March 17, 2026. Two days after the festival performance.
The school was still buzzing. Festival photos and clips circulated endlessly—Sora and Akira's narration duet, the fog-machine save, the lingering freeze that looked suspiciously like an almost-kiss. Comments ranged from "OTP!" to "Ice Prince thawed at last."
Akira ignored it.
Sora laughed it off in public, blushed in private.
They walked home together after cleanup duty—hands brushing, occasional shy smiles.
At Sora's gate she stopped.
"Tomorrow… study date? My place. Parents are out."
Akira's ears went pink. "Study date."
"With books. And maybe snacks. And… us."
Akira nodded. "I'd like that."
She rose on tiptoes—kissed his cheek quickly.
Akira caught her wrist gently before she pulled away.
He leaned in—kissed her forehead.
Lingering.
Sora smiled against his skin. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
He watched her go inside.
His phone buzzed as he turned to leave.
Mother.
Akira answered on the third ring.
"Akira."
"Mother."
A pause—cold, measured.
"We saw the festival performance. Online clips. Your name is everywhere."
Akira's stomach dropped. "It's just the school event."
"And the girl? Hayashi Sora?"
Akira closed his eyes. "She's my partner for the project."
"Partner." The word was sharp. "The videos show more than partnership. Holding hands. Close proximity. Smiling at each other."
Akira's voice stayed even. "We worked together for months. The performance required chemistry."
"Chemistry." His mother's tone turned colder. "You are months away from university entrance exams. Your father and I did not raise you to be distracted by… sentiment."
Akira's hand tightened on the phone. "She's not a distraction."
"Then what is she?"
Akira swallowed. "She's… important."
Silence—long, heavy.
"We expect you home tonight. We need to speak. Properly."
Akira stared at Sora's lit window.
"Yes, Mother."
He hung up.
The walk home felt longer than usual.