The late afternoon light spilled through the classroom windows like liquid gold, painting the desks, backpacks, and wooden floor in warm shades of amber.
The teacher's voice no longer carried any weight—it dissolved into the air, just as it always did in the final minutes, when class seemed to end even before the bell rang.
The clock moved slowly.
Then—
A chair scraped backward.
Mio was the first to stand.
"I'm heading to the club. See you later."
She slung her bag over her shoulder naturally, as if her mind was already somewhere else.
Aoi lifted her face, still resting against her desk.
"See you later, Mio."
Two rows behind them, Hina replied as well.
"Bye."
Mio left the classroom with quick steps, disappearing into the corridor bathed in the golden light of dusk.
A few seconds later, Aoi stood up too.
She picked up her bag.
Then slightly turned around.
"I'm heading straight to the club, okay, Hina?"
Hina tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm coming soon."
Aoi left.
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the hallway as her silhouette was swallowed by the soft evening light.
The classroom gradually emptied.
Only a few students remained.
Among them were Yamada and Matsuda Ren.
Ren was leaning sideways against the desk beside him.
"See you tomorrow. I'll give the game back next week."
Yamada frowned slightly.
"Ren… you seemed upset when they mentioned—"
Ren cut him off.
"Riku, I don't want to talk about it… later."
Yamada nodded.
"No problem."
Ren left.
Now... silence.
The classroom was practically empty.
Hina walked past Yamada's desk, distracted, lost in thought.
And then—
A touch.
Light.
Almost shy.
Yamada brushed against her hand.
Hina gave a small jump backward.
"Huh?!"
Her hand instinctively flew to her chest.
Yamada immediately raised both hands.
"N-no need to be scared!"
Hina looked away.
"S-sorry... it's just... you touched me so suddenly..."
The silence between them grew.
It filled the entire classroom.
Yamada took a deep breath.
Then, a little stiffly, he asked,
"When... do you want to go out?"
Hina blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"Me?"
"Yes... the date."
She brought a hand to her cheek.
"Oh... that..."
Yamada frowned slightly.
"You didn't forget, did you?"
Hina looked away awkwardly.
"I thought you weren't going to take it seriously..."
Yamada's face immediately turned red.
"O-of course I was going to take it seriously!"
Hina's eyes widened.
Her hand rose to her mouth in surprise.
Yamada looked away.
"Y-you don't have to look at me like that..."
Hina thought for a few seconds.
"Well... I was thinking of—"
"Akihabara, right?" he interrupted. "That's fine."
Hina blinked in surprise.
"...Are you really okay with that? I was thinking of somewhere quieter."
Yamada scratched the back of his neck.
"Ah... if you'd prefer that, that's fine too. It's just..."
"It's just what?"
He raised his eyes.
And looked at her properly.
"You looked so excited when you talked about Akihabara..."
A pause.
"I wanted to see you like that again."
Silence.
Hina froze completely.
Her eyes shone in a different way.
Surprised.
Curious.
And... touched.
Her hand rose to her chest.
"W-why are you being so kind?"
Yamada answered without hesitation.
"I'm just being honest."
He took a deep breath.
"I liked seeing you like that... not just talking about your prince all the time."
Hina laughed.
A soft laugh.
"Haha... Prince John is irreplaceable."
Yamada lowered his gaze.
But then—
"Just don't tell him, okay?"
Yamada looked up.
A small smile appeared.
As he looked at Hina, something crossed his mind.
What is this feeling...?
I feel... light.
He took out his phone.
"Take my number. Otherwise we won't even be able to plan anything."
He showed her his LINE QR code.
Hina scanned it.
Contact added.
Yamada took his phone back.
"I think I'll save you as—"
Suddenly—
Hina snatched the phone from his hand.
"Hey! Hina—!"
"Wait."
She turned her back to him and started typing.
A few seconds passed.
Then she handed it back.
"We'll talk later, Yamada-kun."
And she left.
The door slid shut.
Silence.
Yamada looked at the screen.
The contact name had been saved as:
"hina-chan✨☺️"
A smile escaped him before he even realized it.
"Ah... Hina-chan..."
He kept staring.
Remembering the way she had looked at him before leaving.
He brought a hand to his mouth.
Calm down...
