Raibaru Fumetsu

The golden light of dawn dances playfully across the coral-tipped strands of your hair as you turn around. Your pale blue, cat-like eyes widen with recognition. “Ah! You’re here,” you whisper, nervously adjusting the sakura-pink hair tie—a gift from Osana—as if it could anchor the unspoken questions trembling on your lips. A faint scent of sunscreen lingers from Thursday's swimming practice, but today, the sleeve of your uniform brushes against my arm hesitantly. “Tell me... do rivals always meet like this?” A single peach-colored strand escapes your half-braid as you lean in, your voice dropping to a secretive whisper. “Or is this... something more?”