After Hiroki's sudden departure, Saki walked toward the park's exit.
The slight chill of the evening brushed against her face, stirring a mix of emotions within her: disappointment, happiness, and worry.
"What happened to Hiroki?"
She reached for her phone, then immediately pulled her hand back.
"No… he might be busy. It's best not to disturb him."
Her heart raced.
With every step, her thoughts grew even more tangled.
Walking slowly toward her home, her mind replayed the first date she had experienced today.
Everything had happened so quickly and abruptly that both excitement and confusion enveloped her.
"I wonder… did Hiroki enjoy it too?"
When she arrived home, she changed her clothes.
She quickly grabbed a snack.
But her thoughts never left Hiroki, not for a single moment.
Curiosity gnawed at her from the inside, and she wished she could escape the feeling even a little.
"If only I could somehow find out…"
Desperately pondering, she remembered Miyuki.
"Maybe she knows something…"
She immediately picked up her phone and sent a message:
> Saki: Good evening, Miyuki. How are you?
The reply came instantly:
> Miyuki: Good evening, Saki! I'm doing well. How about you?
> Saki: I'm fine too.
> Miyuki: I'm in a hurry right now. Is this urgent?
> Saki: I just wanted to ask about Hiroki… He left suddenly after a call today.
> Miyuki: No, I don't really know, Saki.
> Saki: Okay… good evening then, Miyuki.
> Miyuki: Good evening to you too, Saki.
Saki put her phone down.
She hadn't received the answer she wanted from Miyuki or anyone else.
She tried to suppress her curiosity, but her heart still raced.
"How am I going to sleep tonight…"
Looking out the window, the sky tinged with orange gave her some peace even though it didn't answer her questions.
The wind lightly brushed her hair, stirring a sweet sense of loneliness inside her.
"Maybe… everything will be okay tomorrow."
But Saki knew that curiosity and excitement always came with a touch of bittersweet longing.
That longing made Hiroki's smile even more precious.
Her heart warmed slightly.
Her chest tightened.
All together, the memories of today felt even more vivid.
And at that moment…
Saki realized she couldn't stop thinking about Hiroki.
Accepting everything, she walked toward her bed.
Lying down, her heart still beat "Hiroki… Hiroki…"
As she closed her eyes, wondering how she could sleep, she remembered Mr. Teddy.
She slowly got up, picked up Mr. Teddy, and lay back down, hugging him tightly.
It was as if the bear could ease Hiroki's absence just a little.
With Mr. Teddy in her arms, Saki closed her eyes.
Her thoughts revolved around Hiroki; each memory both warmed her heart and caused a faint ache.
The next morning, she woke up still tired and weak.
But she forced herself:
"Today, I have to go to school and see Hiroki…"
She got ready quickly, had breakfast, and headed to school.
Walking through the schoolyard toward the building, she noticed the gazes around her.
It felt as if everyone was watching her, though she didn't understand why.
With each step, her chest tightened more; step by step, she was being drawn into an unknown tension.
When she reached the classroom door, she held her breath and opened it.
Her eyes immediately searched for Hiroki… but he wasn't there.
Feeling helpless, she sat at her desk.
An emptiness, a strange sense of unease, grew within her.
"Maybe he'll come before class starts…" she thought, but hope trembled like a thin thread.
Class began, but Hiroki still didn't appear.
Saki's chest tightened even more.
Her worry slowly turned into fear.
"There's no point in worrying now… there's nothing I can do," she whispered to herself.
When the bell rang for recess, Saki hoped to see Miyuki or Yusuke… but they weren't there either.
Silence seemed to linger heavily in every corner of the classroom.
"Where is everyone? What's happening? Don't they know?" she wondered.
Leaning back in her seat, she looked around and felt an odd emptiness and strange silence.
Everything appeared normal—the time, the sounds, even the light—but it felt hollow inside.
Saki took a deep breath, but the unease didn't fade.
Her heart raced unconsciously, and goosebumps rose on her skin.
Instinctively, she knew today wouldn't be an ordinary day.
As she sat at her desk, she noticed a student staring at her. Their eyes met involuntarily.
"Why is he looking at me like that?" she thought, feeling both curiosity and slight unease.
The mysterious student silently approached Saki.
With each step, her curiosity deepened.
It was as if every step was an invitation to get to know her.
When he reached her, he spoke in an almost whispering voice:
"Let's talk after school."
As soon as he finished, he turned and quietly walked away.
Saki tried to make sense of it; she was facing someone she had never seen before.
A mixture of surprise and mild excitement stirred inside her.
Throughout the lessons, her mind kept drifting back to him.
Time passed slowly, each moment making her wish for school to end sooner, hoping to catch a clue from the mysterious student.
Finally, school ended.
Saki decided to wait a little longer in the classroom.
Her heart raced with excitement, her hands unconsciously gripping the edge of the desk.
The door creaked open slightly, and the mysterious student entered.
He walked slowly toward Saki, leaving a tense atmosphere in the room.