After School
The afternoon sun painted the school gate in shades of orange.
Students poured out in groups, their voices scattering through the air—laughter, complaints, animated conversations about homework, clubs, and weekend plans.
Near the gate, Misaki stood still.
Her hands hidden inside the sleeves of her uniform.
Her eyes fixed on the pavement.
She took a deep breath… once… twice… as if trying to sort something out inside herself.
Until—
She saw him.
Souma was walking toward her along the outer corridor.
His steps were light… but there was tension in the way he moved.
When he got close, he raised his hand awkwardly.
"H-hey, Misaki."
She stepped forward.
Stopped right in front of him.
The wind passed between them, gently brushing through her hair.
"Souma…"
He blinked.
"Y-yeah?"
Misaki took a deep breath.
This time slower.
As if gathering every last piece of courage she had left.
"Just tell me already."
Souma frowned.
"Tell you what?"
She lifted her gaze.
Straight into his eyes.
Without looking away.
"D-do you like me?"
Souma blinked several times.
As if his brain had frozen for a second.
"O-of course, Misaki… you're a good person—"
She shook her head quickly.
"Not like that!"
Her heart was pounding.
Too fast.
She clenched her fists inside her sleeves.
"Romantically."
Silence.
A heavy silence.
Souma raised a hand to the back of his neck.
Scratched his head.
Looked away for a moment.
And sighed.
When he spoke… it came out with difficulty.
"I-I'm sorry."
Misaki's gaze dropped.
To the ground.
She stayed like that for a few seconds.
Still.
Then she nodded… slowly.
"I… just wanted to be sure."
Her voice was calm.
But something inside it had cracked.
"I needed to stop feeding this."
A small smile appeared.
Fragile.
"Thank you… Souma-kun."
And before he could say anything—
She turned.
And ran.
Through the school gate.
Disappearing into the street.
"Misaki-chan!"
Souma stood there.
Unable to move.
Just watching.
Until she was completely gone.
Classroom — A Few Weeks Later
Autumn had grown colder.
The school trees were painted in yellow and orange.
Mid-November.
Aoi walked down the hallway alongside Mio and Hina.
The three of them laughed about something light… silly… comfortable.
When they entered the classroom, it was already filled with chatter.
They went to their seats.
Hina sat down.
And almost without realizing—
She looked forward.
Yamada.
He turned his head slightly.
Their eyes met.
For a second.
Just one.
Hina smiled.
Softly.
Yamada did too.
Then he looked forward again.
As if nothing had happened.
But it had.
Mio noticed Hina without her glasses.
"And you… aren't planning to go back to wearing glasses, Hina?"
Hina touched her hair, a bit awkwardly.
"I'm just… trying a new style."
A small, nervous laugh.
"Hehe…"
Mio crossed her arms.
"Hmmm… I see."
Hina turned to Aoi.
"So… how do you think we're doing in Eternal Aegis Online?"
Aoi sighed.
"Hard to say…"
She rested her chin on her hand.
"We spent two weeks dying on just the first layer of the castle."
Hina made a face.
"Yeah…"
"And when we reached the second layer…"
Aoi raised her eyebrows.
"We couldn't even get past the weaker enemies."
Hina slumped into her chair.
"Aaaah… I didn't think it would be this hard…"
Aoi thought for a moment.
"Maybe we should leave the castle for now."
"Focus on other missions."
Hina pouted.
"Aahhh… maybe…"
The Teacher Enters
The door opened.
Sasaki-sensei walked in with papers in hand.
"Good morning."
Everyone stood up.
"Good morning!"
He placed his materials on the desk.
"We're approaching the end of the year."
He adjusted his glasses.
"Final exams are coming."
"Don't let your guard down."
The lesson began.
An Unexpected Request
Mio muttered quietly:
"Damn… I need help with math again…"
At that moment—
Yamada glanced back.
Just for a second.
Then faced forward again.
Mio noticed.
She turned slightly.
And saw—
Hina was looking at Yamada.
Hina caught her glance.
"What?"
Mio turned back to the front.
Thoughtful.
Then lightly tapped Yamada's back.
"Yamada-kun."
A shiver ran through him.
"Mm?"
"Lean back a bit."
He leaned against his chair.
Closer to her.
Mio spoke quietly:
"Meet me later at the vending machines."
Then she looked back at the teacher.
Yamada turned forward slowly.
Spinning his pen between his fingers.
Thinking.
Break Time
The bell rang.
