The morning sun streamed through the window of the Sobu University classroom, casting rectangular patches of light on the desks.
Okabara Kyogumichi was sprawled on his desk, half his face buried in his arm, his breathing even—he had been in that position for almost forty minutes, ever since the class bell rang.
The professor on the podium was explaining "Modern Literary Thought Trends," his tone as soothing as a lullaby.
Kyogumichi's pen tip unconsciously doodled circles in his notebook, his mind having long since drifted off into the clouds.
Last night, he had eaten too much at Shiina Mahiru's house, and the sudden relaxation after days of tension made sleepiness wash over him like a tide, his eyelids too heavy to lift.
"Hey, Okabara-san." A soft poke on his back from a pen came from behind him, Kawasaki Saki's voice very low, "The professor just called on you, asking how you interpret Natsume Soseki's 'yoyu' (leisure/room)."
Kyogumichi woke up with a jolt, and as he lifted his head, he met the professor's gaze.
He collected himself and casually replied, "It's an observational perspective that maintains a distance from reality, neither intervening nor becoming estranged, similar to the clarity of an observer."
The professor paused for a moment, then nodded, "Well said, please sit down."
As Kyogumichi sat down, he was poked again in the back.
Kawasaki Saki lowered her voice, a hint of surprise in her tone, "You're good, you can still blabber so much even when half-asleep."
"After all, I am a top student, you know." Kyogumichi turned back and smiled at her, then handed her his notebook, "The key points I just drew, you can copy them."
Kawasaki Saki took the notebook, looked at the crooked lines and the occasional clear keywords, and couldn't help but laugh, "Did you unconsciously take these notes in your sleep?"
"Pretty much." Kyogumichi yawned, then leaned back on his desk, "Wake me up next class."
"Got it." There was a hint of helplessness in Kawasaki Saki's voice, but she still diligently compared her notes and filled in the missing parts.
[Character: Kawasaki Saki] [Bond Progress:2% → 4% (Trigger Event: Classroom Mutual Aid)] [Event Evaluation:She is starting to feel that despite your seemingly lax demeanor, you are unexpectedly reliable]
By the time the system prompt popped up, Kyogumichi had already fallen back asleep.
The sunlight slowly crept up his neck, bringing a warm temperature.
As soon as the lunch bell rang, Kyogumichi practically sprang from his seat.
Kawasaki Saki's action of packing her bag was interrupted by him, "So urgent? Going to snatch food?"
"Otherwise, if I go too late, the curry will be gone." Kyogumichi grabbed his bag and rushed out of the classroom, "Together?"
Kawasaki Saki paused, then quickly followed, "Wait for me!"
The cafeteria indeed had a long line.
Kawasaki Saki watched Kyogumichi skillfully find the shortest line and couldn't help but be curious, "You come this late every day, and you still manage to get what you want to eat?"
"Secret." Kyogumichi winked at her, and when it was his turn, he turned and asked, "What do you want? My treat."
"Eh? No need..."
"Consider it a thank you for waking me up in class." Kyogumichi ordered two set meals without waiting for an argument, "Teriyaki chicken and curry pork cutlet, right?"
Kawasaki Saki's eyes widened in surprise, "How did you know I love to eat that?"
"I heard you talking about it with your friends three times." Kyogumichi carried the trays and looked for a seat, "And you always glance at the fried food section twice when you pass by."
Kawasaki Saki followed behind him, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She had always thought Kyogumichi was the type of person who didn't care about his surroundings, but she never expected him to notice so many details.
They sat opposite each other, occasionally chatting about funny things that happened in class.
Kawasaki Saki talked about an embarrassing incident during the basketball club's training yesterday, and Kyogumichi listened quietly, nodding in response from time to time.
The sunlight streamed through the cafeteria's skylight, falling on her excited profile, her eyelashes seemingly dusted with fine gold powder.
[Character: Kawasaki Saki] [Bond Progress:4% → 6% (Trigger Event: Lunch Invitation)] [Event Evaluation:Sharing a meal has brought you two closer]
During lunch break, Kyogumichi strolled around the campus as usual.
