Everything can change... Even a small detail

As we continued walking through the peaceful streets of Kyoto, I couldn’t help but look around. The well-kept trees, lined up with perfect precision, seemed to greet passersby with their branches. The clean, orderly streets gave off a peaceful atmosphere, almost like something out of a postcard. It made me smile without even realizing it… it was so different from where I came from. Hehe, I thought, I wish things back home were as clean and calm as they are here.

Then I noticed something curious. During our entire walk, Kaori had remained silent. I turned to look at her and found her completely relaxed, enjoying her ice cream. Her eyes stared calmly ahead, as if she were lost in her own thoughts.

—Hey, Kaori —I asked with a light smile—, where do you want to go now?

She glanced at me from the corner of her eye without stopping her ice cream, and responded with that confident tone she was known for:

—Just follow me, Leo.

I nodded and kept eating my ice cream too, admiring the scenery. The air was cool, and the afternoon was moving gently, as if the world itself was pleased with our walk. That was when Kaori spoke again, breaking the brief silence with a sentence that took me completely by surprise:

—Hey, Leo... I think it’s time for you to tell the girls about yourself. Everything. Absolutely everything. To them… and to me.

Her words fell like a stone into a calm lake. I stopped for a moment to think. I had thought about it, of course I had. At some point, I had to do it. Tell them the truth… even the secrets that weighed on me from the inside.

—I was planning to —I replied honestly—. At some point I was going to tell them everything… even what I’ve been keeping since the beginning.

She slowed down and stepped ahead of me, placing herself right in front of me. She looked straight into my eyes and let out a small sigh.

—So you had secrets, Leo…? —she murmured, as if it were some important discovery. Then she gently shook her head and said with a soft smile—. Well, forget that. What matters is… when do you plan to tell them? Tonight? Or tomorrow?

Her reaction confused me a little, especially the first part, but I took a second to think. When would be the right time? I couldn’t just throw everything out there without preparing them.

—I’ll tell them everything tomorrow… in the afternoon or at night —I said firmly, closing my eyes for a moment as if visualizing how that moment would go.

Kaori nodded with satisfaction and, without warning, grabbed my hand firmly.

—Great! It’s settled then. Tomorrow you’ll tell us everything. And don’t leave out a single detail, okay, Leo?

—Okay… —I nodded, giving a small smile, surprised by her sudden initiative.

She gently tugged my hand and started running with excitement.

—Come on! We’re almost there —she said happily.

—Almost where…? —I asked, though I didn’t get an immediate answer. I could only keep up with her while still holding my ice cream in my other hand, which was about to melt away. The wind began to play around us, and even though I didn’t know exactly where we were going, the moment… felt perfect.

After Kaori practically dragged me through the spotless streets, we finally arrived at a rather peculiar place. It was a small shop, but it had a special charm to it. From the outside, pearl decorations hung at the entrance as if welcoming anyone who passed by. The windows were adorned with shiny, colorful objects: bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other items I didn’t even know how to name. Some looked so handcrafted that I wondered how long they must have taken to make.

Kaori finished her ice cream right before entering and tossed it into the trash with ease. I did the same, giving mine a final couple of licks before throwing it away. When we crossed the door, a small bell rang softly. The place was empty, but filled with items on display: glass cases full of handmade jewelry, shelves of small charms, floral-patterned boxes, and even knitted dolls.

We approached the counter, and Kaori tapped the small bell on top. We waited for about two minutes before a young woman came out from behind a curtain at the back of the shop. When she saw Kaori, her face lit up with a huge smile.

—Hey, Kao! Long time no see! —the girl said as she quickly approached.

—Hi, Jini. Yeah, it’s been a while —Kaori replied with a smile just as warm. They hugged tightly like old friends reunited after ages apart.

"Jini"… That must’ve been her name. I assumed she was the owner or manager of the place. While they chatted, I kept observing the items around me. Some bracelets had tiny stones that changed color depending on the light; others were simple but had engravings that looked like ancient symbols.

