On a warm summer afternoon, a sudden knock on the door disrupted Sota's quiet solitude. He had been lounging in his room, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone, lost in thought. He hesitated for a moment before finally getting up and opening the door. To his surprise, standing before him was none other than his childhood best friend, Kira.
"Sota!" Kira beamed, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "I can't believe it! It's been so long! Did you hear? We're going to the same school now! And I live just a few blocks away!"
Sota, feeling slightly caught off guard by the sudden embrace, awkwardly patted her back. "Yeah… that's great," he muttered, his tone lacking the enthusiasm she had expected.
Kira pulled away, her bright smile faltering slightly as she studied his face. Something about him seemed different—more distant, more withdrawn. She had imagined their reunion would be full of excitement, but instead, Sota looked... lost.
She tilted her head curiously. "Sota, what's wrong? You don't seem happy to see me."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's nothing, Kira. Just some personal stuff."
Kira frowned, unconvinced. "Come on, Sota. You know you can talk to me. We've been best friends since we were kids. Whatever's bothering you, I want to help."
Sota hesitated, but as he looked into Kira's sincere eyes, the weight on his chest grew heavier. He exhaled deeply, deciding to confide in her. "It's about Shika. She left… just disappeared. No proper goodbye, no real explanation. I don't know what to do, Kira. I thought she felt the same way about me, but now she's gone, and I feel like an idiot for believing in something that wasn't real."
Kira's heart tightened as she listened. A wave of resentment toward Shika washed over her—how could she just abandon Sota like this? But at the same time, she felt something else stir inside her. Hearing Sota talk about Shika with such sadness only solidified what she had always known—she cared deeply for him.
She reached out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Sota," she said softly, "I know it's painful, but you can't keep holding onto someone who chose to leave. You have to let go."
Sota shook his head, his voice raw with frustration. "It's not that easy, Kira. I can't just forget about her."
Kira moved a little closer, lowering her voice. "I get it. But you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, Sota. I care about you more than you know. And I'll always be here for you."
Before Sota could respond, a small yawn interrupted the moment. Tenshi had woken up from her nap, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she peeked from behind the door.
"Hey, sleepyhead," Sota greeted her, ruffling her hair. "Did you sleep well?"
Tenshi nodded, still groggy. "Yeah... Who's your friend?"
Sota turned to Kira. "This is Kira, an old friend of mine."
Tenshi's eyes lit up, and she offered a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Kira!"
Kira smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you too, Tenshi! You've grown so much since I last saw you."
Kira offered to play with Tenshi, and before long, the three of them were engaged in games, watching TV, and reminiscing about old memories. As the afternoon turned to evening, Kira finally stood up and stretched.
"I should probably head home," she said. "But I'm glad I got to see you again, Sota. And I meant what I said. I'm here for you."
Sota nodded, appreciating her words. "Thanks, Kira."
The next day, Sota arrived at his father's restaurant for work, following his usual routine. The scent of grilled meat and freshly prepared dishes filled the air as he wiped down tables and took orders. It was a tiring job, but it kept him occupied.
However, as he glanced toward the entrance, his eyes widened in mild disbelief. Kira had walked in, her presence unexpected.
She waved at him with a cheerful grin. "Hey, Sota! Thought I'd drop by and wait for you to finish work so we could hang out."
Sota's expression hardened slightly. He was exhausted, and the last thing he wanted was a surprise visit. "Kira… What are you doing here? I don't need any surprises. I'm just trying to work."
Kira's smile faltered, the excitement in her eyes dimming. "I didn't mean to bother you," she said, her voice quieter. "I just thought we could spend some time together."
Sota let out a frustrated sigh. "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm really tired. I just want to go home."
Kira watched as Sota grabbed his bag and exited the restaurant. She hesitated before following him, her mind racing with thoughts. As they walked in silence, Kira debated whether to say anything. Finally, after a few minutes, she spoke up.
"Sota," she said softly, "I know you're tired, but I just wanted to spend some time with you. We don't have to do anything big. Maybe just grab a bite to eat and talk?"
Sota stopped walking and turned to face her. His gaze was conflicted. "Kira, I appreciate your offer, but I think it's best if we go our separate ways for now. I need time to figure things out. I don't want to lead you on or hurt you."
Kira swallowed, the sting of rejection settling deep. She knew Sota wasn't trying to push her away out of malice—his heart was just still caught up in the past. Still, it didn't stop the ache from forming in her chest.
She took a deep breath. "I get it, Sota. But I just want you to know that I care about you, and I don't want to see you go through this alone."
