Chapter 12: Shifting Tides

The days grew longer as spring began to paint the world in soft greens and pinks. The schoolyard was filled with blooming cherry blossoms, their petals drifting down like gentle snow. Sora found himself walking beneath them, his steps slow but steady. Each petal that landed on his shoulder felt like a small reminder—life was still moving forward.

He had grown used to being with Nanako and Akio. Their presence was a comfort, like a quiet song playing in the background of his life. At first, he had thought their friendship was fragile, something that could break if he moved wrong or spoke too much. But over time, he realized it was strong—stronger than the rumors, stronger than his fears.

Today, they sat together on a patch of grass behind the school building. The area was quiet, away from the usual crowds. Nanako had spread out a small blanket, and Akio was busy opening lunch boxes filled with onigiri and fruit.

"Look! I made these myself," Akio said proudly, holding up a slightly misshapen rice ball.

Nanako giggled. "It's... unique."

"Hey! It's a creative choice," Akio pouted, but a smile quickly broke through.

Sora took a bite, the taste of rice and seaweed warm and comforting. "It's good," he said, his voice soft but genuine.

Akio beamed. "See? Sora gets it!"

Nanako nudged him lightly. "You're getting better at this, you know."

"At eating?" he asked, pretending to be confused.

"No, silly." She laughed. "At... being here. With us."

Sora felt a warmth in his chest. He had spent so long feeling like an outsider, even in his own skin. But here, sitting on the grass with them, he felt... okay. Like he didn't have to hide.

"Thanks," he murmured.

Akio lay back, staring up at the sky. "So, what's next for us? Summer's coming. We should do something fun."

"Like what?" Nanako asked.

Akio thought for a moment. "A festival? Or maybe a day at the beach?"

Sora's mind flashed with images—crowds, noise, eyes on him. His breathing quickened, and he stared at his hands.

Nanako noticed immediately. "Or we could do something quiet," she said smoothly. "Maybe a movie night at home. Just us."

Akio sat up, catching on. "Yeah! We could make popcorn, watch old movies, and build a blanket fort."

The tightness in Sora's chest eased. He nodded, a small smile on his lips. "That... sounds nice."

The conversation drifted to light topics—schoolwork, favorite movies, and silly childhood memories. Akio told them about the time she tried to keep a stray cat in her room, only for it to sneak into her parents' bed and scare them awake.

Nanako shared how she once got lost at a summer festival and ended up being found by a kind old man who gave her free cotton candy until her parents arrived.

"What about you, Sora?" Akio asked. "Any fun stories?"

His mind went blank. His childhood was a blur of shadows and echoes, filled with things he didn't want to remember. He shook his head. "Not really."

Akio didn't push. She just leaned back, humming a soft tune.

Nanako reached over, her fingers brushing his. It was a small touch, but it spoke volumes. She didn't need him to share his past—she only wanted him to feel safe in the present.

The sun dipped lower, and the breeze grew cooler. When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, they packed up their things.

"Let's meet up after school," Akio said as they stood. "We can plan our movie night."

Sora hesitated, but Nanako's smile gave him the courage to agree. "Yeah. Let's do that."

As they walked back inside, Sora felt a shift within him. The world was still big and sometimes overwhelming, but he wasn't facing it alone.

Step by step, he was finding his way. And with Nanako and Akio by his side, each step felt a little lighter.