Saturday morning arrived with golden sunlight filtering through the dorm curtains. Birds chirped somewhere beyond the window, and the whole world seemed… gentle.
Leo groaned into his pillow. For once, there were no early classes, no club meetings, no expectations.
Just a text message.
> "10 AM. By the old footbridge near the tennis courts. Don't be late. - Aira"
Leo stared at it for a good five minutes.
Was he ready for this?
Whatever "this" was?
He got up, changed, and walked across campus to find out.
---
The footbridge was small and mostly forgotten—hidden behind some trees, with a view of the creek that ran behind the school. It creaked when stepped on, and birds had taken to nesting underneath.
But for Leo and Aira, it was once the universe.
Ten years ago, they had pretended to be pirates here.
Five years ago, they buried a "time capsule" filled with candy wrappers and promises.
And now, Aira stood there waiting, hands behind her back.
"You remembered," she said with a warm smile.
Leo nodded, his chest tight. "Barely. The tree looks shorter."
"You just got taller."
They stood there for a beat, letting the memories rush in like a quiet tide.
Aira broke the silence. "I asked to meet because… we haven't had time. Not real time. And I need you to remember who I was."
Leo tilted his head. "I never forgot."
She gave a crooked smile. "Maybe. But things are different now. You're different. And I'm… I guess I'm trying to catch up."
She stepped off the bridge and motioned for him to follow. They walked along the creek, where the cherry petals had started to scatter like soft confetti.
"You were my first everything," Aira said quietly. "First friend. First person I told my dreams to. First boy I punched in the stomach."
Leo winced. "You had good aim."
They laughed.
"But I never said the important things," she added. "Not when I had the chance."
Leo's heart thumped.
Aira turned to him.
"I liked you. A lot. And maybe part of me still does. But… I see the way they look at you, Leo. Rin. Yuki. Hana."
She paused. Then took a breath.
"I'm not here to fight. I don't want to compete. I just… wanted to say it, finally. And then maybe, I can move forward without wondering 'what if' every time you smile."
Leo said nothing. He couldn't.
Because this was real.
Not teenage fantasy. Not spring hormones.
This was a farewell to a chance never taken.
He stepped closer, and gently bumped his shoulder against hers.
"I'm glad you said it."
Aira smiled, blinking rapidly. "Me too."
They stood there in silence, letting time fill the space between them.
And when they finally turned to walk back, it felt lighter.
Not because anything was fixed.
But because something had been freed.
---
Back in the dorm, Kai was waiting again, sipping tea and wearing Leo's hoodie for some reason.
"Well?" he asked.
Leo collapsed onto the bed. "She let go."
Kai nodded. "That's tough."
"It shouldn't feel this heavy."
Kai grinned faintly. "Love stories usually do."