1981:ch-4

Take Me Back

To The Year

1981

Chapter Four:

"Walking Home Together"

The final bell rang, signaling the end of another long day of school.

With a tired sigh, I slumped back in my chair for a moment before finally gathering the energy to start packing up my things. The classroom was already noisy with students chatting, moving around, and preparing to leave.

Finally, end of the day, I thought, rubbing the back of my neck as I slung my bag over my shoulder.

Just as I was about to stand, I caught sight of someone watching me.

As expected—Souta.

She stood near my desk, her fingers idly playing with the strap of her sling bag, a soft smile on her face as she patiently waited for me.

"Happy now? Class ended pretty fast today," she said, her tone light and teasing.

I let out a small scoff as I finished zipping my bag. "Not fast enough."

She giggled at that, and I shook my head, standing up to walk beside her. Without thinking, I rested my hand lightly against the back of her backpack as we walked through the crowded hallway. It was a habit I had developed—subtle, almost unconscious, but it gave me an excuse to stay close to her.

"So," I asked, keeping my voice casual, "are you heading straight to the shop, or going home first?"

She turned her head slightly, looking up at me with a thoughtful expression.

"Hmm… I think I'll go straight to the shop. Mom told me to."

She grinned, but I could tell she had noticed me staring at her just now. If she had any thoughts about it, she didn't say anything.

I just shrugged. "Alright. Tomorrow, I'll come early to help," I muttered, glancing up at the sky as we stepped outside the school gates.

The sun was already beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.

It was a familiar scene—one I saw almost every day. But somehow, walking home with her under this sky always made it feel a little different.

Souta hummed in approval. "That'd be great! It gets really busy in the morning."

We continued walking in comfortable silence for a while, the soft sounds of our footsteps blending with the distant hum of the city.

Then, as we crossed the street, I noticed the way she was slightly ahead of me, walking too close to the edge of the road.

Frowning, I reached out and tugged at the strap of her bag, pulling her a little closer to me.

"Don't walk like that," I murmured. "You don't want to get run over by a motorcycle, right?"

Souta blinked up at me before laughing. "Oh? So you're worried about me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously."

She grinned, nudging me playfully with her shoulder. "Aww, how sweet. Haruto, my personal bodyguard."

I groaned. "Don't make it weird."

She only giggled again, and I sighed, shoving my hands into my pockets as we continued walking.

Even with all the teasing, I didn't let go of her bag.

Maybe I was being overly cautious. Maybe I was just using it as an excuse to stay close to her.

Either way, I wasn't letting go.

---

Walk Home And Conversation

The warmth of the setting sun bathed everything in golden light as we walked side by side, our steps naturally in sync. The air smelled faintly of food from the street vendors setting up their stalls, mixing with the scent of summer leaves swaying in the breeze.

Souta hummed a familiar tune, her voice soft and soothing, as if she didn't have a single care in the world.

"You always hum when you're in a good mood," I remarked, glancing at her.

She turned her head slightly, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Maybe I'm just always in a good mood when I'm with you."

I felt my face heat up immediately. Looking away, I muttered, "Yeah, right."

Souta giggled, nudging my arm playfully. "Oh, come on. You don't have to get all shy about it."

"I'm not shy," I grumbled, though my ears burned with embarrassment.

She sighed contentedly. "But really, I like moments like this. Just walking home, talking about random things. It's nice."

I glanced at her again. The warm glow of the sun highlighted her soft features, making her look almost ethereal. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, her hair catching the golden hues of the sunset as the wind played with it.

She always had this way of saying things so naturally, so effortlessly—without realizing how much they affected me.

I cleared my throat and looked straight ahead. "Yeah… it is nice."

Souta suddenly perked up. "Oh! Speaking of random things—did you know there's going to be a festival soon?"

I raised an eyebrow. "A festival?"

She nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up. "Yep! A summer festival at the park near the shopping district. Mom mentioned it earlier. There'll be food stalls, games, and even fireworks!"

"Hmm," I hummed, pretending to think. "So you're telling me this because…?"

Souta pouted. "Because we have to go! Obviously!"

I smirked. "Oh? We have to?"

She huffed, crossing her arms dramatically. "Well, duh. What else would I do? Go alone? That would be sad."

I chuckled at her expression. "You could go with the others."

She shook her head without hesitation. "Nope. I want to go with you."

My heart skipped a beat.

She said it so casually, without hesitation—like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"...Just me?" I asked before I could stop myself.

She blinked, then grinned. "Well, I mean, if you want to invite others, I won't stop you. But yeah, I was thinking just the two of us."

Just the two of us…

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "Alright. We'll go."

Her face lit up with excitement. "Great! It's a promise, then!"

She held out her pinky, and without thinking, I hooked mine around hers.

It was such a simple, childish gesture, but in that moment, it felt like something much more.

She smiled up at me. "No backing out now, Shiranami."

I scoffed, looking away to hide my growing smile. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there."

---

The Walk Home

The rest of the walk was peaceful, the sky slowly shifting from orange to a soft purple hue as the sun dipped below the horizon.

As we approached the small bakery where Souta's family worked, I slowed my steps, not wanting the moment to end just yet.

"You sure you don't need me to help today?" I asked, glancing at her.

Souta shook her head. "Not today! You've already helped a lot this week. Take a break."

I frowned slightly. "I don't mind—"

She pressed a finger against my forehead, stopping me mid-sentence. "Nope. No arguing. Go home, rest, and maybe think about what yukata you'll wear to the festival."

I blinked. "Yukata?"

Souta grinned. "Of course! You have to wear one. It's a festival tradition!"

I sighed. "I don't even know if I have one."

"Then you better find one," she teased. "I'll be wearing mine, so it's only fair."

I stared at her for a moment. "What color is yours?"

She blinked, surprised by my question, then smiled softly. "Light blue. With little white flowers on it."

Light blue.

Somehow, the image of her in that color—standing under the glow of festival lanterns—made my heart beat faster.

I looked away quickly. "I'll… see if I can find one that matches."

Souta beamed. "That'd be cute!"

I groaned. "Don't call it that."

She just laughed. "Alright, alright. Anyway, I should get inside before my mom yells at me for talking outside too long."

I nodded. "Yeah. I should go, too."

For a moment, we just stood there, neither of us moving.

Then, Souta suddenly stepped forward and lightly poked my arm. "Hey, Haruto."

I turned to her. "What?"

She hesitated, then gave me a small smile. "I'm really glad we're going together."

I felt my throat go dry.

Before I could respond, she turned on her heel and jogged toward the bakery door, waving as she disappeared inside.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, my heart pounding in my chest.

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair before turning to walk home.

I didn't know what was happening between us—

But I knew one thing for sure.

I couldn't wait for the festival.