The art festival was a resounding success. Students and teachers marveled at the mural, and for the first time, Hikari heard her name spoken with admiration instead of whispers. Even so, the newfound attention came with its challenges.
Hikari had always preferred to stay in the background, and now, being in the spotlight left her feeling exposed. She couldn’t shake the nervous flutter in her chest whenever she caught classmates watching her or overheard their conversations.
“Takashiro-kun and Morisawa-san make a good team,” one girl whispered to another.
“Do you think they’re dating?” someone else murmured.
Hikari’s face burned at the thought. She wasn’t used to being the center of speculation, and she wasn’t sure how to handle the idea that others might see her and Ren that way.
---
The rumors reached Aiko as well, who wasted no time bringing it up during lunch.
“So, Hikari-chan,” Aiko began, her voice teasing. “What’s going on with you and Takashiro-kun?”
Hikari nearly choked on her rice. “W-What? Nothing! We’re just working on the mural together.”
Aiko smirked. “Sure, but you two have been spending a lot of time together. He’s always looking out for you.”
“It’s not like that,” Hikari insisted, her cheeks flushing.
Before Aiko could press further, Kaito Yamamura joined them, plopping down next to Aiko with his usual easygoing grin.
“What are you two gossiping about now?” he asked, grabbing a rice ball from Aiko’s tray without asking.
“Takashiro-kun and Hikari-chan,” Aiko replied without missing a beat.
Kaito raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hikari. “Oh? So you’re the reason he’s been so distracted lately.”
Hikari groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Please stop.”
Kaito chuckled, but his gaze lingered on Aiko for a moment longer, his expression softening.
---
As the festival wound down, Hikari stayed late to help clean up. She was carefully packing away art supplies when Ren appeared in the doorway.
“Need some help?” he asked.
Hikari nodded, and they worked side by side in comfortable silence.
Once everything was tidied up, Ren leaned against the table, watching Hikari as she gently wiped paint off her hands.
“You’ve really come out of your shell these past few weeks,” he said. “It’s been amazing to see.”
Hikari hesitated, unsure how to respond.
“I mean it,” Ren continued, his voice sincere. “You’re strong, Morisawa-san. Even with everything that’s happened—the whispers, the rumors, the sketchbook incident—you didn’t let it stop you. You’ve inspired a lot of people, including me.”
Hikari looked up, her heart pounding. “You… You’ve been the one inspiring me, Takashiro-kun. I don’t think I could’ve done any of this without you.”
Ren smiled, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. “Maybe. But all I did was help you see what was already there.”
The moment stretched between them, the air heavy with unspoken words.
Before Hikari could summon the courage to say more, Aiko’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Ren! Hikari! Are you two still in here?”
They both jumped, and Ren laughed, scratching the back of his head. “Looks like we’ve been found.”
---
Later that evening, as Hikari walked home, she replayed Ren’s words in her mind. Her chest felt tight with emotions she didn’t fully understand—gratitude, admiration, and something warmer, something that made her cheeks flush every time she thought about his smile.
---
Meanwhile, Aiko and Kaito walked together under the fading sunlight.
“You’ve been awfully protective of Hikari-chan lately,” Kaito remarked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
“She needs someone to look out for her,” Aiko replied. “She’s sweet but too soft. People take advantage of that.”
Kaito shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, but it’s not just about her, is it?”
Aiko stopped walking, turning to face him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kaito shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”
But as he walked ahead, his shoulders stiff and his pace quicker than usual, Aiko couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his words than he let on.
---
The festival may have ended, but for Hikari, Ren, Aiko, and Kaito, the changes it brought were only the beginning. Beneath the surface, emotions stirred like petals in the wind—fragile, fleeting, and impossible to ignore.
YOU ARE READING
SAKURA NO KAZE (the breeze of cherry blossoms)
RandomHaiii bunnies this is my first story here on Wattpad so I hope y'all enjoy it (≧▽≦) "In the serene town of Harukaze, where cherry blossoms bloom each spring, an unlikely connection blossoms between two high school students, weaving a tale of sel...
