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Days of school can be tiring. Between homework, assignments, extracurricular activities and additional activities that wear students down.
That's why, when Friday finally comes, children wait eagerly for the bell to ring.
That was never the case for Mari. She loved school: it was a place to learn, hang out with her classmates and prepare for the future. But on this particular day, she wasn't feeling like herself. It felt as if the last hour of class was lasting an eternity. The teacher kept lecturing about the importance of good grades for getting a good university and having a bright future, but she could barely register his words.
She normally enjoyed these kinds of lectures, but today? The only thing she wanted was a cup of hot coffee and some rest. Since when was the class so tiresome? Why did her shoulders and back ache, and her eyes weighted as if her eyelids were carrying a herd of elephants?
Mari Suzuki wasn’t usually like this. She has always been a hardworking, disciplined and enthusiastic girl. At the start of the year she felt determined to do no matter which challenge she came across. But that day she could barely keep her eyes open.
To avoid dozing off, she tried skimming through the pages of her notebook, she checked her notes, her schedule, her to-do list, anything that could keep her mind busy. Maybe remembering her goals would help: getting into a good university, working her part-time job, taking advanced placement courses, attending piano lessons… Too much, and nonetheless, she should manage to do it all, shouldn’t she?.
While flipping through some pages, a doodle caught her attention. It was a heart embedded by an arrow with a name written on it. Hero.
She sighed. It had been so long since she last saw him. Overworking had consumed every minute of her life. And now, amidst all her mess, remembering him was comforting. Her mind escaped to that beautiful autumn afternoon, sitting under a tree, him testing his head on her lap as she stroked his hair. What a memory to relish on, it made her smile.
The sudden ring of the bell made her jump. At last, the day was over.
Yet going back home didn’t feel like a good option, that place had become a reminder of all the things she still needed to do. She wanted to think about anything else but that, she needed comfort, she needed HIM.
But he was nowhere to be found, nor the school halls, the cafeteria, not even in the bus.
Darn it.
After the bus stopped, she tried to look for him at his home.
Knock, Knock.
Mari was greeted by the warm smile of his mother.
“Oh, Mari, honey! It’s been so long. How are you?”
“ Hi Mrs Ramirez” Mari smiled awkwardly. It was a little uncomfortable talking to her, knowing she wasn’t being the best for her son. “I didn’t see Hero today at school and… um… wanted to know if he was here”
“No sweetheart, he isn’t , he has permission to take an advanced culinary course… I thought he told you about that “ Her voice carried a hint of concern.
“Oh… no… he um… he didn’t”
“Hmm, that’s strange, If anyone should know about these things, it’s you.” Mari lowered her gaze, embarrassed.
“Oh, that knucklehead,” Mrs. Ramirez sighed. “How could he forget? That’s no way to treat his girlfriend. Don’t worry, Mari, I’ll let him know you stopped by. And I’ll give him a piece of my mind, teach him not to hide things from you again!” She laughed.
Mari forced a chuckle, trying to hide her guilt.
“Would you like to come in? I can make you some snacks while you wait.”
It was a tempting offer, but her guilt was too heavy. She politely declined.
Mrs. Ramirez nodded with understanding and closed the door.
Mari let out another sigh. Her chest felt hollow. A part of her wanted to confess right there that she was the one being a bad girlfriend. All those times Hero had called her, and she always had an excuse:
Sorry Hero, I’m busy right now.
Now’s not a good time.
This is really important for me, sorry.
Maybe later.
Next week for sure.
A knot formed in her stomach, it was the guilt swallowing her whole.
Her own house stood just a few steps away, they were neighbors, after all. And yet, she never seemed to find the time to see him.
This was not healthy at all. So instead of going home, she opted for a detour.
Going through the park and among the trees she went to her secret hangout spot, that special place where many of her best memories lived.
The sun was slowly setting on the horizon, painting the sky in light orange and purple hues reflecting on the lake surface. Mari sat at the edge of the dock, taking off her shoes and socks, she felt how the water lapped between her toes. With a deep breath, the tension melted from her body, her mind drifting away with the colors of the sunset.
Then, the sudden touch of a hand on her shoulder startled her and made her turn around, only to see no other than Hero.
"Here to unwind too?" He asked with a warm voice.
