"A Terrace by the River, and Three Waiting Smiles"

As we walked down the hallway, I could feel my chest tightening—not from fear this time, but something strange… lighter. I didn't know where Ayane was taking me, but I didn't ask. I just followed her, heart pounding, unsure if I was supposed to feel nervous or… happy.

She was holding my hand.

A girl… was holding my hand.

My mind went completely blank. I even closed my eyes for a moment—like if I opened them too wide, this moment would vanish.

We stopped. 

I opened my eyes slowly.

We were on the rooftop.

The sunlit sky stretched wide and blue above us. The wind was cool and clean. Below, I could see the city—the rooftops, trees, cars—all bathed in soft gold. I blinked. I'd never seen something like this. It was like the world had paused just for me.

I forgot how to breathe.

Ayane stood a few steps ahead, her back to me. Her pinkish hair shimmered in the light, blowing slightly in the breeze. She was still holding my hand.

My face turned bright red.

She turned slightly. "Did you like it…? The view?"

Then, noticing my silence, she asked, "Hey… why aren't you saying anything?"

I looked down at our hands, my voice barely above a whisper. "U-Um… our hands…"

She looked down too, her cheeks turning just as red. She suddenly pulled her hand away and shouted, "I-It's not like I meant anything weird! I just… wanted to get here fast, that's all!"

An awkward silence followed.

Thankfully, it didn't last long.

"Phew! You move way too fast, Ayane!" Reika huffed, pulling Yuzuki behind her. "I had to drag Yuzuki along, and you know she's the slowpoke of the group."

"Shut up," Yuzuki muttered, panting. "You were the one who said 'shortcut' and got us lost…"

"What's with this awkward silence? Something happen between you two?" she asked with a playful smirk.

Ayane gave her a light flick on the forehead.

"Ow! Yuzuki, Ayane is bullying me!"

"That's your own fault," Yuzuki said, still catching her breath.

We all laughed and sat down on the rooftop, placing our lunches between us.

I opened my lunchbox—the aroma of warm rice, tamagoyaki, and vegetables filled the air.

Ayane, Yuzuki, and Reika opened theirs too. Everything looked so delicious. Reika's box, however, clearly wasn't made by her.

"Haruki, wanna trade lunches?" Reika said, drooling. "I'm sick of eating food my mom makes. Yours smells amazing."

I laughed nervously.

"Sure. Can I have yours?"

Before anyone could object, she swiftly swapped our boxes like a little bandit. As Yuzuki opened her mouth to scold her, Ayane gently placed a hand on her arm and whispered:

"Wait. Just watch him."

I was eating quietly, savoring the food Reika brought. My expression was content, but faintly distant—there was happiness, yes, but a quiet ache remained. I smiled and looked at Reika.

"Your mom's cooking is amazing. She must really care for you."

Reika tilted her head. "Doesn't your mom cook for you too?"

The words hit harder than she knew. My smile didn't fade, but it hollowed out slightly.

"She's... mostly working. She works hard, so I don't want to disturb her. That's why I make my own lunch," I said softly.

A heavy silence.

Ayane quickly lifted the mood.

"So! About the project the teacher gave us—what should we do?"

Reika raised her hand like a lazy student.

"No plans. I'm just here for the credits."

"It's too sudden," Yuzuki added. "Only three days..."

I hesitantly raised my hand.

"I have an idea."

They looked at me.

"We could make a presentation about Yamato Takeru. He was a great warrior, but he was never truly loved... he died far from home, and they say his soul turned into a white bird. I think... his story is worth telling."

There was a short silence.

"Is it bad?" I asked, suddenly anxious.

Reika grinned and placed her hands on my shoulder.

"It's amazing, Haruki! I'm proud of you."

Yuzuki and Ayane nodded in agreement.

Ayane clapped her hands. "Then let's get those amusement park tickets!"

We all raised our fists in the air.

"Yay!"

We burst into laughter. It felt like we were real friends now.

"So, where should we meet tomorrow? It's the weekend," Ayane asked.

"A café?" Reika suggested.

"I'll plan the schedule and send it tonight. Just be there on time!" Yuzuki added like a class rep.

"I don't even have your contact info," I mumbled shyly.

Reika leaned in, grinning.

"So you do want a girl's contact, huh? I'll give you mine!"

I blushed. "It's not like that!"

Ayane smiled gently.

"We're friends, right? It's okay to share info with friends."

We exchanged contacts on LINE.

I reached home from school.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting soft orange hues across the quiet street. The familiar creak of the front door echoed through the empty house as I stepped inside and stood still in the genkan—the entranceway.

Even though today had felt different… warmer… I couldn't shake the quiet ache buried deep inside.

"I should be happy, right?"

I took off my shoes, placed them neatly by the wall, and looked around.

Silence.

Not a single voice… not a single sound to welcome me home.

I whispered into the stillness, hoping someone might hear:

"I'm home…"

But no one answered.

There never was.

Still standing there, I tried to smile—but it came out hollow. I let out a breath, almost like a laugh.

"Even though things are changing... why does this place still feel the same?"

I sat down, pulling my knees to my chest, burying my face between them.

"Where did I go wrong?"

"What did I do to make her stop looking at me?"

"Did I make her tired of being my mother?"

My voice trembled without making a sound.

"Maybe if I become someone worth being proud of…"

"Maybe… just maybe… she'll say 'Welcome home' again."

That thought was enough to make me move. I slowly stood up.

"Even if it's foolish… I'll change."

I walked into the bathroom, letting the hot water run and step by step, washed away the heaviness of the day.

Steam fogged the mirror.

I looked into it—not to see my reflection, but to see who I was trying to become.

"Today… I laughed."

The thought made me chuckle.

I sank into the bathtub and stared at the ceiling.

