The field didn't feel like school anymore.
It felt like something else—something organized, controlled.
"Move that to the left!"
"That is the left!"
"Then why is it still wrong?!"
"That's a personal opinion!"
Riku sighed. "We're going to embarrass ourselves in front of the entire town."
Daichi grinned. "Relax. If it collapses, it'll be memorable."
"That's not the goal."
Haruki adjusted the rope in his hands, tightening the knot carefully.
"…it won't collapse."
Daichi looked at him. "Confidence. I like it."
"It's not confidence," Haruki said. "It's just not that unstable."
Riku smirked. "That somehow makes it less reassuring."
A small laugh passed through the group.
It felt normal.
For a moment.
---
"Alright, wrap it up!"
A teacher's voice cut across the field.
"Everyone gather! The mayor will be arriving shortly!"
The energy shifted instantly.
"Mayor?" Daichi straightened. "Seriously?"
Riku raised an eyebrow. "They didn't tell you?"
"I thought it was just rumors."
"No, it's real."
"Why would the mayor come all the way here?"
"Festival. Visibility. Community stuff."
"…still cool," Daichi muttered.
Around them, students started moving—some excited, some nervous.
Voices layered over each other.
"Do we have to line up?"
"Is there a speech?"
"I heard he's strict."
"No, he's actually pretty chill."
Haruki stayed where he was for a second.
Watching.
Listening.
The word didn't feel heavy to him.
Just… familiar.
---
"Hey, Haruki, you coming?" Riku called.
"…yeah."
He walked over as the group formed loosely near the front.
Aoi stood a little to the side.
Not distant.
Just… observing, as always.
---
The crowd settled gradually.
Not silent.
But quieter.
Then—
Movement near the entrance.
People shifting.
Teachers straightening their posture.
"He's here," someone whispered.
Daichi leaned slightly forward. "…that's him?"
Riku nodded. "Yeah."
Haruki followed their gaze.
A man walked in—not fast, not slow.
Steady.
People made space naturally.
Not forced.
Just… respect.
---
Haruki blinked once.
"…he came."
The words slipped out without thought.
Small.
Quiet.
But close enough.
---
Daichi froze.
"…what did you say?"
Haruki didn't react immediately.
"…nothing."
"No—you said something," Daichi insisted, turning toward him. "You said—"
Riku looked between them. "Wait."
A beat.
Then—
"…did you just say 'he came'… or…"
Daichi's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…or did you say 'grandpa'?"
Silence.
Not full silence.
But the kind where nearby voices blur for a second.
---
Haruki paused.
Just slightly.
"…yeah."
Simple.
No hesitation.
---
Daichi stared at him.
"…yeah?"
Riku didn't speak.
Didn't joke.
Just watched.
"…what do you mean 'yeah'?" Daichi asked slowly.
Haruki looked at them, confused now.
"…he's my grandpa."
---
Everything stopped.
Not physically.
People were still moving.
The mayor was still speaking to teachers.
The field was still alive.
But inside that small space—
It froze.
---
"…you're joking," Daichi said.
Haruki didn't answer.
"…you're joking," he repeated.
Riku exhaled quietly. "…he's not."
Daichi looked between them. "…no, wait. That's not—"
He turned back toward the front.
Then back to Haruki.
Then again.
"…that's not possible."
---
A few nearby students started noticing.
"…what are you talking about?"
"Did he just say—"
"Wait, is that true?"
Voices spread faster than expected.
Not loud.
But sharp.
---
Haruki frowned slightly. "…why is everyone reacting like that?"
Daichi let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Because that's not something you just say casually!"
"I wasn't trying to—"
"You just called the mayor your grandpa!"
"…because he is."
---
Riku rubbed the back of his neck.
"…you never mentioned it."
Haruki tilted his head slightly. "…it never came up."
"That's not the point."
"It kind of is."
---
Aoi hadn't spoken yet.
Her gaze moved from Haruki—
To the mayor—
Then back again.
Careful.
Quiet.
---
"…you didn't think it mattered," she said.
It wasn't a question.
Haruki glanced at her.
"…it doesn't."
---
That answer didn't match the situation.
At all.
And that's exactly why she didn't look away.
---
Near the front, the mayor began speaking.
A simple greeting.
Nothing dramatic.
But people listened.
They always did.
---
Haruki didn't.
Not really.
His attention drifted slightly—
Not toward the crowd.
Not toward his friends.
But—
To the side.
---
Someone stood near the stage area.
Not speaking.
Not moving much.
Just… there.
Giving quiet instructions to a few students.
They listened immediately.
No hesitation.
---
Haruki's eyes rested there for a second.
Then—
Someone stepped in front.
Blocked the view.
---
"…Haruki."
He turned.
Aoi again.
"You keep doing that."
"…doing what?"
"Looking at something… and then missing it."
---
He frowned slightly.
"…I didn't see anything."
Aoi held his gaze for a moment longer.
Then looked away.
"…that's what I'm saying."
---
The speech ended.
Applause followed.
Movement returned.
But the atmosphere wasn't the same anymore.
Not for Haruki's group.
---
"Okay, no," Daichi said, running a hand through his hair. "We're not just moving past this."
"Moving past what?" Haruki asked.
Riku gave him a look. "…seriously?"
"You're the mayor's grandson."
"…yeah."
"And you thought that was… normal?"
Haruki considered that.
"…it is normal."
Daichi stared at him.
"…you're actually insane."
---
"Oi."
A voice from nearby called out.
Not loud.
But clear.
Daichi turned. "Yeah?"
"Help over here."
"Coming."
He glanced back at Haruki. "…we're not done with this."
"…okay."
---
The group split again.
Back into movement.
Back into noise.
But something had shifted.
Even if Haruki didn't feel it fully—
Everyone else did.
---
Later—
The field had thinned slightly.
Less crowded.
More space to breathe.
---
Haruki stood near the edge again.
Not thinking much.
Just… standing.
---
"…so."
Aoi stepped beside him.
"You really don't think it matters?"
Haruki looked out ahead.
"…should it?"
Aoi didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
"…you said it without thinking."
"…yeah."
"Like it was obvious."
"…it is."
---
A small pause.
Wind moved lightly across the field.
---
"…then why does everything else feel like it isn't?" she asked quietly.
---
Haruki didn't answer.
Because—
For the first time—
That question didn't feel simple.
---
In the distance—
Near the stage—
That same figure stood again.
Still.
Watching.
---
This time—
Haruki didn't look away immediately.
His eyes stayed there.
A second longer than before.
---
Then—
Someone called out.
The moment broke.
---
And when he looked back—
Nothing was there.
---
"…again," he murmured.
---
Aoi heard it.
But didn't ask.
---
Because now—
She wasn't just watching what Haruki saw.
She was starting to notice—
what he didn't.