The afternoon wind drifted quietly through the street as if nothing had happened.
But for Aoi, the world had stopped.
Souma's words still echoed inside her.
"I can't return your feelings."
It felt like the sentence had been carved into the air itself, repeating endlessly in her mind. Slow. Cold. Unavoidable.
Aoi couldn't hear the birds.
She couldn't feel the wind.
She couldn't even notice the houses around her anymore.
Everything felt distant.
Everything had disappeared.
She simply stared at Souma, her eyes opened too wide, as if she were trying to understand something impossible.
Her lips trembled slightly.
— You… what…?
Souma clenched his fists.
His fingers were shaking.
He shook his head several times, like he was trying to erase something from inside himself.
— This was my fault… — his voice came out low and broken. — I should've done this… from the very beginning…
Aoi blinked slowly.
Something felt wrong.
She couldn't fully understand his words.
But one thing caught her attention.
Something that didn't match that rejection at all.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
— Are you… crying?
For a second—
Souma froze.
The question pierced straight through him like a blade.
Then he turned his face away.
And without answering…
He ran.
Fast footsteps.
Messy.
Unsteady.
Like he was running from something.
Or from himself.
Aoi remained standing there.
The wind kept passing through the street.
But now there was only silence.
Then suddenly, from behind a small wall nearby, three heads popped out at once.
Hina.
Mio.
And Yamada.
Hina blinked repeatedly, completely confused.
— W-What was that…?
Mio frowned, looking back and forth between Aoi and the street.
— Did you say something wrong, Aoi…?
She stepped forward carefully.
— Aoi?
But Aoi didn't react.
Her eyes remained open.
Still.
Her face completely expressionless.
As if something inside her had shut down.
Then she spoke in a strangely empty voice.
— I don't know what happened.
She slowly turned around.
— I'm going home.
— Aoi?
Hina reached out, trying to grab her arm.
But Aoi simply walked past her.
Without looking.
Without stopping.
Without reacting.
Mio quickly followed after her.
— Aoi, you can talk to us! We weren't trying to spy or anything, we were just worried…
She slowed down.
— Aoi…?
No response.
Aoi kept walking.
Her eyes fixed ahead.
No emotion.
No expression.
She entered the house.
The door closed.
Silence.
Outside, Yamada clenched his fists.
— What an idiot… — he muttered angrily. — I'm gonna talk to him.
Mio immediately turned toward him.
— Don't get involved, Yamada.
Hina crossed her arms worriedly.
— Look… maybe we should talk to Souma and—
— Not now.
Mio interrupted quietly.
Seriously.
Hina and Yamada looked at her.
Mio continued staring at Aoi's front door.
— I don't know what happened…
She took a deep breath.
— But Aoi's eyes…
She swallowed hard.
— They looked just like when I first met her.
Hina slowly covered her mouth.
Her eyes widened.
— No…
Inside the house—
Yukiko was organizing a few cups on the table when she heard the front door open.
— Ah! You're back, Aoi? Look, I—
She stopped.
Aoi walked past her in silence.
Then started climbing the stairs.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Yukiko frowned slightly.
Then walked closer to the staircase.
— Aoi?
She rested a hand on the railing.
— Do you need anything?
From upstairs, Aoi's voice came calmly.
Too calmly.
— I'm fine, Mom.
A short pause.
— I'm just tired.
Her bedroom door closed.
Aoi slowly walked to her bed.
Laid down on her side.
And stared at the wall.
Without blinking.
Without moving.
And inside her mind…
The same sentence kept repeating.
"I can't return your feelings."
Monday arrived.
Exam week.
Aoi came to school early.
Eight in the morning.
The classroom was still almost empty.
She helped clean a few desks.
Stacked some chairs.
Then quietly sat down in her seat.
A few minutes later, Mio and Hina arrived.
Hina sat beside her.
Watching her carefully for a few seconds.
— You… didn't reply to my messages, Aoi.
Aoi didn't lift her head.
Mio placed her bag on the chair, trying to sound cheerful.
— Maybe we could check out some makeup stores after the exams?
Silence.
Then Aoi answered in the same flat tone.
— It's exam week.
She opened her notebook.
— We should study after today's tests.
Mio blinked a few times.
— Ah… right…
She forced a smile.
