Part 3: The Empty Seat
For several moments— nobody moved.
Then the classroom immediately erupted into conversation.
Chairs moved.
Bags opened.
Lunch boxes appeared.
And slowly—
the students of Class began their break.
The moment the door closed—
the room immediately became noisier.
Lunch boxes appeared.
Students stood up.
Conversations resumed.
For the first time all morning—
the classroom felt somewhat normal again.
Ayame stood from her seat.
"...Kaito."
Kaito looked over.
"...Hm?"
"...Let's go get lunch."
Kaito immediately remembered.
"...Right. Miri."
Ayame nodded.
The two began gathering their things.
Then Kaito looked toward Haruto.
"...You stay here."
Haruto blinked.
"...Why?"
"...Because we're just picking up lunch."
A pause.
"...No point in all three of us going."
Haruto looked unconvinced.
Kaito continued.
"...We'll be back in a few minutes."
Ayame nodded in agreement.
"...Stay here."
Haruto eventually sighed.
"...Okay."
Satisfied, Kaito grabbed his bag.
Then the two siblings left the classroom together.
The door slid shut behind them.
Haruto remained seated.
For a moment—
he simply looked around the classroom.
Students were talking.
Eating.
Laughing.
Trying to enjoy their break.
His eyes eventually drifted toward Souta.
Souta was sitting quietly at his desk.
Lunch unopened.
Head lowered slightly.
Not speaking to anyone.
Haruto looked away.
Then back again.
Something about it felt wrong.
Really wrong.
Because when Haruto thought about Souta—
he thought about noise.
About jokes.
About endless talking.
About someone who always seemed to have energy.
Someone who could make almost anyone laugh.
Someone who never seemed to stay sad for long.
But the person sitting there now—
didn't feel like that Souta.
He looked tired.
Quiet.
Small.
Haruto lowered his gaze.
His chest tightened slightly.
Because he understood that feeling.
The feeling of wanting someone important to be okay.
The feeling of being scared.
The feeling of not knowing what would happen tomorrow.
Haruto looked toward Yuna's empty seat.
Then toward Souta again.
The empty seat remained untouched.
Waiting.
Just waiting.
Souta's eyes briefly lifted.
For a moment—
he looked toward Yuna's desk too.
Then lowered his gaze again.
Haruto felt his chest tighten even more.
Because somehow—
seeing Souta sad felt almost as strange as seeing the empty seat itself.
The happiest kid in the class.
The loudest kid in the class.
The one always making jokes.
Now sitting alone in complete silence.
And somehow—
that scared Haruto more than he wanted to admit.
The classroom buzzed with quiet conversation as students opened lunch boxes and gathered into small groups.
Haruto remained seated at his desk.
His eyes occasionally drifted toward Souta.
Then toward Yuna's empty seat.
Then back again.
The seat was still empty.
And somehow—
that bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
A few minutes later—
the classroom door slid open.
Ayame and Kaito stepped inside carrying three lunch boxes.
Haruto immediately looked up.
"...Finally."
Kaito walked over.
"...Blame Miri."
Haruto blinked.
"...Why?"
Ayame answered before Kaito could.
"...Because she spent ten minutes talking."
"I don't remember it being ten minutes."
"It was."
"It wasn't."
Ayame gave him a look.
"...It was."
Kaito immediately looked away.
Haruto couldn't help smiling slightly.
For the first time all day—
the conversation felt almost normal.
The three siblings gathered their desks together.
Ayame handed Haruto his lunch box.
Then sat down herself.
Haruto opened the lid.
"...Yuji-san made this?"
Ayame nodded.
"...Before opening the restaurant this morning."
Kaito had already started eating.
"...He woke up really early."
Ayame smiled slightly.
"...He always does."
For a moment—
the conversation stayed simple.
Food.
School.
Normal things.
Things that felt rare lately.
Haruto quietly ate while listening to his siblings talk.
Every now and then—
his eyes drifted around the classroom.
Students were eating.
Talking.
Sharing food.
Trying to enjoy their break.
His gaze eventually stopped on Souta.
Souta was eating too.
But much more quietly than usual.
Normally—
Souta would be moving between desks.
Talking to everyone.
Making jokes.
Stealing reactions.
Today—
he remained seated.
Hardly speaking.
Haruto looked away.
Then back again.
Something about it felt wrong.
Not because Souta was crying.
Not because he looked injured.
But because he didn't feel like Souta.
The realization made Haruto's chest tighten slightly.
Eventually he lowered his gaze and continued eating.
Around them—
the classroom slowly became livelier.
Arashi and Amaya argued about something.
Izumi sighed at both of them.
A few students laughed.
Life continued.
Slowly.
Awkwardly.
But it continued.
Before long—
the break began coming to an end.
Lunch boxes emptied.
Students packed things away.
Conversations gradually quieted.
Then—
RIIIIINGGGG!
The bell echoed throughout the academy.
Almost immediately students began standing.
The classroom door slid open.
Daigo entered.
His eyes swept across the room.
"...Finished eating?"
Several students nodded.
Daigo gave a small nod.
"...Good."
Then he added:
"...Bring your academy equipment."
Several students immediately looked up.
Arashi frowned.
"...Why?"
"...Outdoor training."
The collective groan that followed could probably be heard from outside the classroom.
Daigo ignored it completely.
"...Move."
Even a few of the quieter students sighed.
Amaya dropped her head onto her desk.
"...This is cruel."
Daigo picked up his clipboard.
"...You'll survive."
That earned a few laughs.
And for a brief moment—
the atmosphere felt lighter than it had all day.
Then one by one—