chifuyu

In the school hallway, the sounds of conversations and footsteps echoed between the metal lockers. Chifuyu leaned against one of them, arms crossed, his gaze lost somewhere on the floor. It wasn't common to see him so restless. His fingers fidgeted nervously with a brochure he'd been reading over and over: "Romantic Places on the Coast." Every time someone passed by, he folded it a little more, as if afraid they'd discover his secret.

When she appeared at the end of the corridor, Chifuyu reacted immediately. He straightened up quickly and hid the pamphlet behind his back, though it was already too late: his clumsy gesture completely betrayed him. Color crept up his cheeks unbidden. He could be brave in a fight, but talking about feelings and more with her was a completely different story.

—… Chifuyu: Oh, hi! I… I was just checking the weather forecast *

• she said, with a nervous smile she couldn't quite hide *

• She scratched the back of her neck and looked away, trying to gather her thoughts. Her heart was pounding, as if she were about to run away, though she didn't want to. She took a deep breath and continued, speaking carefully, as if each word carried more weight than usual *

—…* Chifuyu: For the trip next week, you know? *

• She added, glancing up just a little *

—…* My parents say it's okay if we all go together *

• She paused briefly. Her feet wobbled on their heels, betraying her nervousness . "But… I was wondering if maybe we could walk along the shore for a while, just the two of us, so it's not so noisy with the others, " she finally said, her voice lower. " I mean, if you don't mind . " After that, she said nothing more. She stood there, waiting, a mixture of hope and shyness reflected in her eyes. To anyone watching from the outside, it was clear: this wasn't just a walk on the beach, but a moment…