CotE: Dearest

Chapter 4 - Moon

"The moon is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is light and hope."

𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖊𝖘𝖙

"Looks cozy, doesn't it?" I said, looking around the restaurant.

"It is," Kiyotaka agreed, unbuttoning his jacket and hanging it neatly on the back of his chair.

As he spoke, I found myself twisting the strap of my bag restlessly, though I didn't know why.

Suddenly, Kiyotaka's gaze shifted, and he said, "I'm sorry about this."

"You have nothing to apologize for," I reassured him, trying to sound as calm as I felt. "And as for your friend Ike, he's just grateful to you."

"You're right."

I slipped out of my jacket, my movements slightly awkward, and glanced at him again before my eyes skittered away, wandering around the room as if searching for something to focus on.

"I'll go use the restroom," I excused myself eventually.

"Sure."

I headed towards the bathroom, a small space with just one room for men and another for women.

I closed the bathroom door behind me, letting out a shaky breath.

My fingers fumbled for the lock, and when it clicked into place, the small room seemed to close in around me.

I leaned back against the cool tile wall, my heart pounding in a way that made no sense.

What's going on with me? I don't understand.

"But I like Yuki."

Whenever I looked at Kiyotaka's face, his words echoed in my mind like a catchy song.

I knew he meant the snow—that's obvious—but why did it feel so personal?

A strange flutter stirred inside me, something unnamable. I wasn't embarrassed by it, but I couldn't pin it down either.

The same feeling from then... it was, here again, lingering, growing.

I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, stepped toward the sink, and stared at my reflection in the mirror, hoping it would offer some answers.

My face was slightly flushed, but not from embarrassment, not exactly.

As I splashed cold water onto my face, these distant flashbacks flickered through my mind, fragments of conversations with Kiyotaka.

"What? How come I'm so good at talking? I don't know."

"You're at least better than me. I'm just not willing to speak."

It wasn't the first time someone had made a comment about my name. But hearing it from Kiyotaka felt... different.

"I'm not really motivated either, but... I'm just... I don't know."

"Then how can you laugh? You laughed before?"

"Why? ...I don't know."

Why am I feeling this way now? I still don't know.

I turned off the faucet, letting the last few drops of water fall from my chin. I patted my face dry with a hand towel.

I stared at my reflection again.

I still felt the warmth on my face, and the touch of red lingered on my skin.

"Just what's wrong with me?"