Monsoon Romance

The summer heat had begun to creep into the small town, casting a golden glow over the school grounds. The air shimmered with warmth, carrying the faint hum of cicadas and the earthy scent of dry grass. A soft breeze rustled the trees, offering brief moments of relief from the heat. The ground radiated warmth beneath their feet, and the distant laughter of children echoed through the streets, blending with the chirping of sparrows perched on rooftops. Students were abuzz with chatter about the upcoming events—new projects, group activities, and casual hangouts. Haruto and Aiko, now in their second year of middle school, found themselves at the center of attention in their class.

Haruto had always been popular for his easygoing nature and knack for excelling in everything he tried. Aiko, on the other hand, was admired for her artistic talents and cheerful demeanor. Together, they were the pair everyone talked about, though not everyone saw their friendship the same way.

A new girl, Sora, had recently transferred into their class. With her confident stride and charming smile, she quickly became the center of attention. It didn't take long for Sora to set her sights on Haruto. She found excuses to ask him for help with schoolwork, volunteered to partner with him in group projects, and even brought him snacks during lunch breaks.

At first, Aiko didn't think much of it. Haruto was kind to everyone; it was one of the things she admired most about him. But as the days went on, she couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling in her chest every time Sora leaned a little too close to him or laughed a little too loudly at his jokes.

One afternoon, during art class, Aiko sat at her desk, sketching a scene of cherry blossoms. Haruto and Sora were seated a few rows ahead, their heads bent together as they worked on their shared project. Aiko tried to focus on her drawing, but her eyes kept drifting to the pair, her pencil halting mid-stroke whenever Sora touched Haruto's arm or flashed him a smile.

"Are you okay, Aiko?" her friend Mei whispered, leaning over.

Aiko snapped out of her thoughts, quickly nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Mei raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You've been staring at them for a while. You sure nothing's bothering you?"

Aiko hesitated before forcing a smile. "Really, I'm okay. Just... distracted."

But the truth was far from that. For the first time, Aiko felt something she couldn't quite put into words. Was it anger? Hurt? Or something else entirely? All she knew was that she didn't like the way her heart felt heavy and her chest tightened whenever she saw Haruto with Sora.

After class, Aiko packed her things quickly and headed out of the room, hoping to avoid any lingering thoughts. But as she walked down the hallway, she heard Sora's voice behind her.

"Haruto, do you want to grab a drink from the vending machine? My treat!"

Aiko's steps faltered, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. She turned slightly, catching a glimpse of Haruto scratching the back of his head.

"Uh, sure. Thanks, Sora," he replied.

Aiko turned away, biting her lip. She told herself it was silly to feel this way. Haruto had always been her best friend. That wouldn't change just because someone else was spending time with him.

Would it?

Later that evening, Haruto noticed Aiko's unusual quietness as they walked home together. Normally, she would chatter about her day, share funny stories, or ask for his opinion on her latest sketches. But today, she barely said a word.

"Hey, Aiko," he said, breaking the silence. "Is everything okay?"

Aiko forced a smile, her eyes fixed on the ground. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."Haruto frowned, unconvinced. "You sure? You've been quiet all day."

"It's nothing," she insisted, her voice firmer this time.

Haruto didn't push further, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering her.

That night, Aiko sat by her window, staring at the moonlit sky. Her sketchbook lay open on her desk, the cherry blossom drawing unfinished. She picked up her pencil, but instead of returning to her earlier sketch, she began drawing something else.

When she finally put the pencil down, she stared at the image—a rough sketch of Haruto and Sora, their faces turned toward each other, smiling. Aiko's chest tightened as she traced the lines with her finger.

"What's wrong with me?" she whispered to herself.

The next day, Aiko decided to push her feelings aside. She couldn't let her emotions affect her friendship with Haruto. But as the week went on, Sora's presence grew more prominent, and the distance Aiko felt between herself and Haruto widened.

During lunch, Sora sat beside Haruto, laughing at something he said. Aiko sat across from them, picking at her food. Haruto glanced at her, noticing her subdued demeanor.

"Hey, Aiko, you okay?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.

Before she could answer, Sora leaned closer to Haruto. "Maybe she's just tired. Middle school can be exhausting, right, Aiko?"

Aiko forced a smile. "Yeah, something like that."

The words felt hollow, and she hated how fake her smile felt.

As the day ended, Aiko walked home alone, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She didn't understand why Sora's closeness with Haruto bothered her so much. Was it because she was afraid of losing him? Or was it because she felt something more than friendship for him?

In the quiet of her room that night, Aiko opened her sketchbook and began to draw again. This time, the image was clear in her mind—her and Haruto under the cherry blossom tree, a scene from their childhood.

As she shaded the drawing, she whispered to herself, "I don't want to lose what we have."

But deep down, she knew things were changing, and she wasn't sure how to handle it.