Sota's expression softened. "Kira… You're a great friend. And I don't want to complicate things any further."
Kira forced a small smile, trying to mask her disappointment. "Okay, Sota. I understand. Just… remember that I'm here if you ever need me."
With that, they parted ways, both lost in their own thoughts. Kira walked away, her heart heavy but resolute. And Sota, as he watched her go, felt the weight of everything pressing down on him once more.
Another person who cared about him. Another person he wasn't sure how to face.
The next morning, Sota woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes as he shuffled out of his bedroom and into the living room. He blinked a few times, thinking he was still dreaming, but the sight before him remained unchanged. Kira was sitting cross-legged on the floor, laughing as she played with Tenshi. The two were deeply engrossed in a game, giggling as they stacked colorful blocks on top of each other.
"Good morning," Kira greeted him with a cheerful smile, her tone light and easy.
"Mornin'," Sota mumbled, still trying to shake off the last traces of sleep. He stretched his arms before running a hand through his messy hair. Before he could fully wake up, Tenshi was suddenly at his side, tugging on his hand with her big, pleading eyes.
"Sota, can we go to the park, please? Pretty please?" she begged, her voice sweet and full of excitement.
Sota sighed, knowing full well that he was powerless against his little sister's puppy-eyed expression. "Fine, fine," he relented. "Get ready, and we'll head out."
Tenshi cheered happily and ran off to grab her shoes, while Kira stood up, brushing off her skirt. "Guess that means I'm coming too," she said playfully.
Sota simply nodded, not really in the mood to argue.
The walk to the park was peaceful. The summer air was warm, but a soft breeze kept it from feeling too stifling. As they approached an ice cream stand, Kira leaned in closer to Sota, her voice taking on a teasing edge.
"You know, I had a dream about you last night," she said, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Sota raised an eyebrow, shifting slightly away from her. "Interesting," he replied cautiously. "What was it about?"
Kira smirked, letting the suspense linger. "I can't tell you that," she teased, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "But let's just say it was a good dream."
Sota exhaled quietly and turned his attention back to ordering their ice creams. It was easier than figuring out how to respond to Kira's cryptic comment. Once he had the ice creams in hand, they returned to where Tenshi was playing on the swings.
"Here you go, Tenshi," Sota said, handing her a cone.
Tenshi took it eagerly, grinning from ear to ear. "Thank you, Sota!" she chirped before happily licking her treat.
As Sota turned to Kira, he saw her deliberately taking a slow, sensual lick of her ice cream. Her gaze lingered on him as she murmured, "Mmm, this is so good. I wouldn't mind sharing it with you, Sota. It could be our little secret."
Sota immediately recoiled slightly, shaking his head. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
Kira pouted but quickly covered it up with a playful chuckle. "No worries," she said smoothly, taking another bite. "More ice cream for me then."
To steer the conversation back to neutral ground, Sota cleared his throat. "So, what do you want to do after this?"
Kira licked her ice cream absentmindedly before answering. "I think I'll just head home after this. I'm pretty tired after yesterday's shift, and I've got some errands to run."
"Got it," Sota replied, relieved that she wasn't planning to linger.
They continued strolling through the park, watching as Tenshi chased butterflies and giggled at the ducks waddling by the pond. The sunlight shimmered off the water, creating a serene atmosphere. Despite the pleasant surroundings, Sota felt distant—his mind occupied with memories he couldn't shake. Kira seemed to notice, her playful demeanor faltering slightly as she stole occasional glances at him.
On their way back home, Tenshi excitedly recounted her adventures with the ducks, waving her arms animatedly. Kira chuckled along with her, but her attention kept drifting toward Sota. He remained quiet, barely engaging in the conversation, his expression unreadable.
As they reached the house, Tenshi let out a big yawn and announced, "I'm gonna take a nap!" before rushing off to her room. The living room fell into a brief, awkward silence as Kira and Sota were left alone.
Kira took a seat on the couch and sighed, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Thanks for coming to the park with us."
Sota shrugged. "It was for Tenshi."
"I know," Kira said, her tone softer now. She looked at him intently. "But it was nice spending time with you too."
Sota didn't respond. He wasn't sure what to say, and the air between them felt heavier than before.
After a few moments, Kira finally stood up, brushing off her skirt. "I should go," she said, avoiding his gaze. "Thanks again for today."
Sota gave her a small nod, watching as she headed toward the door. The moment it closed behind her, he let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair.
Something about the day left him feeling even more exhausted than before.