Group projects are usually the worst part of school. But when the teacher announced we'd be working in pairs for a science poster, and I heard, "You'll be with Miyu Sato," my heart did a full somersault.
We met at her house the following Sunday, textbooks and colored pens spilling across her dining table. Her mom greeted me like an old friend and handed us snacks before leaving us alone.
Miyu was focused, serious about making our poster the best in class.
"Title in bold, okay?" she instructed.
"Yes, boss."
She rolled her eyes, but smiled.
We worked steadily, but conversation slipped in between tasks.
"Do you want to go to the Tanabata festival next month?" she asked suddenly.
"With everyone?"
"With me," she said, looking up.
I nearly dropped my marker.
"Y-Yeah. I'd love that."
We finished the project with glitter glue, cherry blossom drawings, and a topic about the solar system. She added a tiny doodle of a boy and a girl holding hands on the bottom corner.
"Space needs a little romance too," she said playfully.
That doodle stayed in my mind the entire walk home.
The next day at school, our poster was the best in the class. But all I could focus on was how her pinkie brushed mine as we both pointed to the same star.
A science project might've just become the start of a love story.