A Whisper Beneath the Stars

It's now the middle of summer. Arata and Nozomi have settled into their respective homes, adjusting to their new lives. The scorching Osaka heat makes the city feel even more alive, with cicadas buzzing, festivals lighting up the nights, and the scent of grilled food lingering in the air.

Arata sat in his dimly lit room, the electric fan humming beside him as it pushed warm air around. Summer in Osaka.

He took his phone then, that's when he saw it.

A post from one of Nozomi's friends instant-gram story filled with blurred streaks of festival lights, cotton candy stands, and a group photo. Nozomi was there, grinning beside her friends, her hair loosely tied back, a bright yukata draped over her shoulders. The caption read:

"First summer festival of the year! 🎆🍧🔥"

Arata stared at the screen longer than he intended.

It wasn't like she had to tell him she was going. It wasn't like they were attached at the hip. They'd texted here and there since arriving in Osaka, but between unpacking and settling in, they hadn't seen each other much. Maybe he had assumed wrongly that she would have invited him.

"It's not like I was expecting an invite… was I?"

He shook his head, locking his phone and leaning back against his bed. The ceiling fan spun lazily above him. The muffled sound of cicadas buzzed through the open window.

Maybe Nozomi was just moving ahead, slipping into this new life effortlessly, while he was still trying to find his footing.

"It's not like Nozomi likes me she's just being nice. She only sees me as a friend, that's all."

Arata mumbled to himself.

Just as he closed his eyes, his phone vibrated again. He hesitated before picking it up.

Nozomi.

"Arataaa, you won't believe how bad I am at goldfish scooping... 😭"

A photo followed a blurry snapshot of a single, sad-looking goldfish swimming in a plastic bag. Nozomi's fingers were barely visible in the frame, holding onto it like a child who had just lost a great battle.

Arata exhaled through his nose, a small grin tugging at his lips despite himself.

so the scene "That goldfish looks exhausted. Hahaha..."

She replied almost instantly.

Nozomi: "Well i can't help it! he's constantly moving."

Arata: "It's a kids' game. Don't tell me you got outplayed by a bunch of five-year-olds?"

Nozomi: "Shut up. This is why I didn't invite you smh."

Arata paused at that last text. He stared at it for a second longer than necessary. So she had thought about it.

Arata: "So you DID consider inviting me."

Nozomi: "Maybe. But I figured you'd say no anyway."

Arata sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe he had been holding back too much, waiting for things to settle instead of reaching out first.

He started typing. Then erased it. Then started again.

Arata: "Next time, invite me anyway."

The three dots appeared instantly.

Nozomi: "Oh? You wanna see me fail in person? Sadist."

He chuckled.

Arata: "Nah. I'll just have to save you from embarrassing yourself."

Nozomi's reply took a few seconds longer this time.

Nozomi: "...I'll hold you to that."

Arata: "So, who are you taking to the festival? Someone special?"

Nozomi: "Oh, definitely. Got a date all lined up. 😏

Arata: Wait, you're serious? You really went on a date with someone?

Nozomi: Absolutely serious. 😏

Arata: Have fun then.

Nozomi: Oh? It's so rare to see you jealous. Hahaha.

Arata: So did you really went on a date? (-_-)

Nozomi: Yeah... it was with a family relative. Don't worry, it's just a family gathering. I'm not dating a guy. 😂

Arata: I wasn't jealous, and I'm not worried. Shut up.

Nozomi: Oh, sure you weren't. I can see it in your messages. It's cute though, Arata. 😏

Arata: I'm not cute. Just drop it already.

Nozomi: Hahaha, you can pretend all you want, but I'm starting to think you're secretly into me. 🙃

Nozomi: "Y'know, it's not that late. Do you wanna come with?"

Arata: "Huh? Come with where?"

Nozomi: "To the festival, dummy. It'd be fun if you came. We could hang out and all."

Arata: "Wait, you're seriously asking me to come with you? After all that teasing?"

Nozomi: "Yeah, I am. I mean, I thought it'd be nice to have someone you here."

Arata: "I guess... I could come,

Arata steps outside, the sun is a warm, deep orange, casting a soft glow across the street. It's not blinding, just enough to make the afternoon feel peaceful.

As Arata arrives at the festival, he spots Nozomi sitting alone on a bench, her attention on the crowd around her.

Arata looks around, then walks over to her. He takes a moment, then says, "You look nice today, Nozomi. The sunset's making everything look even better."

Nozomi looks up at him, her expression softening slightly. "Thanks, Arata. You look good aswell"

Arata stretches his arms, offering his hand to help Nozomi stand up.

Nozomi raises an eyebrow, smirking. "I can stand up on my own, you know."

Arata looks a little embarrassed, pulling his hand back slightly. "I know... but I want you to know that I'm always here, even if you don't need me."