The classroom exploded with noise.
"I don't get any of this!"
"Help me with this!"
"This subject is impossible!"
Yamada stood up.
Walked to the door.
Before leaving—
He looked back.
At Hina.
She raised her hand.
Wiggled her fingers slightly.
A silent "see you."
Yamada smiled.
And left.
Mio Follows
Mio pretended to scroll through her phone.
Then stood up.
"Wow, Mio," Hina said, "where are you going?"
"I'll be right back."
She grabbed her bag.
"I'm going to get some juice."
Aoi added:
"Come back later so we can talk about the tests."
"Yeah, yeah."
Mio smiled.
"I'll be back."
Vending Machines
The hallway was quieter.
Almost empty.
Yamada stood there, looking at the drinks.
Mio approached.
"Yamada?"
He turned.
"Hello, Kanzaki-chan."
She got straight to the point.
"No beating around the bush."
"You and Hina… are you going out?"
Yamada turned red instantly.
"W-what?!"
"I've seen the way you look at each other."
She tilted her head.
"And she's been putting more effort into her appearance."
Yamada swallowed.
"Kanzaki-chan…"
He took a deep breath.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
His expression changed.
More serious.
"And even if that were true…"
He looked straight at her.
"That has nothing to do with you."
Mio frowned.
"What?"
Yamada grabbed a drink.
"Excuse me."
And walked past her.
Mio stayed still.
Watching.
"Yamada…"
"He's changed."
Classroom — Lunch
Aoi was eating her bentō with Souma and Hanae.
Misaki sat quietly.
Looking at her food.
Distant.
Hanae spoke excitedly:
"The event is this weekend!"
"My cosplay is ready!"
Souma nodded.
"M-mine too…"
Aoi smiled.
"Mine too."
Misaki said calmly:
"Mine too."
Aoi noticed Takumi looking.
When she looked back—
He turned away.
Hina said:
"I want to check out the retro game booths."
Aoi blinked.
"I didn't know they had those."
"They do!"
Hina smiled.
"Let's go together, Aoi-chan?"
"Of course."
At that moment—
Yamada entered.
Hina looked at him.
Made the same small gesture.
Subtle.
He smiled.
Hina quickly looked away.
Blushing.
The Manga
Hina turned to Aoi.
"So… how's the play going?"
Aoi sighed.
"Two weeks left…"
"I'm nervous."
Then she asked:
"And your manga?"
Hina fidgeted with her fingers.
"I was almost done…"
She smiled.
"But something came up."
"So I expanded the story a bit."
Aoi tilted her head.
"Something came up?"
"What?"
Hina glanced quickly at Yamada.
Feet together.
Hands resting on her thighs.
"Something… good."
She looked back at Aoi.
Aoi blinked.
"Why did you look at Yamada?"
Hina panicked.
"N-no reason!"
"Nothing at all!"
Aoi stared for a few seconds.
"…Alright."
Hanae approached.
"What are you two talking about?"
Hina froze.
"N-nothing, class rep!"
Hanae laughed.
"Call me Hanae at times like this."
"Ah! Right!"
They both laughed.
"Hahaha."
Misaki remained silent.
Staring into the distance.
Hallway
"Excuse me."
Takeo appeared at the door.
"Aoi?"
"Can you come here for a moment?"
Aoi stood up.
"Takeo-kun?"
She stepped into the hallway.
He said:
"Let's review the tone of the lines later."
Aoi laughed.
"You came just to say that?"
"Alright."
Takeo looked out the window.
At the autumn sky.
"Aoi… this is my last year."
He sighed.
"I want it to be the best it can be."
Aoi became serious.
"You're graduating…"
"A lot of people will leave."
He put his hands in his pockets.
"I already know which university I want."
"But…"
Aoi murmured:
"Takeo-kun…"
He took a deep breath.
"This is the last play."
"The last year."
"I want to make the most of it."
Aoi asked:
"Are you leaving the city too?"
"I want to try for Tokyo University."
A small smile.
"That's why I've been playing less."
"I've been studying."
Aoi nodded.
"I understand."
He began to walk away.
"See you later."
"Takeo-kun!"
He turned.
Aoi raised her fist.
"Fight!"
Takeo laughed.
"I'm glad the club will be in good hands."
"Aoi-chan."
He walked up the stairs.
Aoi stood there.
Watching.
Thinking.
"The club… in my hands?"
"Shinohara-senpai said the same thing…"
She looked down.
"But… can I really do it?"