1981:ch-7

Take Me Back

To The Year

1981

Chapter Seven:

"A Night of Hidden Emotions"

The day of the festival had finally arrived.

Haruto stood in front of his closet, eyes scanning over the yukata he had bought the night before. A deep navy fabric with subtle white petal-like patterns.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"Will I even look good in this?"

He wasn't used to wearing traditional clothes, and the thought of how he'd appear next to Souta made his stomach twist in knots. Would he look awkward? Would she laugh at him?

His fingers grazed the fabric, hesitating.

At School

Even during lectures, his thoughts had been consumed by the festival. He had barely registered anything the teachers said, his mind too preoccupied with picturing how the night would go.

Would she be smiling under the festival lights? Would they walk side by side, just the two of them?

The thought sent an unfamiliar warmth through his chest.

"Calm down," he told himself.

But calming down was impossible when it came to her.

---

In the Hallway

Haruto walked absentmindedly through the crowded school hallway, still lost in thought about the festival.

That was until he stopped dead in his tracks.

At the corner of the hallway, near the stairwell, he spotted her.

Souta.

But she wasn't alone.

She was talking to him.

Ryuji.

Haruto's jaw clenched. His fists curled at his sides as he silently observed from a distance.

It wasn't like he had any right to stop her. She could talk to whoever she wanted.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

His chest tightened as he watched Ryuji lean slightly closer, flashing that confident grin of his—the one that made all the other girls swoon.

And Souta…

She was just standing there, listening.

"What is he saying?" Haruto wondered, his pulse quickening.

He knew exactly what this was about.

Ryuji had asked her out before. He had tried to get her to hang out with him, but Souta had rejected him.

Not because she didn't like him.

But because she chose to stay by Haruto's side instead.

That had been enough to satisfy him back then.

But now?

Standing here, watching them, knowing that Ryuji was probably trying again—

It made Haruto's blood boil.

Jealousy.

The feeling burned through him like fire, but he shoved it down.

He had no right to interfere.

Right?

And yet, despite knowing that, his feet refused to move.

His chest tightened with an emotion he didn't want to name.

Then, as if sensing his stare, Souta suddenly turned her head.

Their eyes met.

Haruto froze.

For a brief moment, the noise of the crowded hallway faded away.

There was something unreadable in her expression—surprise, confusion… maybe even guilt?

Then, she smiled.

Not a big, cheerful smile, but a small, warm one. The kind that always had the power to make his heart race.

Ryuji said something, drawing her attention back to him.

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Haruto exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

He turned on his heel and walked away before he did something stupid.

Like grabbing her hand.

Like pulling her away.

Like telling Ryuji to back off.

He didn't have the right to do that.

But damn it, he wanted to.

---

Evening – Before the Festival

Haruto stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his yukata.

He had spent way too long debating whether or not to wear it, but in the end, he had decided to go through with it.

Not because he wanted to.

But because of her.

"You better find one. I'll be wearing mine, so it's only fair."

He sighed and grabbed his phone.

No messages from Souta yet.

Was she still getting ready?

His grip on the phone tightened as an uneasy thought crossed his mind.

What if Ryuji had asked her to the festival?

What if she had said yes?

What if she was with him right now?

His stomach twisted.

No. That wasn't like her.

She had been the one to invite him.

She wouldn't just go with someone else.

Would she?

Haruto shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away.

But deep down, he couldn't deny it anymore.

This wasn't just about being best friends.

This wasn't just about keeping her close.

It was so much more than that.

And he was terrified of what that meant.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out the door.

It was time to meet her.

And tonight…

He needed to know if he was the only one feeling this way.

——

The evening breeze was cool against Haruto's skin as he walked toward the festival grounds. The streets were already lively, filled with people heading in the same direction—families, couples, and groups of friends chatting excitedly as they made their way toward the glowing lanterns in the distance.

But despite the bustling crowd, his mind was somewhere else.

Or rather, on someone else.

His grip tightened around the strap of his bag as his thoughts ran wild.

"What will she say when she sees me like this?"

He had never worn a yukata in front of her before. Would she tease him? Laugh? Say something casual, as if it were nothing? Or would she… stare?

The thought made his ears burn.

"And what about her?"

Souta had said her yukata was light blue, decorated with small white flowers. He tried to imagine her in it—standing under the glow of the festival lanterns, her soft brown eyes shining with excitement.

Would she look different?

No, of course not. She'd still be her.

Still the same Souta who poked his cheek when he was being too serious.

Still the same Souta who always made sure he was eating properly, scolding him if he skipped meals.

Still the same Souta who chose him over Ryuji.

At the thought of him, Haruto's mood soured.

"What if he's there?"

What if Ryuji had convinced her to meet him at the festival? What if, right now, he was standing beside her, making her laugh?

His steps slowed.

"No. She wouldn't do that."

Souta wasn't the type to break a promise. She had asked him to go with her. She had chosen him.

But even knowing that, the unease didn't fade.

Each step he took made his heartbeat quicken.

Not just from nerves.

Not just from excitement.

But from the overwhelming realization that tonight—whether he was ready or not—something was going to change between them.

And Haruto wasn't sure if he was prepared for it.