After a moment of awkward silence, I was the one who broke it.
Hiroshi:
"Thank you… for your time. There's something I wanted to ask you about. Something I noticed yesterday."
Sakura raised her eyebrows slightly, surprised.
Sakura:
"About… what?"
Hiroshi:
"The book… the poetry book you were reading."
She hesitated for a moment, then answered in a calm voice.
Sakura:
"I sometimes like reading things outside the curriculum. It's just a way to escape reality… a quiet, beautiful world."
I nodded, genuinely understanding.
Hiroshi:
"I get that. I escape reality too… just through games."
She looked at me, as if she hadn't expected that answer.
Sakura (shyly):
"I see…"
I noticed the corners of her lips relax slightly, as if she had found an unexpected point of connection between us.
Gathering a courage I wasn't used to, I asked:
"Would it be okay if… I walked you to the station?"
She hesitated again, then gave a small nod.
----------
On the Way to the Station
As we walked, I tried to keep the conversation going.
"I've seen you with… Mizuki-san and Ayano-san. You seem close."
She suddenly stopped.
Sakura:
"How… do you know their names?"
I froze internally.
Oh no… I messed up.
But the words came out before I could stop them.
"They're the brightest ones in class. It's hard not to notice them.
But you… it's hard not to notice you when you're with them."
Heat rushed to my face. That was closer to the truth than I intended.
At the station entrance, she turned toward me and smiled softly—genuine, different from anything I had seen from her before.
Sakura:
"Thank you for walking me here, Takahashi-kun."
Hiroshi:
"You're welcome, Yamada-san."
As she disappeared into the station, my heart began to race.
For a brief moment, I wished time would stop… and that this simple moment could last forever.
------------
On the Way Home
I was still lost in thought, smiling without realizing it, when I bumped into something small.
"Oof!"
Voice:
"Hiroshi-san!"
It was Mino Ito, our young neighbor, carrying a training bag almost bigger than himself.
Hiroshi:
"Sorry, Mino-kun."
He looked at me with sparkling eyes.
"Are you ready for your black belt test tomorrow? You'll be amazing!"
Tomorrow…?
I almost forgot.
"Yeah… I'm ready."
He jumped excitedly.
"My sister will bring me! I'll be there to cheer for you!"
Before I could reply, he was already running off, waving his hand.
"I'll be there!"
I watched him disappear, trying to organize my scattered thoughts.
--------------
Test Day
On Saturday morning, I entered the dojo wearing my white gi.
I stepped onto the mat and scanned the small audience… then I saw him.
Mino was standing in the front row, waving at me enthusiastically. I waved back with confidence, thanking him silently.
I was so focused that I didn't notice the teenage girl standing beside him, holding his hand and looking at me with shy admiration.
After my success was announced and I received my black belt, I went straight to Mino.
He jumped up and shouted:
"I saw it! You were like a dragon!"
I knelt down, untied my new black belt, and gently wrapped it around his waist.
"This is where your black belt will be someday. Keep training… with a strong heart."
From a distance, his older sister—Akari Ito—was watching.
She had left him briefly to buy a snack, and when she returned and saw me laughing with her little brother, she smiled softly, choosing to stay back and observe.
When I finished talking with Mino and turned to leave, I passed right by her. I didn't look at her—I didn't know her.
She, however, suddenly lowered her head, as if deeply focused on her shoes, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.
--------------
Monday — At School
I was excited.
I walked into class and said eagerly to my friends:
"You won't believe it… something really big happened to me!"
Kaito and Kenji:
"Tell us already!"
"I talked to Sakura… and walked her to the station!"
Kaito laughed.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did, Hiro."
Kenji slapped my back with a wide grin.
"That's amazing! You're a real hero!"
I felt a rare sense of victory.
But later that afternoon, as I stood by the window smiling to myself, I saw something that extinguished everything.
I saw Kenji talking to Sakura in the courtyard.
I saw him take out his phone.
I saw her lower her head slightly… and type her number.
I saw him laugh—that charming laugh everyone was drawn to.
And I saw a faint smile on her lips.
I stood there.....
The black belt I had worked so hard for… gave me no strength at all.
Instead of pride, something cold crept into my chest.
My smile vanished in an instant.
It wasn't anger.
Not even pure sadness.
It was something else entirely.
As if a small light that had begun to glow inside me during our walk to the station…
had suddenly gone out,
leaving behind a heavy, suffocating silence.