The days that followed were a whirlwind of laughter, chaos, and endless effort.
Every hallway in Sakura High buzzed with the same energy — students carrying boxes, paint buckets, and posters while arguing over designs and themes. The air smelled faintly of paint and excitement.
For the Cosmic S.T.A.R. Club, their "Mini Planetarium Café: A Sky Full of Dreams" was fast becoming the talk of the school.
"Beru, we're out of star stickers again!" Souta shouted from the top of a ladder, half-hanging from the ceiling while trying to attach strands of shimmering paper stars.
Luna sighed, rubbing her temple. "Because you used five hundred on one side of the ceiling!"
"It's called artistic balance!" Souta declared dramatically, waving a glue stick like a conductor's baton.
"More like artistic disaster," Tadao muttered as he carefully wired the LED projectors on the opposite side. "If this thing short-circuits because of your 'balance,' we'll all glow in the dark."
Beru giggled softly as she helped Haruto paint the final touches on a fabric mural — a swirling galaxy that would hang behind the café counter. Her brush glided smoothly, creating a delicate nebula of purples and blues.
"This is the last panel," she murmured, stepping back to admire their work.
Haruto wiped a small streak of paint off her cheek with his thumb, smiling. "Now it's perfect."
Beru froze, her cheeks instantly pink. "Y-you didn't have to—!"
He chuckled, leaning back casually. "There was no other way. You can't go around with a galaxy on your face."
Luna glanced up from her clipboard, smirking. "Flirting again, I see."
Beru hid behind the paintbrush, flustered. "I-It's not—!"
Souta laughed from the ladder. "Just admit it already, you two look like a couple from a shoujo anime."
Haruto just smiled — calm and unbothered as always — but a faint warmth touched his eyes. "If we were," he said teasingly, "I'd be the mysterious lead, right?"
"And I'd be the overworked side character keeping you two alive," Tadao added dryly, earning a burst of laughter from everyone.
By lunchtime, the group gathered under the cherry tree outside, eating bento boxes and watching students practicing dances and performances for the festival.
The schoolyard shimmered with sunlight — banners fluttered, music echoed faintly, and the scent of takoyaki from the practice stalls drifted in the air.
Beru leaned against the trunk, unwrapping her lunch. "It feels… lively. Like the whole school is glowing."
Luna nodded, smiling gently. "The festival always does that. It's the one time everyone comes together — every class, every club, every person. It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Souta munched noisily on rice balls. "Yeah, until someone burns their yakisoba. Last year, remember? The fire alarm went off!"
Tadao sighed. "That was you, Souta."
"Oh yeah…" he muttered sheepishly. "But hey, at least it was memorable!"
Haruto leaned back, gazing at the clear sky through the branches. "Memorable things are the ones that stay with you. Even small moments — they make life worth remembering."
His words were quiet, but something about them lingered in Beru's heart. She turned to look at him — sunlight danced across his hair, and his calm expression carried something wistful. A shadow of old memories he didn't even realize he carried.
Her chest tightened faintly. What are you remembering, Haruto…?
Luna, noticing the silence between them, smiled knowingly. "Maybe we should make sure our café gives people that feeling — something they'll remember."
Beru nodded softly. "Something warm. Like this moment."
Over the next week, the club's progress picked up speed.
Haruto and Beru handled the art and lighting harmony.
Luna supervised the logistics and school paperwork.
Tadao managed the technical side — sound system, projectors, power lines.
And Souta… well, he provided "creative energy," which usually meant comic relief.
One late afternoon, as the sky began to blush with sunset, Beru stood on a small stool, hanging the last fabric of the galaxy canopy. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for the top hook.
"Careful," Haruto called from below, steadying the stool. "You'll fall if you stretch too far."
"I'm fine—"
Her foot slipped.
"Beru!"
In an instant, Haruto caught her by the waist before she could hit the floor. Their faces ended up inches apart — close enough that Beru could see the flecks of light in his brown eyes, like stars flickering in still water.
Her heart hammered. "H-Haruto…"
He didn't move, his hands still firm around her waist. For a moment, neither of them breathed.
Then Souta's voice rang out, oblivious. "Whoa! Did I just walk in on a romantic drama scene?!"
Beru quickly stepped back, flustered beyond words. "S-Souta! You—!"
Haruto just sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Your timing is impeccable as always."
"Hey, I aim to please," Souta said proudly, earning another sigh from Luna.
Despite the teasing and chaos, something had changed in the club's atmosphere.
Every member worked harder — laughing more, staying later, sharing snacks and stories between tasks.
At one point, Luna caught Beru staring at the ceiling lights after everyone else had left.
"Still here?" she asked softly, walking over.
Beru nodded. "I just… can't believe we built all this together. It feels magical."
Luna smiled. "You're the heart of this place, Beru. Everyone's giving their best because you made them believe in it."
Beru blinked. "Me? No, I just—"
Luna placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sometimes the gentlest person holds the strongest light. You don't always have to lead loudly — just by caring, you guide others."
Beru smiled faintly, her chest swelling with quiet gratitude. "Thank you, Luna."
Luna tilted her head, her voice lowering with a hint of fond mischief. "Besides… it's obvious your glow gets brighter whenever Haruto's around."
Beru's face went pink again. "Luna!"
Luna chuckled. "Relax. Just saying — the stars aren't the only thing shining in this café."
That weekend, Haruto stayed late to adjust the projection timing for the ceiling stars.
The rest had gone home, leaving the room dim except for the soft flicker of the lights above.
As he worked, he heard the door slide open gently. "Still here?" Beru's voice asked.
He turned, smiling slightly. "Could say the same to you."
She stepped inside, holding two steaming cups of cocoa. "I thought you might need this."
He accepted one gratefully. "Thanks. I was testing the constellations — they move a bit too fast."
She looked up at the artificial sky, mesmerized. "It's beautiful… like a dream."
"Maybe that's what we're all chasing," he said quietly. "Dreams that make us forget time."
She turned to him, her expression soft. "You say things that sound simple, but they always mean something more."
He chuckled softly. "Or maybe you just hear the meaning others miss."
They stood together under the simulated stars — quiet, gentle, and close.
The soft glow painted them in hues of silver and blue, their shadows touching.
Beru finally broke the silence. "You know, Haruto… before the festival, I want to make one wish."
He looked at her curiously. "A wish?"
She nodded. "That everyone who comes here feels peace. Even for a moment. Like the stars are whispering to them that everything will be okay."
He smiled faintly, his gaze tender. "Then I'll make that wish too."
She giggled softly. "You can't copy mine."
"Too late," he replied. "We'll share it."
For some reason, that made her heart flutter even more than a confession could have.
---
To be continued...