Monsoon Romance

The New Year Festival had ended, but the echoes of laughter and fireworks still lingered in the cold night air. The once-crowded streets were now peaceful, illuminated only by the soft glow of paper lanterns swaying in the wind. Haruto and Aiko walked side by side, their steps unhurried as they made their way home.

Aiko clutched a small festival charm in her hands, her fingers gently tracing its embroidered details. She had won it earlier at one of the festival stalls, and though it was a simple thing, she seemed attached to it.

"What did you wish for?" Haruto asked, his voice casual yet curious.

Aiko glanced at him, then hugged the charm close to her chest. "I already told you, if I say it out loud, it won't come true."

Haruto chuckled. "Right. You take these things seriously."

Aiko nodded with a small smile. "Of course. Don't you?"

Haruto exhaled, watching his breath form a white mist in the winter air. "I don't know. I never really thought about it."

Aiko stopped walking and turned to face him, her brown eyes reflecting the lantern lights. "Not even for the New Year?"

Haruto hesitated. He had thought about it—more than he liked to admit. But saying it out loud felt different.

They arrived at the bridge overlooking the frozen river. The water, though covered in ice, still reflected the colors of the distant festival lanterns, creating a mesmerizing glow. Haruto leaned against the railing, gazing at the endless sky.

"If I had to wish for something," he started, his voice quieter now, "I guess… I'd wish for things to stay the same."

Aiko frowned. "The same?"

Haruto nodded. "Lately, everything feels like it's changing too fast. One moment, we're just kids messing around after school, and the next… it's like we're being pulled toward something we can't control."

Aiko lowered her eyes. "I know what you mean."

A heavy silence settled between them, thick with words left unspoken. Haruto wanted to tell her that he was afraid—afraid of change, of distance, of losing the connection they had.

Aiko had been quieter lately, lost in thought, and he wasn't sure if it was because of him… or because of something else.

"I guess I just don't want to lose the people who are important to me," Haruto admitted. His voice was softer now, almost vulnerable.

Aiko looked at him then, her gaze unwavering. "You won't."

Haruto let out a small chuckle, though his heart ached. "You say that like it's a promise."

Aiko's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Because it is."

A cold wind swept through the bridge, rustling Aiko's kimono sleeves. Without thinking, Haruto reached out and tugged the fabric closer around her, shielding her from the chill. Their fingers brushed for just a second—warm despite the freezing air.

Aiko froze, her breath catching slightly, but she didn't pull away.

"Haruto…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Haruto wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't good with words like Aiko was. She could paint emotions through her art, capture feelings in a way he never could. But this—this moment, this unspoken feeling between them—terrified him.

Because deep down, he knew his real wish wasn't for things to stay the same.

It was for the courage to face whatever came next.

And, more than anything, for Aiko to always be a part of it.

The shrine bells chimed in the distance, marking the official start of the new year. Aiko took a small step back, breaking the moment, though her expression remained soft.

"We should head home," she murmured.

Haruto nodded, though a part of him wished they could stay just a little longer. But as they walked side by side under the warm glow of streetlights, he made a silent vow.

Maybe tonight, he hadn't found the right words.

But one day, when the time was right, he would.