The school break had begun.
There was no reason to stay in the room.
Prolonged silence doesn't suit me… nor does it serve observation.
I went out into the city.
The streets felt different from what I was used to during school days:
fewer uniforms,
more smiling faces,
and noise… but a living kind of noise—nothing hostile.
As I wandered without a specific destination,
something unexpected caught my attention.
A festival.
Hanging lights,
colorful banners,
the scent of food mingling in the air,
and the sounds of laughter and soft music.
I stopped.
It wasn't part of my plan,
but… curiosity outweighed my expectations.
I went in.
I moved between the food stalls, observing.
People shared meals,
stood in lines without tension,
and exchanged greetings with strangers.
An interesting custom.
I bought food whose name I didn't recognize.
The taste was strange… but not unpleasant.
I made a mental note.
And then—
I saw her.
My eyes stopped without intent.
A girl working at one of the food stalls.
Her hair was tied back,
her face tired… yet her smile was genuine.
She moved quickly,
welcoming customers,
laughing,
apologizing,
working without pause.
And the strange thing was—
she was the first girl I had spoken to since arriving on this planet.
Sakurai Yuki.
The name surfaced in my mind naturally,
as if I had known it already.
There were many customers in front of her,
but I decided.
I stepped forward and ordered from her.
She looked up at me.
A brief glance… then an automatic smile.
"Welcome! Just a moment, please."
I nodded.
I sat at a nearby table and waited.
After a while, I noticed her looking my way.
When our eyes met—
she waved.
"I didn't know you'd come here."
I didn't respond immediately.
I watched as she came over after taking a short break
and sat beside me.
The noise around us continued,
but the table itself felt… oddly isolated.
"It's crowded today,"
I said calmly.
She smiled, looking toward the stall in the distance.
"The festival doesn't happen often. People look forward to it."
I was silent for a few seconds,
then said, without looking at her directly:
"This is my first time seeing something like this."
She turned toward me, genuinely interested.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"The customs here are… different. But not unpleasant."
She laughed softly.
"That's a strange comment… but a nice one."
I looked at the food in front of me.
"You work a lot."
She replied without complaint:
"I'm used to it."
Then, after a brief pause, she added:
"But… it's nice to take a short break."
Yuki:
"You seem to be enjoying the atmosphere."
Glober:
"More than I expected."
Yuki (looking at the hanging lights):
"Festivals make people forget many things… even if only for one night."
Glober:
"And do you forget?"
Yuki (smiling faintly):
"Sometimes. When I'm busy like this, I don't think too much."
Glober:
"That's useful."
Yuki:
"You're a bit strange."
Glober (calmly):
"I've heard that before."
Yuki (laughing softly):
"I don't mean it badly… you just don't talk much."
Glober:
"Talking isn't always necessary."
Yuki:
"Maybe… but silence sometimes makes people seem distant."
Glober (looking at his food):
"Or it makes them observe you more."
Yuki (turning to him, a hint of curiosity in her eyes):
"Do you like being observed?"
Glober:
"…Who would?"
Yuki (smiling lightly):
"You're right."
(They fall silent for a moment. Then Yuki stands up.)
Yuki:
"I should get back to work.
Enjoy the festival, okay?"
Glober:
"I will."
(She pulls out her phone and turns it toward him.)
Yuki:
"Oh—this is our restaurant's official website. You can visit us from time to time."
Glober (laughing):
"Are you promoting your restaurant now?"
Yuki's cheeks puffed out playfully.
Yuki:
"What's wrong with that?! You'll come, right?"
Glober:
"Don't worry… I'll come soon."
She smiled—a cute, innocent smile.
"This is a promise."
(She walks away, then turns back.)
Yuki:
"By the way… the food's on you this time."
Glober (a very faint smile):
"Alright… just this once."
I stood up, paid for the food,
and decided to walk around the city a little more.
As I moved on, I cast one last glance at Yuki, working diligently.
— That girl…
— She makes me feel something strange whenever I'm near her.
— A sense of safety… and warmth.
— Could it be that I'm drawn to her?
No.
I am a being not from this planet.
I shouldn't drown in daydreams.
A relationship like that is impossible for me.
We're just… friends.
And besides…
Soon, I must return to my homeland.
I shouldn't stay here much longer.