"Hero" She exclaimed with a big grin. She had almost forgotten how much she loved that smile
He sat beside her. "What a calm place to see the sunset"
Mari lowered her gaze, embarrassed "it's been so long..." She murmured, trying to unravel her confusing thoughts
"Yeah... it's so nice to see you again Mari, how's everything?"
Another big smile from him, but she just couldn't meet his gaze. She needed to speak her mind out.
"W-well I... I feel so embarrassed"
"Embarrassed?" He echoed. "Why?"
"Well, I've... b-been avoiding you"
He raised a brow.
"A-and not only you, my friends and family too. With all these courses, jobs, tasks, everything has consumed me so much that I ended up pushing everyone away. I'm so sorry" She trailed off while Hero listened quietly.
“Hmm… sounds to me you just did everything you had to do” He said to her as he embraced her into a tender, understanding hug.
Mari blushed at the sudden affection.
“There, there, everything’s going to be fine” He murmured, patting her back “That’s what you always tell me, remember?”
She did. It was one of the many ways she comforted him before.
“I always think about you when life wears me down” He added
Mari’s face lit up, pulling back a little “You… get stressed too, don't you?”
“Yeah it happens to all of us”
“Because of… that culinary course you're taking, right? “
“Exactly, that's what I was about to tell you, how did you know?”
“Well… I went by your place, but you weren't there so…”
“It was Mom, wasn't she?”
Mari nodded, though she frowned a little, remembering the conversation they had.
“Yeah… sigh… Hero I just felt I needed to apologize for all those excuses. I think I treated you poorly”
“Nah it's okay Mari… sometimes…” He took a deep breath “Sometimes one just feels like quitting…”
Now Mari was the one studying his face.
“Mom, Dad… I love them but they tell me that this culinary career is not enough”
Mari replicated his compassion. She put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a reinvigorating smile. He went on.
“They say it's better if I choose another one, like medicine or law… I don't know. Sometimes it's just hard”
“Oh… I see” For some reason, she found all the right words “its a hard decision, but… whatever decision you choose, I'll be there to support you”
Those words… that sweet voice. He felt caught in her gaze, unable to look away. It felt right, all his woes vanished in a second.
Mari felt the same.
Forgetting all that troubled them, their faces drew closer until their lips finally touched, and in that instant a surge of electricity flooded through them both.
A gesture long forgotten. Yet one they had both yearning for.
Their world reduced to just the two of them, an ether constructed just by each other's presences. No conflict, no tension—only the warmth of each other’s presence. And it felt perfect.
When their faces separated, it was already dark.
“Wow…” He whispered “that was nice… I missed you so much”
Mari laughed, her face still a bright red.
“Me too”
“What if we repeat this every friday” She proposed “That way our weeks won’t feel so tiresome”
“It sounds like a great idea”
They both smiled, but a sudden voice interrupted them.
“Hey, Hero!”
It was Kel, appearing at the worst moment. As always.
“There you are!, I was looking for you everywhere and…” He noticed he was not alone
“Oh… uh… Hi Mari” He said clumsily.
She greeted him awkwardly, a bit frustrated for breaking their atmosphere.
“So… Mom needed you to do some errands, but… if you two need some time alone then…”
Kel knows how much these moments mattered to Hero, even if he’s still too young to actually understand him.
“Don’t worry it’s okay, tell her I’ll head back”
“Alrighty then! See you later!” Kel quickly rushed off, clearly embarrassed by the situation.
Hero and Mari looked at each other before bursting into laughter. At least he hadn’t caught them kissing.
While the sky painted dark blue and tiny stars started to appear. Hand in hand, they walked back home.
At her door, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much Hero, I really needed that”
“Thank me? it was you who comforted me the most”
“Well I think we just needed each other so much” She retorted with another kiss. “Can I see you tomorrow?”
“Of course” He replied warmly
Hero disappeared into his house, and Mari sighed as she stepped into hers.
Everything remained just as she’d left it. The floral scent in the air, the neat shelves and the spotless floor. Yet, without Hero, it felt unfamiliar.
In her room, her little brother slept in his bed. He seemed like he had a hard week too.
Her desk was full of papers and notebooks which reminded her of all the things she still needed to do.
She collapsed onto her bed and shut her eyes.
Instantly, Hero’s soothing smile came back to her. The way he kissed her, the way he comforted her. It made her problems slip away.
Her shoulders no longer ached, her eyes no longer felt heavy. It was as if she had slept a whole week.
The future didn't feel as overwhelming anymore. If Hero was by her side, she knew everything would be alright.