The soft morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a golden glow across Sam's room. He lay on his bed, his eyes barely open, lost in the warmth of sleep. His breathing was calm, steady, until—
His fingers brushed against something cool on his wrist.
The bracelet.
Mahiru's bracelet.
Sam's eyes snapped open as he stared at the small, delicate piece wrapped around his wrist. His fingers traced over the design, remembering the way she had given it to him on Promise Day—the way her eyes had sparkled, the way she had promised to always be with him.
And then, his gaze shifted lower—to the locket that hung around his chest. The one she had given him on his birthday.
His fingers gently grasped the locket, flipping it open. Inside, a tiny photo of the two of them smiled back at him.
Mahiru had said it was so he would always have her close to his heart.
A quiet sigh left his lips as he sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. His mind wasn't on the gifts, though.
It was on her.
On Mahiru.
On the way she had looked at him during their Ferris wheel ride.
On the way they had almost kissed under the setting sun.
The way her soft brown eyes had reflected the warm hues of the sky, the way her breath had hitched when their faces had drawn closer, the way his own heart had raced, feeling her so close—only for the ride to stop and ruin everything.
He groaned, running a hand through his hair. Why did I hesitate?
And now, today was Kiss Day.
His fingers curled into a fist as he leaned back against his bed.
Would he let the moment slip away again?
Would he watch another day pass without closing the distance between them?
He shook his head, determination settling in his chest.
No.
Not today.
Today, he would take a step forward.
---
AttheCafe
Mahiru had suggested they meet at the café, the same place where their story had begun.
Sam pushed open the door, and the familiar scent of coffee and baked goods hit him immediately. The quiet chatter of customers, the soft hum of background music—it all felt nostalgic, like stepping into a moment frozen in time.
And then, his eyes found her.
Mahiru sat by the window, her hands wrapped around a warm cup, her golden-brown hair illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the glass.
For a second, Sam just stared.
She was beautiful.
Not just in the way she looked, but in the way she existed. The way her lips curved ever so slightly in thought, the way her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of her cup, the way the light made her seem almost unreal—like she belonged to a different world.
And then, as if sensing his gaze, she looked up.
Their eyes met.
And she smiled.
Sam felt his breath catch.
How had he gotten so lucky?
He quickly walked over, sliding into the seat across from her. "Hey."
"Hey," Mahiru greeted, her voice soft, almost hesitant.
For a while, they just talked. About nothing in particular, about small things, about how their day had been. Yet, through it all, something lingered between them.
Something warm.
Something heavy.
Neither of them spoke about it.
But they felt it.
The unspoken tension.
The unfulfilled moment from the Ferris wheel.
Sam caught her stealing glances at his lips more than once. And every time their hands brushed, she tensed, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink.
Damn it… even she's thinking about it.
He wanted to say something.
He wanted to close the distance between them.
But every time he thought about leaning in, something held him back.
Was it fear?
Was it nervousness?
Or was it simply the weight of the moment?
---
AttheStation
They reached the train station.
Mahiru turned to him, her eyes warm, her cheeks flushed. "Thanks for today, Sam."
Sam smiled, but something in his chest ached.
Kiss Day was over.
And he had let the moment pass again.
Just as he was about to say goodbye—
Mahiru suddenly stepped forward and hugged him.
Sam stiffened.
His breath hitched.
But his arms instinctively wrapped around her, holding her close.
The world around them blurred, fading into a distant hum.
She was warm.
So unbelievably warm.
And then—
She pulled back slightly.
Their eyes met.
A silent understanding passed between them.
Sam's gaze flickered to her lips.
Mahiru's breath hitched.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
The air between them crackled.
And then—
Mahiru's fingers trembled slightly as she reached up, gently touching his cheek.
Sam leaned in without thinking.
Closer.
Closer.
And then—
Their lips met.
A shiver ran down Sam's spine. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, as if both of them were afraid the moment would break. Mahiru's lips were warm, delicate, and tasted faintly of the sweet coffee she had earlier.
Sam felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest.
Mahiru let out a small sigh, her hands clenching the fabric of his coat as if she were holding on for dear life.
His arms tightened around her, pulling her even closer, deepening the kiss.
It was slow.
It was tender.
And yet, it was overwhelming.
The warmth of her breath, the way her body molded against his, the way his fingers instinctively slid up to cradle the back of her head—it was intoxicating.
Mahiru whimpered softly against his lips, and Sam felt a deep warmth spread through his chest, making his knees weak.
They weren't just kissing.
They were melting into each other.
The world around them disappeared.
No train. No people. No station.
Just the two of them.
Just this moment.
When they finally pulled away, Mahiru's face was completely red, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, as she gazed up at him, her lips slightly parted.
Sam swallowed, his own breathing uneven.
They just stood there, staring at each other, as if processing what had just happened.
A slow, shy smile spread across Mahiru's lips. "We… we really did it," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.
Sam let out a shaky laugh, pressing his forehead against hers. "Yeah… we did."
She glanced at the locket resting against his chest, her fingers brushing against it briefly.
"...Keep it close, okay?" she murmured, her voice filled with warmth.
Sam's heart swelled. He nodded. "Always."
And as she stepped onto the train, she turned back one last time, her eyes shining.
"Goodnight, Sam."
Sam stood there, watching the train disappear into the distance.
His lips still tingled.
His heart still raced.
His fingers traced the locket, then the bracelet on his wrist.
A promise.
A memory.
And now, a kiss.
For the first time in a long time, he felt complete.
----