Their laughter mixed with the soft background music. Then Kaori called me:

—Leo, come here please.

I walked over to the counter and found myself standing before both of them. I gave a polite little bow, placing my hand on my chest.

—Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Leo.

Jini stared at me for a moment, then closed her eyes and smiled with a playful tone:

—Ara, Kaori… so you finally brought someone polite.

That comment caught me off guard. “Finally brought one”? What did she mean by that? What was she implying? I felt a tiny pang in my chest—like a small bird had fallen on me… or rather, a pigeon full of doubts.

—Hello, my name is Jini Son. It’s nice to meet you, Leo —she continued kindly.

I lifted my head and smiled awkwardly, trying to stay calm while my mind filled with questions.

—Nice to meet you too.

But inside… I couldn’t help wondering what else Kaori hadn't told me.

—Hey Jini, why did you say that? —Kaori asked, frowning seriously at her.

—Relax, Kao —Jini replied, shrugging with a mischievous smile—. You already told him about your past relationship, right?

What…? Past relationship? Those words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I froze, completely blank. It felt like the world paused around me. I could barely hear Kaori and Jini arguing, their voices mixing between awkward laughs and annoyed tones.

—Enough already! —Kaori snapped—. We came here for something else, didn’t we, Leo?!

My mind was still processing what I’d heard, but hearing my name jolted me awake.

—Huh…? What? —I mumbled.

Kaori was staring at me, waiting for me to react. Beside her, Jini let out a soft giggle and asked in a gentler tone:

—Do you want to make a necklace and a bracelet?

Before I could answer, Kaori had already taken charge.

—Come on, Leo. Sit with me over here —she said, pointing to one of the empty tables.

I nodded silently and followed her, though inside I still carried the weight of Jini’s words. I wasn’t jealous—at least not exactly—but I was annoyed… or maybe disappointed. There was a small knot in my stomach. Not because she’d had a relationship, but because she hadn’t mentioned it to me at all.

We sat across from each other at a wooden table decorated with small boxes filled with colorful beads, threads, charms, and crafting tools. It was a pretty and relaxing place, but the atmosphere between us felt tense.

Kaori lowered her gaze, and little by little her face turned red. She covered her face with both hands and, with a trembling voice, said:

—Leo… I’m sorry for what you just heard. I didn’t tell you much about myself… I really am sorry.

I looked at her in silence for a few seconds. There was sincerity in her tone, in the way she hid her face, almost as if she wished she could disappear entirely. I leaned forward a little, resting my cheek on my crossed arm over the table, and replied calmly:

—I’m not jealous, Kaori… and I’m not angry with you. But yeah, it hurt a bit hearing something like that all of a sudden, and from someone else.

She slowly moved her hands away from her face, revealing an expression full of embarrassment and sadness. Her eyes were shiny, her throat seemed tight, and her lips trembled slightly.

—I’m sorry… —she said in a choked voice—. I really wanted you to be the first one to arrive in my life like that. I didn’t want you to find out about the other thing… not like that.

It was obvious she was struggling to speak. She wanted to cry, but she held back. I took a slow breath, trying to calm my own confusion, and looked at her again, hoping to say something that would ease her feelings.

After seeing Kaori’s expression, I took a deep breath, tried to compose myself, and gently held her hands in mine. —Hey… calm down. This is our day. We’ll have time to talk about all that later, okay? —I said softly, trying to comfort her.

Carefully, I wiped the tears from her eyes. I smiled, even though I’ve always been terrible at it. Still, I wanted to show her that everything was okay. Then I hugged her gently, wrapping my arms around her as I felt her slowly calm down. Her breathing became steadier, and her trembling faded. Bit by bit, she seemed to feel a little better.

At that moment, Jini approached with a small wooden box in her hands. —Here are the materials. Take your time —she said with a kind smile, placing the items on the table before quietly stepping away to give us space.

Kaori looked at me with a slightly brighter expression and asked in a soft voice: —So, Leo, what are you going to make? A bracelet or a necklace?

