The second-floor hallway was unusually quiet.
The distant chatter of students in the courtyard drifted in through the open windows, softened by the gentle breeze flowing through Hoshimi Municipal Academy.
Aoi stepped out of the restroom alongside Shinohara.
The upperclassman walked with her hands behind her back, swaying slightly as she observed Aoi with a curious smile.
"So… what were you girls doing in there?"
Aoi looked away for a moment.
The memory of the small chaos was still fresh.
"Well… a friend of ours just started dating…" she said awkwardly. "So we got a little curious."
Shinohara's smile widened.
"Aah… I see. Completely understandable."
She let out a soft chuckle.
Aoi tilted her head slightly.
"Um… what did you want to talk to me about, senpai?"
Shinohara didn't answer right away.
Instead, she pointed down the hallway.
"Let's go see Takeo together."
They began walking.
As they turned the corner, they found Takeo leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone.
As soon as he saw them, he looked up.
"Took you long enough!"
Shinohara shot him a sharp look.
Takeo quickly raised his hands.
"Hey, hey! Relax, I'm kidding!"
Aoi blinked, confused.
"What's going on?"
Takeo and Shinohara exchanged a quick glance.
Then he spoke.
"Well… you need to put more emotion into your lines."
Shinohara followed, more direct.
"Some people are already talking about replacing you… and moving you to lighting."
For a moment, Aoi's world seemed to stop.
"But… I've been trying…"
"We know," Shinohara said immediately.
Takeo crossed his arms.
"That's exactly why we're here."
He stepped forward, looking straight at her.
"The performance is in two weeks. You remember that, right?"
A brief silence.
"Do you think you can bring more emotion today? Even if it's… just for a moment?"
Aoi took a deep breath.
Her chest rose… and fell.
"I… I'll try."
She lowered her head slightly.
"Thank you for telling me."
Shinohara smiled softly.
"It's because of you that Takeo and I are together today."
Takeo nodded.
"So now it's our turn to help you."
A sincere smile appeared on Aoi's face.
"Thank you… really."
She raised one finger.
"Takeo… can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Aoi hesitated.
"Yesterday… when we finished Eternal Aegis Online…"
She lifted her gaze.
"I saw your father's name in the credits."
Takeo blinked.
But she continued.
"And I also saw… my father's name."
Silence.
Takeo took a small step back.
"Y-you're serious?!"
His eyes widened.
"It really showed up?"
Aoi kept her gaze lowered.
"You… didn't know?"
Takeo scratched his head.
"Our parents were developers… but he never mentioned your dad."
A small smile formed.
"So you were playing that game because you knew your dad made it… and you didn't tell us?"
Aoi let out a small laugh.
"My dad likes surprises… and I guess I do too. Sorry."
Takeo tilted his head.
"Want me to ask him about your father?"
Aoi took a deep breath.
"I want to understand more about the game… after that."
Takeo nodded.
"Leave it to me."
He gave a thumbs up.
"I'll ask him."
"Thank you…"
Shinohara watched quietly.
"You two really know each other well…"
She crossed her arms.
"But you're also in exam season, right?"
Aoi nodded.
"Yeah… they start in three weeks."
Shinohara looked at Takeo.
"Since this is our last year…"
She took a breath.
"We want to do something meaningful before we graduate."
Takeo added:
"After the performance… we're getting everyone together to eat."
He smiled.
"A farewell."
Shinohara turned slightly, wiping the corner of her eye.
"Takeo… you're already like this?"
He spread his arms dramatically.
"What can I do?! I love this school!"
Aoi watched the two of them.
Then… she smiled.
"We…"
They looked at her.
Aoi continued, her voice firm.
"We'll carry on what you started."
Her voice grew stronger.
"You can count on that."
Silence.
Then Takeo broke into a huge grin.
"That's it!"
He pointed at her.
"That expression!"
Shinohara suddenly hugged Aoi.
"That's how you should speak!"
She squeezed her tightly.
"Put feeling into your words!"
Then she murmured:
"And thank you… for being honest."
Aoi hugged her back.
Across the hallway…
Mio, Hina, and Hanae watched from behind the wall.
