The train ride home felt different that day.
Makoto leaned against the window, watching Tokyo blur past in streaks of neon and sunset. The rhythm of the train usually lulled him into daydreams about anime or game storylines, but today his thoughts lingered elsewhere.
He could still feel the light pressure of Miku's small hand tugging his sleeve. Her teary eyes. The wave of relief on Tachibana's face. That image stayed with him longer than he expected.
"She seemed... tired," he murmured.
Tachibana. That was her name.
The moment had passed quickly just a thank you, a shared glance, then she and her sister had disappeared into the sea of people like everyone else. But something about her expression had stayed with him.
The next morning, the school gates stood tall against the early light. Makoto met Shidou outside, his best friend already mid-rant.
"and I'm telling you, bro, they had cat ears on the uniforms! That café was legendary."
Makoto chuckled absently, scanning the entrance.
"You good?" Shidou raised an eyebrow. "You're doing that thing where you look like you're here but your brain's still on the train."
Makoto hesitated. "It's nothing. Just… met someone yesterday. Sort of."
Shidou gasped like he'd heard the juiciest gossip in the world. "A girl? I knew it! Spill."
Makoto sighed and told him the story Miku, the station, the older sister.
By the time he finished, Shidou was grinning like a proud older brother. "Dude. That's textbook rom-com material. You're the nice guy who saves the little sister and wins the heart of the mysterious beauty."
"It's not like that," Makoto muttered.
"Yet," Shidou said with a wink.
Third period came around. Literature class.
Makoto tried to focus on the poem scrawled across the blackboard, something about loneliness and cherry blossoms, but his thoughts drifted again to Miku's smile, to Tachibana's tired eyes.
As if fate were cueing a drama scene, the classroom door slid open.
The teacher paused mid sentence. "Ah, perfect timing. Everyone, this is our new transfer student."
Makoto sat up straighter.
In stepped a girl with long black hair tied in a red ribbon.
Tachibana.
She looked calm, but her gaze scanned the room quickly. For the briefest second, it landed on him. Recognition flickered. Her lips parted slightly.
She said nothing.
"This is Tachibana Yui," the teacher announced. "She'll be joining us from today. Please treat her kindly."
Murmurs rippled through the classroom. Boys nudged each other. Girls whispered behind hands. But Tachibana moved with quiet confidence, settling into a window seat diagonal from Makoto close enough to notice each other, distant enough to pretend otherwise.
At lunch, Shidou nearly tackled him.
"Bro. That's her, isn't it? The girl from yesterday?!"
Makoto looked away. "Yeah."
"What is going on with your life lately?! Next thing I know, you're gonna tell me she's a secret agent or a long-lost princess."
Makoto ignored the teasing. His eyes drifted to Tachibana. She was eating alone, neat and quiet, like she didn't notice the whispers around her.
She didn't look lonely.
She looked used to being alone.
After the final bell, students trickled out of the building. Makoto lingered at his desk. When he saw Tachibana gathering her things, he moved without thinking.
Outside the school gate, he caught up to her.
"Hey."
She turned. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, then faded into something gentler. "Makoto, right?"
He nodded. "You remembered."
"You helped Miku. Of course I remember."
There was a short silence, quiet but not uncomfortable.
"Is she doing okay?" he asked.
Tachibana nodded. "She wouldn't stop talking about you last night. You made a good impression."
Makoto chuckled. "She's a sweet kid."
Tachibana's expression softened, but her voice dropped. "She's... everything I have left."
He didn't push. He didn't ask what she meant. It wasn't his place not yet.
They started walking together. Their footsteps synced naturally over the paved path outside the school, past vending machines and narrow alleyways humming with city life.
After a few blocks, she asked quietly, "Do you take the train home?"
"Yeah. You?"
She gave a small nod. "Mind if we walk there together?"
His heart gave a strange little jump. "Sure."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward. It was full. Full of things they didn't yet have words for, and maybe didn't need to. The world bustled around them Tokyo doing what Tokyo always did but in that small moment, Makoto felt something change.
And he was pretty sure… this was only the beginning.