I stared at the materials, thinking. With so many options, colors, beads, and threads, it was hard to choose. —Mmm… I’ll make the bracelet, Kaori —I finally replied.

She nodded with a small smile and handed me what I needed while she picked out her own materials to make a necklace. We both began working in silence, focused.

I gathered a few threads and started tying them together carefully to create the base of the bracelet. Then I began adding small beads in strong blue and mint tones. I wasn’t very creative with things like this, so I decided to draw inspiration from my mint-blue hoodie… the one that’s been with me through so many stages of this journey, even though right now it was left back at the temple. It definitely needed a wash, and it had a couple of loose stitches I needed to fix. Even so, it was special to me.

As I braided the threads, things slowly felt calm again. It was a peaceful, intimate moment… and even though there was still a lot we needed to talk about, for now, enjoying this small moment together was what mattered.

I began mixing the colors—blue, mint, and white—carefully, trying to create a combination that felt soothing to both the eyes and the body. Each bead had a tiny hole, which forced me to concentrate even more. It was meticulous work, but I did it with dedication.

I’d made good progress, and honestly, I liked how it was turning out. I paused for a moment to stretch my fingers and hands, which were starting to feel a bit tired. When I looked out the window, I noticed the day was beginning to fade; the sky was turning a soft shade of orange as the sunset approached. I stayed there for a moment, just enjoying the view.

I looked over at Kaori and saw her completely focused on her necklace. Her expression was so serene that I decided not to disturb her and returned to my bracelet. I added some final details: a small ribbon to close the design, a firm knot to hold everything in place. Not bad at all for my first handmade accessory. I felt proud.

I looked at Kaori again just as she also finished. She tied the final knot and lifted her necklace to admire it. It was beautiful: a bright green emerald shone at the center, surrounded by small beads in shades of yellow, green, and pink, mixed with others in white and sky blue. It looked balanced, harmonious, and charming.

—There, I’m done. Eee… did the sunset really come this fast? —she said, surprised to see the orange light coming through the window.

Then she looked at me with curiosity:

—How did your bracelet turn out, Leo?

Feeling a little shy, I picked up the bracelet and showed it to her. She examined it for a few seconds and smiled.

—At first glance it’s eye-catching… and looking at it makes me feel calm. It’s beautiful. Who did you base it on?

I scratched my head, embarrassed, and replied with a small laugh:

—Eee… honestly, on my hoodie. Yeah, the same one as always, hehe.

Kaori raised an eyebrow, amused.

—The hoodie you’ve been washing and stitching lately? That one? Why?

I sighed with a nostalgic smile.

—Yeah, that one. It might look like just an old, regular hoodie, but to me it’s special. It’s been with me through this new stage of my life. It’s like it carries a part of who I was… and who I’m starting to become.

Kaori stared at me for a few seconds, as if she didn’t know what to say. Then she smiled softly.

—I didn’t know that hoodie meant so much to you. If I remember correctly, you always took it to university too, right? —she said with a small laugh.

—Yeah —I said, laughing with her—. It’s always been with me.

Then, with a bit of curiosity, I added:

—And your necklace… it’s really beautiful. That emerald gives it a unique touch. Tell me, who did you base yours on?

She closed her eyes for a moment and then gave me a mysterious smile.

—It’s a secret… but I’ll tell you on the day of the ceremony.

Her answer left me intrigued. I opened my mouth to insist, but changed my mind. No point stressing about it.

—Alright… I guess I can wait —I said, though inside I was dying of curiosity.

After a while, Jini returned to the table with a warm smile and asked:

—So? How did your crafts turn out, Kaori, Leo?

Kaori was the first to answer. She picked up her necklace and showed it proudly. Jini examined it closely, then smiled with a mix of surprise and admiration.

—It’s beautiful… The colors stand out so well. It’s like summer itself is captured inside this necklace. I love it —she said with genuine enthusiasm.

