I was still staring at my phone when another message from Saki popped up.
> Saki:
Are you doing anything right now?
I looked around my room.
Messy desk.
School bag on the floor.
Me, emotionally damaged on the bed.
> Me:
Recovering from today.
> Saki:
Same.
A pause.
Then—
> Saki:
I can still hear my grandfather walking in the hallway sometimes.
It's like a horror movie.
I sat up a little straighter.
> Me:
Don't say that.
Now I'm imagining him appearing behind me.
I glanced at my door.
Nothing there.
Good.
I exhaled.
Then another message arrived.
> Saki:
What are you doing exactly.
I thought for a second.
Then suddenly got an idea.
I stood up from the bed and walked toward the window.
My room light was dim, and outside the night was quiet.
The streetlights cast a soft glow over the neighborhood.
And right across from my house—
Saki's window.
I leaned slightly against the frame and typed.
> Me:
Come to your window.
Three dots appeared instantly.
Then disappeared.
Then appeared again.
> Saki:
Why.
> Me:
Just come.
A few seconds passed.
Long ones.
I waited, phone in hand, staring at the dark window across from mine.
Then—
Her room light turned on.
My heart jumped.
A moment later, her curtain moved.
And Saki appeared at the window.
She was holding her phone and looking around like a confused detective.
Then her eyes landed on me.
We both froze for a second.
Then she quickly looked at her phone again.
My phone buzzed.
> Saki:
…oh.
I smiled without realizing.
> Me:
Hi.
She looked up again.
Even from this distance, I could tell she was blushing.
She typed.
> Saki:
Why are you outside your window like that.
> Me:
Why are you at yours.
> Saki:
Because you told me to come.
> Me:
Exactly.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
I could see it.
Then another message came.
> Saki:
This feels illegal somehow.
> Me:
We're literally just standing at windows.
> Saki:
It still feels suspicious.
> Me:
Your grandfather would definitely think so.
Her eyes widened immediately and she ducked slightly from the window.
My phone buzzed rapidly.
> Saki:
DON'T SAY THAT.
> Saki:
WHAT IF HE COMES.
> Me:
Relax.
> Me:
It's almost midnight.
She slowly peeked back toward the window again.
Then typed.
> Saki:
If he appears behind me I'm blaming you.
> Me:
Fair.
---
We stood there like that.
Across the quiet street.
Texting.
Looking up sometimes.
Looking back down at our phones.
It was… weirdly peaceful.
And also extremely embarrassing.
> Saki:
This is the first time we're talking like this.
I glanced at her.
She quickly looked down again.
> Me:
Yeah.
> Me:
Usually we're panicking in person.
> Saki:
We're still panicking.
> Me:
True.
She leaned slightly against the window frame.
Then sent another message.
> Saki:
You looked really scared today.
I sighed.
> Me:
I was fighting for my life.
> Saki:
My grandfather said you're interesting.
I blinked.
> Me:
That's terrifying.
> Saki:
He also said you're honest.
I looked up at her.
She was watching me now.
Not typing.
Just standing there with her phone.
Then my phone buzzed again.
> Saki:
He likes honest people.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
> Me:
That's good I guess.
> Saki:
But he also likes interrogating honest people.
> Me:
That part I noticed.
She laughed silently.
I could see her shoulders shaking a little.
---
Then suddenly—
> Saki:
Wait.
> Saki:
Are we seriously just staring at each other from windows and texting.
I looked at my phone.
Then at her.
Then back at my phone.
> Me:
Yes.
> Saki:
This is so weird.
> Me:
But also kind of nice.
She froze for a moment.
Then looked down quickly and typed.
> Saki:
Yeah…
A few seconds passed.
Then—
> Saki:
Also.
> Saki:
If my grandfather sees this I'm moving to another country.
> Me:
I'll join you.
> Saki:
No you'll get interrogated at the airport too.
> Me:
Don't put that image in my head.
---
The night was quiet.
The street empty.
And for the first time all day…
My chest felt calm.