We're just going out... just taking a walk.
I'm not going to get carried away.
He put his phone away.
Picked up his bag.
And left the classroom.
The hallway was already alive.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Clubs beginning.
Then he saw them.
Further ahead.
Souma and Misaki.
Talking.
Souma was saying,
"It was supposed to be just us... but now Aoi's coming... and even the class rep too."
Misaki was gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.
"Are you... going to give me an answer?"
Souma scratched his head.
"Ah... about the message..."
Misaki blushed.
"I... was too embarrassed to say it in person."
Souma sighed.
"It's just that I've got a lot on my mind right now..."
That was when Misaki noticed Yamada watching.
"Is something wrong, Yamada-kun?"
He startled.
"N-no."
And walked past them.
But as he walked...
Why does this... bother me?
It looked...
Like a couple arguing.
He took a few more steps.
Then stopped.
His eyes widened.
"...A couple?"
He slightly turned his head.
Souma is now walking in the opposite direction
Misaki was standing still, looking at her phone... frustrated.
"Wait..."
He murmured,
"Did Misaki... confess?"
"Misaki's the only girl who makes Ren act weird… do you think he likes her?"
Yamada scratched his head for a few seconds, then said,
"If that's the case… it would explain why Ren's been more irritable lately…"
He let out a breath.
"Better head to the club."
And continued on.
At the drama club, the evening light streamed through the curtains, casting golden stripes across the stage.
Aoi stood at the center.
Trying.
Once again.
"I... will never forget you..."
Takeo sighed.
"Not like that, Aoi."
Shinohara crossed her arms.
"It needs more strength. More emotion."
Aoi looked away.
"It's hard... I can't say this without..."
She sighed.
"Forget it."
But she tried again.
"I know that one day we'll part... maybe I won't even get the chance to say goodbye... but you'll always remain in my heart..."
Takeo spoke firmly.
"It needs more passion. Say it like it's real."
Shinohara nodded.
"This line sets up the climax."
Aoi looked at her hands.
They were trembling.
"I... can't say it like I'm crying."
Takeo started,
"But didn't we say that—"
Aoi interrupted him.
Looking directly at him.
"I can't do it the way you want."
Silence.
Takeo took a step back.
Shinohara watched.
Then took Aoi's hand.
"Want to take a breather?"
In the hallway, the wind drifted in through the window.
Shinohara leaned against the wall.
"What happened?"
Aoi kept looking at the sky.
"You... are kind of a mystery to me sometimes."
Shinohara smiled softly.
"In my first year, I could barely speak properly."
Aoi turned toward her.
"So you practiced a lot."
"My dream is to become an actress."
She pointed toward the sky.
"Like the ones on TV."
"And you?"
Aoi answered quietly.
"I don't know."
Shinohara laughed.
"Not everyone figures it out early."
A pause.
"Then why did you join the club?"
Aoi gripped the railing.
"My mom said it might help me... open up."
Silence.
"But I guess that doesn't work for everyone..."
She sighed.
"After this year... I'm leaving."
Shinohara's eyes widened.
"Aoi, no!"
She grabbed her shoulders.
"This is my last year! And Takeo's too!"
"We need to know the club will continue!"
Aoi looked surprised.
Then gave a faint smile.
"Thank you... but don't put so much faith in me..."
She turned to the sky again.
"Aoi!"
Shinohara held both of her hands.
"This year is going to be the best one yet!"
Aoi blinked.
Her lips trembled.
"Y-yes... okay, senpai."
Shinohara smiled.
"Let's go back before sensei—"
"Before I think what?"
Both of them froze.
The teacher was standing behind them.
Shinohara:
"I know... sorry."
Aoi laughed softly.
"Thank you... senpai."
That night.
In her room.
Hina was lying on her bed, playing on her phone.
Prince John.
Always him.
Then—
"Hina, come eat!" Haru shouted.
"I'm coming!"
She got up.
But—
A notification.
She stopped.
Picked up her phone.
A message.
From Yamada.
She opened it.
Her eyes widened.
Her face turned slightly red.
The message said:
"Want to go out on Saturday, Hina-chan?✨☺️"
Hina stood still.
Time seemed to slow down.
And before she realized it...
A small smile appeared on her lips.