her bicycle and pedaled through the quiet streets toward school.
Halfway there, she stopped at a traffic light.
Then she froze.
Beside her, another bicycle stopped.
It was Yuki.
"Yoo—Rai-chan! Good morning!" Yuki called cheerfully.
Then she leaned closer and squinted.
"Ahh—what happened to your face?"
Rai blinked.
"…Face?"
Yuki laughed and pointed.
"There's a mark on your cheek!"
Rai touched her cheek lightly.
Probably because I fell asleep on the floor…
Yuki still couldn't stop laughing.
When the light turned green, Rai sighed quietly.
"…Are you just going to stay there? I'm heading out."
Yuki grinned.
"Hey! Wait up! We're going to the same school anyway!"
Rai raised her hand in mock farewell.
"Byee…"
They soon arrived at school and parked their bicycles.
Shoto was just finishing parking his own bike when he noticed them.
"Oh—Yuki, Rai! Good morning!"
"Morning, Shoto," Yuki replied.
"Morning," Rai said calmly.
Shoto glanced at Yuki.
"You look tired… what happened?"
"It's because of Rai," Yuki said immediately.
Rai tilted her head slightly.
"…Because of me?"
As they walked toward the classroom, Yuki muttered quietly,
"She keeps leaving me behind…"
Shoto then glanced at Rai's cheek.
"And what happened to your face?"
Rai brushed her cheek lightly.
"It's nothing. It'll fade soon. Don't pay attention to it."
Shoto raised an eyebrow.
"Even if you ignore it, everyone still notices."
As they walked down the hallway, some students glanced at Rai and whispered quietly.
Shoto noticed it immediately.
"…See? They're all looking."
Rai didn't react.
But Yuki suddenly turned around.
"Huh? What are they staring at?"
The students quickly looked away.
Rai sighed softly.
"…Now you made it worse."
"Eh? I did?" Yuki blinked.
Shoto chuckled.
"You always do."
After classes ended, the bell rang and students began leaving the classroom.
Rai, Yuki, and Shoto walked toward the entrance while changing their shoes.
Yuki suddenly spoke.
"Hey… do you two have time?"
Shoto looked curious.
"For what?"
"Maybe we can go somewhere for a bit."
Rai didn't answer.
Instead, she quietly started walking away.
"Eh? Rai-chan?"
Yuki turned to Shoto.
"What about you? Want to come?"
Shoto nodded immediately.
"Sure."
While the two were talking, Rai was already heading toward the exit.
But suddenly—
Yuki grabbed her arm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"…Home."
"No you're not."
When they reached the bicycle parking area, Rai unlocked her bike.
"I'm leaving."
But when she looked at Yuki, she noticed something.
"…Why do you have my wallet?"
Yuki smiled proudly.
"I took it earlier."
Shoto burst out laughing.
"You stole it?!"
"I borrowed it!"
Rai sighed.
"…Give it back."
"Nope. Not unless you come with us."
Rai closed her eyes for a moment.
"…Unbelievable."
Not long after, the three of them arrived at a nearby mall.
The place was lively and bright.
Yuki suddenly picked up a pair of glasses with a fake beard and wore them.
She turned dramatically toward Rai.
"Rai, look at me. Does this suit me?"
Shoto burst out laughing.
"You look ridiculous!"
Yuki laughed too.
Rai just stared at her silently.
While they were still looking around the store, Shoto suddenly froze.
"…Wait."
"What?" Yuki asked.
Shoto pointed across the store.
"There's a really beautiful girl over there."
Yuki and Rai both looked.
Shoto stood there like he had just fallen in love at first sight.
But when Yuki and Rai looked—
The girl was gone.
Instead, they saw a man walking away with very feminine movements.
Yuki blinked.
Rai blinked.
"…Ah."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Yuki burst out laughing.
"Shoto!"
Rai couldn't help laughing a little too.
Shoto panicked.
"Wait! That's not what I meant! There really was a girl there earlier!"
But the "beautiful girl" was nowhere to be seen.
Shoto sighed in defeat.
"…She was there earlier…"
They continued walking around the mall while Yuki teased Shoto endlessly.
Later, while leaving the mall, Yuki happily ate a piece of bread.
"Mmm… this bread is so good!"
She looked at Rai.
"Hey Rai, let me taste yours."
But before she could even try—
Rai had already eaten all of it.
Yuki stared at her.
"You're so selfish!"
Shoto offered his bread.
"Want mine?"
Yuki looked at it.
"…It's the same one."
Shoto shrugged.
"Exactly."
Yuki sighed.
The mall slowly faded behind them as the sky turned into soft shades of orange and pink.
Yuki waved energetically.
"See you tomorrow!"
"Bye!" Shoto called before jogging toward his street.
Rai simply nodded and adjusted her bag.
The streets were quieter now.
Her bicycle wheels hummed softly against the pavement as she pedaled down narrow alleys.
Cherry blossom petals drifted lazily in the warm breeze.
Then she noticed something.
A small path she had never seen before.
Curiosity tugged at her.
Slowly, she turned her bicycle toward it.
The path led her to a hidden corner of the city—like a secret waiting to be discovered.
A small wooden hut stood beneath a massive tree.
Nearby, a quiet lake reflected the fiery colors of the sunset.
White lilies floated peacefully on the water.
Rai slowly stopped.
She breathed in deeply.
"…It's beautiful," she whispered.
She rested her hand on her bicycle, watching the way the sunlight touched the lake, the flowers, and the branches.
Everything felt suspended in that perfect moment.
Like time had slowed down just for her.
Maybe I can come here again next time, she thought with a faint smile.
A soft yawn escaped her.
"I'm getting sleepy… and it's getting late."
With one last glance at the hidden lake, Rai pushed her bicycle forward.
The quiet water reflected the fading sun, sending golden light dancing across the path as she pedaled home.
The world felt peaceful.
Almost magical.
As if something important had just begun.