Arashi slowly turned around — and there she was.
Mizuki was standing behind him.
She smiled softly."Arashi… how does it feel, meeting me?"
Arashi's entire body froze. He was completely shocked, unable to speak, unable to even breathe properly. It felt like all the energy inside him had suddenly vanished. He couldn't move, couldn't think — nothing.
Mizuki tilted her head slightly."Are you just going to keep staring at me like that?"
Her teasing voice pulled him back to reality a little.
Arashi blinked rapidly. "O-Oh… sorry."
Mizuki stepped a little closer, her expression playful."So? Tell me. How does it feel to finally meet me, Arashi?"
Arashi swallowed, his mind still blank. "…It's… fine."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow."Eh? That's it? Such a boring reaction? At least try to say something nice. This is our first real meeting, you know."
Arashi rubbed the back of his neck, flustered."Okay, okay… It feels really good. Honestly, I didn't think you would actually exist in real life. And when I saw you for real… I couldn't understand anything. My brain just stopped working."
Mizuki turned her eyes toward the setting sun. A gentle breeze swept across the beach, brushing through her hair as she smiled softly.
"Hmm… maybe," she said quietly. "But honestly… meeting you today felt really, really good. You have no idea how many times I prayed for this moment. And now… it actually came true."
The moment those words reached him, Arashi's face flushed bright red.He looked away, embarrassed. "I… I don't know what you even see in me."
Mizuki stepped closer, her voice warm and sincere.
"Look, most people choose others just because of good looks. But I'm not like that. I want a good heart — and you have that. A kind heart… something many people don't have."
She gently tapped his chest with one finger.
"So stop focusing on your one flaw… and start noticing your thousand good qualities, okay? Every person has weaknesses, but each one also has something special inside them. And you… Arashi… have something very special."
Arashi took a deep breath."Okay… alright. By the way… you're alone, right?"
Mizuki nodded softly."Yes."
He hesitated for a moment, then asked,"Would you like to meet my friends?"
Mizuki shook her head gently."No… I'm running a little late. Let's just sit here for a while and talk."
They both settled down on the sand, side by side. The gentle waves lapped near their feet as they watched the sun slowly dip toward the horizon.
The sky was painted with shades of gold and orange, the warm glow reflecting in Mizuki's eyes. Together, they quietly enjoyed the peaceful beauty of the beach, letting the moment linger between them.
Arashi kicked at the sand lightly, glancing at Mizuki without really meeting her eyes."Um… Mizuki… I… I don't really know how to say this… but… being here with you… it feels… different. Like… everything else doesn't matter right now."
Mizuki tilted her head, watching him quietly."Different… how?"
He fidgeted, fingers twisting in the sand, cheeks turning pink."I… I don't know exactly… I just… my heart… it beats faster when you're here. And… I feel… nervous… but also… really happy. I've never… felt this way before… not with anyone."
Mizuki's lips curved into a soft smile, eyes gentle."That's… sweet, Arashi."
He swallowed hard, looking at her now, eyes slightly wide."I… I always thought… dreams are just… dreams. But seeing you… really seeing you… it's… different. I can't just… look away… I don't want to… I want… I want to remember this moment… everything about you… even the little things… like how the sunlight looks on your hair… or how your eyes… look at me now…"
Mizuki's cheeks colored faintly, and she looked down, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear."You… you're really shy, huh?"
Arashi nodded quickly, voice barely above a whisper."Y-Yeah… I… I can't really say things well… but… I mean them. I… I'm really glad… I get to meet you… for real."
She reached out gently, touching his hand softly."Arashi… you don't have to say everything perfectly. Just being honest… that's enough. That's what makes it special."
He looked at their hands, then back at her face, heart thumping."I… I don't want this moment to end. I… I don't know if I'll ever… feel like this again… and… I just… I want to stay… like this… with you… even for a little while longer."
Mizuki smiled softly, squeezing his hand."Then let's stay… a little longer. Just you and me… watching the sunset."
Arashi chuckled nervously."By the way… you're really quiet. Not used to someone ignoring me like this."
Mizuki tilted her head, grinning."I'm not ignoring you… I'm just making you sweat a little. Builds character."
