The next morning, Hina stood in front of her mirror, staring at her reflection. Her hair was still a little messy from sleep, and she still couldn't decide what to wear. But her lips were pinker than usual from all the biting, and her cheeks kept flushing every time she remembered—
Yuto kissed her and she had kissed him back. And she want to do it again.
She ended up throwing on a soft cream sweater tucked into a pale blue skirt, something simple and gentle.
They met under the same cherry blossom tree, like they always did.
Yuto was already there, sitting casually with two drinks in hand—peach soda for her, milk tea for him. When he saw her approaching, his expression softened instantly.
Hina swore she could feel her entire face flush just from the way he looked at her.
"You came early," she said, trying to sound normal.
"I couldn't sleep," he said. "Someone kind of kissed me yesterday. I've been thinking about it ever since."
"Stop," she whispered, covering her face with both hands.
Yuto chuckled, standing and holding out the coffee. "You blush a lot more now. I like it."
"I'm going to melt," she mumbled behind her palms.
"Please don't," he teased, gently pulling one hand away. "I haven't had enough time with you yet."
They walked to class together that morning as usual with their hands brushed every few steps. And every time they did, Yuto would glance down at her hand with a little smirk, like he was asking permission.
She rolled her eyes and pretended not to notice. She then smiled when he wasn't looking.
During break, they met at the quiet side garden again. Yuto pulled a small chocolate out of his pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this for?" she asked, amused.
"You looked tired."
She blinked. "So you bribed me with chocolate?"
"No," he said seriously. "I wanted to give you something sweet, because you're too used to carrying everything on your own."
Her heart skipped. Her blush returned.
She bit her lip. "Yuto."
"Yes?"
"I really, really like you."
He smiled—and not just the usual small smile. This one was wide, warm, almost boyish.
"Good," he said. "Because I'm already crazy about you."
*****
That evening, just as Hina was packing her bag after class, her phone buzzed.
Emi: "Invite Yuto for dinner tonight. I'm making his favorite."
Hina blinked, then flushed slightly. Her mother always knew. She turned to Yuto, who was walking beside her down the hill from campus.
"Um… my mom said you should join us for dinner."
Yuto glanced at her, eyebrow raised. "She said I should? Or you want me to?"
"Don't make this weird," she muttered, ears pink. "She's cooking grilled mackerel. You like that, right?"
Yuto smiled. "I love that. Tell her I'll be there."
At Kazama Estate, Emi moved gracefully around the kitchen while Ren sat at the end of the table reading the news on his tablet, occasionally offering Yuto a nod of approval when he answered politely. Great-grandma Chiyo chuckled every time she caught Hina glancing at Yuto over her bowl of rice.
"So, how's college life treating you?" Emi asked as she ladled soup into his bowl.
Yuto smiled lightly. "It's good. Busy. The reading is heavier than I expected, but… I'm where I want to be."
Emi glanced between them, her eyes gleaming. "I'm glad. I always knew you'd find your way back here."
Under the table, Hina gently kicked her mother's foot. Emi only sipped her tea, looking far too satisfied with herself.
After dinner, Hina brought Yuto a cup of warm barley tea and led him upstairs.
And for the first time in six years, he stepped into her room again.
It was different, yet familiar.
Her shelves were filled with books and neatly labeled folders. Fairy lights lined the edge of her window. On her desk sat a photo frame with the two of them as kids, covered in flour from baking mochi during a New Year's festival.
Yuto's gaze lingered on the picture for a moment. "You still kept this?"
Hina stood at the doorway, suddenly hyper-aware of how small her room felt with him in it.
"I—yeah. I just never took it down."
Yuto walked further in, letting his eyes wander slowly. There were little notes on her corkboard, a calendar with doodles in the margins, a tiny keychain he had gifted her in Paris hanging on her lamp.
"You still have this?" he said, gently lifting the keychain.
Her voice was soft. "Of course. I tied it there so I'd see it every night before bed."
He turned to her. "You're going to make me fall even harder, you know that?"
"Don't say things like that," she whispered, burying her face in her hands. "You're the worst."
He laughed quietly, setting the keychain back before walking over to her. "Why? Because I mean it?"
"You're embarrassing me in my own room."
"Good. I've waited six years to see this exact expression."
She peeked through her fingers, face flushed deep pink. "I should kick you out."
"Go ahead," he said, stepping closer. "I'd just come back through the window."
She giggled, and that sound made his heart ache in the best way.
Without thinking, she reached for his sleeve like she always did when she was nervous and looked up at him.
"This feels… unreal," she murmured.
Yuto gently touched her hair, brushing it behind her ear. "It's real. And it's just the beginning."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The glow of the lamp softened everything. The room, the space between them, the beating in their chests.
Then Hina whispered, "You can stay a little longer. But don't look around too much. I have embarrassing stuff everywhere."
"Too late," Yuto teased, nudging a bunny-shaped eraser with his finger. "But it's all cute. Just like you."
She laughed softly, then looked at him again. This time, she didn't look away.
Yuto leaned in, slowly, giving her time to pull back. She didn't.
Their lips met in a quiet, unhurried kiss. Hina's hand tightened slightly on his sleeve, and Yuto's fingers rested gently at her jaw.
The seconds stretched, unspoken and still. When they finally parted, Hina's eyes lingered on his.
"Thanks for letting me in. Here," he glanced around the room, "and everywhere else."
And just like that, he left her blushing, smiling, and hugging a pillow to her chest like a teenager in love for the first time.