Saturdays were supposed to feel exciting.
But for Haruki, this one just felt... quiet. The kind of quiet where the air feels a little too still, and the ceiling too far away.
He rolled over in bed for the hundredth time.
"Ugh… I'm bored."
After a dramatic sigh and a ten-minute battle with his messy hair, Haruki slipped on his hoodie, grabbed his wallet, and stepped out into the soft weekend light.
He wasn't going anywhere important—just the store. Just to wander, maybe grab a soda and something sweet. Just... to not feel so still.
The bell above the automatic doors chimed softly as he entered. The store wasn't crowded. Only the soft hum of freezers and a quiet melody playing overhead.
Haruki was halfway to the drinks aisle when he stopped.
There she was.
Yuki.
Standing in front of a shelf of tea bottles, tilting her head slightly as she read the label like it was a mystery she wanted to solve. Her snow-white hair was tied up in a gentle side-ponytail, swaying just a little. She wore a fluffy cardigan and a long skirt—simple, sweet, and somehow more magical outside the classroom.
Haruki blinked, like his brain needed a second to load reality.
It's her. She's really here?
He was frozen. Should he walk away? Say hi? Pretend he didn't see her?
But before he could decide, she looked up—and their eyes met.
"Ah…" Her voice was soft, like it might float away. "Haruki-kun?"
He gave a tiny wave, awkwardly holding the basket in his other hand. "...Hey."
A pause. A blink. Then—
She smiled.
The kind of small, genuine smile that made his chest feel way too warm.
"Do you come here often?" she asked, holding a bottle of peach tea.
"Yeah. It's close to home. I, uh, got bored."
"Me too," she said, looking down with a shy laugh. "I just wanted some sweets…"
They ended up walking through the aisles together, neither saying much—but somehow, it didn't feel awkward. Just… nice. Soft. Easy.
He picked up a weird-looking snack. "This one looks cursed."
Yuki peeked over. "It is. I tried it once. It tastes like sadness."
He snorted. "Then I definitely need to try it."
She giggled again—and that sound made everything feel lighter.
By the time they reached the checkout, his basket was still mostly empty, but his heart felt oddly full.
And as they stepped out into the golden afternoon light, Haruki realized something.
Sometimes, the best part of a boring day… is running into the person who makes it feel special.