The sky that afternoon was too clear.
For Yuuto Hoshino, that was already a bad sign.
— Quiet days are dangerous… — he murmured, walking slowly through the hallway after school.
— I agree! — an energetic voice replied behind him.
Yuuto closed his eyes for a second.
— Sakura…
— You should be used to it by now! — Sakura Aoyama appeared beside him, smiling as if she were about to announce something important. — Today is a special day!
— Why?
— Because I decided we're going out together!
Silence.
— No — Yuuto replied immediately.
— Too late! I already decided! — she pointed at him with conviction. — It's called initiative!
— It's called imposition.
— Details!
Yuuto sighed.
— What's the objective?
Sakura crossed her arms, thinking.
— Hmm… to understand you better!
— That sounds more like a social experiment.
— And it is! — she smiled. — You're the experiment!
— I refuse.
— Denied.
— I didn't agree.
— I agreed for you.
— That makes no sense.
— It does! In my head!
Yuuto stayed silent for a few seconds.
— That's exactly the problem.
Sakura laughed.
— Then it's decided! After school, we're going out!
— I already have plans.
— What plans?
— Staying silent.
— Cancelled.
---
Unfortunately for Yuuto… her plan worked.
And that was because Haru Takeda decided to "help."
— Come on, man! — Haru said, lightly pushing Yuuto at the school exit. — This is basically a date!
— It's not — Yuuto replied.
— Not yet — Ren added, leaning against the wall. — But it has disaster potential.
— I didn't ask for opinions.
— But you got them anyway.
Sakura appeared between them.
— Ready?!
— No.
— Great, let's go!
She grabbed Yuuto's wrist and started pulling him.
— Sakura, this is unnecessary.
— You'll run away if I don't do this.
— I won't run.
— You will.
— I won't.
— You would.
— No.
— Okay, maybe not… but I'm not taking chances!
Ren crossed his arms, smiling.
— This is going to be interesting.
Haru waved.
— Good luck, Yuuto! Survive!
— That doesn't help — Yuuto muttered.
---
They walked down the street near the school, filled with small shops, cafés, and scattered students.
Sakura finally let go of his arm.
— Alright! Plan number 2!
— There's already a plan number 2…?
— Of course! — she put her hands on her hips. — We're going to do normal things like normal people!
— That already sounds wrong.
— First… food!
— I ate during break.
— Doesn't matter! Eating again is part of the experience!
Yuuto looked at her.
— Do you always turn everything into an "experience"?
— Yes! Life is more fun that way!
He stayed silent.
— …I can't argue with that.
— So you agree?!
— Not exactly.
— But you didn't disagree!
— …
— My win!
---
They stopped in front of a small sweets shop.
Sakura turned to him, eyes sparkling.
— Pick something!
— You were the one who wanted to come.
— But I want to know what you like!
— I already answered that yesterday.
— That was real food! This is sweets! It's different!
Yuuto thought for a moment.
— Anything is fine.
— Invalid answer! — she crossed her arms. — You have to choose!
— Then… that one.
He pointed to a simple sweet.
Sakura looked… then smiled.
— You like simple things, huh?
— They're efficient.
— You sound like a robot sometimes.
— And you sound like three people at once.
— HEY!
She laughed right after.
— Fair.
---
They sat on a nearby bench.
For a few seconds…
silence.
Sakura took a bite of her sweet.
Yuuto simply watched.
— …this is weird — she said suddenly.
— What is?
— You're not saying anything.
— That's normal.
— Not when we're "going out" together!
— You said it wasn't a date.
— I said not yet!
— Then there's no obligation to talk yet.
Sakura puffed her cheeks.
— Do you always win these arguments?
— I'm not trying to win.
— But you do!
Yuuto thought for a moment.
— Do you prefer silence… or noise?
— Noise!
— Then why is this weird?
She blinked.
— …
— …
— …
— Okay, that was smart — she admitted. — I hate when you do that.
— Do what?
— Say little… but be right.
— It's not intentional.
— It is!
She sighed, but soon smiled again.
— So… tell me something about you.
— I'm already here.
— That doesn't count!
— It counts enough.
— IT DOESN'T!
She leaned forward.
— Yuuto… have you ever wanted to be… more… normal?
He stayed silent for a few seconds.
But this time…
it wasn't his usual silence.
— I've tried — he replied.
Sakura paused.
— And…?
— It didn't work.
— Why?
— Because… I'm not like that.
She stared at him.
No jokes.
No exaggeration.
— …does that bother you?
Yuuto looked away.
— It used to.
— And now?
He thought.
— Not as much.
Sakura smiled softly.
— Good.
— Why?
— Because… — she rested her chin on her hand — …being different isn't bad.
— You would say that.
— And you need to hear it!
He looked at her.
And for a moment…
the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
---
— So this is where you were.
The voice broke the moment.
They both looked.
Misaki Fujimoto.
Standing there, holding a book as always.
Sakura narrowed her eyes.
— Are you following me?
— No. I live this way.
— Suspicious.
— Coincidence — Misaki said calmly.
She looked at Yuuto.
— So… is this a date?
Sakura opened her mouth.
— IT'S NOT!
Yuuto answered at the same time:
— No.
They glanced at each other.
— You answered too fast — Sakura said.
— So did you.
— Suspicious.
— Coincidence.
Ren, who had appeared out of nowhere (again), crossed his arms.
— I vote that it is a date.
— YOU WEREN'T INVITED! — Sakura shouted.
— I invite myself.
Misaki closed her book.
— Regardless… it seems interesting.
She looked at Yuuto.
— You're changing.
— I'm not.
— You are.
— I'm not.
— You are — Sakura said, pointing. — You're out with me!
— That was forced.
— But it happened!
Yuuto fell silent.
Ren smiled.
— He didn't deny it.
— Shut up.
---
The sun was beginning to set.
Sakura stood up.
— Alright! Today's mission complete!
— Mission…?
— Yes! — she smiled. — I made you go out, talk, and even think about yourself!
— I already do that alone.
— But not with me!
— …
— My win again!
Yuuto sighed.
— You decide your own victories.
— Of course! It's easier that way!
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Misaki was watching in silence.
Ren too.
And somehow…
they all noticed.
Something was changing.
Small.
Subtle.
But inevitable.
---
On the way back, Yuuto walked alone again.
Notebook in hand.
He wrote:
"Today… wasn't silent.
And… it wasn't bad."
He paused for a second.
"…that's a problem."
But this time…
he didn't seem bothered.