She handed it back to Kaori gently, and then approached me.

—And you, Leo? Show me your bracelet.

I nodded and, a bit nervous, stretched out my hand to show her my creation. She took it between her fingers carefully, examining it closely.

—These colors complement each other perfectly. The blue with the mint gives it a unique touch. At first glance it feels calming… It’s lovely, Leo —she said with a soft look, almost as if she could see beyond the threads and beads.

After admiring it for a few seconds more, Jini smiled and said:

—I’ll be waiting for you at the counter.

Kaori and I stood up from the table and walked toward the counter. Once there, Jini positioned herself behind it and said with a kind smile:

—Please, take them with you as a keepsake, alright?

I froze for a moment. Seriously? Was she really giving them to us just like that? I didn’t know if I’d done anything to deserve it.

Kaori, just as confused as I was, responded:

—But why, Jini? I already had the money ready to pay.

Jini let out a small laugh.

—Hehehe… It’s not necessary. You see, I’ve seen many people come here to make crafts. But I’ve never felt so much affection, so much genuine emotion in handmade pieces. What you two made carries something special… as if it were woven with the most sincere feelings. My treat. Please, keep them.

Kaori and I looked at each other for a moment and then slowly nodded. There was something in Jini’s voice that made it impossible to refuse her gesture.

—Thank you, Jini —Kaori said as she walked toward her friend and gave her a tight hug.

I saw a few tears roll down Kaori’s cheeks. And she wasn’t the only one. Jini also began to cry, even though she was smiling tenderly. The scene moved me so much that I felt a knot in my throat. Yeah… I’m sentimental. So what? There are moments when you simply can’t hold it in.

Still wiping her eyes, Jini walked up to me and looked at me with unexpected seriousness.

—Please, Leo… I’m entrusting Kaori to you. Protect her. She’s special to those of us who know her. Very special.

I stayed silent, feeling the weight of her words. Then I nodded firmly.

—I will. You can count on me.

Then she hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes and returned the hug. There was nothing more that needed to be said.

That moment—simple, yet filled with sincerity—was etched into my heart.

After that emotional moment with Jini, Kaori and I bowed as a sign of respect and gratitude, and we began to leave. Just before crossing the door, Jini’s warm voice reached us:

—Come back soon!

Hearing those words sent a wave of emotion through my chest. Something inside me knew this day would stay with me forever.

We stepped out of the craft workshop and quietly walked back toward the temple. The atmosphere was perfect: the sky darkened by the night, lanterns lighting up one by one, and the distant echo of the city in the background. This day had been special—full of mystery, joy, and genuine emotion.

As we kept walking, I put on the bracelet I had made. When I saw it on my wrist, I realized how well it matched my style. It wasn’t just an accessory. It was a memory.

Kaori also put on her necklace. She stared at it for a moment, then said in a soft voice:

—Leo, we have to remember this day. It was special, unique… beautiful. Please, let’s never forget it.

I looked at her with a warm smile and answered sincerely:

—Don’t worry, Kaori. I’ll carry this day with me always. It’s a special memory for both of us.

She smiled back, and in that moment, without saying another word, we held hands and kept walking down the street.

As we moved forward, we saw some vendors beginning to open their night stalls, as they usually did at this hour. Lights, aromas, the murmur of the first people arriving… all of it was part of everyday life, but that night it felt different.

Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly. It was so clear that I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed. I tried to play it off, but Kaori burst into a sweet laugh.

—Hahaha, see? Let’s get something to eat. And I won’t accept a “no,” okay?

—Alright —I said, laughing—, but on one condition.

She stopped and looked at me curiously.

—What condition?

—This time, I’m paying. And I won’t accept a “no” either, understood?

Kaori let out an adorable laugh and nodded.

—Hahaha, fine, Leo. You’re paying. Happy?

—Very —I said with a confident nod.

So we headed to a nearby ramen stand, guided by the delicious aroma floating in the air. It was the perfect ending to a day that would be nearly impossible to top.