Xiao Xing woke up with heavy eyes. The alarm had already stopped — he had probably turned it off without noticing.
He went downstairs as usual, yawning softly, his pinkish hair still messy. As he approached the dining room, a sweet smell filled the air, like the jasmine tea his mother used to make on Sundays.
He heard voices. Laughter.
His heart beat faster.
He hurried his steps, and there they were: his father reading the newspaper, his mother placing pancakes on a plate. The morning light poured through the window like a living painting.
— Mom? Dad?
They looked at him and smiled. A full, familiar smile that warmed him.
He smiled back, eyes shining.
— You're...
But before he could finish the sentence, he blinked.
And everything disappeared.
His mother's chair was empty. His father's newspaper wasn't even on the table. The kitchen was silent. A clean, white silence, like the rest of the house.
His phone vibrated.
"Your allowance has been deposited. Take care."
Said the message from his father.
Xiao Xing clenched the phone tightly, feeling his chest sink.
It was always like that.
. . .
He walked the same streets as always, until something caught his attention — more precisely, a flyer on the ground.
— What's this?
He bent down and picked it up.
— No way.
A new film by the award-winning Japanese writer and director, Renji Kamaki.
"I have to watch this," he thought.
Xiao was a big fan of Japanese cinema. He loved how Kamaki wrote his romances — sensitive and inspiring. It made him feel alive.
Since he was a child, he had the habit of reading and writing. He had even received some awards.
He was a writing prodigy, but something in the past made him stop.
What could it be?
He took out his phone and opened the app he always used to buy tickets.
"How many tickets?"
He was ready to click for just one, but for a brief moment, he thought of Nu Yang.
His smile, his hug.
He blushed slightly.
"Just one," he told himself, closed his eyes, and clicked.
— Damn it!
He ended up buying two tickets.
— What do I do... what do I do?!
He was desperate, in a slightly funny way.
He took a deep breath.
— Okay, I'll ask for a refund.
Just as he was about to do that—
— Xiao Xing!
Startled, he dropped his phone.
The voice made him freeze. He quickly picked it up and turned around.
— Nu Yang...
He was wearing headphones, his damp hair shining like sunlight.
— Are you okay? You look nervous.
— No! I mean, yes. I don't know...
Two awkward seconds of silence passed.
— Nu Yang...
— What is it?
Yang leaned his face closer to his.
— Are you feverish?
He placed a hand on his forehead.
The cheeks that were pink quickly turned red — he felt like he was burning from the inside.
He stepped back.
— What were you going to say?
Xiao was very nervous, closed his eyes and...
— Do you like movies?
— Movies?
He scratched his head.
— I kind of like them, but it's been a while since I watched one.
— So, after school... we could...
— Watch a movie?
Yang finished.
— It's okay if you don't want to. It's just... since we're friends, I thought...
— It's just that I'm broke.
— I already bought the tickets.
Xiao replied without thinking. By the time he realized, it was too late.
Nu Yang laughed.
— Stop laughing, I'm embarrassed.
— Sorry, sorry…
Said Yang, still trying not to laugh.
— You already bought them?
— It was an accident!
Xing replied, hiding half his face with his phone.
— My finger slipped!
— Does that happen a lot?
— Only when I'm nervous!
Nu Yang gave a smile Xiao couldn't quite read. Half amused, half gentle. A smile that messed everything up inside.
— Well... since you already bought them... I guess it'd be a shame to waste them, right?
Xiao Xing's eyes widened.
— So... you want to go?
— I accept the invitation.
Said Yang, hands in his pockets.
— But only if there's popcorn. Sweet popcorn. I won't take salty.
— Sweet popcorn. Deal.
— And if the movie is bad, it's your fault.
— It won't be! It's by Renji Kamaki! He never makes bad films.
— Uh-huh. We'll see.
The school bell rang in the distance.
— Let's go, we're late.
Said Nu Yang, walking ahead with calm steps.
Xiao Xing stood still for a second, smiling.
Maybe that day had started off sad, but it was turning into something special.
And this time, it wasn't an illusion.
Xiao Xing entered the classroom with his heart racing like he'd just run a marathon. He sat in the corner near the window and buried his face in his arms. He was embarrassed.
— "I already bought the tickets." Why did I say that?
