The world felt different after that night.
Subtler, maybe.Softer around the edges.Like someone had finally taken their thumb off the bruise I'd been carrying inside my chest.
And Kane —
God.
Kane felt different too.
Or maybe I was just seeing her for the first time — really seeing her.Every laugh, every stupid joke, every time she rolled her eyes at something dumb I said — it all meant something now.It all mattered.
I wasn't sure when she had started shining like that, but once I noticed, I couldn't unsee it.
We met up with the others at the park that weekend.Sayoko was already sprawled on the grass, chewing gum and tossing little pebbles at Haru, who was trying (and failing) to balance a soccer ball on his head.
Kane arrived last, late as usual, carrying two convenience store bags stuffed with snacks.
"Royal entrance," Sayoko snorted, saluting her dramatically.
Kane stuck out her tongue, flopping down beside me without an ounce of grace.
"You're welcome, peasants," she declared, tossing a bag of chips at Haru's head.
It hit him squarely in the face.
"RUDE," he cried, flailing backward.
Kane only laughed, the sound bright and effortless, like it belonged in the sunlight.
I couldn't help it — I just... stared.
The way the sun caught her hair, turning it all molten gold.The way she smiled with her whole body, like holding joy inside would physically hurt her.The way she looked around at us — me — like we were home.
I felt my chest tighten, full and aching and stupidly happy all at once.
God, I was so screwed.
The afternoon blurred into a mess of games and shouting and way too much sugar.
We played tag like little kids, ignoring the weird looks from strangers.Sayoko cheated by hiding behind trees and throwing acorns at people.Haru twisted his ankle trying to show off and had to be carried (badly) by all of us.We made daisy chains and crowned Kane the "Queen of Dumbasses."
She wore the crooked flower crown with pride, strutting around the park like she owned the place.
And when she flopped down beside me later, panting and laughing and pink-cheeked from running, I knew —
This was it.
This was one of those days you didn't realize was precious until it was already gone.One of those memories you wanted to bottle up and keep forever.
She caught me staring and raised an eyebrow.
"What?" she teased, nudging my knee with hers.
I shrugged, smiling so hard it hurt.
"Nothing," I said. "You're just... really bad at tag."
She gasped, scandalized."You take that back, Yuki!"
"Make me," I shot back, grinning.
She lunged at me, trying to wrestle me into the grass, and we both collapsed into a tangle of limbs and laughter.
I could feel her heartbeat, fast and real, thudding against mine.
And for a second — just a second — I thought maybe she felt it too.
That whatever was blooming inside me wasn't one-sided.That maybe, somehow, she was holding the same terrifying, wonderful thing inside her chest.
But then Sayoko screamed something about ice cream and Haru whined about his ankle, and the moment scattered like leaves in the wind.
We ended the day sitting on the swings, legs dangling, sticky with sweat and soda.
The sunset melted across the sky in smears of pink and orange, setting the whole world on fire.
Kane leaned over, resting her head lightly on my shoulder.
My heart almost stopped.
"You're not so bad, Yuki," she mumbled, half-asleep.
I swallowed hard, not trusting my voice.
Instead, I tilted my head, letting it rest gently against hers.
And we stayed like that, swinging slowly back and forth, while the stars blinked to life above us —quiet, small, and infinite.