That night, Airi lowered her head and stared at her phone screen for a moment before smiling shyly to herself.
"Hmm… why am I smiling all by myself?"
Suddenly, the front door opened again.
Chika stepped inside with her usual mischievous grin.
"Heey, Airi… smiling to yourself again? Are you texting your boyfriend or something?"
Airi jolted in surprise, her face instantly turning red.
"E-Eh?! Chika, don't—"
Chika walked closer and glanced at Airi's phone.
"Hmmm… a new message, huh? Hehehe, it's definitely from Arou, isn't it?"
Airi quickly hid her phone and looked down shyly.
"Chika… stop bothering me right now!"
Chika laughed softly and patted Airi's head.
"Ah, relax. I'm just curious. You look adorable like this."
Airi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
"Chika… I'm serious… stop it."
Chika smirked and stepped back slightly.
"Okaaay. But don't think I won't get nosy again later."
After teasing her one last time, Chika left the room, leaving Airi alone again.
Airi looked at her phone once more and smiled faintly.
"Haaah… why do I feel so happy even though I'm this embarrassed?"
---
Meanwhile, Arou sat on the living room sofa under the warm glow of a table lamp.
His phone vibrated softly in his hand. A new message from Airi appeared.
Airi: Thank you… today was really fun.
A small smile appeared on Arou's face.
"She was definitely smiling while typing this," he thought to himself.
He replied quickly.
Arou: I had fun too. Today felt different somehow.
A few seconds later, Airi replied.
Airi: Yeah… I feel comfortable when I'm with you.
Arou stared at the screen, his heartbeat speeding up.
Comfortable… with me… I feel the same way, he murmured quietly.
He typed again.
Arou: If you want, we could go to the park together again tomorrow.
Airi replied, sounding hesitant but warm.
Airi: Maybe… I'd like that. Depends on my schedule though, hehe.
Arou smiled wider, warmth rising to his cheeks.
"It doesn't matter… as long as I can see her again," he thought happily.
Then he sent one more message.
Arou: Alright. Then I'll wait.
After that, Arou set his phone beside him.
He leaned back against the sofa and stared at the living room light, letting his thoughts drift.
Tonight felt different—not just peaceful, but warm, filled with a gentle happiness.
"I… want tomorrow to come sooner," he whispered softly, smiling to himself without realizing it.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he let the warmth and relief settle deep inside his heart.
That night, with only a few simple messages, the world suddenly felt closer,
and Arou's heart slowly began filling with feelings for Airi.
---
The next morning, Arou woke up earlier than usual.
He checked his phone, making sure Airi's messages from last night were still there.
His heart beat faster—today they would meet at the park again.
Not long after, Airi arrived at the park.
She walked slowly while admiring the blooming flowers, her cheeks slightly red when she spotted Arou standing near the swings.
"Heey, Airi," Arou greeted, waving lightly.
Airi flinched for a second before smiling shyly.
"Eh… h-hi, Arou."
They walked side by side through the park, though there was still a slight distance between them because of their lingering shyness.
Arou tried to start a conversation.
"You really like these flowers, huh?"
Airi looked at the flowers around them.
"Yeah… they make everything feel more peaceful."
Arou smiled.
"Then maybe we should come to this park whenever we want to feel calm."
Airi quickly looked away, blushing hard.
"E-Eh… you really say things like that so casually?"
Arou chuckled softly.
"Ah… I'm just being honest."
Eventually, they reached the swings.
Arou sat on one swing while Airi remained standing nearby.
She looked at him with a complicated expression—embarrassed, yet curious.
"Um… can I try the swing for a bit?" Airi asked quietly.
Arou nodded.
"Of course. But don't swing too high or you might fall."
Airi smiled faintly and sat down, gently swinging back and forth.
Arou sat on the swing beside her, trying to match her rhythm.
For a few moments, silence filled the air except for the creaking swings and the sound of the breeze.
Then suddenly, Arou lost his rhythm and nearly bumped into Airi.
Airi was startled, but instead of getting upset, she burst into quiet laughter.
"You're… so clumsy!" she laughed softly.
Arou laughed too, slightly embarrassed.
"Eh, sorry… that was an accident."
That moment made both of them laugh together, slowly melting away the awkwardness between them.
Airi looked at him shyly.
"You really are strange… but kind of fun."
Arou looked back at her.
"Then we should come to this park more often, right?"
Airi nodded, her cheeks turning even redder.
"Yeah… I'd like that."
---
They continued walking together, chatting lightly and laughing from time to time.
The afternoon sun climbed higher, but the park still felt comfortable with the cool breeze and blooming flowers.
Arou and Airi sat together on a long bench near a small pond.
Airi's cheeks were slightly red as she stared at the sparkling water, though her eyes kept drifting back toward Arou.
Arou took a deep breath.
"Hey… Airi," he said softly.
Airi turned toward him, slightly surprised.
"Hmm?"
Arou looked down briefly before meeting her eyes again.
"There's… something I've been wanting to tell you."
Airi held her breath, her heart pounding.
