The Cultural Club room smelled faintly of glue, paint, and ambition. Aiko stepped inside, trying not to trip over a stack of chairs.
"Whoa…" she whispered. "So many… supplies."
Ren was already there, carefully arranging colored paper for decorations. He looked up as she entered and gave her a small, amused smile.
"You're… early," he said, adjusting a strip of tape on the wall.
"I wouldn't say early," Aiko replied, setting her bag down. "More like… clumsy." She grinned, though her cheeks were pink.
As they started setting up for the upcoming school festival, Aiko's creativity went into overdrive. She grabbed glitter, scissors, and a glue stick, trying to make a banner that said, "Welcome to Hanamori High Spring Festival!"
Ren glanced at her work, trying not to laugh. "You know… it's messy," he said, holding back a smile.
"I know! But it's… fun messy!" Aiko countered, proudly smearing a streak of glitter across the banner.
Ren carefully reached out to smooth a corner. Their hands brushed accidentally. Aiko froze. Her heart skipped a beat, cheeks heating instantly.
"Uh… sorry," she mumbled.
"No need," Ren said softly. "It's… fine."
Throughout the afternoon, they worked side by side, laughing at each other's mistakes. Aiko spilled glue on her sleeve once, and Ren teased, "Artistic flair?" She stuck out her tongue, laughing, and accidentally flicked glitter onto his shirt.
He looked down at the tiny sparkles and smirked. "You're… a tornado in disguise."
"Better a tornado than a boring cloud!" Aiko shot back.
By the end of the day, the banner was hung, the decorations were up, and a small pile of glitter still clung to their hair and clothes.
Ren glanced at Aiko, who was brushing glitter off her sleeve, and said quietly, "You're… fun to work with."
Aiko's heart fluttered. "You too… I mean… it's… nice," she said, stumbling over her words, trying to sound casual.
And just like that, amidst glue, glitter, and laughter, their bond deepened. No confessions, no grand gestures—just two hearts quietly beginning to notice each other a little more.