Then my phone buzzed again.
> Saki:
Haruto.
> Me:
Yeah?
A pause.
She looked up at me again before sending the message.
> Saki:
I'm glad we told Kenta and Mei.
I nodded slightly.
Even though she probably couldn't see it clearly.
> Me:
Me too.
Then she typed:
> Saki:
I'm still embarrassed though.
> Me:
Same.
> Saki:
Extremely embarrassed.
> Me:
Catastrophically.
She laughed again.
But just as we were getting comfortable standing there—
Her phone buzzed.
She looked down at it.
Then suddenly her eyes widened.
She looked up at me.
Then back at her phone.
My phone buzzed immediately.
> Saki:
Problem.
I straightened.
> Me:
What.
A pause.
Then the message arrived.
> Saki:
My grandfather is awake.
My heart stopped.
Completely.
My phone vibrated again.
> Saki:
I repeat.
My grandfather is awake.
I immediately ducked a little lower near my window like that would somehow save me.
> Me:
Why is he awake at midnight?!
> Saki:
He drinks tea at night.
> Me:
THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.
Across the street, Saki was looking over her shoulder like a spy in a movie.
Then my phone buzzed again.
> Saki:
I hear footsteps.
I froze.
> Me:
Hide.
> Saki:
Where?!
> Me:
I DON'T KNOW YOUR ROOM LAYOUT.
> Saki:
This is your fault.
> Me:
HOW IS THIS MY FAULT?!
> Saki:
YOU MADE ME COME TO THE WINDOW.
That was technically true.
I didn't respond.
Because I was busy slowly crouching near my window like someone avoiding a sniper.
Another message appeared.
> Saki:
He's coming closer.
I looked up at her window.
She had completely disappeared.
Curtains slightly moved.
Then her phone buzzed again.
> Saki:
Abort mission.
> Me:
Already aborted.
> Saki:
If he sees you across the window I'm finished.
> Me:
I'm also finished.
> Saki:
Actually you'll be more finished.
That was fair.
Very fair.
---
I carefully peeked over the window edge.
Her light was still on.
But she wasn't visible anymore.
Then suddenly—
Her curtain moved slightly again.
And Saki popped up halfway like a cartoon character checking for danger.
My phone buzzed.
> Saki:
False alarm.
I exhaled.
> Me:
I almost died.
> Saki:
Same.
> Me:
I crouched.
> Saki:
I hid behind my pillow.
> Me:
That's not hiding.
> Saki:
It's emotional hiding.
I laughed quietly.
---
We both slowly stood back near our windows again.
This time more cautiously.
Like criminals.
My phone buzzed.
> Saki:
This is definitely suspicious behavior.
> Me:
100%.
> Saki:
If my grandmother sees this she'll take photos.
> Me:
She probably would.
She covered her face for a moment.
Then looked back at me.
Phone buzz.
> Saki:
Also…
Pause.
> Saki:
Why are you smiling like that.
I blinked.
> Me:
I'm not.
> Saki:
You are.
> Me:
I'm just standing.
> Saki:
Suspicious.
---
The streetlight flickered slightly.
And for a moment we both just stood there again.
Looking at each other from across the street.
Then my phone buzzed.
> Saki:
You know…
> Saki:
This feels kind of like a movie scene.
> Me:
A very awkward one.
> Saki:
Definitely.
> Me:
Two idiots communicating through windows.
> Saki:
Accurate.
Then she paused.
Looked at me again.
And sent:
> Saki:
But I like it.
My brain paused.
I typed slowly.
> Me:
Me too.
She immediately turned red again.
I could see it even from across the street.
She quickly looked down at her phone again like she regretted existing.
Then—
Her room light flickered slightly.
And suddenly—
A shadow appeared behind her.
My heart jumped.
My phone vibrated violently.
> Saki:
HARUTO.
> Me:
WHAT.
> Saki:
HE'S HERE.
I looked up.
And just as Saki turned around—
The door behind her opened.