After a little chat with Aina I was heading back to class, passing through the bathroom when I overheard someone talking about me. I stopped to listen. It was Hinako's voice.
"If Mio wasn't such a tomboy, you wouldn't be able to be friends with her."
Nanami, washing her hands, replied, "Hmm, maybe you're right."
"But why are you suddenly saying this, Hinako?"
"Because her face is really cute. If she were more feminine, I bet she'd be annoying."
Oh my. I was right!
See? See?
I made the right decision.
Go, me!
"Hey, you two, if you're done, would you mind moving?"
A girl with black hair appeared behind them. She carried herself with a vibe of authority. Her expression was firm and unwavering, though her voice was calm when she spoke. It wasn't a request—it was a subtle command.
They both froze, glancing at her—startled, maybe hesitant. But she didn't waver. She stood rooted and collected, her gaze heavy enough to remind them she wasn't asking twice.
They came out.
As soon as they noticed me, they startled and stammered—
"Oh. Mio!"
"Did you hear us just now?"
I played it off.
"About what? Were you talking about me?"
"No. We weren't." They both laughed loudly, trying to play it off—but they were sweating buckets.
The girl from just now came out with a cold gaze that sent shivers down my spine. She walked like she owned the place.
"That's Shiori Naruse from class 4. She's kind of scary."
She's another lone wolf among the first years.
School ended. On my way home, my mind drifted to that Hirota guy. He smirked when he looked back at me.
What year is he in?
Why did I think he was Kase?
Lost in thought, I looked up. Hirota was just ahead, moving at a slow pace. I was caught off guard and a small sound slipped out.
"Ah."
He stopped and turned. Our eyes met in silence.
"I… it's nothing," I said quickly, fumbling. "I was just caught up in my thoughts. And no, I'm not following you—I live here too."
Why did I say that?
He listened without changing expression. Without a word, he turned and kept walking, disappearing into the garden.
That garden—the same place where Kase and I used to wait out the rain at the pavilion, skipping school without a care.
It felt like a slice of my past, familiar yet distant, stirred awake by Hirota's detour.
I knew it!
I knew it!
It was him.
Hirota sat at the pavilion, turned toward me.
My eyes were wide, my lips trembling.
"Ka…" I began softly.
He paused, face half-hidden, but I felt his presence weigh heavy.
"Kase?" I asked, hope and uncertainty in my voice.
He hesitated, then firmly replied, "No. My name's Hirota."
Shock hit me.
What?
I looked down, embarrassed.
"Sorry." I turned away, starting to walk back.
"I made a mistake."
"Skipping today?" The question lingered. It was the same line Kase always asked when the rain brought us to that pavilion.
The mix of happiness and surprise showed on my face. Turning back, Kase smirked at me.
"I knew it was you."
After a pause, he said, "I'm not Kase anymore.
My name is Yuuto Hirota. My family changed our name.
A lot has happened."
His voice, his name, even his height felt like someone else's. But still, it was him—my first love, back again.
"I was starting to wonder when you'd recognize me," he said with a crooked smile. "Can't believe it took this long. Honestly, it's hilarious."
My eyes widened, disbelief shaking me. I avoided his gaze.
Is this really the Kase I knew?
Was he always like this?
"Even though you're so weird now, I recognized you immediately," he said.
What? Weird?
"If you knew, why didn't you say something?" I snapped.
"You've changed too. You're a creep now, Kase."
"I told you—my name's Hirota." He gave a pensive look.
Who is this guy?
Mean, I thought.
"Want to reunite with a hug? Come."
I leaned back, uneasy.
"No way. Forget it." I blurted, surprised by my own vehemence.
"Oh, that's right."
"You hated guys back then. Maybe you still do." He smirked.
I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm.
"Yes. Back then and now."
"But you were different," I whispered, voice trembling.
This was the moment I'd waited for, like my life's best time.
"Wait?"
"Oh, really?" His face warmed, covered by his hand.
"Yeah. Me too."
"I liked you," he said quickly, quietly.
He stood in front of me, winter air biting our breaths.
For a moment, the world stilled—the sky, the snow, even my heartbeat.
I wanted to hold on, to him. But he drifted away like a fading season.
Then, like waking from a long dream, I was somewhere warm, filled with leaves and summer wind.
He was there again—smiling, younger, untouched by goodbyes.
My chest tightened, but not with pain.
I was returning to the best time of my life. And he was waiting.
"But we can't go back."
The dream never even started. He shattered it already.
Tears welled up as he smirked, eyes locked on mine like he never loved me.
"It was a long time ago."
Unnoticed, tears fell, and my hand couldn't even wipe them away.
"He's telling me to forget. Then why say it at all?"
"Don't cry, idiot. It's annoying," he said, punching me lightly on the head.
"Your friends are fake too. I heard what they were saying in the bathroom."
