When Saki stepped into the room, the silence pressed down on her like a suffocating weight. The fatigue of the day, Hana's piercing gaze, and Hiroki's sudden departure still echoed in her mind. Her hands trembled involuntarily as she slipped off her shoes.
"What's happening to me…?" she murmured. A strange tightness gripped her chest. Last night's date… Hana appearing out of nowhere… everything seemed to pile up at once. Her mind was like a storm that refused to settle.
She opened the door to her room and collapsed onto her bed. Clutching her little bear, she buried herself in its plush softness, letting out a faint sigh. The warmth of the toy gave her a sense of security; at least here, in her small world, she felt in control.
"Maybe… I'm overthinking him," she whispered. But her heart betrayed her. Every thought inevitably returned to Hiroki, every moment she imagined him, every memory of his face resurfaced. As she closed her eyes, a mix of unease and comfort enveloped her in the arms of her little bear.
She drifted into a dreamlike sleep. In her dreams, the school hallways came alive again: Hana's stern gaze, Hiroki's hurried departure… and Saki's own tangled questions… all intertwined in a chaotic blur.
When sunlight brushed her face, Saki opened her eyes. For a moment, she thought it was still a school day. But the silence of her room and the empty streets reminded her: it was the weekend. A slight relief washed over her, yet the confusion in her mind felt even sharper.
"The weekend… but why is my heart still racing?" she murmured. Sitting on her bed, she thought about Hiroki's actions last night: "Why was he in such a rush? What is he trying to tell me? Or… does he never show his feelings?"
Her phone buzzed. The message startled her. Glancing at the screen, she saw a message from Yusuke:
"Hey, we need to get supplies for the trip club. Can you help? Let's meet at the big stationery store."
Her heart jumped. On one hand, the lingering thoughts that shadowed her weekend peace; on the other, the responsibility of the club… a mixture of excitement, slight worry, and duty swirled inside her.
"Okay… got it," she typed, her fingers trembling slightly. Even this simple task could be an opportunity to gather her scattered thoughts.
She quickly got ready, packing her bag with her notebook, pens, and a small snack. As she stepped outside, the wind tousled her hair, and she paused for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she thought, "Alright, Saki… today, you have to do everything right."
By the time she reached the big stationery store, Yusuke was already there. He was pacing among the shelves, checking what supplies they needed. When he saw Saki, he looked up and waved with a small smile.
"Hey, Saki! Right on time. Today's going to be a bit hectic, but we'll manage together."
Saki offered a faint smile and quietly said, "Okay." But her heart was still racing. As they moved between the shelves, her thoughts repeatedly wandered to Hiroki. Last night's brief date… Hana's words… every fragment echoed in her mind.
"Maybe… I'm overthinking it," she whispered to herself. Yet the feelings inside her were strong. Seeing him, understanding what she felt… it was all a labyrinth spinning endlessly in her head.
Yusuke handed her an item, and for a moment, her gaze drifted off into the distance. "Saki, you seem distracted," Yusuke said, lightly tapping her shoulder.
Startled, she forced a small smile. "Ah, no… I was just checking the list," she replied, her voice slightly shaky. Yusuke smiled but didn't press further. Taking a deep breath, Saki turned back to the shelves.
As she gathered the supplies, a tiny sense of adventure stirred within her. What seemed like a simple shopping trip was, in fact, a challenge: to stay focused, select the right items, guide Yusuke… and, at the same time, face the questions swirling in her mind about Hiroki.
At the checkout, her hands still trembled lightly. But the trembling wasn't only from fatigue; it was excitement and curiosity squeezing her chest. Once outside, the sun gleamed softly, and the wind brushed against her hair. Saki took a deep breath.
"Today… might just be a turning point," she murmured. A fresh start—both for club duties and for confronting her own feelings… an adventure in its own right.
Walking beside Yusuke, Saki's steps felt steadier, her gaze firmer. The chaos in her heart hadn't vanished, but she knew she could face it now.
In that moment, Saki realized: life shaped itself through small tasks, friends by your side, and your own courage. Hiroki's mystery remained, but today, she had taken her first step.