Morning crept in like mist through the windows—soft, pale, reluctant.
Shoya sat at his desk, chin in hand, watching the students come in and go out. His sketchbook lay open in front of him. He hadn't drawn anything new yet. Just the same unfinished line from last night.
The walk with Naomi lingered in his mind like a scent on clothing.
Her voice. That half-smile. The way she'd handed him her phone with such quiet grace, like it was no big deal.
> "You don't have to be shy."
He turned the page.
This time, he sketched the way her sleeves covered her hands.
He was halfway through when Taka slung an arm around his shoulder.
❝Duuude,❞ Taka said, peering over the edge of the book.
Shoya flinched a little. ❝It's… nothing.❞
❝Nothing's always something with you,❞ Ken chimed in, spinning a pen between his fingers as he leaned back on the desk beside them.
Taka squinted. ❝Wait. Is this… a girl's hand? Yo—Shoya—is this your new friend?!❞
Shoya closed the book instantly. ❝It's not like that.❞
Taka raised an eyebrow. Ken just grinned, stretching. ❝Man, you're weird.❞
Then, from the other end of the classroom, a soft voice:
❝Hey, Taka—did you forget we were presenting today?❞
Asuna approached with her hair in a half-tied bun, holding a folder close to her chest. She looked between Taka and Shoya, then gave a small wave to Ken.
Taka straightened up, embarrassed. ❝Wait, that was today?!❞
❝You said you'd write the intro,❞ Asuna sighed.
❝I did! ...Kind of! It's in my bag somewhere—"
Asuna turned to Shoya, lowering her voice. ❝ You look... quieter than usual.❞
Shoya nodded, ❝Just thinking.❞
She smiled faintly. ❝That's allowed.❞
As the group scattered to prep their class project, Shoya noticed a tall woman pass by the open door—Prof. Amari Yui, the literature teacher.
She paused for a second outside the class, eyes flicking briefly toward him, as if noticing something—but said nothing. Her soft heels faded down the hall.
Shoya tilted his head slightly.
That look.
It wasn't accidental.
---
Class began. The rhythm of voices, papers shuffling, the faint scratch of chalk across the board.
But Shoya's attention drifted again. Naomi sat two rows over, earbuds in, scribbling notes in her margin-heavy notebook. She hadn't looked at him once.
Still, that sense of something shared from last night hadn't faded. It was still there, like a thread tugging gently from across the space.
At break, Taka grabbed a bottle of melon soda from the vending machine and flopped down beside Shoya.
❝Soo you walked her home hehe~.❞
❝It wasn't like that,❞ Shoya muttered again.
Ken sat across from them, legs crossed on the bench. ❝ I can feel something might happen,hehe ~.❞
Ken just shrugged. ❝Just saying. Things don't stay quiet forever.❞
From above them, a sharp clack of heels echoed again.
Amari Yui stood at the corner of the building, speaking softly with a man Shoya didn't recognize—possibly from administration. She glanced over her shoulder once, locking eyes briefly with Shoya again.
There was something there.
The afternoon sun filtered weakly through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the empty classroom. The lesson had ended, but Shoya stayed behind, resting his chin on his folded arms, the soft scratch of pencil on paper barely audible.
He wasn't really drawing. His sketchbook was open, but the page held only a few tentative lines—half-caught shapes that refused to become whole.
From the doorway, a quiet voice.
"Hey," Naomi said, stepping inside, her shoes making a soft tap on the polished floor.
Shoya looked up, surprised but not unsettled.
"Mind if I sit?" she asked, already moving toward the desk next to his.
He shook his head. "No, not at all."
She settled in, pulling her cardigan sleeves down over her hands, eyes flicking to his sketchbook.
"You still working on that?" she asked softly.
He shrugged. "Sort of. Just… trying to hold onto something."
Naomi smiled faintly. "Yeah, I get that."
There was a pause—a moment full of words neither needed to say.
Shoya glanced at her, then spoke carefully. "I keep thinking about what you said… about Kaori. That she wasn't really gone."
Naomi's eyes softened. "Do you think it's strange?"
He nodded slowly. "Do you… think she's still here? Somehow?"
She looked out the window for a second, then back. "Maybe. Not here in person, but… in the things she left behind. In the way the garden feels different when I'm near it. Like it remembers."