Shinohara pulled away.
"Let's head back. Class is about to start."
Suddenly—
"CRAP!"
Aoi's eyes widened.
"I didn't finish my bento!"
And she ran down the hallway.
After school…
Mio dropped onto her desk with a sigh.
"I wanted to go to the library…"
She looked at Aoi.
"But you've got club, right?"
Hina raised a finger.
"We heard everything from the bathroom."
She laughed.
"Careless."
Aoi sighed.
"I have practice today…"
She paused.
"But after that?"
Hina smiled.
"Come over to my house."
Aoi tilted her head.
"I want to prepare something for my mom first."
Mio chuckled.
"The good daughter."
Aoi looked at her.
"And your mom?"
Mio answered calmly.
"She's been home for a while now."
She looked out the window.
"My dad's taking care of things too… I guess."
A quiet sigh.
"But… I still don't understand how she stays so calm."
Hina blinked.
"I thought you made peace with him."
"I appreciate the help," Mio said.
She closed her eyes briefly.
"But I won't forget."
A brief silence.
"W-well…"
Aoi grabbed her bag.
"I'm heading to the club."
"See you later!"
"Bye!" they replied.
At the theater club…
Aoi slowly stepped onto the stage.
The script trembled slightly in her hands.
Takeo's words echoed in her mind.
"That's it. That expression."
She inhaled.
Once.
Twice.
Then she raised her face—
"I know… that someday, we'll have to part ways…"
Silence.
"Maybe… I won't even get to say goodbye…"
Her voice trembled.
But it didn't break.
"But you… will always live in my heart!"
Complete silence.
Everyone stared at her.
The teacher stepped forward.
"Yes…"
"That's it, Sakamoto."
"That's the feeling."
Applause filled the room.
Takeo whispered:
"See?"
The teacher watched Aoi for a few more seconds.
"…Looks like she can keep the role."
Aoi lowered her head.
"Thank you."
Later…
Outside the club.
"You were amazing today," Takeo said.
"Thanks to you guys."
A phone vibrated.
"Group message," Aoi said.
They both checked their phones.
Hina:
"Maybe no one will play today… but there's still more to explore."
Takejiru:
"Wait for the next expansion?"
"Expansion?" Aoi asked.
"It gives the game new life," Takeo replied.
Silence.
Then he spoke more quietly.
"Seeing your father… in the game…"
He looked away.
"It caught me off guard."
"I just… wanted to honor him somehow."
Takeo thought for a moment.
"Do you remember that zombie game?"
Aoi looked up.
"Yeah…"
"I have it."
She blinked.
"What?"
Takeo tensed slightly.
"It's short… but…"
He took a breath.
"You should see the ending."
Silence.
"I'll lend it to you."
"Today."
Aoi's eyes widened.
"Today?!"
"I want to give it to you in person."
"I go to sleep at 9."
"I'll be there before."
She sighed.
"…Okay."
Aoi left.
Takeo stood still, watching her go.
"Aoi…"
He closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
Shinohara appeared behind him.
"Takeo?"
"I was talking to her."
"About the play?"
"…No."
He looked down.
"Her father… Hiroshi… made a game for her."
Shinohara covered her mouth.
"Seriously…?"
"But he died before he could give it to her."
Silence.
"I don't know if I'm doing the right thing…"
She looked at him.
"Takeo…"
"…Do you like her?"
"Not like that!"
He smiled.
"That way… I only have eyes for you."
Shinohara turned red.
"D-don't say things like that!"
Takeo laughed.
"Sorry."
He looked up at the sky.
"I think we passed the test."
"For me, it wasn't even a test."
She took a breath.
"What's in that game?"
Takeo answered quietly.
"That… she needs to discover on her own. From what I saw today… she's ready."
"Ready…? What do you mean?"
He looked toward the horizon.
"The accident happened near that beach we went to."
Shinohara's eyes widened.
"That beach…?"
Takeo closed his eyes for a moment.
"If it's already this heavy for us…"
He took a deep breath.
"Imagine a six-year-old child…"
A quiet exhale.
"…being told her father would never come back."