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The evening sun cast a golden glow over the city, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The clock tower loomed over the streets, its hands frozen in time as the last traces of daylight stretched across the horizon.
Aoko stood in front of the entrance, her gaze distant, eyes clouded with sorrow. Her fingers curled around the hem of her dress, heart aching as she waited.
A small tug on her sleeve pulled her out of her reverie. She turned to see a little boy, no older than six or seven, staring up at her with wide, curious blue eyes.
"Why are you standing here looking so sad?" he asked, his voice sounded so curious yet filled with concern.
Aoko bent down to his height, offering a small, melancholic smile. "I'm just waiting for my dad."
The boy observed her for a moment before reaching into the air with a flick of his hand. In an instant, a delicate blue rose appeared between his fingers, seemingly out of nowhere. "Here," he said, extending it toward her. "I'm Kuroba Kaito. Nice to meet you!"
Aoko blinked in surprise before accepting the rose, warmth seeping into her chest. "Thank you," she replied, her lips curling into a genuine smile. "I'm Aoko, Nakamori Aoko. Nice to meet you too."
Kaito’s cheeks flushed red at her radiant expression. "What are you doing here?" Aoko asked, tilting her head.
"Waiting for someone," Kaito admitted with a small shrug.
With nothing but time on their hands, the two engaged in playful antics, Kaito impressing Aoko with his small yet impressive magic tricks. Despite her age, Aoko found herself captivated by his illusions, laughing and clapping as he continued to amaze her.
As the sun dipped lower, a sleek black car pulled up nearby, its headlights flickering to life as the sky deepened into twilight. Aoko turned to see a tall man stepping out of the driver’s seat, his silhouette strikingly familiar. Following closely behind him was a graceful woman with warm eyes.
"Kaito!" The woman called out, her voice gentle but firm.
Kaito turned, his face lighting up as he ran toward his parents. Aoko watched as the man, now clearly visible under the fading sunlight, knelt down and ruffled Kaito’s hair with a proud chuckle. "Did you have fun causing trouble, Kaito?"
Kaito pouted. "I wasn’t causing trouble, Dad! I was making a friend!" He pointed back at Aoko, who suddenly felt self-conscious under their gazes.
Kaito’s mother stepped forward, her kind eyes settling on Aoko. "Thank you for keeping our little magician company," she said with a warm smile.
Embarrassed, Aoko shook her head. "It was thanks to him that I wasn’t alone while waiting for my father," she admitted, glancing at Kaito with a sweet smile.
The woman chuckled. "Kaito has a habit of finding people who need a little magic in their lives." She reached out and gently fixed Kaito’s slightly disheveled collar. "Come on, dear, let’s head home."
Kaito hesitated for a moment before turning back to Aoko. His small fingers curled into fists at his sides before he quickly waved. "Bye, Aoko!"
Aoko waved back, watching as he climbed into the car.
Just before the door closed, Kaito’s father gave Aoko a knowing look, something unreadable flickering in his gaze. Then, with a tip of his hat, he followed his son inside, and the car smoothly drove off, disappearing into the twilight.
With their final goodbyes exchanged, Aoko held the blue rose close to her chest, smiling softly as the last rays of the sun bathed the city in gold.