Saki sat by the window, watching the rain gently fall to the ground. The gray sky seemed to be the final scene of the emotional storm she had just endured, slowly clearing before her eyes. The faint chill of the rain had passed, yet the air inside the room remained soft—like the fragile silence left behind by the tears she had shed the night before.
Her gaze slowly drifted to the clock hanging on the wall.
"Too late…" she whispered.
"I should go to bed now."
She took a deep breath. The exhaustion she felt washed over her body in waves. Slowly, she walked to her bed, placed her hands on the edge of the blanket, and stretched out. She hugged Bay Bear close. The softness of its fur brought a small measure of peace to her heart.
"Good night…" she murmured to herself.
As her eyelids grew heavy, the world quietly darkened. And at last, Saki drifted into a deep sleep…
---
But that peace didn't last long.
Suddenly—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Saki jolted awake.
She opened her eyes slightly.
"…A dream?"
She pressed her head deeper into the pillow and closed her eyes again.
But after a brief silence, there was a knock at the door again.
Knock. Knock.
Saki stretched. "Who could it be at this hour…"
She lifted her head, her vision still blurry. She rubbed her eyes with her hands.
After a few seconds, she stood up, still not fully awake. She walked slowly from the edge of her bed toward the door. Her feet dragged lightly along the floor as the dim light of the room mingled with the calm of the morning.
She reached the door. Pausing for a moment before touching the doorknob, she slowly opened it.
And when the door fully opened—
Saki's breath caught.
---
Hiroki was standing there.
A black guitar case slung over his back.
Carefully chosen attire, slightly glossy but simple.
Hands in his pockets…
And as he stood directly in front of her, a charismatic smile spread across his face.
He looked like an anime character, arriving at Saki's door with the morning sun shining behind him.
Saki could only stare in shock.
"…H-Hiroki?"
Hiroki chuckled softly.
"Good morning, Saki."
His voice was gentle, yet carried a warm charisma.
"Thank you for greeting me in your sweetest form."
At that moment, Saki realized:
She was wearing… short, loose, light-colored pajamas.
Her face was still slightly puffy from sleep.
Her hair was in disarray.
And Hiroki… looked perfect as always.
Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
Reflexively, she pulled the door closed, leaving just enough space to peek through.
"W-What are you doing here at this hour, Hiroki?!"
Hiroki leaned slightly, bringing his eyes to hers.
"Well… I just remembered the surprise Miyuki mentioned… and I was thinking about it."
Saki blinked.
"Huh? Miyuki never told me about any surprise."
Hiroki froze for a moment, a hint of surprise crossing his face.
"…Really? I see."
Then, a faint smile appeared.
"Sorry if I disturbed you."
Saki shook her head quickly.
"No! I mean, it's not disturbing! It's just… so sudden!"
Hiroki took a deep breath and smiled.
"So… shall I wait here, Saki?"
Saki was taken aback.
"W-Wait for what?"
Hiroki stepped a little closer.
His eyes locked with hers. That gaze… made her heart flutter.
"You didn't think I came just to say hello at your door, right?"
Saki cleared her throat.
"Then why did you come so early?"
Hiroki closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and then a playful yet sweet smile appeared on his lips.
"Saki… do you know what time it is?"
Saki shrugged.
"Not exactly… but it's still early, right? Should still be morning."
Hiroki pulled out his phone from his pocket. The screen displayed the numbers in bold:
12:07
"Uh…" Hiroki chuckled softly.
"Afternoon, Saki."
Saki's mouth fell open.
"What—? Is it really that late?!"
"Yes." Hiroki looked at her kindly.
"I guess you didn't sleep much last night because of the excitement."
Saki blushed.
"…Maybe a little."
A short silence followed.
Hiroki took a deep breath.
"So… should I wait here at the door?"
Saki shook her head quickly.
"No! Or—wait! Give me five minutes!"
Hiroki smiled.
"Five minutes it is. But hurry, we'll be late."
As the door closed, Saki muttered to herself:
"Late for what?! Where are we even going?!"
But there was no time to think.
---
Saki ran to her room.
She flung open the closet doors. She didn't even know what to wear.
Pressing her hands to her face, she muttered to herself:
"Saki… calm down. If your heart beats like this, you won't be able to do anything!"
She quickly grabbed the first outfit she found suitable.
She threw on a light cardigan over it.
Looking in the mirror, she said:
"Okay… that'll do."
It was as if she was trying to convince her heart, not herself.
She ran toward the door, taking a deep breath as she opened it.
Hiroki was standing in the hallway, guitar in hand.
Calm, confident… like he was about to step onto a stage.
And still—irresistibly attractive.
Saki swallowed hard.
"…Hiroki?"
Hiroki turned to her.
"Ready?"
"I think so…"
She took a step, then stopped.
"Can I trust you, Hiroki?"
Hiroki tilted his head slightly.
"You're being so mysterious."
Saki raised her eyebrows.
"I'm serious!"
Hiroki slowly stepped closer.
The distance between them shrank to mere inches.
In a soft voice, he said:
"Saki… don't worry. I won't surprise you again. I don't want to scare you when we've just made up."
Saki frowned.
"Are you teasing me?"
Hiroki shrugged.
"Maybe a little."
Saki exhaled.
"…Alright. Come in, then."
Hiroki removed his shoes and stepped inside.
He looked around.
"Wow… Saki. Your house is really tidy."
Saki pursed her lips.
"What? Are you surprised it's like this?"
Hiroki smiled.
"No… it just looks like you already knew I'd come."
Saki immediately protested.
"No! I'm always tidy! Besides… I just woke up a moment ago!"
Hiroki tilted his head slightly, looking at her.
"That sweet look on your face says otherwise."
Saki's heart skipped a beat.
"I-I don't think so!"
"Think what you want. My opinion won't change."
Hiroki walked softly toward the kitchen.
"By the way… did you have breakfast?"
Saki placed a hand on her stomach.
"No… I told you, I just woke up."
Hiroki paused for a moment, then spoke softly:
"Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"For waking you up."
Saki shook her head.
"No need to apologize. At least I woke up happily today."
Hiroki smiled.
"Alright. But if you really want to make it up to me… you'll have to prepare a nice breakfast."
Saki's eyes widened.
"You haven't eaten yet?"
Hiroki turned to her.
"Maybe… I wanted to eat something made by you."
Saki's heart warmed, and her face flushed.
"Are you implying I can't cook?!"
Hiroki glanced at the counter, pointing at a now-cold cup of hot chocolate.
"I wasn't so sure about your cold hot chocolate, though."
Saki held her breath.
"W-Well… I didn't get a chance to drink it!"
Hiroki smiled.
"Then… let's put it to the test. Your new mission: make me the perfect breakfast."
Saki tied her hair back.
"Alright. Just sit and wait."
Hiroki pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning his guitar against the wall.
Saki went to the bathroom to wash her face. She looked in the mirror.
"Just woke up… and I'm making breakfast for Hiroki. What is this…"
She wiped the water droplets from her face.
Then she closed her eyes.
"Alright, Saki… go with the flow."
And she smiled.
"And make that breakfast as wonderful as possible."