Shoya smiled a little.
Then Naomi looked down at her hands, the sleeves covering her fingers.
Shoya found himself wanting to reach out, but he didn't. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to get some coffee later? There's this small place near campus—quiet."
Naomi blinked, surprised, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Just as Shoya felt the warmth of that moment, footsteps echoed softly from the hall.
Taka appeared in the doorway, grinning. "Hey, —saving seats for us ?"
Ken followed, carrying a backpack slung casually over one shoulder.
Before Taka could say more, a sharp, measured voice floated from the hallway.
"Shoya."
They all turned toward the door.
Prof. Amari Yui stood there, her eyes calm but unreadable.
"I wanted to remind you—the paper is due next week," she said softly, stepping inside.
Shoya nodded, suddenly aware of the quiet intensity in her gaze.
She gave a small, almost imperceptible smile before turning and leaving.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Shoya felt something shift—
---
After class, the school courtyard buzzed softly—students lingering in pairs, the clink of vending machines, fading footsteps. The usual rhythm.
Shoya stood by the far bench near the hedge wall, sketchbook tucked under his arm, unsure whether to wait for Naomi… or pretend he wasn't.
He didn't have to wonder long.
Naomi emerged from the hallway, walking alone, notebook hugged loosely against her chest. When she spotted him, she didn't wave. Just approached and stood beside him, close but not too close.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey," he echoed.
"You still want to go?" she asked, not looking at him.
He nodded. "Yeah,if you ok with it!"
Before either of them moved, another voice cut through:
"Asuna!"
Both turned. Asuna was jogging across the stone path toward them, her bag bouncing against her hip.
Naomi stepped back slightly, unsure. Asuna stopped beside her, brushing hair from her face.
"I… wanted to say thanks," Asuna said, looking at Naomi. "During the group thing earlier—you helped with the slides. I didn't say it then."
Naomi blinked. "Oh. It was nothing."
Asuna smiled, genuine but a little awkward,
Asuna: "Still. You made it clearer. I get nervous when I present."
Naomi gave a small smile. "I wouldn't have guessed."
"You're going somewhere?" Asuna asked, glancing between them.
Naomi nodded, slow. "Just… coffee."
Shoya added, "There's this quiet place. Near the bookstore."
Asuna didn't pry. "Cool. I go there sometimes. The iced hojicha's good."
Naomi tilted her head. "Noted."
Asuna shifted her bag, gave Naomi a tiny nod, then smiled at Shoya. "See you in lit, then."
And she was gone—just like that.
Naomi watched her leave.
They walked down the stone path together, not saying much. Just the soft rhythm of their steps.
Halfway down the slope, they heard voices behind them.
"Yo! Shoya!" Taka's voice, followed by hurried steps. Ken was with him, walking a little behind, expression unreadable.
Taka caught up, grinning but not pushing. "Just saw you two. Where are you going?."
Shoya sighed. "Just a coffee ."
Ken gave a small wave to Naomi, polite. "Afternoon."
She nodded back.
Taka: " ah ok me and ken going to the other store we may catch you later, see ya"
As they walked away, Ken glanced back once—not at Naomi, but at Shoya. Just a look. Then gone.
Naomi looked at Shoya. "They are completely different from you."
He exhaled, a laugh escaping him. "They're okay. In their own way."
—
The café near the old bookstore was tucked behind a low wall of ivy and scattered wind chimes, the kind of place you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it.
Naomi hadn't said anything when they entered—just looked around once, nodded, and chose a table near the window.
Shoya followed quietly.
The place smelled like roasted beans and faint cinnamon.
Quiet jazz played overhead, barely audible. Most of the other tables were empty. A couple students sat hunched over notebooks in the back.
They ordered drinks—iced matcha for her, black coffee for him—and sat in a silence that didn't need to be filled.
Naomi stirred her straw slowly. "...I don't come to places like this much."
Shoya nodded. "Me neither. But if i go i come here"
Naomi: "Feels like a peaceful place."
Naomi kept her gaze on the condensation sliding down her cup. "Not really. There were places I used to go with Kaori, but… I stopped after."
Shoya opened his sketchbook slowly, flipping past pages—some full, some barely touched. "I try to make safe places. In here, I mean."
Naomi leaned slightly, peering at one page. It was a rooftop.
