Hikari moved gracefully through her kitchen, the soft hum of the exhaust fan accompanying the sizzle of grilled chicken. Beside her, sushi rolls were neatly lined on a tray, a pot of warm miso soup simmered gently, and fried rice sizzled with a savory aroma. The small kitchen was filled with warmth and quiet focus.

Once everything was ready, she placed the dishes onto a tray, took a breath to calm her racing heart, and stepped out.

She knocked on Saito’s apartment door.

A few seconds passed before it cracked open. Saito stood behind it, looking slightly surprised, holding his phone in one hand.

“Hey, Hikari. What’s up?”

Hikari looked down slightly, fidgeting with her fingers. “Um… you’re free, right?”

“Kinda, yeah,” he said, curious.

“Well, I… made dinner. As a thank you. For today. N-nothing weird or anything,” she added quickly, her cheeks turning pink.

Saito blinked, then smiled, his ears tinting red. “O-oh. Alright then, I’m coming.”

—
They stepped into Hikari’s apartment together. A soft amber glow from the ceiling lights bathed the space in warmth, casting gentle shadows across the clean, organized room.

Saito glanced around, visibly impressed.

“Whoa… it’s spotless in here. Kinda feels like I walked into another dimension.”

Hikari let out a small laugh, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I like keeping things neat. Not like someone whose room looks like a game-dev hurricane hit it.”

Saito grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey, I thrive in chaos.”

From the corner, the TV murmured softly—its volume low but audible.

“...heavy rain expected later tonight, with chances of wind damage in coastal areas. Residents are advised to stay indoors and prepare for possible power outages…”

Saito’s eyes flicked toward the screen.

“Power outage, huh?” he mumbled, half to himself. “Does that actually happen around here?”

—
Hikari served him the dishes with quiet care. As Saito took a bite of the sushi, his eyes lit up.

“Mmm! This is amazing… your cooking never misses.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Hikari replied with a soft smile.

After dinner, Saito leaned back with a content sigh. “If you keep feeding me like this, I’m gonna be addicted to homemade food and forget how to survive on convenience store meals.”

“You flatter me,” Hikari said, but her smile lingered a little longer than usual.

He stood and wandered toward the TV. Spotting the PS5 on the shelf, he raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a PS5? Lucky. You must game a lot.”

“I do… when I have time,” she replied.

Saito groaned playfully. “Man, I can’t even remember the last time I played a game. All I do is make them.”

“Wanna play something now?” Hikari offered, turning to him.

He grinned. “Not a bad idea. And tomorrow’s an off-day.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” she said, already reaching for the controller.

They plopped down on the sofa, shoulders brushing slightly as the game loaded. Laughter and playful competition filled the room.

—
Suddenly, everything went dark.

The TV screen flickered off. Lights vanished. The steady hum of electricity was replaced by silence.

Hikari let out a small yelp and instinctively clung to Saito’s arm.

For a beat, neither of them moved. Then Saito calmly reached for his phone, flicking on the flashlight. A soft beam of light cut through the dark, casting gentle shadows across the room.

Their eyes met.

Hikari’s grip loosened as she realized what she was doing. She quickly pulled away, cheeks glowing with embarrassment.

“I-I wasn’t scared or anything,” she muttered, trying to regain composure.

Saito smirked, amused. “Sure. Totally believable.”

He made his way to the front door and eased it open. The hallway outside was cloaked in black, the emergency lights barely glowing.

“Yup. Power’s out,” he said, peering down the corridor. “Guess the news was right.”

Hikari stepped beside him, arms folded. Beyond the building, the city was wrapped in stillness—its usual neon pulse muted by the blackout. Silver moonlight spilled across the streets, and the wind carried a quiet chill, tousling their hair.

Hikari brushed hers behind her ear and looked up at him.

“…Hey, Saito,” she said softly, her voice barely louder than the wind. “Wanna go for a walk?”

He blinked. “Now? It’s almost 2 AM.”

“I know.” She glanced toward the night sky. “But it’s peaceful… kind of beautiful, don’t you think?”

Saito followed her gaze for a moment, then smiled.

“Yeah… let’s go.”

—
They walked together in silence, the soft sound of their footsteps echoing against the sleeping city. The world around them felt slower, dreamier—like it belonged only to them.

Eventually, the sidewalk gave way to sand, and the distant waves of the sea whispered in the moonlight.

“Whoa…” Saito murmured.

The ocean shimmered, silver and calm beneath the moon. A tranquil beauty stretched before them.

“Wanna go down there?” he asked.

“Sure.”

They slipped off their shoes and folded up their pants, stepping into the cool seawater. The sensation was brisk but refreshing.

“It feels so nice…” Saito said, wading in.

Hikari walked beside him, her steps careful, toes sinking slightly into the wet sand. Then, a larger wave suddenly surged forward.

“Ah—!” she lost balance.

Saito instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand, steadying her.

Hikari’s eyes widened as she looked up at him. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper.

“Th-thank you…”

For a moment, their hands lingered… and didn’t let go.

They continued their walk, fingers intertwined, waves brushing against their ankles. Neither said a word—they didn’t need to.

After a while, they found a quiet spot on the sand and sat down together.

The night breeze, the soft lapping of waves, and the vastness of the starry sky wrapped around them.

“That was… something else,” Saito said with a quiet chuckle. “Completely different from anything I’ve done before.”

“…Yeah,” Hikari replied softly. “Me too.”