Nozomi blushes then her smile widens, her eyes softening as she takes his hand. "Thank you, Arata."

As they stand together, the evening air feels comfortable and still. Nozomi glances around at the festival lights twinkling in the distance, then looks back at Arata, her smile lingering.

"I'm glad you came. It's nice to hav-".

Suddenly, Nozomi trips on an uneven spot in the ground, but before she can fall, Arata quickly reaches out and catches her.

"Hey, are you okay?" Arata said with his voice slightly filled with worry.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Thanks... Arata..." Nozomi says, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Arata holds her steady, his voice calm but with a hint of concern. "Those look really hard to walk on. Want me to hold on to you so you don't trip again?"

Nozomi looks up at him, still a little shy. "I… I'm fine. But, uh... thanks again," she replies.

Arata squats down and gestures toward the distance. "I know a spot. Come on."

Nozomi looks at him, a bit flustered, then shyly replies, "Are you crazy?? I can't ride you, that'-"

Arata grins, raising an eyebrow. "I can see you struggling to walk with those on, so I'll carry you instead."

Nozomi shakes her head, trying to hide a smile. "No way, that's ridiculous."

Arata chuckles, waiting for her response. "You sure about that? I can tell you're about to trip again."

Nozomi hesitates, glancing at the ground, then finally gives in with a sigh. "Fine, fine... but you better not drop me."

Arata's grin widens, his offer still standing. "I won't drop you. Trust me." As Nozomi climbs onto his back, she instinctively wraps her arms around his shoulders, holding onto him tightly.

The familiar warmth of his back under her arms makes her feel secure, and she can't help but feel a sense of calm as they begin walking. The sound of the festival fades into the background as the two of them share a quiet, peaceful moment.

Nozomi thinks to herself, Arata's pretty strong to be carrying me like this... The thought makes her blush slightly, but she quickly brushes it off, not wanting to admit how comfortable she feels.

After a short walk, they arrive at a quieter area, tucked away from the bustling crowd. The peaceful atmosphere feels like a perfect escape from the noise of the festival.

Arata stops and turns his head slightly, glancing over his shoulder. "Here we are. Pretty good view, huh?" Nozomi looks around, a smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah, i-it's perfect."

"You know," Arata begins, his voice quieter than usual, almost like he's speaking to himself at first, "sometimes I think that people spend their whole lives chasing something looking for the perfect place, at the right moment. But, maybe it's not about finding the right place or the right time. Maybe it's just about being with someone who makes you feel like you're exactly where you need to be."

He turns to Nozomi, his gaze steady and sincere, almost as if he's just realized it himself. "I don't know why, but when I'm with you... it feels like I can be of ease."

Nozomi blinks, taken aback by his words, her heart giving an unexpected flutter. For a moment, she doesn't know what to say, so she simply looks at him, her expression softening.

"W-what are you trying to say, Arata?"

Arata freezes for a moment, his face flushing. He quickly snaps out of his thoughts, fumbling for words. "Uhmm, no, no... it's just... I want you to know that I'm really having fun, anytime I'm with you." He looks at her, his voice a little more steady now. "So, don't hesitate to invite me to come with you, or anything, okay?"

Nozomi can't help but smile at his awkwardness, but something in her heart feels lighter. She's not sure why, but she's glad he said it. "Okay, I won't," she replies.

Nozomi looks into Arata's eyes, as if she's about to say something important. Just as she opens her mouth, the first firework explodes in the sky, lighting up the night with brilliant colors. The sound of the explosion is loud, and for a moment, everything feels like it's in sync with the rhythm of the moment.

Nozomi says something, but the sound of the fireworks drowns out her voice, leaving Arata unable to catch the words. He turns to her, a bit confused, but her smile is all he can focus on. The moment feels oddly perfect, with the soft hum of the festival in the distance and the warm glow of the sky.

Arata looks at Nozomi, not needing to hear the words to know there's something meaningful behind her smile. The fireworks continue to light up the night as they stand there together.

As the night winds down and they both head home, Arata finds himself thinking about the moment with Nozomi by the fireworks. He can't shake the feeling that she'd said something important, something he missed in the chaos of the noise and lights.

After a while, unable to let it go, Arata pulls out his phone and sends her a message.

Arata: "Hey, I couldn't hear what you said during the fireworks earlier. Was it something important?"

He waits for a response, his mind racing with all the possibilities.

A moment later, Nozomi replies, her message brief but playful:

Nozomi: "It's a secret. 😉"

Arata blinks at the screen, his lips twitching into a small, confused smile. He types back, though he's not quite sure what to make of it.

Arata: "A secret? You're really not going to tell me?"

Nozomi doesn't answer immediately, but Arata can feel her teasing smile through the screen, even if she's miles away.