For the past few days, Mahiru and Sam had kept in touch through calls and messages. Their conversations had become more open, more natural—almost like they had crossed an invisible barrier. Mahiru noticed that Sam sounded better each day, but she knew he was still carrying the weight of his emotions.
That's why she had to do something.
With a determined smile, she pulled out her phone.
Mahiru: "Hey, are you free today?"
Sam responded after a moment. Sam: "I guess. Why?"
Mahiru: "Great! Meet me near the station in an hour. No questions."
Sam blinked at the text. He could already imagine Mahiru's smug face. What is she up to now?
Still, he found himself heading out.
---
When Sam arrived at the station, he saw Mahiru waiting for him, dressed in a casual yet cute outfit—a pastel sweater and jeans, her hair tied in a loose ponytail. She was holding a bag, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Finally!" she said, grabbing his hand before he could say anything.
"Where are we going?" he asked, slightly amused.
"You'll see," she smirked.
After a short train ride, they arrived at an amusement park.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Really? An amusement park?"
Mahiru grinned. "You need a break, mister overthinker. And I refuse to let you mope around forever. So today, we're going all out!"
Sam sighed but couldn't hide the small smile forming on his lips. "All out, huh?"
"Yup!" Mahiru took out two tickets and waved them in front of him. "I got these in advance, so there's no escape."
Sam chuckled. "Fine, fine. Let's see what you've got planned."
---
The day turned out to be surprisingly fun.
Mahiru dragged Sam onto every kind of ride—roller coasters, bumper cars, and even a haunted house (where she totally screamed and clung to his arm, but later denied it).
At the game stalls, Mahiru insisted she would win a prize for him. She failed miserably at first, but after several attempts (and probably scaring the stall owner with her determination), she finally won a small plushie of a sleepy cat.
"Here!" she said proudly, shoving it into his hands.
Sam looked at the plushie and then at Mahiru. "You really did all that just to win this for me?"
Mahiru huffed. "Of course! It's proof that I made you smile today!"
Sam stared at her for a moment before laughing—a real, genuine laugh. It was the first time in a while that he felt light, as if the weight on his chest had lifted, even if just for a moment.
Mahiru blinked in surprise. "W-What? Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head, still smiling. "Thank you, Mahiru."
Mahiru felt her face heat up, but she crossed her arms. "You better be grateful. That took effort!"
Sam held up the plushie. "I'll treasure it forever."
"Good," she muttered, looking away to hide her own smile.
As the sun began to set, the two of them sat on a bench, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. Mahiru leaned back, stretching her arms.
"See? Told you I'd make you feel better."
Sam glanced at her, warmth filling his chest. "Yeah… You really did."
Mahiru smirked. "I always do."
Sam shook his head, still holding onto the plushie. Maybe he wasn't completely okay yet. Maybe the pain still lingered. But today, Mahiru had reminded him that there were still moments worth smiling for.
And somehow, she had become the brightest part of those moments.
----