Chapter 17 – “A Heartbeat Too Loud”

The announcement echoed through the classroom.

“Alright, everyone! This year’s cultural festival theme is ‘Dream Café!’”

Cheers, groans, and a few half-hearted claps filled the room.

Mina clapped her hands dramatically. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for my main-character arc!”

Riko rolled her eyes. “It’s not a drama, Mina.”

“Oh, but it could be,” Mina said slyly, glancing between Riko and Daichi. “Especially with the school’s favorite couple in charge of decorations.”

Riko froze. “Wait—what?”

Daichi frowned. “Couple? Decorations?”

The class representative waved a clipboard. “Yep! You two got paired up. Congrats!”

Riko groaned. “This is punishment, isn’t it?”

Daichi sighed. “Yeah. Karma, maybe.”

And so began their week of chaotic preparation.

---

The art room smelled of paint and wood glue. Cardboard boxes, ribbons, and fake roses were scattered everywhere.

Riko sat cross-legged on the floor, painting a sign that read ‘Welcome to Dream Café!’ while Daichi struggled to untangle a string of lights.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Riko said without looking up.

“I’m literally just plugging in lights.”

“Yeah, upside down.”

“They don’t have an upside down!”

“Yes they do! Look—” She stood, stepping over boxes to help. “You have to—whoa!”

Her foot caught on a roll of tape. She stumbled — right into Daichi’s chest.

He caught her instinctively, arms circling her waist.

For a heartbeat, neither moved.

“U-Uh…” Riko mumbled, looking up. Their faces were close — too close. She could see the tiny flecks of gold in his brown eyes.

Daichi swallowed. “You okay?”

“Y-Yeah… just… lost my balance.”

They froze there, awkwardly aware of the silence and how loud everything suddenly felt.

Her pulse raced. His grip loosened, but his hands lingered just a second too long.

She stepped back quickly, face burning. “I—I’ll just, um, finish the sign.”

“Y-Yeah,” he said, scratching his neck. “Good idea.”

---

By the third day of prep, chaos was their new normal.

Paint spilled. Glitter exploded. Daichi accidentally glued his sleeve to a table.

Riko called him an idiot at least five times an hour.

But somewhere between the teasing and shared snacks, the air started feeling different — softer.

Mina noticed immediately.

During lunch, she smirked from behind her juice box. “You two are getting awfully close. Want me to make it official?”

“Mina!” Riko hissed.

Daichi groaned. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Actually, yes,” Mina said. “Operation Romantic Progress.”

“What’s that supposed to mean—”

But before they could ask, she was gone — suspiciously cheerful.

---

Later that afternoon, Riko and Daichi headed to the storage room to grab more decorations.

The door creaked as they stepped inside. The lights flickered.

“Wow,” Daichi muttered. “Creepy.”

“Stop being a baby,” Riko teased, tugging open a box. “Grab the fake flowers.”

He nodded and reached for the top shelf — right before the door slammed shut behind them with a click.

Riko froze. “...Did that just lock?”

Daichi tried the handle. “It’s jammed.”

“Of course it is.”

They both sighed. Then, from outside, they heard faint giggling.

“Mina…” they said in unison.

---

Ten minutes passed. The air felt heavier than it should’ve.

Riko sat on a crate, hugging her knees. “So this is how we die. Trapped in a closet surrounded by fake flowers.”

Daichi chuckled softly. “Could be worse.”

“Oh yeah? How?”

He smiled faintly. “At least I’m stuck with you.”

Riko blinked, her heart skipping once — maybe twice. “W-What’s that supposed to mean?”

He rubbed his neck. “Nothing. Just… better company than Mina.”

She tried to hide her smile, looking away. “Idiot.”

A quiet moment followed. The only sound was the hum of the overhead light.

Then Daichi took a step closer, reaching for a fallen box.

The corner of it snagged under his foot — and suddenly, he stumbled forward.

“Daichi!”

He caught himself — barely — hands landing against the wall, trapping Riko between his arms.

Their faces were inches apart.

Neither moved.

Her breath hitched.

His heart pounded so hard he was sure she could hear it.

Riko’s eyes widened slightly. “Your heart’s… really loud.”

Daichi swallowed. “Y-Yeah, well… yours too.”

She let out a nervous laugh. “Guess we’re both… loud people.”

The silence that followed was heavy, warm, and terrifying.

For a second — just one second — he thought she might lean closer.

He almost did too.

And then—

The door burst open.

“Having fun, lovebirds?” Mina sang from the doorway, holding a camera.

Both screamed. “MINA!”

Riko shoved Daichi away, face flaming red. “You—You locked us in?!”

“Technically, I motivated you,” Mina said proudly. “You’re welcome.”

“GET OUT!” they shouted in unison.

---

Later that day, neither of them spoke much.

Riko focused on arranging flowers. Daichi kept hammering decorations that didn’t need hammering.

Every time their eyes met, both looked away instantly.

But under all the awkwardness, their hearts still raced — remembering the moment that almost was.

---

> Neither spoke the rest of the day, but their hearts had already said enough.