He kept replaying the scene in his head while pretending to take notes. Nu Yang, on the other side of the room, looked calm. From time to time, he glanced Xiao's way — which only made Xiao more anxious.
During break, they didn't talk. But the look they shared said it all: the invitation was still on.
. . .
The last period dragged on for what felt like ages. Xiao Xing tried to review the material, but the letters danced across the page. When the final bell rang, his heart jumped. He packed slowly, as if trying to stall.
Nu Yang appeared by the door, leaning there with one earbud in.
— Ready?
— Yeah.
Xing answered, almost whispering.
They left school side by side. Xiao was visibly nervous. Nu Yang, on the other hand, looked calm — as if they were just going out to buy bread.
— So… what's the name of the movie?
— Hanabira no Oto.
— Is that Japanese?
— It means "The Sound of Petals."
Xiao answered, a bit excited to talk about the film.
— It's by Renji Kamaki.
— The same director from that movie everyone cried over at the festival?
— Chisana Umi. That one. This new one is like… a spring romance.
— Hm. So I should bring tissues?
— Probably.
Said Xiao Xing, giggling softly.
. . .
They arrived at the cinema. It was one of those small screening rooms hidden inside a cultural center, with hand-drawn posters and a strong scent of artisanal coffee.
— Looks like a movie set.
Commented Nu Yang.
— That's why I like it here. It has charm.
They got the tickets, bought popcorn (half sweet, half salty, because "you're going to make me try this sweet-and-salty thing," said Yang), and entered the room.
The soft lighting created beautiful shadows on Yang's face, and Xiao Xing tried not to stare — but it was hard.
They sat in the middle row. Xing kept his eyes on the blank screen, trying not to spiral.
— Relax.
Said Nu Yang, giving a gentle tap on his arm.
— I'm happy to be here with you.
Xiao Xing's eyes widened, surprised.
— You are…?
— What, I can't be?
— It's just… you never say stuff like that.
— And you talk enough for both of us.
Replied Yang, smiling.
The movie started.
. . .
Hanabira no Oto was slow, beautiful, and quiet. Two students who met every spring under the same cherry tree. Few lines, many glances. Nu Yang blinked slowly, soaking in every detail. Xiao Xing was enchanted — by the movie, and by the presence beside him.
At one point, Nu Yang stretched slightly, and his arm brushed against Xiao's. The contact was minimal, but enough to completely break his concentration.
Xiao Xing looked away, trying to hide his blush.
The ending was as expected: sad, poetic, and silent. The screen went dark, and for a second, no one got up. It was as if the cinema needed a moment of mourning.
— Damn.
Murmured Yang.
— I told you.
— Feels like my heart sank into a lake.
— That was… beautiful.
— It's the movie's fault. I'm not like this.
Xiao laughed. They left together, walking slowly.
. . .
Outside, the sky was already darkening, tinged with orange tones.
— Want to grab something to drink?
Asked Yang.
— There's a place nearby that sells peach tea.
Xing replied.
— Sounds like something you'd like.
— It is.
They went to a nearby café. It was small, with hanging lights and a few wooden tables. Xiao Xing ordered his favorite tea. Nu Yang ordered the same, "to understand what you see in it."
They sat by the window.
— Hey, Xiao.
— Hm?
— Do you still write? I heard you were talented.
The question caught him off guard.
— No. It's been a while.
— But you've got it. When you talk about stories… your eyes shine.
— I don't know. I lost the rhythm. I lost myself along the way.
Nu Yang stayed quiet for a moment.
— If you want, I can help you find your way again.
Xiao Xing looked at him. His eyes reflected the café light, calm and sincere.
— You really are full of surprises.
— It's the peach tea. Makes me deep.
They both laughed.
. . .
They walked together to a familiar street where they usually said goodbye.
— Thanks for accepting the invite.
Said Xing.
— Thanks for inviting me.
They stood in silence for a moment.
— Can I ask you something?
Said Yang.
— Of course.
— What if it had happened?
— What do you mean?
— That time... on the rooftop.
Nu Yang looked shy. Xiao Xing's heart nearly stopped.
Xiao hesitated, his eyes locked on Nu Yang's.
— I...
He started, but the sentence dissolved halfway through.
The silence between them seemed to say everything.
Nu Yang looked away for a moment, then met his gaze again.
— It's fine. Forget it.
But neither of them forgot.
. . .