She said I’m cute.

What? Am I really cute? I don’t think I am. I’m handsome, though… I don’t know what Senior Asahina—ack! I should get used to call her by name.

“Yeah, Senior Sakura told me I’m cute.” I mumbled while walking on my way home.

I don’t think I heard it wrong, huh? No one told me cute before. But coming from someone as pretty as her makes me feel fluttered. Senior Sakura is also cute, no…. way cuter than any other girls.

And she said it’s because of my dimples. Huh. Weird.

“I’m home!” holding the doorknob, I greet and entered inside. “Welcome back, big brother!”

From the door of living room is a young girl, around 5 years old, comes forward to me with a sweet smile. “I’m home, Naruko.” I smile and picks her up with both my hands.

“Welcome back, Haruki.” a woman in her late 30’s greet me while wearing an apron. “Wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay.” I diligently answered and proceed back to my room after putting down Naruko. “Big brother, let’s play!” she called.

“Yeah, big brother’s going to play with you after I change, okay?” I smile at her. Naruko nods and goes to mom right after. I then go to my room and enters inside. Today’s kind of weird and somewhat exciting.

Placing my bag at the study table, I sit down the bed and lay down. Recalling the things happened today, I started reflecting on it. Today is kind of … a little off. Since Senior Asahina—no, I should get used to call her Sakura. Well, that thing, calling us both by our given names.

I did say to be friends with her. It’s a pure intention from me to tell that I want to be, at least, be an acquaintance with her. Though my inner feelings shouts how pretty she is, especially when she’s wearing those thick framed glasses.

“Senior Asahina—I mean, Sakura, really is pretty. Her long, silky, black hair, round shaped, brown eyes, fair complexion, rosy, semi-thick, pouty lips…”

Stolen story; please report.

Recalling her image suddenly made me feel giddy. Whenever I see her, my lips can’t helped but to form a smile. Her presence makes me feel at ease. Like, someone I want to have by my side—huh?

What? What am I thinking?

My face feels hot; out of that moment, I suddenly sit down on the bed. What am I thinking? I know she’s pretty, but having thoughts about her staying by my side…

My phone suddenly vibrates. Checking out the screen, a message from Senior Sakura appeared from the text line. “I just got back home.”

Sent with a sticker of house and written text “I’m home” on it, Sakura’s name appears before my eyes.

“Huh. Suddenly texting me after getting home?” I utter. Proceeding with the reply, I collected some thoughts while looking at the message bar. What should I say?

Before I reply, another text came from her. “Haruki, you got home yet?”

An instant question, huh? “Well, let’s go give her a reply.”

I quickly type a message on the text box, but seems this may cause her trouble to read. I mean, she might get bothered by my reply, right?

I choose a sticker and quickly send to her right away. A few seconds passed, a reply came from her. “You think I get bothered by your reply, no?”

What? How did she—wait… Does she….?

“Senior Sakura, are you perhaps, an ESPER?”

I sent to her reply. A quick reply suddenly came up right away. “What are you talking about?”

“You guessed that you get bothered by my reply. So, I thought you have supernatural powers.”

I sent a reply with a sticker of a cartoon-drawn sticker of a guy with a question mark.

“Huh? You think I have supernatural power? How terrifying.” another replied I received from her. This conversation of ours gets more interesting.

“I’m kidding, Senior. I just got home right now.” my lips right now, once more, formed a smile. It’s like we’re just talking awhile ago on our way home. And now, it feels like Senior Sakura is with me now.

“Then, should I say, “Welcome home?” thing…?”

That sudden popped text petrified me for a second. She then quickly sent another reply, “Just kidding!” and a sticker with a laughing dog on it.

“Yeah, it’s just a joke… Haruki. Don’t assume things between you two.” I muttered. My face feels hotter while looking at the message Sakura sent to me. Why… why am I grinning.

I haven’t felt this kind of thing before. Yet, whenever I talk to her, things change. It seems like I feel happy and somewhat contented with her.

“Haruki, dinner’s ready!” mom knocked on the door, breaking the thoughts and delusion I have. “Ah, yeah… coming!” I replied and quickly change my clothes.

Before I left the room, I replied. “Anyway, thanks for welcoming me home. Also, Welcome back, Senior Sakura.” and locked my phone screen to have dinner.

That night, a new feeling emerge inside me. I don’t understand, since the only I have for Sakura is an admiration to her beauty. I want to understand what these feelings are…