The angle was off, the perspective a bit warped, but the lines were heavy—deliberate.
Naomi: "This is the east roof, isn't it?"
Shoya blinked. "Yeah."
He tilted the page so she could see better. "I've never gone up."
She didn't say anything right away. Then: "Maybe you should."
He looked up. Her expression was calm,
Outside the window, a cat leapt onto the café's low wall and stared inside with bored yellow eyes.
Shoya sipped his coffee. It was too bitter. He didn't mind.
They sat with that for a while.
Then, as if remembering something, Shoya asked: "You and Asuna… ?"
Naomi looked at him. "We're not friends, if that's what you mean."
Shoya: "I didn't mean—"
Naomi: "But I don't dislike her," Naomi added.
Shoya thought of Asuna, nervous during presentations but steady when it counted. He nodded. "She's like that."
Naomi tapped her cup absently. "So… are you always this quiet?"
Shoya tilted his head. "I could ask you the same."
Naomi gave a small shrug. "I guess… quiet finds quiet."
He looked at her—noticing how the light from the window edged her hair in gold, how her sleeves still covered her hands.
"I'm glad we talked," he said suddenly.
She blinked.
Then smiled.
The afternoon sun dipped lower, casting a honeyed glow on the streets outside the café. Shoya and Naomi stepped out together, their footsteps soft on the worn pavement.
Ahead, Taka and Ken waited by a small food cart, chatting about the latest lecture — something about historical context and narrative styles. Their voices carried the easy rhythm of familiarity.
"Hey, you two," Taka called out with a grin as they approached.
Ken nodded,
Naomi glanced between them, then smiled faintly. "Hi."
"Hey," Shoya said,.
Asuna appeared suddenly, weaving through the crowd with a bright smile. "Sorry, I'm late!"
Naomi's eyes lifted, surprise mixing with warmth. "Hey."
They fell into step together, the group forming a casual cluster on the street.
"So," Asuna said, looking at Naomi with genuine curiosity, "where do you live? Is it far from here?"
Naomi hesitated, then answered simply, "Not too far. With my grandmother."
"That's nice," Asuna said softly. "I live in the dorm, but sometimes it gets lonely."
Taka nodded. "The lectures today were rough, huh? Professor Yamashita really went deep on symbolism."
Ken added, "Yeah, I think I missed a few points. Need to reread the texts."
Asuna suddenly pulled out her phone. "Hey, Naomi, can I get your number? We should text—maybe study together sometime?"
Naomi blinked but nodded. "Okay."
Asuna quickly tapped the contact in. "And I'm adding you to our group chat, so you don't have to worry about missing anything."
Naomi smiled softly (surprised with Asuna's friendly approach)
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted.
" everyone."
Professor Amari Yui approached from the café entrance, carrying a folder. Her gaze flicked briefly over the group before resting on Shoya.
"Mind a young lady to join you?."
Asuna smiled " What brings you here professor?"
Amari: " just grabbed a coffee i have to work overtime again , then i saw you guys and wanted to say hi… guess im not that welcomed i take my leave then"
Shoya: " nah we really are ok with you being here it's ok pardon us"
Amari walking slowly away spwith a smiley face: " i know i know i was just joking, take care it was nice seeing you"
The group fell silent for a moment before Taka grinned, breaking the mood.
"Guess that's our cue to get back to the grind."
Ken stretched. "Yeah. Shoya, you coming to the library later?"
Shoya nodded. "I'll be there."
Asuna glanced at Naomi. "Hey, want to check out that new clothes shop near the station? I've heard it's really cute."
Naomi hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Not really sure."
Asuna grabbed her hands and said " come on come on lets get away from these bugs , and have our girly time"
The two girls slipped away, chatting softly as they walked.
The three boys lingered behind, leaning against a low fence.
Taka nudged Shoya playfully. "So, mister finally opening up?"
Ken laughed quietly. "Yeah, we gotta see if you survive now."
Shoya smirked, shaking his head. "You two are impossible, and as i said it's not what you think"
They all laughed, the easy teasing wrapping around them like a familiar blanket.
---
Later that night, Shoya's phone buzzed softly in the dim light of his room.
An unknown number.
A message appeared:
"Shadows still have the details you haven't noticed ."
His breath caught.
The screen blurred as his mind raced.
To be continued in chapter 9
---