Fireflies and Whispers

It started with a message.

Ayumi's phone buzzed just as she stepped out of cram school late in the evening. A single text lit up her screen:

Kaito:

Garage's closed early today. Meet me by the bridge? Got something to show you.

No emojis. No explanation.

But her heart skipped anyway.

She tucked the phone away and headed there without hesitation.

By the bridge - 7:42 p.m.

The air was thick with early summer warmth, cicadas buzzing somewhere in the trees. The old bridge was quiet, just a few cars passing in the distance. Ayumi spotted Kaito leaning against the railing, his helmet beside him, his eyes already on her.

"You came," he said, voice softer than usual.

"You asked," she replied.

He nodded toward the path by the river. "Come on. Trust me?"

She hesitated, then smiled. "I do."

They walked in silence for a while, gravel crunching under their steps. Then Kaito suddenly veered off the path, guiding her into a patch of tall grass by the water.

"What are we—"

And then she saw them.

Tiny lights flickering in the dark—one, two, then dozens. Fireflies.

Ayumi gasped, eyes wide as she took in the sight. The night shimmered with quiet magic, the world hushed in awe.

"This is…" she whispered.

Kaito stepped closer, just enough that his shoulder brushed hers. "Figured you'd like it. Found this spot by accident last year."

She turned to him. "It's beautiful."

"You're beautiful," he said, almost absentmindedly, eyes still on the fireflies.

Her breath caught. "Kaito—"

"I know," he said, looking at her now, more serious than she'd ever seen him. "You're in school. I'm… me. But I can't help it. Every time I see you, everything feels a little easier. Like I'm not just floating through my days."

She looked up at him, heart thudding. "I feel it too."

The space between them shrank. Slowly. Naturally.

Kaito's hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with such gentle care it made her chest ache. His fingertips lingered on her cheek, just barely.

And for a moment—just one—they leaned in.

Closer. Closer.

But the sharp sound of a camera shutter stopped them cold.

They turned—Ayumi's eyes wide, Kaito instantly tense.

On the bridge above, a figure darted out of sight.

"Was that…?" Ayumi whispered.

Kaito's jaw clenched. "Someone was watching."

Back home - 9:12 p.m.

Ayumi paced her room, heart racing for all the wrong reasons now.

She didn't know who it was. But someone had seen them. Someone who had taken a photo.

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number:

Careful who you're seen with, Ayumi-chan. You're still a schoolgirl.

She stared at the message, fingers cold.

Her world was no longer just theirs.

To be continued…