— Then maybe—
She stopped.
The classroom door opened.
Souma walked in.
Quietly.
Eyes lowered.
Without looking at anyone.
He went to his seat, sat down, and stared at the desk.
Aoi immediately looked away.
She grabbed her phone.
Pretending to scroll through it.
Mio looked between the two of them.
Then leaned closer.
— Aoi… was your fight really that serious?
— I don't want to talk about it, Mio.
Aoi answered without looking at her.
— And we didn't fight.
Hina quickly raised her hands.
— O-Okay… we won't talk about it.
She tried to smile.
— Hehe…
But the smile faded quickly.
The two of them looked at Aoi.
She remained motionless over her desk.
Then the door opened again.
— Good morning.
Sasaki-sensei entered the classroom.
— As you all know, we have exams now. Put your materials away.
The sound of bags zipping closed filled the room.
The tests were handed out.
And silence swallowed the class.
After several periods—
Finally.
Lunch break.
The moment the bell rang…
Souma stood up immediately.
Without looking around.
And left the classroom.
Hanae noticed.
Takumi noticed too.
So did Misaki.
Aoi opened her bento.
And quietly began eating.
Hanae approached with a smile.
— Hi, Aoi-chan.
She pulled out a chair and sat exactly where Souma usually sat.
— Mind if I sit here?
But she was already sitting down.
Hina let out a quiet breath.
— Now's a good time to relax a little…
Mio practically collapsed onto the desk.
— We still have more exams later… aaah…
Hanae carefully observed Aoi.
— You're really quiet today, Aoi-chan.
Aoi stirred the rice in her bento with her chopsticks.
— I'm just tired.
She took her first bite.
Hanae glanced at Mio.
Then at Hina.
Both shook their heads slightly.
Hanae raised an eyebrow.
— If something happened… you can talk to me, okay?
Aoi didn't answer.
She kept eating silently.
Hina tried to ease the atmosphere.
— It's just exam stress, Hanae.
— Let's eat, okay?
Hanae slowly nodded.
— Okay…
Lunch continued quietly.
Then Yamada looked toward Hina.
Hina noticed and smiled gently at him.
Yamada smiled back.
— You girls really are good friends…
Mio immediately turned toward him.
— Huh?
Yamada looked away.
— Nothing.
He stood up.
— I'm gonna buy a melonpan, Ren.
Matsuda Ren lifted his eyes from his bento.
— Alright, I'll wait here.
Near the vending machines—
Yamada was choosing bread when he heard a voice.
— Ah! You're… Yamada, right?
He turned around quickly.
Takeo was standing there.
With Shinohara Mai beside him.
— S-Senpai? You remember my name?
Takeo smiled.
— Of course.
— You didn't seem okay the other day.
Shinohara gave a small wave.
— Hello.
— H-Hello…
Takeo crossed his arms.
— You're Aoi's classmate, right?
— Yeah… why?
Takeo answered:
— She hasn't replied to my messages or Mai's.
Yamada scratched his head awkwardly.
— Ah…
— You should talk to her… she's been acting strange since Saturday.
— Saturday…?
Takeo fell silent for a moment.
Thinking.
"Did she play that game I lent her…?"
His eyes widened slightly.
His hand moved to his chin.
— Takeo-kun?
Shinohara tilted her head.
He blinked.
— Ah! No, nothing.
He smiled quickly.
— Let's talk to her later, Mai?
Shinohara sighed.
— We should be studying right now, remember?
— Ah…
Takeo laughed awkwardly.
— Right… we still have math later.
He looked back at Yamada.
— Can you tell her that Mai and I messaged her?
— Yeah! I'll tell her!
Takeo smiled brightly.
— You're a good guy, Yamada!
— See you later!
The two walked upstairs.
And then, from behind Yamada—
A voice appeared.
— You're friends with the two most popular students in school?
Yamada jumped.
— T-TAKUMI?!
Takumi calmly adjusted his glasses.
— Sorry for appearing so suddenly.
— But I have some concerns.
Yamada blinked.
— Concerns… about the exams?
Takumi answered:
— Yamamoto-kun and Sakamoto-chan are not speaking.
He crossed his arms.
— It is socially affecting the class.
Yamada's eyes widened.
— Wait, you were actually watching them?!