"Tomorrow... I'm going to meet them again."

I felt my cheeks flush.

"I-it's not like I'm that excited."

I puffed my cheeks and dipped my mouth beneath the water.

But deep down, I already knew.

My heart was racing because something inside me was looking forward to it.

After the bath, I changed into a soft nightshirt and wandered to the kitchen. I made instant noodles—again. I sat alone at the table.

The same table.

The same quiet chair across from mine.

I stared at it for a long moment.

"Will she come home tonight?"

"Even if she doesn't talk to me, even if she just ignores me..."

"I just want her to be here."

I ate slowly. Not because the food was bad, but because I was thinking too much.

Eventually, I cleaned up and returned to my room. I collapsed onto the bed, hugging my pillow tightly. It was warm, soft—almost like I was trying to fill the shape of someone who'd never hugged me.

My phone buzzed.

Yuzuki:

"Let's meet at Café Hoshifuru Terrace this weekend. It's quiet and has a good view—we can work peacefully."

Reika:

"Ah! That's the place with the riverside terrace and pancakes that look like clouds, right? Count me in!"

Yuzuki:

"Perfect. It's never too crowded, and train access is easy."

I stared at the message.

Haruki:

"Café Hoshifuru Terrace…?"

Yuzuki:

"Yeah, near Tsukikawa Station. Why?"

I hesitated.

Haruki:

"…That's in Shirakawa."

Reika:

"EH!? That's your hometown!?"

Haruki:

"Yeah… It's about fifteen minutes from my place by bike."

Ayane:

"Wait, seriously? You've never told us…"

Haruki:

"…I didn't think it mattered."

There was a pause. Then—

Yuzuki:

"It does."

"Somehow… I'm really glad we're meeting there."

I looked at the ceiling, blinking.

"They're coming here… to where I live."

"To this place I always thought was too quiet, too empty."

But suddenly, it didn't feel that way anymore.

I closed my eyes.

"Maybe… if I keep going—one step at a time..."

"...even this house will start to feel like home again."

I hugged the pillow tighter.

"Goodnight… Mom."

Even if she didn't hear it, I wanted to say it again.

Because maybe someday…

She might say it back.

I woke up slowly, still caught between a fading dream and the comfort of my blanket. For a moment, I stared at the ceiling, not fully sure what day it was—until my eyes drifted toward the clock on the wall.

I yawned, stretched my arms, and turned my head toward the clock.

8:00 AM.

I froze.

Wait.

8:00…?

My heart dropped like a stone.

"The café meetup! It's at 8:30—!?"

Panic took over. I stumbled out of bed, almost tripping over my blanket.

"Why didn't I check the time last night?!"

My heart was racing. I had thirty minutes—just thirty—to get ready, leave the house, and pedal all the way to Café Hoshifuru Terrace.

Panic hit like thunder. I slapped my forehead.

"Why didn't I check the time last night!?"

I'd been so excited—so caught up in the thought of meeting them near my hometown, in that café by the riverside—that I completely forgot to set an alarm.

I threw on a clean white hoodie over my black t-shirt, grabbed my jeans, yanked on my sneakers, and dashed outside. The front door slammed shut behind me.

I didn't even bother to eat. My hair was still messy. I barely remembered to lock the door.

"I'm going to be so late—"

Pedaling as fast as I could, the wind stung against my face, but my heart was pounding harder. I passed quiet houses, narrow streets, blooming flowers on someone's porch. Even in my rush, something about the world today felt… brighter.

And then—I reached Café Hoshifuru Terrace.

I saw them before I could catch my breath.

They were standing just outside the café—waiting for me.

And that's when I froze.

Time seemed to stretch out like a single breath of wind.

Ayane, standing under the soft sun, had her pink hair tied loosely with a white ribbon. She wore a flowing white skirt with faint cherry blossom patterns and a red knit top that matched her warm, gentle aura. She looked… beautiful. No, more than that—breathtaking.

Reika was leaning casually against the café wall. Her bright blue hair was tied in two low pigtails, and she wore a sky-blue cropped hoodie over a white tee, with dark shorts and sneakers that made her look like she'd just stepped out of a summer movie. She was smiling as always—so cheerful it warmed my chest.

Yuzuki, elegant and quiet, wore a simple black dress paired with a pale cardigan. Her hair flowed softly over her shoulders, and the way she stood—hands folded, watching me—made her seem like a calm older sister who always saw more than she said.

And then there was me.

I glanced down at myself—plain hoodie, jeans, uncombed hair, and a panicked face.

"I'm late. I'm awkward. I probably look like I rolled out of bed."

But before the anxiety could fully take over, Reika spotted me and raised both hands in the air.

"Heeey~! Look who finally arrived!"

I stumbled forward and got off my bike.

"S-sorry! I—I overslept. I didn't check the time last night, and—"

Ayane tilted her head, smiling gently.

"You're fine. We just got here a few minutes ago."

"Eh? R-really…?"

Yuzuki looked at me and nodded with a soft chuckle.

"Don't worry. You're not the only one who couldn't sleep properly. Reika sent 42 messages to our group chat at 2 AM."

Reika huffed.

"Hey! That was for project inspiration! It's not my fault I was excited!"

I stood there, blinking.

They didn't scold me. They waited. They smiled.

They were happy to see me.

My chest tightened—not painfully, but warmly.

"They… really consider me a friend."

The doors of Café Hoshifuru Terrace opened with a soft chime. The warm scent of roasted coffee, sweet syrup, and something freshly baked drifted out.

Ayane reached for the door first.

"Shall we?"

I nodded quietly and followed them in.

This is it. My first time going out with friends. My first time walking into a café as part of a group. Not someone people whispered about or ignored—but someone whose presence was welcomed.

As I entered, I smiled to myself.

I'll remember this morning for the rest of my life.