Arashi returned home and quietly made his way inside.
After a short while, Ayane came over and sat down beside him on the couch. She seemed a little uneasy, her movements hesitant. Arashi noticed it immediately.
He turned his head slightly toward her.
"What happened?" he asked.
Ayane lowered her gaze.
"I don't really understand what I should participate in," she said honestly."I'm not especially good at anything."
For a moment, Arashi stayed silent.
Then—something clicked in his mind.
"Oh," he said softly, as if realizing something important."You don't actually have to participate in the activities inside the class."
Ayane looked up at him, surprised.
"You don't?" she asked.
Arashi shook his head.
"There are other options," he explained."Like… you girls can do things inside the classroom. You can make something and sell it, or help with preparations. You can also take part in an act."
He paused briefly, then added,
"Miyu and Hina are both already part of an act."
Ayane blinked.
"…That's possible too?" she asked.
"Yeah," Arashi nodded."But those options are usually only for girls. Boys have to participate in something directly."
Ayane seemed to relax a little.
"I see," she said thoughtfully."Alright then… I'll talk to Miyu and Hina about it."
Arashi nodded.
"Okay."
After that, the conversation ended naturally.
As Ayane stayed silent, Arashi suddenly realized something.
That conversation… he thought.It wasn't weird at all.Nothing awkward happened.
He felt strangely relieved.
That's good, he decided.
Without saying anything more, Arashi stood up and walked toward his room, leaving the living room behind.
After that, Arashi went to his room and closed the door behind him.
He sat down quietly, his thoughts slowly drifting.
There are still two weeks left, he thought.After that… the festival.
His expression hardened slightly.
This Sunday, he continued,I need to end my real feelings for Ayane.
The thought wasn't sudden—it was something he had already decided.
If I do it now, he reasoned,then by next week, she'll have time to adjust.Everything can return to normal.The festival will pass too… without any complications.
He exhaled softly.
Just like Mizuki said, he thought.Let's hope things go exactly the way I planned.
From that moment on, Arashi began waiting for that day.
A few days passed.
Nothing especially important happened during that time.School continued as usual.Conversations remained normal.Everything felt… unchanged.
And before he realized it—
Sunday arrived.
That was the day Arashi decided to start his plan.
The first step was simple.
He invited Ayane to go out with him to the park.
"The others will be there too," he told her casually."They want to talk about something."
It was an excuse.
Using that reason, Arashi led her toward the park—toward the place where everything he had decided would finally begin.
After that, Arashi took her to the park.
They sat down on a bench together.
For the first few minutes, everything felt awkward.
Neither of them spoke.They just sat there quietly, side by side, not knowing what to say.
During that silence, Arashi noticed something.
Dark clouds had begun to gather in the sky.
He looked up and spoke, mostly to break the tension.
"It looks like it might rain," he said."I don't know how long it'll take for the others to arrive."
Ayane simply nodded.
After a brief pause, she spoke again.
"Until then," she said softly,"let's go to the swings."
Arashi agreed.
They walked over and sat on the swings.
As they gently moved back and forth, Ayane spoke again.
"I never imagined I'd meet everyone like this," she said."Or that I'd have school friends like them."
She smiled faintly.
"I really liked all of it."
After saying that, she fell silent.
The wind had grown stronger now, brushing past them as the swings creaked lightly.
After a while, Ayane spoke again.
"It really feels like it's going to rain," she said.
Then—after another pause—she continued.
"I also never expected this," she said quietly."That I'd meet you, Arashi…"
She turned her head toward him.
"And that I'd fall in love with you."
"I never thought something like that would happen."
She looked straight at him as she said it.
Hearing those words, Arashi felt his heart tighten.
This is it, he thought.
He took it as his chance.
"Ayane—" he said.
"Can I ask you something?" Arashi said quietly.
Ayane looked at him and nodded."Of course. Why not?"
Arashi hesitated for a moment, then asked,
"What did you see in me?""What was it about me… that made you fall for me?"
Ayane didn't hesitate at all.
She answered confidently,
"Do I really need a reason to love you?"
Hearing that, Arashi felt his thoughts scatter.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
After a brief silence, he spoke again.
"There's something I need to tell you," he said seriously."But please… listen to everything first."
Ayane nodded.
"Go on, Arashi."
He took a breath.
"Ayane, you're a really good person," he began."Every moment I've spent with you… I genuinely enjoyed it."
He looked away briefly.
"Meeting you was unexpected for me," he continued."But what's written always happens, no matter what."
Then his tone grew heavier.
"But I want you to understand something," he said."Ayane… you deserve someone better than me."
He looked back at her.
"I can't give you everything you deserve.You deserve much more than I can offer."
His voice lowered.
"You'll have to choose someone else.Not me."
Ayane shook her head.
"Arashi," she said softly,"I already told you… I don't need your answer immediately."
She smiled weakly.
"Take your time."
And with that—
She turned and ran.
"Ayane—!"
Arashi stood up and chased after her, grabbing her wrist to stop her.
At that exact moment—
The rain started pouring.
Heavy. Sudden. Unforgiving.
"Listen to me," Arashi said urgently."I don't want you to create expectations in your heart."
Rain soaked his hair and clothes as he spoke.
"I don't want you to misunderstand anything," he continued."So please… forget about me."
Ayane's voice trembled as tears mixed with rain.
"Is that why you called me here?" she cried.
Arashi clenched his teeth.
"I understand your feelings," he said quietly."I know your heart will hurt."
He looked at her, pain clear in his eyes.
"You might even break completely," he said."But please… try to understand what I'm saying."
After a moment of silence, Ayane looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.
"So… you've made up your mind," she said softly."You're not going to accept me."
Arashi shook his head slightly, his expression calm but firm.
"Please… try to understand," he said gently."Some decisions… they end up hurting.I'll do everything I can to fix the damage that's been done.I'll try to make things right for you, Ayane.So… please."
Ayane blinked at him, listening to his words.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice trembling."And… I'll leave."
Without another word, she broke away and ran, disappearing into the rain.