My friends? Fake?
"You have no right to say that. What do you know?" I yelled.
"Huh? I don't care about your fake friendships. Not my problem. Bye."
Even with his cold words, his smile felt sad inside.
The next day at lunch, eating with Nanami and Hinako, Kase's words still echoed in my mind.
What does he know about me?
What happened after he left?
Nanami suddenly broke the silence.
"You know the guy you bumped into yesterday? He might be from class 1."
"Isn't class 1 the privileged class?" Hinako said.
"No wonder I didn't recognize him—they're on a different floor," Nanami added.
Privileged?!
I choked.
That bastard must've studied so hard he lost his kindness.
"You okay?" Nanami asked.
"I'm fine."
My long-lost love had become stone-hearted.
What a shock—we can't go back.
So what? I still have Nanami and Hinako.
"Mio, do you know him? Seems like it," Hinako asked suddenly.
"We went to the same middle school, but he transferred early, so we lost touch," I replied.
"Oh, yeah?" Hinako murmured.
A teacher stopped by our class and asked, "Hey, is anyone free now?"
"I'm free," I said clearly.
"So come to the teacher's office before lunch ends. I'm returning the notebooks."
I looked at Hinako to ask her to come with me.
"Um…"
"Sorry, we're slow eating," Nanami said.
So they wouldn't come help. I breathed quietly, disappointed.
It's no big deal. I didn't expect them to anyway.
As I walked out, a cold breeze whispered through the hall, leaving me shivering.
"Brr, it's freezing!" I said, teeth chattering.
A stray napkin flew out of nowhere and slapped me in the face. I looked around.
"Ah! Sorry," came a soft voice.
Aina sat alone on a nearby bench, eating lunch.
"It's so windy, you should eat inside," I suggested.
"It's nice and warm under the sun," she replied.
I exclaimed, surprised. "Are you kidding? It's cold today!"
Her face lit up with a warm smile.
Isn't she supposed to be eating with friends from another class?
"Oh, wait," Aina said, "this is for you."
"What?"
"I noticed you kept touching mine, so I thought you might like this one."
"But…"
"No problem. My mom and I got them for free while shopping. I have two, so this is for you."
"Oh, thanks."
My hands touched hers as she gave me the keychain—it was freezing cold like ice.
"Here. It's my hand warmer. Your hands are freezing. It's in exchange for this kitty."
"Harada-san, thanks for talking to me," she said.
Looking up, she continued,
"I know girls hate me in our class because I act too girly, but I can't help it. I get nervous around boys. I'm really self-conscious, aren't I?"
Hmm.
"But I don't think it's wrong. We all try to look good for others, so what's different about me?"
She was deep in thought but speaking facts.
Wait… maybe I do everything to appeal to girls and avoid boys. Am I the same?
"I know why they find me annoying, but I want to be myself."
Everyone thinks she's silly, but she knows herself well. That doesn't mean she always likes it.
"Well, see you later. I have work to do. Thanks for this," I said, heading back to the office.
On my way back, I stumbled carrying heavy notebooks.
"Hey, stop! Where are you going?" Someone shouted, running down the stairs.
Out of nowhere, Kase came down. When he saw me, his gaze turned cold.
"Looks heavy. Didn't your so-called friends help?"
"Then why don't you help me?" I blurted.
"Well, not my problem," he said, walking away.
THAT BASTARD.
Again, a shout.
"Stop, Yuuto!"
Makabe-sensei called after him but slipped on the stairs as he greeted me. We almost collided, but he saved himself.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Me too."
"Man, that boy…" he sighed.
"I'm sorry about him."
Why was he apologizing?
"What class are you in? Let me help."
"Class 3."
"Let's use the stairs—it's cold out."
While walking up, Makabe-sensei asked,
"Are you Yuuto's friend?"
"We went to the same middle school for a while."
"Oh, really? He's rough but good at heart. Please be friends with him."
"That's asking too much; you just met him," I said.
He laughed warmly, happy.
"Okay. Can you go from here? I have class upstairs."
"Sure."
Back in class, I dropped my books on the table.
"Welcome back."
"You took a while."
"Yeah…"
Kase's words about friends echoed in my mind.
No. It's better than being alone. I don't feel empty.
Maybe.
Meanwhile, Makabe-sensei crossed paths with Naruse on the stairs.
"Hey, Naruse."
She shook her head calmly and said hello, but kept looking back.
"Hey, Naruse."
"It was me, Haruki Takemura from class 2, next door."
"Did you say no to lunch after finals?"
"Yeah."
"You're skipping the class get-together."
"You should come at least once."
"I don't feel like going. I don't remember anything about this class."
"Come on."
"You have nothing to say about it, Takemura," Naruse said and walked away.
Man, what should I do?
I gotta do something!
"Hey, Takemura! Let's go!"
"Yeah, coming."