He walked slowly along the corridor of the teaching building, and as he passed the Drama Club activity room, he saw that it had returned to its usual lively state, only the fake wall in that corner had been rebuilt, leaving no trace.
As he walked to the west wing staircase, a faint guitar sound drifted down through the cracks in the stairs.
It wasn't a practice song from a club activity, but a delicate, fragile melody, like melting snow in early spring flowing through cracks in rocks.
Kyogumichi stopped, lightened his steps, and walked down.
In the dim corner of the staircase, a girl wearing a Sobu University uniform sat holding a guitar, her pink long hair covering most of her face.
Her fingertips danced on the strings, and she hummed vague lyrics, one of his representative works—"Haru no Tonari" (Spring Thunder).
It was Hitori Gotou, also known as "Bocchi-chan."
Kyogumichi stopped two steps above her, not making a sound to disturb her.
The girl's shoulders swayed gently with the melody, and occasionally, a string would buzz because of a wrong fret.
She would pause nervously, then start again, like a small animal afraid of being discovered.
The sunlight slanted in from the transom window above the staircase, just illuminating her strumming fingers.
Those hands were slender and agile, her nails neatly trimmed, but her fingertips had noticeable calluses—marks left by long-term practice.
"...Yume no ato ni nokoru shunrai..."
Her voice was very soft, with a barely perceptible tremor, yet it surprisingly fit the atmosphere of the song.
Kyogumichi leaned against the cold wall, closing his eyes and listening quietly.
In his previous life, he had loved this song very much, so he sang it in this world, and he never expected to hear such a private solo in the staircase of this world.
When the song ended, Hitori Gotou hugged her guitar and buried her head in her knees, her shoulders slightly shaking, as if she were crying.
Kyogumichi was hesitating whether to leave when he heard her mumble softly, "Still can't play it well..."
He unconsciously blurted out, "No, it sounds very good."
Hitori Gotou suddenly looked up like a startled rabbit, her eyes wide when she saw Kyogumichi, and the guitar in her hands almost fell to the ground.
"W-when did you get here?!"
"Just arrived." Kyogumichi raised his hands to show he meant no harm, "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."
The girl's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she hurriedly stuffed the guitar into its case, then, clutching the case, tried to run downstairs.
As she passed Kyogumichi, the strap of the guitar case caught on the stair railing, and she stumbled, almost falling.
Kyogumichi quickly steadied her, smelling the faint scent of shampoo in her hair.
"Be careful."
Hitori Gotou shook off his hand and rushed down the stairs without looking back, the black strap of her backpack tracing a frantic arc in the air.
Kyogumichi watched her disappear at the end of the corridor, then looked down to find a black guitar pick on the stairs.
He bent down to pick up the pick, which still carried the warmth of her body.
[Character: Hitori Gotou] [Bond Progress:0% → 1% (Trigger Event: Unexpected Listener)] [Event Evaluation:She was extremely flustered by your appearance, but perhaps she also remembered the person who heard her song]
Kyogumichi put the pick in his pocket and turned to go upstairs.
The lingering melody of the guitar strings still hung in the stairwell, like tiny raindrops falling on his heart.
The afternoon classes were still uneventful.
Kyogumichi filled his notebook with diagrams of guitar strings, and Kawasaki Saki, sitting next to him, leaned over to take a look, "You play guitar too?"
"Not really, just doodling." Kyogumichi closed his notebook, "Next is PE class, aren't you going to change?"
"Oh right!" Kawasaki Saki suddenly stood up, grabbed her sportswear, and ran towards the changing room.
When she reached the door, she turned back and shouted to him, "Save a spot for me!"
Kyogumichi smiled and waved, indicating he understood.
Perhaps this was the daily life he yearned for now—no thrilling secrets, no life-and-death adventures, just naps in class, chats in the cafeteria, and melodies occasionally heard in the stairwell.
Kyogumichi leaned back in his chair, watching the birds fly past outside the window, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Such a life seemed pretty good too.