The petals were falling again. Pink, soft, and glowing in the late afternoon light. The entire courtyard looked like something out of a dream.
You were just trying to get home before the crowd of after-school couples swarmed the station — but of course, fate had other plans.
Because standing under the sakura tree, looking like he had been ripped straight out of a shoujo manga panel, was him.
Riku. The boy who had stolen your umbrella two weeks ago, only to return it with a grin and a "Guess it's ours now, huh?" (You still hadn't gotten over that line. Who even says stuff like that in real life?!)
And now he was standing there, one hand shoved in his pocket, the other holding something behind his back. His messy black hair caught in the wind, his eyes way too intense for your poor heart to handle.
"You're late," he said, as if you two had planned this meeting (you definitely hadn't).
"I– I wasn't coming to see you!" you stammered, your face heating up. "I was just passing by—"
He stepped closer, closing the distance like he had rehearsed it. "Then why does it feel like destiny keeps pulling us together?"
You nearly choked on air. "W-what are you, some kind of anime protagonist?"
His lips curved into a smirk. "Maybe. But if I am… you're definitely my heroine."
And that's when he pulled the thing from behind his back — a small hairpin shaped like a cherry blossom. He held it out to you, the petals swirling dramatically around both of you as if the universe itself shipped you two.
"I saw this and thought of you," he said softly. "So… can I put it on for you?"
You froze, your brain short-circuiting. Was this real life? Did people actually do this? You could practically hear the background music swelling.
"…You're ridiculous," you muttered, but leaned forward anyway, letting him gently tuck the pin into your hair. His fingers brushed against your ear, sending sparks down your spine.
When he leaned back, his eyes softened. "Perfect. Just like I imagined."
Your heart officially exploded. Rest in peace.
And then — because apparently life wanted to destroy you completely — he took your hand. Just like that. Bold. Shameless. Warm.
"Walk home with me?" he asked, smiling in that way that made the world stop existing.
You tried to play it cool, but your voice betrayed you. "O-okay… but only because it's on my way."
"Sure," he teased, squeezing your hand. "On your way to me."
…Yep. You were doomed. Totally doomed.
The sakura petals swirled around you both, like the entire universe had turned into a pink snow globe just to set the scene. Riku still hadn't let go of your hand, and you still hadn't recovered from the fact that this walking cliché just tucked a cherry blossom hairpin into your hair.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" you asked, your voice trying to sound casual but coming out wobbly.
He tilted his head, his smile annoyingly soft. "Because when the petals fall, you look like a miracle."
"Wha— you can't just say things like that!!" you sputtered, yanking your hand away and stepping back—
And that's when your heel caught on one of the tree roots poking out from the ground.
"Oh shi—"
You stumbled backward, flailing like you were about to face-plant in the dirt. But before you could scream, Riku lunged forward and caught you, one arm wrapping around your waist.
You froze. He froze. The world froze.
Because somehow — and don't ask how, it's anime logic — you'd ended up flat on the grass, him above you, faces so close your noses brushed.
Time. Stopped.
Your heart went boom-boom-boom, so loud you were pretty sure he could hear it. His eyes flickered down to your lips, then back up.
"This… wasn't what I planned," he whispered, his voice low, his breath fanning against your cheek.
"I-I… y-you—" You couldn't form words. Your brain had melted into pure static.
And then — because apparently gravity had a sense of humor — a stray sakura petal drifted down and landed right between your lips. Riku chuckled, leaning closer, brushing it away with his thumb in the slowest, most dramatic move of all time.
You swore you stopped breathing.
"Guess the world just wants me closer to you," he murmured.
And before you could protest, he closed the gap, pressing the softest, most heart-exploding kiss to your lips. Just a brush, just a whisper — but enough to send every neuron in your body into overdrive.
When he pulled back, his cheeks were pink, but his smirk was still in place. "Accidents… can be fate too, right?"
You shoved his shoulder, your entire face flaming. "S-shut up!"
But your heart was already screaming the opposite: don't ever let go.