— I want the entire class to maintain good grades.
Takumi answered calmly.
— If this continues, the February exams will be affected.
Yamada scratched his head.
— Ah… you're already thinking about final exams…
— Logically.
Takumi replied.
— We should do something.
— Something?
— About Yamamoto-kun and Sakamoto-chan.
Yamada sighed.
— Even the girls can barely talk to Aoi right now…
Takumi tilted his head slightly.
— Then we should speak with Yamamoto-kun.
— Speaking with men is usually simpler.
Yamada thought for a moment.
— Yeah… I guess that makes sense…
— But where is he?
Takumi pointed out the window.
— Outside.
— Sitting near the tree.
Yamada's eyes widened.
— How do you even know that…?
He took a step back.
— You seriously scare me sometimes, Takumi-kun…
The two walked toward the courtyard.
Souma was sitting on the grass beneath a tree.
Staring into the distance.
Takumi spoke first.
— Yamamoto-kun.
— May we talk?
Souma looked up.
— Ah… class representative.
— Sure.
— What is it?
Yamada scratched the back of his neck.
— Well… it's just… you've been acting weird today, like—
Takumi interrupted immediately.
— You fought with Sakamoto-chan.
— Why?
Yamada nearly jumped.
— USE SOME TACT, MAN!
Souma sighed.
Looked down at the ground.
Then at Takumi.
— It's… temporary.
— But I don't want to talk about it right now.
Takumi answered calmly.
— This distance between you two is affecting the class.
— I would prefer it not continue until February.
Souma slowly stood up.
— Ah, right.
He looked directly at Takumi.
— Does this affect your position on the student council?
Takumi answered without changing expression.
— It does.
— But that is not the main issue.
Souma sighed tiredly.
— Look, representative…
He started walking away.
— Do whatever you want.
— Just don't bother me for a while.
Yamada stepped forward.
— But Souma! Why are you suddenly acting like this?!
Souma stopped.
Without turning around.
— Yamada…
His voice came out quietly.
— Treasure your time with Hina.
— You never know when everything might end.
Then he kept walking.
Yamada's eyes widened.
— WHAT?!
— WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
— SOUMA, GET BACK HERE!
But Souma was already leaving.
Takumi adjusted his glasses.
— Mission failed.
Yamada let out a long breath.
— Yeah… same here…
He frowned.
— But why did he say that…?
At the end of the day—
After all the exams—
Aoi walked alone through the hallway.
Quietly.
She entered the theater club room.
Only a few students were there.
She sat down slowly.
Thinking.
"There aren't many people here today…"
— Aoi, you're already here!
Takeo appeared with a smile.
Shinohara came right behind him.
But the moment she looked at Aoi, her expression changed slightly.
— You seem… different.
Aoi only replied:
— Hello, senpais.
The two exchanged glances.
Takeo spoke first.
— You don't have to be so formal.
— You can talk to us normally.
Shinohara smiled softly.
— Yeah, Aoi.
— You can call me Mai too.
Aoi looked at them.
Expressionless.
— I'm not having a good day today, senpais.
She walked up onto the small stage.
— Shall we continue the vocal test?
Shinohara swallowed nervously.
— Y-Yes… let's.
Takeo asked:
— Did you play the game I lent you?
— Not yet.
Aoi's voice echoed through the room.
— I don't feel like it.
Takeo frowned.
— Then why are you acting like this?
— What happened?
Shinohara tried to interrupt.
— Takeo-kun… let me—
— Stop it!
Aoi's voice exploded through the room.
Echoing against the walls.
— I'm fine!
She was breathing heavily.
Her fists clenched tightly.
— I don't need this attention!
She grabbed her bag.
And ran out.
— Aoi!
Shinohara shouted.
— Please come back!
Takeo remained frozen.
— Aoi…
Then suddenly, a memory surfaced inside his mind.
An old room.
Him as a child.
Sitting on a bed.
Crying.
And beside him—
Aoi.
Small.
Sitting silently.
Her eyes completely empty.
Staring ahead.
Without expression.
Child Takeo sobbed quietly.
— Aoi… please smile…
The memory faded away.
Takeo returned to the present.
Standing beside Shinohara.
And quietly murmured:
— I haven't seen her like this…
His eyes became serious.
— Since we were kids.