Aki's POV
As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind wandered back to the moment Haruki and I had confessed our feelings for each other. It felt surreal, like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. The way he looked at me, his warm gaze lingering on my face, made my heart race even now. Our relationship had shifted in a way I couldn’t fully grasp, and I found myself replaying our conversation over and over in my head.
Were we dating? Did that make us a couple now? I bit my lip, feeling a flutter of excitement and nervousness. What did it mean to be in a relationship with someone like Haruki, someone I had admired from afar for so long? I knew I liked him, and he liked me—but did that mean we were dating?
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to know. I sighed, pushing myself up from the bed, determined to get answers.
After getting ready, I took a deep breath as I stepped into the school hallway, my heart racing with anticipation. I spotted Haruki standing near our usual meeting spot, his head buried in a book. A small smile crept onto my face. Just the sight of him made the world feel brighter.
“Hey, Haruki!” I called out, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in my stomach.
He looked up, and his face broke into a smile that made my heart skip a beat. “Hey, Aki. How are you feeling today?”
“Much better, thanks!” I replied, walking closer. “I’m really glad to be back.”
We fell into step beside each other, the air around us humming with an unspoken tension. I could feel my cheeks heat up as we walked. Should I ask him?
“Haruki,” I started, my voice barely above a whisper, “can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he replied, glancing at me curiously.
I hesitated for a moment, gathering my courage. “So… about us. I mean, what are we now?”
His eyes widened slightly, and I noticed the faintest hint of a blush on his cheeks. “Well, we… we confessed our feelings. So, I guess that makes us… a couple?” He looked unsure, as if he were waiting for my reaction.
My heart raced at his words. “S-So, we are dating then?”
“Yeah, I think so,” he said, a shy smile spreading across his face. “Unless you don’t want to?”
“No! I do!” I exclaimed, feeling a rush of relief and happiness. “I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.”
Haruki let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
We stood there for a moment, the realization settling in. We were really dating now. It felt incredible and terrifying all at once.
Haruki's POV
As I walked beside Aki, I couldn't help but marvel at how everything had changed in such a short time. Being around her felt different—our hands brushed against each other more often, and I found myself stealing glances her way, hoping she wouldn’t catch me.
When we arrived at our first class, I noticed Aki fidgeting with her pencil, a small smile lingering on her lips. I felt a warmth spread through my chest. It was nice to know she felt the same way.
After class, I suggested we go to the library to study, a place where we could have some quiet time together. As we settled into our usual corner, I felt the familiar thrill of being near her. Aki pulled out her notes, and I tried to focus on the material, but my mind kept drifting to her.
“Haruki,” she said suddenly, catching me off guard. “Do you think we should… h-hold hands or something? I mean, couples do that, right?”
I blinked, my heart racing. “Uh, yeah. I’d like that.”
YOU ARE READING
A Heart's Silent Echo
RomanceHaruki Sato has always found solace in solitude. Quiet, unassuming, and invisible to most, he drifts through his final year of high school in the background, where he prefers to stay. But his world shifts the day Aki Fujiwara enters his classroom-a...