Chapter 5: Shifting Winds

The weekend came around quickly, but it wasn't the usual quiet time I was used to. My mornings were usually spent either doing household chores or helping out the neighborhood. However, this Saturday morning had an air of expectation around it. Yuki had taken me up on my offer to join me in my weekend routines, and though I wasn't sure why, I found myself looking forward to it.

It was strange. Having someone new in my life, even in a simple way, felt like a disruption, but it wasn't necessarily unwelcome. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that it would all come crashing down like it always did.

I sat at the kitchen table, watching the sunlight filter through the window as I ate breakfast. My mom, bustling around the kitchen, noticed my unusually quiet demeanor.

"You seem distracted, Kazuki," she said, turning to look at me. "Is everything okay?"

I nodded, though the uncertainty still gnawed at me. "Yeah, I guess. Yuki's coming over today. She's going to help me with some stuff."

"Oh!" My mom's eyes lit up with a teasing glint. "Yuki? The girl you've been mentioning lately? That's wonderful! It's nice to see you hanging out with someone new."

"It's not like that," I mumbled, trying to avoid her playful tone. "She just offered to help out with the neighbors, that's all."

My mom laughed softly. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad. You deserve to have good people around you."

I offered a faint smile but didn't respond. My mind was already elsewhere—thinking about the day ahead and wondering how this unexpected shift would unfold. Before long, there was a knock on the door, and I knew it was her.

I got up, feeling a twinge of nervousness as I headed for the door. When I opened it, Yuki stood there, looking casual but still as cheerful as ever. She had a light jacket on and her bag slung over her shoulder.

"Morning, Kazuki!" she said brightly. "Ready for another day of gardening and helping out?"

"Yeah," I replied, stepping aside to let her in. "I was just finishing breakfast. You want anything?"

"No, I'm good!" she replied. "Already ate, but thanks."

She stepped into the house, looking around briefly before turning her attention back to me. It was the first time she'd been over, and I realized it might be strange for her to be in someone else's home. Mom greeted her warmly from the kitchen.

"Hello, Yuki! Kazuki's mentioned you," she said with a welcoming smile. "It's so nice of you to help out today."

Yuki bowed politely. "Thank you for having me! I'm happy to help. Kazuki's been really nice, so I wanted to return the favor."

I shifted awkwardly as they exchanged pleasantries. It wasn't long before we headed out, leaving the house behind and making our way toward the park. The sun hung low in the sky, and a cool breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers through the streets. The walk was quiet at first, but Yuki soon broke the silence.

"So, what's on the agenda for today?" she asked, glancing over at me.

"We'll start with Mr. Tanaka's garden again," I replied. "Then, I was planning to check in on Mrs. Saito. She needs help with a few things around the house."

Yuki nodded. "Sounds like a busy day."

"It's not too bad," I said, trying to sound casual. "It's just what I do."

She smiled. "I think it's amazing that you spend your weekends doing this. Most people would just hang out with friends or stay home, but you're actually helping people."

I didn't know how to respond to that. It was something I'd never really thought about in that way. To me, it was just a way to escape the emptiness that school left behind. But Yuki's words carried a different weight—like she saw more in what I did than I ever had.

We arrived at Mr. Tanaka's place soon after, and he greeted us warmly as always. He had already laid out the tools we'd need for the garden.

"Kazuki! Good to see you again," Mr. Tanaka said with a wide grin. "And you brought your friend, too! Welcome back, Yuki."

"Thank you for having me again, Mr. Tanaka," Yuki replied, giving a small bow.

The morning passed by in relative ease. We worked on trimming the bushes and tending to the flowers, with Yuki proving once again to be a fast learner. Mr. Tanaka kept us entertained with his usual stories about his younger days, talking about everything from his time in the army to how he and his late wife had started the garden we were tending.

I found myself glancing at Yuki every now and then, noticing how intently she listened to Mr. Tanaka's stories. She wasn't just polite—she was genuinely interested, asking questions and sharing her own thoughts. It was… refreshing.

After we finished up, we said our goodbyes to Mr. Tanaka and made our way to Mrs. Saito's house. Yuki was noticeably more relaxed now, talking more freely as we walked.

"Kazuki, can I ask you something?" she said, breaking the steady rhythm of our footsteps.

"Sure."

"Why do you do this? I mean, helping out the neighbors and spending your weekends like this. I don't think I've ever met anyone our age who'd do the same."

I hesitated, unsure of how to explain it. "I guess… it's just something I can do. I've never been good at dealing with people my own age. It's easier this way. No expectations, no judgments. Just helping out."

Yuki was quiet for a moment, processing my words. "I think that's really admirable. But, do you ever wish things were different? Like, at school?"

I shrugged. "Sometimes. But I've kind of accepted it by now. Things are the way they are."

"That's kind of sad," Yuki said softly, her tone tinged with sympathy. "I mean, you're a really good person, Kazuki. I don't get why people don't see that."

Her words struck a chord in me, but I brushed it off with a half-hearted chuckle. "Thanks, but I don't think most people care to look that closely."

We reached Mrs. Saito's house soon after, and the conversation drifted to more mundane things. We spent the next few hours helping her clean up her home and organize some old boxes. Mrs. Saito was an elderly woman who lived alone after her husband had passed a few years ago. She didn't have any family nearby, so I'd taken it upon myself to help her out whenever she needed it.

Yuki handled everything with a surprising amount of grace. She didn't shy away from the dirty work, and Mrs. Saito seemed to take a liking to her almost immediately. By the time we finished, the old woman was smiling warmly at the both of us.

"You two make quite the team," Mrs. Saito said as we prepared to leave. "Thank you for all your help."

"It was our pleasure, Mrs. Saito," Yuki replied, bowing politely. "I'm glad we could help."

As we walked back toward the main road, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It wasn't just the usual satisfaction I got from helping out—it was something more. Having Yuki there made everything feel different, like a weight I hadn't even noticed had been lifted.

Yuki looked up at the sky as we walked, her expression thoughtful. "Today was really nice. I'm glad I decided to come with you."

"Yeah," I said quietly. "Me too."

We walked in comfortable silence for a while before Yuki spoke again.

"You know, Kazuki… I think you're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for."

I glanced over at her, surprised by her words. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, despite everything you've been through, you're still kind. You're still willing to help others, even when most people would have given up. That takes a lot of strength."

I didn't know how to respond to that. No one had ever said anything like that to me before. I felt a lump form in my throat, but I quickly swallowed it down.

"Thanks," I muttered, not trusting myself to say anything more.

Yuki smiled softly, and we continued our walk in silence.

End of Chapter 5.....