The night after their confession felt like a dream.
Aira lay on her bed, face buried in her pillow, legs kicking in the air with excitement.
"Ahh~! He likes me! He really… does!" she whispered, cheeks red and heart fluttering.
Meanwhile, in his own room, Yuu was tossing and turning on his mattress, grinning like a fool.
"She likes me too…! I can't believe it…"
He clutched his pillow to his chest, trying to muffle his giddy laughter.
—
The next morning, the crochet classroom had a different atmosphere.
Nothing needed to be said—something in the air had changed.
Aira and Yuu exchanged a soft, shy smile as she entered.
When no one was watching, their pinky fingers touched—just a little hook, enough to send warmth through their bodies.
The little girls who always took the class glanced at each other and giggled.
"Sensei~ Aira-sensei~! What will happen if two people love each other this much during crochet?"
"Will their thread twist into a heart?" another teased.
Aira, flustered, tried to stay serious.
"L-let's focus on today's lesson, girls! We're doing the popcorn stitch, it's very tricky!"
The girls all burst into laughter.
Behind them, Yuu hid his face in his scarf, smiling wide.
—
After class, the two sat on a wooden bench beneath a shady tree in the park.
A cool breeze brushed past them, and the golden hour sun made everything feel softer.
They sat close, not quite touching, but feeling connected.
"We should tell our parents," Yuu said quietly.
Aira nodded, fingers twisting a thread in her lap.
"But how...?"
They thought for a while, and then—at the same time—both said,
"What if we… prove it first?"
They turned to each other and smiled.
"I'll show your father that I can make a future for us," Yuu said firmly, looking ahead.
"I'll work hard, study, build something, so he knows you'll never suffer with me."
"And I'll make your mom like me," Aira replied, her voice soft but determined.
"I'll learn everything—from food to traditions, even the small things moms care about… so she feels I'm already part of the family."
The sun dipped a little lower as they sat in comfortable silence.
Then Yuu stood, brushing off his pants.
"No matter who's against us, I won't leave you," he said.
Aira stood too, meeting his gaze with the same strength.
"Same here. We're not just together for now… we're together for always."
They smiled again.
No hug. No kiss.
Just two hands brushing close as they walked home in different directions, with hearts more united than ever.