The forest lodge faded behind us as the bus rumbled down the road, carrying us back to the city.
Students were tired, sunburnt, and full of exaggerated campfire stories.
Hinata was passed out across two seats, hugging a bag of leftover snacks like it was a stuffed animal.
I sat by the window, watching the trees pass, but my thoughts were miles away.
And next to me because fate was still playing games sat Shinbou.
Silent. Still. But definitely not asleep.
---
He hadn't said much since that headache yesterday.
Not a word about the forest.
Not a word about what he told me.
But the tension between us was thicker than the bus air.
His fingers drummed lightly against his knee.
I peeked sideways.
His eyes were open staring at nothing.
And then, suddenly, he spoke.
"Did I… say anything strange yesterday?"
I blinked. "What?"
"At the bench," he said. "When my head hurt. I can't remember exactly what I said."
"Oh," I said quickly. "Just… that you needed to sit. That's all."
A lie.
I wasn't ready to hear him deny those words if I told the truth.
---
"Right," he murmured.
He didn't push. Didn't question it.
But I could tell he didn't quite believe me either.
---
Behind us, Hinata stirred and mumbled in her sleep:
"Date me, Itsuki... I made s'mores…"
I stifled a laugh.
Shinbou actually smirked. "She dreams dramatically."
"She lives dramatically."
Another silence followed but not a heavy one this time. More like a pause that wasn't awkward… just unsure.
---
Thirty minutes later, we pulled up to the school lot.
Everyone groaned awake and dragged themselves off the bus.
Hinata immediately launched into a dramatic farewell speech to her "survival squad," and Itsuki actually bowed to her like she was royalty.
I turned to Shinbou.
We both grabbed our bags.
"I guess… see you tomorrow," I said, awkwardly.
He hesitated. Just for a second.
Then nodded. "Yeah. Tomorrow."
---
I stepped out into the warm afternoon sun and watched as students scattered into the parking lot back to their homes, their city lives, their ordinary routines.
And then I saw it.
Shinbou was standing still. Just watching something.
Not something.
My street.
He was staring down the road where my house was.
My chest tightened.
He wasn't moving toward it just... watching it.
His eyes narrowed. His fingers twitched.
Then, slowly, he looked away.
Shouldered his bag.
And walked in the opposite direction.
---
That night, I stood at my bedroom window, looking out at the empty road.
And for a brief second…
I imagined a little boy standing there again.
Smiling.
Saying, "See you later, Kenyu."
But I didn't know if I imagined it.
Or if some part of me had never really stopped waiting.