...26/09/2009 Saturday; Dusk...
The sun painted the sky in shades of gold and orange, as if the evening itself wanted to rest upon Gekkoukan High School.
Shadows stretched long across the windows, and the sound of backpacks zipping and hurried footsteps echoed through the hallways.
But on the rooftop, the world felt quieter.
Yukari stood there, arms resting on the railing, the wind tousling her hair as her eyes wandered over the endless cityscape.
The distant buildings reflected the warm light of the setting sun, but she saw no beauty in it—only the hazy reflection of a guilt that refused to fade.
The memory was still vivid.
The moment Minato had protected her from the thieves—the shock, her racing heartbeat... and then, the anger.
But not at him—not really. At herself.
For reacting that way, for complaining instead of saying thank you.
She took a deep breath, her hand rising to her chest.
Her heart was beating fast, restless, as if waiting for an answer that never came.
Then—a soft click.
The sound of the rooftop door opening cut through the air.
Slow footsteps echoed on the concrete floor, calm and steady, drawing closer to her.
Yukari didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
The rhythm of those steps, that quiet presence… she would recognize it anywhere.
When the sound stopped, she took a breath and finally turned.The wind swept between them, blowing a strand of hair across her face.
Minato stood there, hands in his pockets, wearing the same serene expression as always.
But there was something different this time—a faint trace of curiosity, maybe even concern, behind his eyes.
"Hey, Minato…" Yukari said, her voice low, almost a whisper as she looked away.
Minato tilted his head slightly.
"I saw your message," he replied, his tone as calm as ever. "And I noticed you've seemed… down lately. What's wrong?"
She frowned, and the air seemed to grow heavier.
Her chest ached—not physically, but as if something inside her tightened, forcing every heartbeat to remind her of what she wanted to forget.
The sleepless nights, the regret returning each time she closed her eyes.
She took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and then finally met his gaze "Do you remember the thieves who stole my wallet last week? When you came to help me?"
Minato simply nodded, direct and quiet.
"Yeah, I remember."
Yukari looked away, her hands fidgeting—fingers entwining, then pulling apart, then gripping the hem of her skirt.
The tips of her fingers tingled, her heart racing.
Every word wanted to escape, but something still held her back.
"Hm…" she murmured, her voice weak, nearly swallowed by the wind.
She closed her eyes for a moment."Come on, just say it, you idiot!"
When she opened them again, she met Minato's eyes—and this time, she let the words out.
"I… I'm sorry for getting mad at you."
The silence that followed was light, but carried weight.
Minato blinked once, surprised. His face didn't change much, but his eyes softened, as if he understood more than her words said.
"Hey, you don't have to—"
"Let me finish…" she interrupted quickly, raising a hand.
Yukari's voice trembled—not from weakness, but from the effort of holding herself steady.
"I hate having to rely on others. I always have. It makes me angry… mostly at myself." She lifted her eyes. "I couldn't say this before, but…"
Yukari inhaled slowly, then bowed her head.
Her hands clenched tightly over her thighs, her body small, her voice barely above a whisper, but honest.
"I'm sorry if I made you upset, Minato. I didn't mean to get mad at you."
The wind brushed through her hair, and the distant song of cicadas filled the space between them.
Slowly, she straightened up, fixing her posture. Her eyes were lighter now, even if a faint sadness still lingered.
"And… thank you for coming after me," she said, a small but genuine smile forming on her lips. "Really… thank you so much."
Minato felt a gentle warmth spread through his chest as he heard Yukari's words.
It was strange… that simple apology seemed to dissolve something inside him, as if an invisible knot had finally come undone.
He relaxed his shoulders and gave a faint smile. "Don't mention it."
Yukari smiled back, her eyes shining with a hint of relief.
"And honestly… it was pretty brave of you to go after those guys like that."
Minato shrugged, glancing away for a moment."I just acted on impulse. That's all."
A small laugh escaped Yukari's lips as she let out the breath she'd been holding. The sound was light, almost like a sigh carrying away the weight of something that no longer existed.
She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling her body lighter—like the wind blowing across the rooftop had carried away the guilt that haunted her.
"Phew… feels like I just got a truck off my back." She looked at Minato and smiled sincerely. "Thanks for not getting mad at me."
Minato stepped a little closer, his gaze calm and kind."There's no reason for me to be mad at you. I…"
The words trailed off midway.
He opened his mouth, but his heart hesitated.
Something inside him told him it wasn't the right time yet—and he listened.
"Never mind."
A faint smile followed the words.
"Well, if that's how it is…" Yukari placed one hand on her hip, turning her face toward the view before them.
"You know… you're really kind to everyone. That's something that makes me happy." Her voice was soft, almost carried away by the wind.
As she gazed at the horizon, flashes of memories crossed her mind—battles, late-night talks.Minato's face in every one of them, always there… always calm.
Her heart suddenly quickened, and warmth rushed to her cheeks.
"Uhhh…" Minato's voice snapped her back. He raised an eyebrow. "You okay, Yukari? For a second, it looked like you…"
"N-no, no, no, no, no!" Yukari waved her hands quickly, her face turning completely red. "I'm fine! I was just thinking about something!"
"You sure?" He crossed his arms, giving her a curious look.
"One hundred percent sure!" she replied way too fast, forcing a smile and giving a thumbs-up.
Minato let out a short chuckle.
"If you say so… anyway, we should probably get going."
"You're right." Yukari took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I don't want people to start thinking we're…"
"Hmm? Like what? A couple?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder—his tone calm as usual, but somehow teasing this time.
Yukari's face went bright red instantly; she hadn't expected that kind of reply from Minato.
She faked a cough, looking away and trying to keep her composure.
"I wouldn't say exactly that… but something like it."
Minato slipped his hands into his pockets, a faint smirk on his lips. "Well, I don't really care what others think. But what exactly do you mean by that?"
"Oh, shut up, Minato," she shot back, giving him a light slap on the shoulder, trying to hide her smile.
They walked side by side, heading down the stairs from the rooftop.
The school was slowly emptying, and the golden glow of sunset gave way to the bluish tone of early night.
At the gate, the sound of voices and footsteps mixed with the gentle evening breeze.
Yukari talked about classes, about exams—about anything that filled the space between them.
Minato just listened, occasionally letting out a quiet laugh or adding a few words of his own.
And as they crossed the school gates, both of them felt—without needing to say it—that they had grown a little closer, and that they could trust each other.
TO BE CONTINUED...