Under the clear sky before the rainy season, the train swept past the lingering cherry blossoms. The hot coffee bought from the convenience store hadn't cooled down yet, and the Golden Week crowds were already surging.
"Good morning, you two."
"Morning, Ajitani-chan."
"Morning."
"Just get through these two days, and then it's holiday time." Ajitani hung up her school bag, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "Shouko-chan, have you thought about where you want to go this weekend?"
"No…" Shouko shook her head. "Probably just drawing illustrations at home."
Tsuna listened to them chat about daily life and gossip for a while, then, unable to resist his sleepiness, told Shouko next to him that he was going to sleep. Not long after, he found himself playing chess with the Magnus in his dreams.
Last night, under Fūno Jun's persistent persuasion, he had checked the second volume of Anohana until past three in the morning before finally going to sleep. Only after repeatedly confirming there were no issues did he send it to her.
"It seems today is the day that the light novel The Flower We Saw That Day is released in bookstores."
"Mhm, Futaba Publishing's announcement the day before yesterday said it would be today."
"What's wrong? Are you planning to go to the bookstore today to buy it?"
Shouko's gaze returned from the sleeping person, and she and Ajitani looked at the small group of girls chatting not far away.
"No." The girl with short red hair and a shawl shook her head. "I plan to observe it a bit longer."
"I'm the same as Akane." The girl with straight pink hair nodded quickly, her voice wavering. "And I heard that the announced book is by a new author, so it doesn't feel very reliable."
"Indeed, he's a newcomer. I've searched online and haven't seen any other works by him. This should be his debut."
The girl with high pigtails and yellow hair slid her finger across her phone screen, agreeing.
"Judging by the cover, it seems like a healing romance type." The blue-haired girl propped her face with one hand, speaking weakly. "I wonder if the Literature Club will buy it today…"
"Ran, you don't need to think about it. Didn't the Art Club leader say before? Even if they buy it, they'll only buy two or three copies." Kaori shrugged. "Even if we want to borrow it, who knows how long we'll have to wait?"
"…"
"How about we all chip in and buy one to read…?" Akane suggested.
Her suggestion was met with nods of agreement from the other three.
"Kaori, lend me some money."
"You haven't paid back what you borrowed from me last time…"
Regarding this new book announced by Futaba Publishing, students in the classroom interested in novels were discussing it, but only a few actually wanted to buy it.
On one hand was the price, and on the other, it was a new book by a new author, raising concerns about its reliability. There was fear that if the first volume didn't sell well, the second volume might be canceled.
The morning class meeting had just ended, and the sound of chalk tapping the blackboard mixed with sunlight filtering through the curtain gaps, echoing throughout the morning.
Before the school bell finished ringing, the aluminum cans of drinks in the vending machine had already piled up to the three o'clock mark when Tsuna looked up.
"Tsuna, Ajitani-chan and I are going to the Art Club first."
"Okay, I'll wait for you at our usual spot after school."
"Mhm." Shouko waved at him, then turned and left with Ajitani, who was waiting at the door.
"Miyamura, see you tomorrow."
"Bye-bye."
"Mhm, see you tomorrow." After seeing Takagi and the others leave the classroom, Tsuna stretched and then continued to pack his school bag.
Urged by the student on duty, he quickly left the classroom through the back door, his gaze sweeping over the track and field club members gathered under the cherry blossom tree on the sports field.
For a moment, he wondered if he should also sign up for a club, but that thought was immediately squashed.
He might as well go back and exercise instead. With the start of school, he also began planning to incorporate some exercise routines.
Crunches, reverse crunches, planks, and other basic beginner movements—these were all done while keeping it a secret from Shouko.
Usually, when she went to her club, he would ride his bike home to train for an hour and a half, with the remaining half hour for showering and picking her up.
He had wanted to start training in junior high, but it had been delayed until now due to some issues.
Additionally, the weather had only recently started to get warmer, swimming lessons hadn't begun yet, and his physique wasn't very defined, so Shouko hadn't noticed anything.
He had planned to give her a surprise then.
Hmm… give her a surprise during swimming class…
Shaking off those jumbled thoughts, Tsuna put on his helmet and slowly started his motorcycle, heading straight down the wide road under the gaze of pedestrians.
"Shouko-chan, after school, can you temporarily abandon your Tsuna and come with me to the bookstore to buy a book…?"
Ajitani skillfully pleaded with Shouko, who was drawing illustrations beside her.
Seeing her unmoved, she intensified her plea. "Please, please?"
"Ajitani-chan, I already said I'd give you a copy. Why do you still want to spend that money?" Shouko saved her unfinished illustration and asked, puzzled.
"This is different, okay?"
"How is it different?" Shouko was even more confused.
"This is your and Miyamura's debut work, so of course I have to support it, okay?" Ajitani pinched the soft cheeks of the girl in front of her. "If it's the second book and you want to give it to me, I definitely won't refuse!"
Looking at her righteous expression, Shouko didn't know what to say for a moment. Seeing her like that, any persuasion would be useless.
At the same time, Shouko secretly made up her mind that next time the three of them went out, she would have to treat them more often…
"Oh, right, isn't Miyagi Yuki also going to buy it? Should we ask her to come along?" Ajitani released Shouko's face and raised her index finger, suggesting.
As for why Takagi Sana and Nishikata weren't called, it was because Tsuna's new book was released today, and school ended at three o'clock. They both used this as an excuse to leave early.
Both of them wanted to go to the bookstore early to buy the book and see what kind of healing series Shouko described and Tsuna wrote.
"No need." At this moment, Miyagi Yuki's emotionless voice sounded behind them. "I've already bought it."
"??"
Ajitani turned around and saw her holding the book titled The Flower We Saw That Day.
The book cover was in a minimalist style, with only the male and female leads looking at each other across space.
"Didn't school just end??" Ajitani was surprised. Yuki, how did you buy it so fast!?"
"I had something to do this morning and took leave. When I came back in the afternoon, I bought it along the way."
Yuki waved her hand to explain, then looked at Shouko, pointed to the book's cover, and asked in confusion:
"Shouko, why is the female lead a loli and the male lead a young man?"
Between 'boy' and 'young man,' she hesitated, but seeing that the female lead was still a loli, she instantly chose to describe him as a young man.
"Hmm…"
Shouko heard this and thought of the book's ending, her heart tightening a little, feeling a bit sad. After all, she had read this book many times.
"Yuki, this involves spoilers, so you should explore it yourself."
She only hoped that Yuki wouldn't strangle her or demand a refund then…