"W-What is it?" she asked quietly.
Arou smiled faintly.
"I'm really happy I met you today. And… honestly, I want to stay with you all the time."
Airi stared at him, her face growing even redder.
"Eh… I…"
Slowly, Arou reached out his hand.
"If you want… would you let me become closer to you? I mean… would you be my girlfriend?"
Airi lowered her head and covered her face with her hands, unable to hide her smile.
"A-Arou… I… y-yes," she whispered softly.
Arou's eyes widened before he smiled brightly.
"Really? You mean it?"
Airi nodded shyly, her eyes sparkling.
"I do… but I'm still awkward about these things, so… don't rush me, okay?"
Arou laughed softly and gently tapped her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I want to take things slowly too. I just wanted you to know how I feel."
For a while, they sat quietly together, enjoying the evening breeze and peaceful atmosphere of the park.
Now, the awkwardness between them had mixed with the warmth of newly realized feelings—shy, sweet, and sincere.
Inside his heart, Arou smiled quietly.
From today on… I really want to protect Airi forever.
---
The next day, Arou and Airi walked slowly along a flower-lined pathway under the cool morning air.
After a few steps, Arou glanced at her.
"Hey… Airi, can I… hold your hand for a little while?"
Airi froze, her cheeks instantly turning red.
"E-Eh… w-why so suddenly?"
Arou smiled gently.
"I just… want to feel a little closer to you."
Airi hesitated for a moment before quietly nodding.
"O-Okay…"
Carefully, Arou took Airi's hand, and the two of them continued walking side by side while holding hands.
The awkwardness between them mixed with warmth, while the fresh morning air made everything feel lighter.
A few moments later, Haru and Tomo suddenly appeared from another path nearby.
Both of them stared at Arou and Airi holding hands.
Haru tried not to laugh while patting Tomo's shoulder.
"Eh, Arou… seriously? Holding her hand right in front of us?"
Tomo nodded with a teasing grin.
"No way… so you guys are officially dating now, bro?"
Airi looked at them in shock, her face immediately turning red.
"E-Eh… s-sorry…"
Arou smiled calmly, still holding Airi's hand gently.
"It's fine. They're just old friends. They won't bother us."
Haru laughed quietly.
"Relax, Arou… but wow, I didn't expect you to move this fast."
Tomo struggled not to laugh.
"Seriously… you're not even hiding it anymore, huh? Hehehe."
Airi lowered her head and covered her face with her hands while Arou smiled softly at her.
The awkwardness turned warm and funny, especially with Haru and Tomo accidentally witnessing everything while Airi was still shy around Arou's friends.
Arou looked at Airi gently.
"Don't worry… they only saw us for a second. We can still enjoy this morning together, right?"
Airi nodded slowly, another shy smile appearing.
"Yeah… I-I'm happy."
---
As they continued walking through the peaceful park filled with blooming flowers and birdsong, Arou glanced at her again.
"You're comfortable here, right?"
Airi nodded shyly.
"Y-Yeah… I am."
They were still holding hands, hearts racing, yet quietly enjoying the moment.
Meanwhile, Haru and Tomo sat on a bench nearby, secretly watching from a distance.
Haru whispered while trying not to laugh.
"Look at them… Arou's seriously holding Airi's hand."
Tomo stared at the two of them, blushing from secondhand embarrassment.
"Oh my god… they're so awkward but so sweet…"
Suddenly, a lively voice echoed from the park entrance.
"Heey! Airi, you're here?!"
A girl ran toward them quickly. Arou looked confused.
"Eh… who are you?"
The girl smiled mischievously while glancing between Arou and Airi.
"Ah, so you don't know me yet? I'm Chika, Airi's older sister. And… I just wanted to see the guy who's been making my little sister smile to herself all the time," she said with a playful laugh.
Arou looked slightly surprised but stayed calm.
"Ah… nice to meet you… Chika, right?"
Airi lowered her head shyly, cheeks burning red.
"E-Eh… Sis… stop bothering us…"
Chika looked at Airi with a teasing smile.
"I just wanted to make sure my little sister isn't being fooled. But hmm… you're Arou, huh? I've already heard a lot about you."
Arou blinked in surprise before smiling.
"Oh… so you already know about me?"
Chika nodded.
"Yep. But I wanted to see for myself. You seem nice… just don't make Airi too embarrassed, okay?"
Haru quietly laughed and nudged Tomo.
"Look at Arou getting nervous around Airi's big sister, hahaha."
Tomo watched the scene from afar while grinning.
"Oh man… this is painfully awkward but hilarious… Airi's literally hiding her face."
Arou looked warmly at Airi.
"Don't worry… we're just talking for a bit. I'll make sure you stay comfortable."
Airi nodded softly, her shy smile returning once again.
"Yeah… I-I'm happy you're here."
Chika smirked mischievously, though she stopped teasing quite as much afterward.
That morning remained warm, awkward, and strangely funny—
the first time Arou truly met Airi's older sister, while Haru and Tomo watched the chaos unfold like amused spectators from afar.