Aira and the Magic of Honey Lemon Soda 🍋✨

A refreshing story of friendship, childhood memories, and a little schoolyard drama.

A Calm Courtyard Morning

Aira stood in the school courtyard, smiling at the sky. The sun was warm. The wind was light. Cherry trees swayed slowly, dropping petals onto the tiles.

Students walked by, chatting about exams, weekend plans, and snack sales. But Aira wasn’t thinking about any of that. She was thinking about only one thing—her favorite drink.

Shirakawa High had a small café stand near the courtyard gate. It was tiny but very popular. Students lined up every morning and afternoon. The drinks were cheap, cold, and tasty. But one drink was special to Aira: Honey Lemon Soda. Sweet, fizzy, and fresh, it made her heart feel light and her days feel bright. Even bad days seemed better when she drank it.

Friends Who Tease (and Understand)

Her best friend, Yumi, always teased her about it.

“Aira, you love that soda too much,” Yumi said one day while walking beside her.

“No, I just love it the perfect amount,” Aira replied, sipping happily.

Yumi laughed. “There is no perfect amount. You drink it like you need it to live.”

“Maybe I do,” Aira joked.

Aira often spoke about the drink as if it were a person, but no one knew the real reason she loved it so much. Not Yumi, not her other close friend, Sora. They just thought she liked the taste. But the truth ran deeper. Honey Lemon Soda reminded her of someone important: Ren Kurose.

Childhood Memories with Ren

Ren was Aira’s childhood friend. They had grown up together; their houses were close, and their families knew each other.

When Aira was small, Ren always shared his snacks with her. When she fell, he gave her band-aids. When she cried over small problems, he sat beside her until she felt better.

When Aira first tried Honey Lemon Soda at age thirteen, Ren had bought it for her. He placed the straw in and said,

“Drink, idiot, you look tired.”

She remembered that moment perfectly. Every time she drank Honey Lemon Soda now, she felt that same warmth again. Safe and happy.

A Surprise from Ren

And speaking of warm feelings, Ren was walking into the courtyard holding two cups.

“Oi, Aira!” Ren called, waving the soda cups.

Aira spun around, her ponytail bouncing.

“Ren!”

He handed her a cup.

“For you.”

She smiled, her cheeks tinged pink.

“Thank you.”

Yumi peeked over, leaning forward.

“Ren, you’re feeding her addiction again.”

“It’s not addiction,” Ren replied.

“Yes, it is!” Yumi laughed.

Aira raised her cup proudly.

“This is love.”

“You say scary things sometimes,” Ren muttered.

“No, I say honest things,” she giggled.

The Soda Trick

They sat on the stone bench near the fountain. Small green bushes lined the area. The water bubbled quietly, reflecting sunlight. The courtyard always felt calm, but today it felt calmer than usual, like even the school knew something nice was happening.

Then Ren did something Aira never expected. He stood up, removed the lid of his soda, and slowly poured the golden drink into her palms.

“What are you doing?!” Aira gasped, but didn’t pull her hands back.

“You look like you want to catch happy things with your hands. So I’m helping,” Ren said.

The cold drink flowed carefully into her cupped palms. It tickled her skin. Bubbles popped softly against her hands. She looked at it like it was gold. Then she burst into laughter.

“It’s cold! And fizzy!”

Ren stared at her laughing face, then smiled briefly.

“Told you.”

Nearby students began to look. Some giggled, some pointed. A few raised their phones, smiling at the playful moment.

Aira brought her palms to her lips and drank from them like a bird sipping water. She laughed again, almost spilling the drink.

“This is the best day ever!”

“It’s literally soda in your hands,” Ren said.

“Yes, but it’s soda in my hands! That’s different!” she replied.

“You’re weird,” he said, still smiling.

Aira wiped her hands with her handkerchief. She still kept laughing. Ren gave her the rest of his drink in the normal way, and she accepted it gently.

Deep Thoughts Over Soda

Aira asked,

“Ren, do you ever feel like a drink can change your life?”

Ren blinked.

“I don’t think a normal person thinks that deeply about soda.”

“I’m asking seriously.”

Ren thought for a moment.

“Maybe. If the drink has a memory with someone important.”

Aira froze.

“…oh.”

“…why? Did I say something correct?”

She shook her head quickly.

“No. Just… thinking.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“You’re thinking scary things again.”

Trouble in the Courtyard

Affectionate moments rarely stay calm for long. On that peaceful Monday, life was about to shake the courtyard like a snow globe.

From behind the café stand, Daigo Mirai watched.

Daigo was a third-year student. Once a top boy in school—smart, athletic, and popular—he had lost confidence when his family’s business ran into trouble. Friends drifted away, not out of hate, but because teenagers feared heavy problems.

Inside his quiet demeanor, anger grew. He liked Aira, and seeing her laugh while Ren poured soda into her hands crushed something inside him.

“That should be me,” Daigo whispered.

His plan wasn’t dangerous, just mischievous. He wanted to ruin smiles, not lives.

The Soda Sabotage

Tuesday came. The courtyard felt normal again.

Students lined up for the new café promotion. Aira bought only one cup. She poked the straw in and walked toward Ren.

“Ren, try it! New stock!”

“No thanks. I still taste betrayal from yesterday,” he joked.

“Oh come on. One sip,” she insisted.

Ren sighed and sipped. His face turned sour.

“Nope.”

Aira froze, then sipped her own.

“Eww!”

Students around them reacted—one gagged, another shouted, “WHY DOES IT TASTE LIKE A FAILED LEMON EXPERIMENT?!”

“The soda is cursed!” Aira exclaimed dramatically.

“Okay drama queen, calm down,” Sora said.

“It IS cursed!” Aira insisted.

“It’s not cursed. Someone sabotaged it,” Yumi added.

Ren nodded.

“Bingo. We investigate.”

Confronting the Culprit

They found Daigo near the fountain later that afternoon.

“You’re fast,” he said.

“You sabotaged the soda,” Ren said.

Daigo looked at Aira.

“It should’ve been me.”

“What should?” she asked.

“Confession,” he said simply.

Aira nodded gently.

“You admired me but didn’t speak. That hurts, but it’s not a crime. My affection is Ren.”

Ren’s eyes widened.

“WHAAAT?!”

“Then arc ends,” Daigo said.

“No. Arc heals,” Aira corrected.

Ms. Chisaka, the café owner, appeared with a fresh Honey Lemon Soda.

“Blessed stock. No concentrate. Safe flavor.”

She handed it to Aira. Aira handed it to Daigo.

“For me?” he asked.

“For you. Because sunshine is better held than resented,” Aira said.

Daigo sipped carefully.

“Not cursed.”

“Not cursed,” she confirmed with a smile.

A Sweet Ending

Sunset fell over the courtyard, lights glowing softly golden.

Aira and Ren sat by the fountain, sipping soda properly.

“…why did you yell earlier?” she asked.

“You confessed affection into my face!” he protested.

“And?”

“I need to say it back properly. I like you. A lot.”

“That’s still not love,” she teased softly.

Ren sighed.

“I love you.”

Aira blinked twice and smiled into her cup.

“Short sentence, big heart.”

“So?”

“So… I love you too,” she said with a warm smile.