Takuma walked beside Miu, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the quiet street. The rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze was the only sound accompanying them, yet the silence between them was far from uncomfortable. In fact, it had become almost... familiar. It was their routine now—walking home together after school, talking about everything and nothing. But today, something about the air between them felt different, charged with an undercurrent of anticipation.

Miu’s house was just a few blocks away, and Takuma found himself wishing the walk would stretch on a bit longer. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, her face soft and serene, framed by her long hair that danced lightly in the wind. She was talking about something—probably about her day, or maybe about their upcoming exams—but his mind was elsewhere.

He had been wanting to ask her for her phone number for days now, but every time he tried to bring it up, the words would catch in his throat. It wasn’t just about the number. It was the significance of it, the act of moving their growing friendship from the hallways and sidewalks of school into something more personal, more intimate.

He had never asked for a girl's number before—especially not someone like Miu.

Takuma didn’t know how to explain it, but ever since the fight with Daichi, there was this subtle shift between them. Miu had been different, not just in the way she looked at him but in the way she acted around him. She was still kind and cheerful, but sometimes he caught her staring at him with a soft expression in her eyes that made his heart beat faster. He tried not to think too much about it, but he couldn’t help wondering if maybe… just maybe… she felt something more too.

As they reached the familiar intersection where their paths usually diverged, Miu slowed her steps, her voice fading into a quiet hum of thought. She looked over at Takuma, a small, gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You’ve been quiet today. Something on your mind?”

Takuma blinked, startled out of his thoughts. “What? Oh, no... I’m fine.” His hand shot up to scratch the back of his neck, a nervous habit he couldn’t seem to shake. “Just… thinking, I guess.”

Miu raised an eyebrow, her smile widening just a fraction. “Thinking about what? You’ve been in your head all week.”

Takuma swallowed, feeling the heat rising in his cheeks. This was it. Now or never. He couldn’t keep dodging the question. He had to just ask.

“Well,” he began, his voice coming out a bit rougher than he intended, “I was wondering… if maybe I could have your number?”

There. He’d said it.

For a brief moment, Miu looked surprised. Her eyes widened slightly, and Takuma’s heart immediately sank into his stomach. What if she thought it was weird? What if he had completely misread everything? But before his mind could spiral any further, Miu’s expression softened, and she let out a small, amused laugh.

“Is that what’s been bothering you this whole time?” she asked, her voice light and teasing. “You could’ve just asked, you know. I don’t bite.”

Takuma felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly, though his heart was still pounding. “I know, it’s just… I didn’t want to seem... I don’t know...”

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Miu tilted her head, studying him with that curious, thoughtful gaze she sometimes had when she was trying to figure something out. “Seem like what?”

“Like I’m being too forward or... whatever.” His voice trailed off awkwardly, and he cursed himself inwardly for overthinking.

Miu’s smile was warm, but there was something else in her eyes now—something more serious, more sincere. “Takuma, you don’t have to worry about that with me. We’re friends, right? You can ask me for my number. It’s not a big deal.”

Friends.

That word hung in the air between them, and for a second, Takuma felt a strange pang in his chest. He knew they were friends. He valued that more than anything. But was that all he wanted? Lately, he had been wondering. The way she laughed, the way she stood close to him, the way she never hesitated to reach out and touch his arm when she was being playful—it all made him question whether friendship was enough. And if it wasn’t, could he risk asking for more?

Miu, unaware of the storm brewing in his mind, pulled out her phone, tapping quickly before holding it out to him with a bright smile. “Here,” she said. “Let me give you mine.”

Takuma took her phone, his fingers brushing against hers for a fleeting second, and felt that familiar jolt of electricity shoot through him. He quickly entered his own number into her contacts before handing it back to her.

“There,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. “Now you can text me whenever you need to... you know, study or whatever.”

Miu’s smile grew even wider, and for a moment, the playful glint returned to her eyes. “Or whenever you’re thinking too much and need someone to snap you out of it.”

Takuma let out a quiet laugh, grateful for the teasing tone that lightened the mood. “Yeah, that too.”

As they stood there, an easy silence falling over them once again, Miu’s phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced at the screen, her brow furrowing for a second before she looked back at Takuma.

“Hey,” she said, her voice softening a little, “do you want to come over for a bit? I mean, if you don’t have anything else to do. We could, I don’t know... hang out for a while. My parents won’t be home for a few more hours.”

Takuma blinked, caught off guard by the invitation. They had spent plenty of time together at school and walking home, but this felt different—more personal. He had never been to Miu’s house before, and the idea of spending time with her outside of their usual routine sent his heart racing again.

But instead of overthinking it, he found himself nodding. “Yeah, sure. That sounds good.”

Miu’s eyes lit up, and she gave him a quick, almost shy smile before turning and leading the way. Takuma followed her, his mind still reeling from the fact that he now had her number, that they were about to hang out at her house, and that—just maybe—things between them were changing in a way he hadn’t fully realized until now.

As they approached her house, a modest two-story building with a neatly kept garden, Takuma felt a strange mix of excitement and nerves. He didn’t know what to expect, but there was one thing he was sure of: being with Miu made him feel... different.

And whatever that difference was, he wasn’t sure he wanted it to go back to the way it had been before.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” Miu said playfully as she unlocked the door and stepped inside, gesturing for him to follow.

Takuma hesitated for just a second before stepping across the threshold. Inside, the house was warm and cozy, filled with soft light and the scent of fresh flowers. It felt like Miu—bright, welcoming, and just a little bit mysterious.

Miu kicked off her shoes and motioned for Takuma to do the same. “Make yourself at home,” she said with a grin. “I’ll grab us something to drink.”

As she disappeared into the kitchen, Takuma found himself standing in the middle of her living room, unsure of what to do with himself. He took in the small details—the family photos on the wall, the stack of magazines on the coffee table, the slightly worn couch that looked like it had seen countless movie nights.

It was strange, being in her space like this. It felt... intimate. And as he stood there, waiting for her to return, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something new between them.

Something that, maybe, neither of them fully understood yet.

But whatever it was, Takuma knew one thing for certain: he was looking forward to finding out.