Saturday comes faster than light.
We meet at the little retro café near the station—the one with the pastel booths and the jukebox that still plays 90s city-pop.
Yui is waiting outside in a pale yellow sundress, hair tied with a white ribbon, clutching a tiny purse like it's a life raft.
She spots me and waves so hard she almost drops it.
Inside, we order milkshakes—strawberry for her, chocolate for me.
The glasses are huge, striped straws, mountains of whipped cream with a single cherry on top.
We sit across from each other in a corner booth.
For the first ten minutes we just drink and smile too much and say nothing important.
Then the jukebox switches to a slow song and the café lights dim automatically (some cheesy mood feature).
Yui stirs her shake until the ice cream starts to melt.
Yui
I practiced this in my head a thousand times…
and now I can't remember any of the words.
She looks up.
Her eyes are shining.
Yui
Kiyoshi-kun…
I've liked you for two years.
Fuck I said it, I am shameless
Since the first Literature Club meeting in first year.
You were reading Akutagawa out loud and your voice was so quiet but it felt like the whole room stopped breathing just to listen.
She laughs, embarrassed.
Yui
I thought, "Ah… I'm in trouble."
Because you never looked at anyone, but I still wanted you to look at me.
Even just once.
I stare at the cherry in my shake.
Yui
I know you're… going through something.
Kiyomi-chan wouldn't say what, but I can tell.
You disappear sometimes.
Your eyes look far away even when you're right in front of me.
She reaches across the table, hesitant, then rests her hand over mine.
Yui
I don't need you to be fixed or perfect or anything.
I just… really, really like the person who stayed late to stack chairs with me.
Who remembers which books I cried over.
Who smiled at the fireworks like the sky was brand new.
Her fingers are warm.
Yui
So… yeah.
I've been in love with you for two years.
OH MY Fucking God I am so shameless
And I wanted you to know before I chickened out forever.
The café spins gently around us.
I think of every story the real Kiyoshi loved—every protagonist who burned themselves out so someone else could live.
I think:
Maybe this is what he was protecting.
Ordinary, clumsy, terrifying moments like this.
My voice comes out rough.
Kiyoshi
Yui…
I can't promise I'm good at this.
I can't promise I won't disappear sometimes.
But when I'm with you, the world feels… lighter.
(She is the 2nd one who give me comfort after Kiyomi)
Like maybe I'm allowed to stay.
Her eyes fill with tears, but she's smiling so wide it must hurt.
Kiyoshi
I don't have an answer yet.
Not a full one.
I need one more day to think—to make sure I'm not being selfish by saying yes.
I turn my hand over under hers, thread our fingers together carefully.
Kiyoshi
Can I tell you tomorrow?
She nods immediately, squeezing tight.
Yui
Of course.
Take all the time you need.
I've waited two years… one more day is nothing.
We finish our milkshakes.
We play three rounds of the claw machine outside (she wins a tiny plush cat on the last try and immediately gives it to me).We walk along the river until the streetlights come on and fireflies start drifting above the water.
When we reach the fork where we have to split, she stands on her toes and kisses my cheek—so quick I barely feel it, but it burns for the rest of the night.
Yui
Tomorrow, then.
Kiyoshi
Tomorrow.