(Naji's POV)
The final bell rang, and the classroom emptied in its usual rush of footsteps and chatter. Shizuka stayed behind, her head lowered over a pile of extra work the teacher had given her. I waved a little as I left, but she didn't seem to notice.
On my way home, I decided to take the back path near the school garden. The air was soft, carrying that faint smell of chalk dust and spring leaves. That's when—
thud!
Someone bumped into me hard enough to make my bag slip.
"Ah—sorry, I wasn't looking!" I said quickly.
But when I turned, it was Shizuka. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me.
"Sorry, Naji-kun!" she said, almost breathless.
I smiled awkwardly. "It's okay. I guess we're both bad at watching where we're going."
For a second, she didn't move. She just stared at me, as if trying to find the right words. Then her lips parted slightly.
"Naji-kun… I wanted to say something."
Her tone was quieter than usual. It felt… heavier.
"Yeah?" I asked, tilting my head a little.
Before she could speak—
"Ah! Naji-kun!" Akari's voice cut through the quiet air.
Shizuka froze, her courage fading like mist. Akari ran up to us, holding her bag against her chest and smiling as if she hadn't noticed what she interrupted.
"Oh, you're both here! Let's walk home together," she said cheerfully.
Shizuka forced a smile. "Y-yeah… sure."
The three of us walked together, the sound of our shoes mixing with the fading noise of the city. Akari and I talked about some random school things, while Shizuka walked a little behind, silent.
When my house finally came into view, I turned to them.
"Guess this is where I stop," I said. "See you both tomorrow."
Akari waved. "Bye, Naji-kun!"
Shizuka smiled faintly. "See you…"
And then I left—never noticing how both their smiles faded as soon as I turned away.
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Shizuka's Thoughts
As she walked on, Shizuka bit her lip lightly.
"Why did she have to come right then…" she muttered under her breath.
Her chest felt tight, not with anger, but something heavier.
"I was finally ready to say it… to tell him how I feel," she thought. "But tomorrow… I'll tell him tomorrow."
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Akari's Thoughts
A few steps ahead, Akari's eyes were fixed forward, her face calm—but her thoughts weren't.
"I thought today would be my chance to confess," she sighed inwardly. "But that girl was there again… always next to him."
Her grip on her bag tightened. "No matter what… I'll say it first. Tomorrow."
---
And so, under the fading sunset, both hearts whispered the same promise—
'I'll tell him tomorrow.'
But tomorrow… can sometimes be very far away.
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