Arashi groaned dramatically."Builds character?! I came here to relax, not to go through a mini torture session!"
Mizuki laughed softly, the sound like tiny bells."Relax… I promise I won't make it too hard on you."
Just then, a familiar voice reached Arashi.
"Arashi… you're here?"
He turned slowly and saw Satoru walking toward him, followed by the others—Miyu, Hina, Takumi, and Ayane.
Satoru called out, teasing lightly,"We've been waiting for you here! What, were you hiding?"
Arashi rubbed the back of his neck, flustered."Y-Yeah… s-sorry… I was just… sitting here for a bit…"
Miyu's eyes narrowed, curious."Wait… who's this girl?"
Before Arashi could answer, Mizuki moved closer. She slipped her arms gently around his, leaning slightly against him. The soft contact made his heart skip a beat, and he froze completely.
Arashi stood frozen, his heart pounding as Mizuki wrapped her arms gently around his. The soft warmth of her touch made him forget how to breathe.
"I… um…" he stammered, his face burning red.
Then, softly but confidently, she said,"It's me. I'm Mizuki… and I'm Arashi's girlfriend."
Arashi's knees nearly gave out. He didn't know whether to look at her, at his friends approaching, or at the waves beside them. Everything seemed to blur.
Hina gasped dramatically, pointing at him."Oh my gosh! Arashi… you're so red! Did she really just say she's your girlfriend?"
Takumi grinned, nudging Satoru."Man… he's completely frozen. I've never seen him like this!"
Satoru chuckled, shaking his head."You've officially met your match, Arashi. She's confident… you're… a tomato."
Arashi buried his face in his hands, mumbling softly,"C-can we not… please…"
Miyu rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a small smile."Well… she's bold. You didn't warn us about that, huh?"
Mizuki leaned a little closer, the warmth of her arms around him steady and comforting."Shy… that's part of your charm, Arashi. I like it."
Arashi peeked at her through his fingers, heart racing."I… I'm really… glad… you're here."
Mizuki squeezed his arm gently, her voice playful."See? It's not so scary being noticed… by me, at least."
Hina laughed, clapping her hands."Aww… he's so embarrassed! This is better than any rom-com I've ever seen!"
Takumi smirked."Yeah… totally priceless. Keep blushing, Arashi!"
Arashi groaned quietly, hiding his face further."I… I can't… stop… blushing…"
Mizuki leaned her head lightly on his shoulder, still holding him."Then just… stay like this for a while. Let's watch the sunset… together."
The waves lapped gently at their feet, the soft wind brushing Mizuki's hair across her face. Around them, his friends murmured, laughed, and teased, but Arashi barely noticed.
All that mattered was the warmth of Mizuki's arms around him, the gentle tug of her presence, and the faint glow of the setting sun reflecting in her eyes.
For the first time, Arashi felt completely at peace… shy, flustered, and utterly happy all at once.
Arashi took a deep breath, holding Mizuki's hand lightly."Okay… I… I just… I want to explain something. The reason Mizuki and I are… together now… is because of a dream. That's where we used to meet… and we decided to meet here, in real life, today."
He glanced at his friends, still blushing slightly."I… I won't tell you any more details… but… that's why it all happened… and why we're here now."
Everyone froze for a moment, absorbing what he had said. Miyu blinked in surprise, Hina's mouth hung open, Takumi looked completely dumbfounded, and Satoru's smirk faded into stunned silence.
Even Ayane, still quiet, tilted her head slightly, listening. Her expression softened a little, though she said nothing.
Arashi looked down at Mizuki, his voice almost a whisper."I… I just wanted you to know… that's why it all happened. That's all."
Mizuki squeezed his hand, smiling softly."And that's enough for me."
The group didn't know what to say. Shock, disbelief, and a little amusement mixed on their faces—but Arashi and Mizuki didn't care. For them, the world had narrowed down to just the two of them, sitting on the beach, hand in hand.
As Arashi was explaining everything to their friends, Mizuki's gaze wandered slightly and she noticed Ayane standing quietly to the side.
Ayane's hands were clenched tightly in front of her, as if she were holding herself back from doing something. Her shoulders were tense, and her eyes looked distant, filled with a mixture of sadness and longing.
