— Why are your faces so red?After that short interruption, Hiro was completely shaken. His heart was still pounding hard, and an embarrassed heat burned at his ears. He no longer knew how to look Waguri in the eyes.They eventually left the beach with Sora. The fine sand crunched under their feet. After watching the sunset paint the surface of the sea in soft orange, they walked to the station. The evening air felt a little cooler.Sora then went his own way.— Hiro, see you at school tomorrow.

— Okay.Sora crossed his arms and spoke in a more serious tone.— Any colder and you’d freeze.Waguri’s lips curved into a smile, and she suddenly burst out laughing. Her bright, clear laugh mixed with the distant sound of the waves. That radiant smile did something strange to Hiro’s chest.— Hahaha… sorry, I couldn’t hold it in.

— Yeah…Hiro and Waguri boarded an almost empty train and sat side by side. The soft white lights illuminated the seats. The steady rhythm of the rails hummed beneath them.After a while, Waguri started to get sleepy. Her eyelids grew heavy, and her head slowly tilted to the side.— You can sleep, Hiro said quietly. I’ll wake you up when we arrive.

— Thank you…Her voice was already a little hazy. Soon, her head rested against his shoulder. Hiro immediately felt a gentle warmth through the fabric of his shirt. The faint scent of her hair reached him. His heart beat faster, but he stayed completely still so he wouldn’t wake her.When the train arrived at their station, Hiro gently shook her.— Waguri… we’re here.She slowly opened her eyes, still a little dazed. A thin line of drool was at the corner of her lips. Realizing it, a deep blush spread across her cheeks. She quickly hid her face and wiped it away as she stood up.— D-don’t look…, she murmured, turning her head away.They walked together to her house. The streetlights stretched their shadows across the sidewalk. In front of the door, Waguri stopped. She lightly gripped the strap of her bag.— Hiro… thank you for today.Then, without warning, she rose slightly on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. Her lips were warm and gentle. Before Hiro could even react, she had already opened the door and disappeared inside.Hiro stood frozen for a few seconds, completely stunned. He could still feel the warmth of the kiss on his skin. After a moment, he walked home, his heart beating faster than usual.Once inside his room, he dropped his head onto his pillow. The cool fabric contrasted with the lingering warmth in his chest.— What a day…He stared at the ceiling in the dark. The memory of that moment on the beach, her head on his shoulder, and the soft kiss on his cheek kept repeating in his mind.He still wasn’t sure what he was feeling.

But one thing was clear: something had changed.