Chapter 18 – A Bloom That Lingers in the Wind
The wind rustled the sakura trees behind the school as Riku leaned back on the rooftop fence, the sunlight flickering through shifting clouds. Airi stood beside him, her hands behind her back, looking up at the sky.
"Do you think the wind carries feelings too?" she asked suddenly.
Riku blinked. "Like… love letters on the breeze?"
Airi snorted, then laughed, lightly bumping her shoulder against his. "No, idiot. I mean… like forgotten thoughts. The stuff people never say."
Riku looked at her for a moment before turning back to the sky. "Maybe it does. Maybe that's why some winds feel heavier than others."
They stood there, quiet for a while. From below, they could hear faint shouts—the rest of their friends still playing basketball in the courtyard. Yuki had dragged Kenta and Ren into some weird half-truth game, and Sora was threatening to reveal Riku's embarrassing nickname from middle school.
"Wanna go back?" Airi asked, though her voice lacked the usual energy.
He shook his head. "Not yet."
She didn't push him.
Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small paper crane—bright red with uneven folds. "I made this for you… well, kind of. I messed up the wings but—"
Riku took it gently, smiling. "I like it. It's imperfect. Like us."
Airi's cheeks turned red, and she turned away quickly. "You're annoying."
Downstairs, a shout echoed through the air. "Riku! Get your butt down here before I expose 'Prince Peach' to the world!"
Riku sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have told Sora anything…"
He started walking toward the rooftop door when something shimmered in the air.
A strange flicker—like heatwaves, but colder. It hovered for a second near Airi's back, then vanished.
Riku blinked, unsure if he'd imagined it.
"Airi," he said, stepping back toward her.
She looked over her shoulder, confused. "Hmm?"
He reached out and gently tugged her sleeve. "Nothing. Just… don't go running off on your own, alright?"
Airi raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you worried about me now?"
"I always have been."
For a split second, Airi looked like she wanted to say something—something real. But she just smiled instead and walked ahead. "C'mon, Prince Peach."
As they made their way back down to the chaos of their friend group, Riku looked at the red crane in his hand… and felt it twitch.
Just for a second. As if something inside it was… breathing.
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