Mizuki's heart softened instantly. She understood immediately—Ayane liked Arashi too.
Before the situation could become even more awkward or uncomfortable, Mizuki let go of Arashi's hand gently and smiled softly."Well… I should go. We'll meet later, okay?"
She turned toward her friends."Oh, and I've transferred to your school, too. So… see you there."
With that, she walked away, the sunlight catching her hair as she disappeared down the beach.
As soon as Mizuki left, Miyu and Hina both froze, exchanging wide-eyed glances."Wait… wasn't Ayane… in love with Arashi?" Hina whispered.
Miyu nodded, biting her lip."Yeah… what do we do now? She looked really sad just now."
Ayane, standing silently, still seemed weighed down by her feelings, staring at the sand.
Miyu sighed softly."I guess… we should go too."
The group began to split naturally. Arashi, Satoru, and Takumi moved in one direction, with Arashi quietly walking ahead, still processing everything.
On the other side, Ayane, Hina, and Miyu walked together, their minds swirling with thoughts. Hina glanced at Ayane nervously."What… what should we even say to her?"
Miyu shook her head slightly, her expression thoughtful."I… I'm not sure. We just have to be careful… and support her, I guess."
Ayane stayed quiet, her expression soft but sad, lost in her own thoughts as the three of them walked along the beach together, watching Arashi from a distance.
The tension between the two groups was palpable, a mix of awkwardness, unspoken feelings, and the gentle aftermath of Mizuki's presence.
Miyu glanced at Ayane, frowning slightly."Hey… Ayane, what happened? Why do you look so sad?"
Ayane hugged herself, looking down at the sand. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper."You… you know why."
Hina crouched slightly to get closer, trying to soften the mood."Come on, Ayane… don't shut yourself off. Talk to us. We're your friends."
Ayane shook her head slightly, biting her lip."No… it's fine. You don't need to worry about me."
Miyu sighed, a little frustrated but still gentle."Seriously… we do care. You can't just keep all your feelings inside. Tell us what's going on."
Ayane let out a small, shaky laugh, but it was sad."I… I just can't. It's complicated, and… it's not like you can fix it anyway."
Hina reached out, lightly touching her shoulder."We're not trying to fix it, Ayane. We just… want to listen. That's all."
Ayane pulled her shoulder back gently, her eyes glistening but determined."I said… it's fine. Really. I just… I need some time."
Miyu exchanged a glance with Hina, both realizing that pushing further would only make her retreat more.
"Alright," Miyu said softly, a hint of concern in her voice."We'll give you space… but don't shut us out completely, okay? We're here when you're ready."
Ayane nodded faintly, still quiet, still holding herself."Yeah… I know."
The three of them walked along the beach in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Miyu and Hina exchanged small, worried looks, silently hoping Ayane would open up eventually—but for now, they let her be, respecting her need to process her feelings on her own.
By the time Arashi and Ayane got home, the sun had dipped lower, painting the sky with soft shades of orange and pink.
Arashi immediately went to the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves."I'll make dinner tonight," he said softly, trying to shake off the lingering excitement and focus on something practical.
Ayane stayed in the living room, still sitting quietly, hugging her knees to her chest. Her eyes were distant, lost in thought. She hadn't said much since the beach, and the sadness hadn't left her expression.
Arashi glanced back at her for a moment, worry flickering across his face, but he didn't say anything—he figured she needed some space.
Just as he started chopping vegetables, his phone buzzed on the counter. He wiped his hands quickly and picked it up.
A message from Mizuki appeared.
"Hey… just wanted to check in. Hope you got home safely. 😊"
Arashi's heart skipped a beat. A small smile tugged at his lips as he read the message. He felt a warmth spread through him, and for a moment, the tension from the day seemed lighter.
He glanced toward Ayane, who was still quietly seated, and then back at his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen, unsure whether to reply immediately.
"…I should answer her," he muttered under his breath, cheeks warming slightly.
Meanwhile, Ayane's quiet presence reminded him that not everything from the day was lighthearted—there were still feelings and tensions to navigate.
With a deep breath, he started typing, careful to balance excitement and calm, while the soft clatter of knives and pans filled the kitchen.