Cherreads

Chapter 40 - Quiet Heartbeats

-4:36 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016-

Snow fell softly against the café window, tapping gently like a quiet heartbeat against the glass. The world outside was wrapped in pale light, the cold air pressing gently against the warmth inside.

Jousuke Daikuhara sat by the window, a warm cup of tea in his hands, steam rising slowly, blurring the lights beyond the glass.

Three messages, sent with trembling fingers.

Three invitations.

"Will they come...?" he thought.

-CAFÉ ENTRANCE-

-4:48PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016-

The door chimed softly.

Leah stepped inside, snowflakes clinging to the ends of her hair as she removed her scarf, her breath fogging the air. She looked around, eyes searching, until they landed on Jousuke near the window.

Her heart skipped.

"He's really here..." he thought.

Jousuke stood, giving her a gentle smile that made her breath catch. "Boutsuki-san."

"D-Daikuhara-san..." she managed, her hands clutching the small white box with a pale blue ribbon, her fingers trembling.

She sat across from him, carefully placing the box on the table, unable to meet his gaze as her cheeks turned pink.

"M-Merry Christmas." she whispered, her voice trembling as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Jousuke picked up the small box, the blue ribbon tied perfectly, the warmth of her hands lingering on the cardboard.

"Thank you, Boutsuki-san. Merry Christmas."

Leah's shoulders relaxed, her lips curving into a soft, shaky smile as she finally lifted her gaze, their eyes meeting.

They sat quietly, the soft hum of the café blending with the gentle snowfall outside.

"How was your day?" Jousuke asked softly, taking a sip of tea.

"G-Good... By the way, I baked cookies," Leah said, brushing her fingertips over the edge of the table. "I... I thought you might like them. It's inside that box."

"I'm sure I will." Jousuke replied, his warm smile making her heart pound.

They talked about school, about her dad who tried to sneak cookies from the tray, about the small bakery she wanted to visit during winter break.

When the clock on the wall ticked past 5:12 PM, Leah glanced outside, the snowfall growing thicker, her heart tightening softly.

"I should... probably go. My family is waiting for dinner." she said softly, standing up.

Jousuke stood with her, giving her a warm nod. "Thank you for coming, Boutsuki-san."

Leah hesitated, her eyes meeting his before darting away again, her cheeks flushed.

"Th-thank you for inviting me, Daikuhara-kun..." she said softly.

She turned, clutching her scarf tightly as she stepped into the cold, her heart warm, the snow catching in her hair as she walked home, clutching the memory of his smile.

-CAFÉ ENTRANCE-

-5:24PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016-

The door chimed again, the cold air rushing in as Miyazaki stepped inside, brushing snow from her black hair, her breath visible in the warm light.

She scanned the café quickly, spotting Jousuke alone at the window, her heart skipping.

"He actually..." she thought.

Jousuke stood as she approached, her bag slung over her shoulder, her fingers clutching a small paper bag tightly.

"Miyazaki-san." he greeted.

"Yo." she greeted, trying to sound casual, but the edge in her voice gave away the pounding in her chest.

She sat across from him, placing the paper bag on the table with a small thud.

"Don't... Don't get the wrong idea, okay? It's just a scarf." she muttered, crossing her arms as she looked away, her cheeks pink.

Jousuke opened the bag, pulling out the neatly folded black scarf, its soft fabric warm against his fingertips.

"Thank you, Miyazaki-san."

Her eyes flickered toward him, catching his warm smile, and she quickly looked away, burying her chin in her scarf.

They sat quietly, the warmth of the café wrapping around them as the snow continued to fall outside, each flake catching the soft lights.

"Was it... weird for you to invite me here?" Miyazaki asked suddenly, her voice soft but roughened by nerves.

Jousuke shook his head. "No. I'm glad you came."

"...Idiot." she muttered under her breath, but her lips curved into a small, warm smile she tried to hide behind her scarf.

They talked about winter break plans, about how Miyazaki's mother had teased her about "dressing up for someone," about how she scolded Asano for nearly losing his gloves at school.

As the clock ticked past 5:53 PM, Miyazaki glanced at her phone, letting out a small sigh.

"I... I should go." she said, standing up, clutching the handles of her bag.

Jousuke stood with her, the black scarf still in his hands.

"Thank you for coming, Miyazaki-san." he said.

She paused, her eyes meeting his before darting away, her cheeks flushed.

"Don't forget to wear it. It's cold. Also... merry christmas!" she muttered, before turning quickly, running into the cold as the snowflakes fell around her, her heart pounding, her breath visible in the quiet air.

Jousuke was speechless. "Merry Christmas." he quietly said as Miyazaki ran.

-CAFÉ ENTRANCE-

-6:14PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016-

The door chimed softly once more as Rika stepped inside, brushing light snow from her shoulders, her eyes searching the café until they landed on Jousuke by the window.

She hesitated, clutching the small clear pouch in her pocket, her heart pounding quietly.

"Daikuhara-san..." she greeted.

Jousuke stood, giving her a gentle smile.

"Sakurai-san." he greeted.

Rika approached quietly, bowing her head slightly before sitting down across from him, her fingers trembling as she pulled the small pouch from her pocket.

"I... I made this." she said softly, placing the pouch on the table, her eyes lowered. "Merry Christmas."

Jousuke picked up the pouch, seeing the small book-shaped keychain with a silver charm inside, its details delicate and warm.

"Thank you, Sakurai-san. Merry Christmas."

Rika lifted her gaze, her calm eyes meeting his, her lips curving into a soft, gentle smile.

They sat quietly, the warm light of the café blending with the snowfall outside, the world slowing around them.

"Thank you for inviting me." Rika said softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I wasn't sure if I should... but I'm glad I came."

"I'm glad you did too." Jousuke replied, taking a sip of his tea.

They spoke about her family's Christmas traditions, about the books she planned to read over the break, about the warm lights decorating the streets near her home.

As the clock on the wall ticked toward 6:47 PM, Rika glanced outside, her breath catching softly.

"I should go. It's getting late." she said, standing up, the warmth of the café clinging to her skin.

Jousuke stood as well, giving her a warm nod.

"Thank you for coming, Sakurai-san."

Rika paused, her eyes meeting his, the soft light catching in her gaze.

"Thank you for inviting me, Daikuhara-kun." she said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

She turned, stepping out into the cold, the snow falling softly around her as she pulled her scarf tighter, her heart warm and quiet as she walked home under the falling snow.

-CAFÉ WINDOW SEAT-

-7:01PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016-

The café was quiet now, the hum of conversation a soft backdrop to the gentle snowfall outside.

Jousuke sat by the window, the black scarf wrapped around his neck, the book-shaped keychain hanging from his bag, the small box of cookies resting beside his cup of tea.

He took a small bite of the cookie, the sweetness soft on his tongue as he looked out at the snow, each flake catching the glow of the lights outside.

"They all came..." he thought.

His chest felt warm, the tension that had pressed against him quietly loosening as he let out a soft breath, his shoulders relaxing.

"I'm glad I did this." he thought again.

Outside, the snow continued to fall softly, the world wrapped in quiet white as the lights flickered gently against the darkening sky.

Inside, Jousuke felt at ease, the warmth of the scarf, the gentle weight of the keychain, the sweet taste of the cookies reminding him:

He was not alone.

Tomorrow was uncertain, the lines between friendship and something deeper quietly blurring, but for now—

he would simply let himself be at peace under the falling snow.

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