Morning came without resistance.
Haruki woke up before the alarm.
No rushing.
No staring at the ceiling.
Just… getting up.
"…again."
He sat there for a moment.
Usually, mornings felt heavy.
Like something unfinished was waiting.
But today—
nothing pulled him back.
"…weird."
Not uncomfortable.
Just unfamiliar.
He stood up anyway.
---
The classroom felt the same.
Same desks.
Same noise.
But it didn't feel distant.
"Yo, winner."
Daichi dropped into the seat beside him.
"You've changed."
"…you said that yesterday too."
"Yeah, and it's still true."
Riku flipped a page calmly.
"…he's just noticing things now."
"…what things?"
"…everything."
Daichi frowned.
"That sounds annoying."
"…it probably is."
A few students nearby laughed.
Normally—
Haruki would've stayed quiet.
But this time—
"…you're loud today."
Daichi blinked.
"…what?"
"…you've been talking nonstop since morning."
Riku smirked slightly.
"…he noticed."
"Oi, I'm always like this!"
"…exactly."
There was a short pause.
Then—
they laughed.
And Haruki didn't feel out of place.
"…you're smiling again."
He turned.
Aoi stood beside his desk.
"…is that a problem?"
"…no."
A small pause.
"…it's just new."
He didn't answer.
But he didn't deny it either.
---
Lunch break.
Students moved out into the hall.
Noise spreading everywhere.
Daichi stretched.
"Let's go eat."
"…you go."
"…huh?"
"I'll come later."
Riku glanced at him.
"…rooftop again?"
Haruki paused.
"…maybe."
Daichi grinned.
"Wow. Secret spot now?"
"…it's not like that."
"…sure it isn't."
They left.
Haruki followed a few seconds later.
---
The rooftop door opened.
Wind greeted him first.
Then—
her.
"You came again."
The terrace girl stood near the fence.
"…yeah."
A short pause.
"You don't usually come here."
"…I don't think I did before."
She nodded slightly.
"Still doesn't remember."
"…no."
No excuse.
No hesitation.
Another pause.
"…but it doesn't feel empty."
She looked at him.
"…that's enough."
The door opened again.
Footsteps. Calm. Familiar.
"…you're skipping class?"
Shin.
Haruki turned.
This time—
no pause.
"…I wanted to talk."
Straight.
Shin looked at him quietly.
"…about?"
Haruki took a small breath.
"…I don't remember you."
No avoidance.
"…but I feel like I should."
Silence.
Not heavy. Just honest.
Shin nodded once.
"…that's enough."
Haruki frowned slightly.
"…enough?"
"…you don't need to force it."
A small pause.
"…just don't ignore it."
That landed clearly.
Haruki looked at him.
"…were we close?"
Shin didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"…yeah."
Simple.
No extra weight.
Haruki looked down for a second.
"…I thought so."
The wind passed between them.
"…if I remember everything…"
He paused.
"…will it go back?"
Shin shook his head.
"…no."
No hesitation.
Haruki didn't react much.
He expected it.
"…then what should I do?"
Shin met his eyes.
"…start from where you are."
A small pause.
"…not from the past."
That—
made sense.
More than anything else.
Haruki nodded slowly.
"…okay."
No overthinking.
No hesitation.
He turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
"…I'll figure it out."
A small pause.
"…properly."
He stepped forward.
At the door—
he paused again.
"…thanks."
Then left.
The door closed softly.
Silence returned.
"…so?"
The terrace girl exhaled quietly.
Shin leaned against the wall.
"…so what?"
"…how long are you going to wait?"
A small pause.
"…until he stops stopping halfway."
She looked at him.
"…and if he doesn't?"
Shin's gaze stayed forward.
"…he will."
"…you sound sure."
A faint breath.
"…because he's already trying."
She crossed her arms.
"…don't take too long."
Shin didn't answer.
His eyes shifted slightly—
toward the door.
"…he won't let me."
---
After school.
The sky softened into evening.
Haruki walked out with his bag loosely on his shoulder.
"Yo, you're leaving alone again?"
Daichi caught up.
"…you too."
"Yeah, but I have a reason."
"…what reason?"
"…I forgot my lunchbox."
Riku sighed behind him.
"…you didn't forget. You were just lazy."
"…same thing."
Haruki shook his head slightly.
"…you guys are always like this?"
Daichi grinned.
"Now you're noticing?"
"…yeah."
"…good. Keep noticing."
Aoi joined them quietly.
"Heading home?"
"…yeah."
A short silence.
Then—
Daichi stretched again.
"I'm going the other way."
Riku followed.
"…I have something to finish."
"…you don't."
"…I do."
"…you're lying."
"…maybe."
They walked off.
Leaving Haruki and Aoi.
---
The road felt quieter now.
Not awkward.
Just calm.
"…you come this way every day?"
Haruki asked.
"…yeah."
"…alone?"
"…not always."
A small pause.
"…sometimes."
They walked a few steps.
Wind moved softly.
Aoi glanced at him.
"…you still have it."
"…what?"
She pointed.
The towel.
Still around his neck.
Haruki blinked.
"…oh."
"…you forgot?"
"…I guess."
She stepped closer.
Without thinking—
she reached out again.
Lightly adjusting it.
"…you'll lose it like this."
Her hands paused—
just for a second.
Then she stepped back.
"…keep it properly."
Haruki looked at her.
"…you did that yesterday too."
She froze slightly.
"…did I?"
"…yeah."
A small silence.
"…then it's fine."
She turned slightly away.
"…you don't seem to mind."
Haruki didn't answer immediately.
"…I don't."
That—
felt simple.
But it stayed.
They walked again.
Slower this time.
"…Aoi."
"…hm?"
"…have we walked like this before?"
She didn't answer right away.
The wind passed between them.
"…maybe."
Same answer as before.
But this time—
it felt closer.
Haruki didn't push.
Because now—
he understood something.
Not everything needed to be explained.
Some things—
were already there.
They stopped at a crossing.
"…this is my way."
Aoi said quietly.
"…mine too."
A small pause.
"…then walk."
He almost smiled.
And they moved forward—
side by side.
---
Evening deepened.
The road stretched ahead.
Haruki glanced slightly beside him.
Then forward again.
"…start from where I am…"
The words felt different now.
Not heavy.
Not confusing.
Just—
real.
"…this is fine for now."