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That morning, something about school felt… different.
The sky was still blue. The school gate was still crowded. But for Kazuki, everything felt oddly new. His heartbeat was faster than usual as he looked at the empty seat beside him.
Aira wasn't there yet.
"Calm down… act normal," he muttered, pretending to read his textbook.
Suguru, seated behind him, was munching on a sausage bun.
"Bro… so you and Aira are getting close now, huh?" he whispered behind Kazuki's chair.
Kazuki didn't turn around. "Not really."
"Ohhh~ so what I saw during the festival was just a hallucination, huh? I swear I saw you… smiling."
Kazuki closed his book. "Want me to report you to the counselor?"
Suguru chuckled. "Chill, bro. Just saying—falling in love can lower your IQ, you know."
Kazuki scoffed. But deep inside… he was thinking.
Yesterday. The festival. That kiss.
Why did his face heat up every time he remembered it?
Just as the bell rang, Aira finally entered the classroom—with her usual bright smile.
"Good morning!" she chirped.
Kazuki didn't dare look at her. But Aira casually sat beside him, hung her bag, and opened a small lunchbox.
"I made sandwiches," she said, offering him one. "Wanna try?"
Kazuki hesitated.
"C'mon~ you said it yourself yesterday, 'If you can't say it, show it.' Well, this sandwich is my way of saying: 'I like you'—in egg and butter."
Kazuki was silent. His face turned even redder.
Suguru almost choked on his bread behind them.
"Brooo… you got a love sandwich??"
Kazuki took the sandwich.
One bite.
Tastes decent. But that wasn't the point.
He looked at Aira. "Your sandwich looks ugly. But fine, I'll eat it."
Aira laughed. "What a tsundere."
That day, class felt lighter.
And lunch break flew by.
Something had changed.
Not the school. Not the teacher. But them.
Kazuki realized… Monday feels different now.
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