When they stepped out of the restaurant, the cool night air brushed against their faces. The city lights cast long shadows across the sidewalks. As if the city were whispering its own story, the flickering glow of the street lamps played a silent melody. A gentle breeze tossed Miyuki's hair across her face, brushing against her still-pale skin, while a faint worry settled in Saki's chest.
Outside, Yusuke was trying to support Miyuki. His steps were heavy, his gaze careful, as if even the smallest wrong movement could make her condition worse. Miyuki remained pale; her lips slightly bluish, a thin bead of sweat glinting on her forehead. Her hands were clasped in her lap, fingertips trembling involuntarily. Her eyes were half-lidded, yet her gaze wandered into the distance, as if a storm raged inside her mind.
Saki immediately crouched beside her, bending her knees slightly to meet Miyuki's level.
"Miyuki! Are you okay?"
Her voice carried both curiosity and concern. Miyuki only took deep breaths, words caught in her throat. Saki's heart raced; in that moment, Miyuki looked more fragile than she had ever imagined.
Hiroki approached. The sound of his footsteps lightly tapped on the pavement, filling the silence with their presence.
"Stay calm, Miyuki. Get some fresh air, alright? Take deep breaths and you'll feel better," he said, his voice soft yet firm.
Miyuki looked at Hiroki with her wide, full eyes. Her gaze silently said, "I'm not okay." At that moment, Saki saw a fracture, a vulnerability in Miyuki's eyes—as if the whole world had suddenly abandoned her. Saki rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small bottle, offering it to Miyuki.
"Here, this will help you relax."
Miyuki nodded and drank without hesitation. The liquid in the bottle felt like a small token of safety. A few seconds later, her breathing steadied; her chest rose and fell gently, slowly returning to herself.
Yusuke gave a faint smile, though concern still lingered in it.
"Let's take a walk," he said, his voice calm, yet carrying a warm, friendly tone.
The four friends began walking slowly. The pavement was still wet; the scent of post-rain lingered in the air, mingling with the street's quiet. Street lamps illuminated their path with a flickering light, their shadows stretching and shrinking, as if an invisible observer were walking alongside them.
Saki stepped closer to Miyuki.
"Feeling any better?"
Miyuki fixed her eyes on Saki. Her lips parted slightly, but her voice remained fragile:
"Yes… a little. That ramen was just… terrible."
Hiroki sheepishly shrugged his shoulders.
"I guess I pushed you too hard."
Saki smiled with a touch of reproach, her voice carrying a soft laugh.
"Too hard? She almost fainted, Hiroki."
Yusuke tilted his head toward the sky; the moon shone faintly through the clouds, mingling with the city lights.
"At least it's a night we won't forget," he said.
Miyuki took a deep breath and placed her hands over her chest. A faint calm lingered within her, though the chaos of the evening still stirred in a corner of her heart.
"Thank you… for not leaving me alone."
Saki smiled in response.
"Nonsense! Of course we wouldn't."
Hiroki lowered his head shyly.
"Maybe I went too far… I'm sorry, Miyuki."
Miyuki nodded, giving a faint smile.
"Don't apologize. It was… kind of fun, actually."
Hiroki chuckled lightly, though his laughter carried a hint of shyness and warmth.
"Then maybe we'll try it again someday, but something not so painful this time."
Saki laughed, her voice blending with the night.
"Definitely! I never want to see ramen again."
Yusuke shrugged, stepping in.
"It's fine, we'll never forget this night. One day, we'll have legendary stories to tell."
Miyuki smiled; strangely, the presence of her friends and the calm within her brought a sense of security.
"It's strange, but… I feel peaceful now."
Hiroki took his phone out of his pocket and checked the time.
"It's getting late… should we head home?"
Saki felt a tinge of sadness; the fun moments seemed to vanish all at once. A hollow feeling merged with the quiet of the street.
"Yes, it's late… let's head back then," Yusuke said, nodding silently.
They said their goodbyes. Miyuki and Yusuke went their separate ways; Saki and Hiroki continued walking in the same direction.
Hiroki looked at Saki with a gentle smile. In his eyes was not only friendly warmth but also a depth of unspoken words. Saki's heart involuntarily quickened at that gaze. For a moment, it felt as if all other sounds vanished, leaving only the two of them and the silence.
"We never really said goodbye to each other," Hiroki said, his voice half-joking, yet slightly trembling.
Saki smiled at his joke, though the feelings inside her stirred. Silently, she thought: I hope we never have to say goodbye… She didn't want to look away from Hiroki; with every glance, a warmth she couldn't define rose within her.
"Did you enjoy yourself with us, Saki?" Hiroki asked, his voice gentle yet curious. As if he cared less about the words and more about the expression on her face.
"Yes… it was really fun and heartfelt," Saki replied, her eyes sparkling slightly, lips curved in a tentative smile. Her words carried unspoken feelings just as strongly as what she said aloud.
Hiroki smiled, slightly bowing his head. "I'm glad you had fun," he said, his voice blending with the breeze, as if whispering directly into her ears.
A brief silence fell between them. Saki's heart raced along with the cool night air. In the moments when the moonlight brushed her face, she felt an urge to get lost in Hiroki's eyes. That silence was a space where only their breaths and heartbeats intertwined.
"Seeing you happy makes me happy too," Hiroki said, locking eyes with Saki. His words were simple, yet carried immense sincerity. Saki felt a trust, a connection in his eyes; words alone could not describe it.
Saki's excitement rose, her voice trembling slightly:
"If you're happy… then I'll be happy too."
Hiroki smiled faintly, a mixture of shyness and a gentle vulnerability in his expression. Silence fell again, but this time it was different; both seemed to be waiting for the right moment to open up. Saki clasped her hands in front of her legs, watching Hiroki's face intently. She searched his eyes for the feelings she sensed, wanting to find the answer.
Hiroki noticed Saki's trembling gaze and leaned in slightly.
"Alright… you've completed your task," he said, eyes faintly smiling, yet behind that smile was warmth, meaning. "I suppose it's time to give you your reward," he added.
Saki raised her eyebrows, surprised yet curious.
"I thought your reward would be food," she said with a grin. Her lips curved subtly, but her heart was still racing.
"No," Hiroki said, nodding slightly. "The food was Miyuki's gift. I have something special just for you."
Saki's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, the silence of the evening seemed to gain meaning with those words. A mix of indescribable excitement and slight fear rose within her. Could it be related to the special song? Or another surprise?
"What's the reward then?" she asked curiously, her voice trembling yet resolute.
Hiroki replied teasingly:
"I don't know… should I give you a task to find out?"
Saki squinted and chuckled lightly. "You still have to follow the rules you set at first, right?"
Hiroki nodded faintly.
"I was joking… I promise, you'll really like this reward."
Saki stopped, clasping her hands in front of her legs and took a deep breath. Her eyes locked onto Hiroki's; with every word and gaze, time seemed to pause. The feelings inside her surged, and the night's coolness and city lights made this moment unforgettable.