Monsoon Romance

The midday rush at the café was finally beginning to slow down. Haruto let out a quiet sigh of relief as he wiped down the counter, his muscles aching from the long shift. He had barely gotten five hours of sleep the night before, juggling school, cram classes, and his part-time job. But he had no complaints—he had made this choice himself.

Still, exhaustion clung to him like a heavy weight.

Just as he was about to step into the backroom for a short break, the familiar sound of the entrance bell rang.

"Welcome—" Haruto began automatically, but his words faltered when he saw Aiko standing at the doorway, holding a small bento box wrapped in a checkered cloth.

Aiko grinned and walked over. "Haruto, it's your break time, right?"

Haruto blinked in surprise. "Uh… yeah, it is."

She held up the bento. "I made lunch for you."

For a moment, Haruto just stared at her. He had been so busy that he hadn't even thought about eating properly. Most days, he just grabbed a quick snack from the convenience store or ate whatever was left in the café's kitchen. Seeing Aiko standing there with something she had made just for him made his heart tighten in a way he couldn't quite describe.

"You didn't have to do this," he said softly.

"I wanted to," she replied, tilting her head. "Now come on, let's eat."

Haruto hesitated, glancing at the manager. Seeing his expression, the older man simply waved him off. "Go on, kid. Take your break before you pass out on me."

Haruto chuckled sheepishly before turning back to Aiko. "Alright, let's go."

They sat outside on a wooden bench near the café. Aiko carefully unwrapped the bento and handed him a pair of chopsticks.

Haruto opened the lid, his eyes widening at the sight. The box was filled with neatly arranged rice, tamagoyaki, grilled fish, and a small portion of vegetables. Everything looked fresh and perfectly cooked.

"You really made this?" he asked, impressed.

Aiko pouted. "Of course I did! You sound so surprised."

Haruto chuckled. "I'm just amazed. It looks like something from a restaurant."

Aiko's cheeks tinted pink, but she quickly waved off the compliment. "Just eat before it gets cold."

Haruto didn't need to be told twice. He picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and took a bite. Immediately, a warm, familiar sweetness spread across his tongue.

"This is… really good," he said, eyes widening.

Aiko smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

As he ate, Aiko watched him carefully. She could see the exhaustion in his face, the dark circles under his eyes, the way his shoulders sagged slightly even as he tried to sit up straight.

"Haruto," she said gently, "are you sure you're not overworking yourself?"

He paused for a moment before setting his chopsticks down with a sigh. "Maybe a little. But I have to do this, Aiko. I need to save up for university."

Aiko bit her lip. "I know that. And I admire how hard you're working. But I don't want you to push yourself to the point of breaking."

Haruto looked at her, his expression softening. "I'll be okay. I have you looking out for me, after all."

Aiko sighed but smiled nonetheless. "That's right. And don't forget it."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the soft breeze rustling the leaves above them.

As Haruto finished the meal, he let out a satisfied sigh. "That was amazing. Thank you, Aiko."

Aiko grinned. "Anytime."

As he handed the empty bento back to her, their fingers brushed slightly. It was such a small thing, but it made Aiko's heart skip a beat.

Haruto smiled at her, and for that moment, all the stress and exhaustion faded into the background.

No matter how hard things got, he knew he wasn't alone.