The noise didn't disappear.
It stayed—
even after everything ended.
---
"…Haruki!"
---
He turned.
Daichi ran toward him, still loud as ever.
"You're not going home already, right?"
---
"…I was."
---
"Don't."
---
That simple.
---
Riku added from behind—
"…there's still people here."
---
"…and?"
---
Daichi grinned.
"Unofficial rematch."
---
---
The second race happened fast.
Too fast to think.
---
This time—
Haruki didn't hesitate.
Didn't hold back.
---
He ran.
---
Not chasing someone—
---
But something.
---
"…catch up."
---
The voice came again.
Clearer.
Closer.
---
And when he crossed the line—
he knew.
---
He won.
---
Again.
---
Noise exploded.
Hands grabbed him.
Voices everywhere.
---
But this time—
it didn't feel distant.
---
It felt real.
---
---
"…you remembered something."
---
Aoi's voice reached him through the noise.
---
He looked at her.
---
"…a little."
---
No denial.
---
---
"…good."
---
That was all she said.
---
But something in her expression softened.
---
---
The crowd slowly broke apart.
People leaving.
Energy fading.
---
The sky turning quieter.
---
---
"…come with me."
---
Haruki blinked.
"…what?"
---
"…you look exhausted."
---
"…I am."
---
"…then come."
---
She didn't wait.
---
He followed.
---
---
Behind the school building—
a quieter place.
---
A small outdoor tap.
Old.
Simple.
---
"…you can use this."
---
"…thanks."
---
Haruki leaned forward.
Turned the tap.
---
Cold water rushed out.
---
Without thinking—
he lowered his head.
---
Water hit his hair.
Ran down his face.
---
For a moment—
everything went quiet.
---
Just water.
---
Just breathing.
---
The heat from running—
slowly fading.
---
---
Aoi stood nearby.
Watching.
---
Not saying anything.
---
Not looking away either.
---
---
He straightened slightly.
Water still dripping from his hair.
---
"…better."
---
"…yeah."
---
A small pause.
---
Then—
she stepped closer.
---
"…you'll catch a cold like that."
---
"…it's fine—"
---
Before he finished—
she reached out.
---
A towel.
---
Lightly placed on his head.
---
Haruki froze.
---
She didn't notice.
---
At first.
---
Her hands moved—
gently—
once…
twice…
---
Drying his hair.
---
Natural.
Too natural.
---
Like she'd done it before.
---
---
Then—
she stopped.
---
A sudden realization.
---
Her hands froze in place.
---
"…what am I doing…"
---
Barely a whisper.
---
She stepped back quickly.
---
The towel slipped slightly—
but stayed.
---
"…s-sorry."
---
Her voice was different now.
---
Quieter.
Unsteady.
---
Haruki blinked.
---
"…why are you apologizing?"
---
"…I just—"
---
She looked away.
---
"…just use it."
---
A short pause.
---
"…properly."
---
---
Silence.
---
The air felt… strange.
---
Not uncomfortable.
---
Just—
different.
---
---
Haruki lifted the towel.
Slowly dried his hair.
---
But—
his eyes moved slightly toward her.
---
She wasn't looking at him.
---
Hands lightly holding her sleeves.
---
Avoiding eye contact.
---
---
"…Aoi."
---
She flinched slightly.
---
"…what?"
---
"…have we done this before?"
---
The question came out quietly.
---
But clearly.
---
---
She froze.
---
Not moving.
---
Not answering.
---
---
A few seconds passed.
---
Then—
very softly—
---
"…maybe."
---
---
That answer—
wasn't clear.
---
But it wasn't empty either.
---
---
Haruki didn't push.
---
Didn't ask again.
---
---
Because something inside him—
already reacted.
---
---
A faint image.
---
Blurry.
---
But warm.
---
---
"…again…"
---
He whispered.
---
---
Aoi heard it.
---
But didn't respond.
---
---
Because this time—
---
He wasn't confused.
---
---
He was remembering.
---
---
Near the gate.
---
Shin stood.
---
Watching the emptying field.
---
Silent.
---
---
"…you didn't go to him."
---
The terrace girl stepped beside him.
---
---
"…no."
---
---
"…why?"
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…he didn't need me."
---
---
She looked at him.
---
"…you sure about that?"
---
---
Shin's gaze didn't move.
---
---
"…today—"
---
A small breath.
---
"…he moved on his own."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
"…that's enough."
---
---
The terrace girl looked toward the school building.
---
Where Haruki was.
---
---
"…he's changing."
---
---
"…yeah."
---
---
A small pause.
---
---
"…slowly."
---
---
Final Scene
Haruki walking home.
---
The towel still around his neck.
---
His steps lighter.
---
But his mind—
not empty.
---
---
"…maybe…"
---
A quiet thought.
---
---
"…I wasn't always like this."
---
---
The wind passed softly.
---
---
And for the first time—
---
That thought didn't feel strange.
---
"…maybe I just forgot how to be."