Monsoon Romance

 The next day at school, the rain from the previous evening had left the air fresh and cool, the scent of wet earth lingering in the breeze. Haruto sat in his usual spot near the window, the sunlight filtering through the glass, casting a soft glow on the wooden desk. He gazed outside, watching the cherry blossoms sway gently in the wind, their delicate petals dancing in the air.

"Haruto!"

Aiko's cheerful voice snapped him out of his daydream. She stood by his desk, her sketchbook clutched tightly to her chest. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, tilting her head with curiosity.

"Nothing much," Haruto replied with a small smile. "Just enjoying the view."

Aiko followed his gaze to the cherry blossoms. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" she said softly.

Before Haruto could respond, their homeroom teacher entered the classroom. "Class, today we'll have a short recess after our morning lessons," the teacher announced. "Use it to relax and enjoy the fresh air."

The students murmured in excitement, already making plans for the break.

When recess arrived, Aiko grabbed Haruto's hand. "Come on, let's go outside!" she said, pulling him towards the schoolyard.

The schoolyard was alive with the chatter and laughter of students. Some were playing tag, others were sitting in small groups under the trees. Aiko led Haruto to a quiet corner near the playground, where the wind was just right.

"Look what I brought!" Aiko said, opening her sketchbook. Tucked between the pages were a few sheets of blank paper.

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Paper?"

"Not just paper," Aiko replied with a grin. "We're going to make paper planes!"

Haruto watched as she carefully folded one of the sheets, her fingers moving with practiced precision. She folded the corners, creased the edges, and soon a sleek paper plane took shape.

"See? It's easy!" Aiko said, holding up the finished plane.

Haruto took a sheet of paper from her and began folding his own plane, mimicking her movements. His fingers were less nimble, and his creases weren't as sharp, but he managed to create a plane that looked decent enough.

"Not bad for a first try," Aiko said, inspecting his work.

Haruto gave her a playful smirk. "Let's see whose plane flies farther."

They lined up side by side, each holding their paper plane, ready for the launch.

"On the count of three," Aiko said. "One… two… three!"

They released their planes simultaneously. Aiko's plane soared gracefully through the air, gliding with ease before landing softly near the edge of the playground. Haruto's plane, on the other hand, flew in a wild arc and crashed into a nearby tree.

Aiko burst into laughter. "I think your plane needs some practice!"

Haruto chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I'm not as good at this as you are."

"Don't worry," Aiko said, patting his shoulder. "I'll teach you the secret."

They sat down under a cherry blossom tree, and Aiko began to demonstrate how to fold a more balanced plane. She showed Haruto how to make precise folds, how to adjust the wings for better stability, and how to throw it with the right amount of force.

As they worked, a gentle breeze rustled the blossoms above them, causing a few petals to fall onto their laps.

"Like this?" Haruto asked, holding up his newly folded plane.

Aiko inspected it carefully. "Perfect!" she said with a nod. "Now, let's try again."

This time, when they launched their planes, both soared high and far, gliding gracefully through the air. Haruto's plane even flew farther than Aiko's, landing near the school gate.

"Wow, Haruto! You did it!" Aiko cheered, clapping her hands.

Haruto smiled, a sense of accomplishment warming his heart. "Thanks to your teaching."

They spent the rest of the recess making more planes, each one better than the last. They experimented with different designs, tested various flight techniques, and laughed at their failed attempts.

As the recess came to an end, Aiko gathered the planes and stacked them neatly in her sketchbook.

"Let's do this again sometime," she said, her eyes shining with excitement.

Haruto nodded. "Definitely."

As they walked back to the classroom, Haruto glanced at Aiko. She was still smiling, her joy infectious. He realized that it wasn't just about paper planes—it was about the moments they shared, the simple joys that brought them closer.

And as they returned to their seats, Haruto found himself looking forward to the next recess, the next paper plane, and the next adventure with Aiko.