Saki was waiting for the class to end with almost bated breath. The pen on her desk spun restlessly between her fingers, and whenever she got anxious, she tapped it against the table—tick, tick—the small sound fading into the silence of the classroom. She absentmindedly scribbled tiny music notes, random flowers, and shapes she couldn't even explain onto the corner of her notebook.
Please end already… please… she begged silently. Because the moment that bell rang, their unfinished date would continue. Even just thinking about it made her heartbeat quicken.
It felt like the entire classroom was wrapped in a fog; all sounds drifted away, distant and dull. The only thing Saki could hear was her own heartbeat echoing loudly in her chest—don-don-don.
Just then, the classroom door swung open.
Principal Takeshi stepped inside.
His eyes smiled behind his thick glasses as he entered.
"Good afternoon, sensei," he greeted politely before turning to the students. "Alright everyone, don't worry… I'm here with good news."
Instant silence.
A feather dropping to the floor would've been heard.
Even Saki lifted her head—Takeshi giving good news was rare.
Seeing the perfectly quiet room, Takeshi nodded with approval.
"Yes, as you all know… tomorrow is a national holiday."
A small lightbulb flicked on in Saki's mind.
Ah—right… tomorrow was a holiday.
She almost scolded herself; her mind had been so busy that she'd forgotten something that obvious.
But Takeshi continued.
"However… the music club is excluded." He said it with a teasing smile.
Hiroki and Miyuki's faces dropped at the exact same time.
Ughhh… A holiday, and we still have to come? they both complained internally, their expressions perfectly synchronized.
Takeshi noticed their reaction and let out a hearty laugh.
"Yes, yes, I see it. The music club looks disappointed," he said playfully. "Tomorrow, we'll practice the song you all selected. If I like it, most of our work will be done."
Then he narrowed his eyes mischievously.
"If I don't like it… I might take another one of your holidays."
Muted laughs rippled through the class.
"Well then, enjoy the rest of your lesson," Takeshi said, and left the room with slow, calm steps.
The door closed—and the classroom noise immediately returned.
But Saki was still staring at the clock.
Five minutes left.
Five minutes… but to Saki, it felt like five hours. Her fingers trembled with excitement; she couldn't decide whether to put the pen away or keep holding it. When the thought of the date crossed her mind, her lips curled into the faintest smile.
Hiroki…
Her throat tightened. Because suddenly, another name flashed in her mind:
Yusuke.
Ah… right. Yusuke said he'd wait for me at the entrance…
She had no idea what she would do. What she would say. Her mind was completely, hopelessly focused on Hiroki.
Lost in thoughts, that final minute passed in what felt like a single second.
The bell rang.
Hiroki was the first out of his seat, and he walked straight to her.
"Saki, you've already packed your things, huh?" he said with a soft smile.
Saki's cheeks flushed.
"Y-yeah… I got ready," she said shyly.
"Alright then. Wait for me at the entrance, okay? I left my guitar on stage during practice. I'll go get it."
Saki nodded, and just then, Miyuki walked over too.
"Okay then, wait for us outside," she said with a warm smile.
For a second, Saki felt caught between the two of them, but she still nodded. "Okay."
As Miyuki was about to leave, she leaned closer to Saki, her voice almost a whisper.
"I'm gonna practice the drums a bit. We'll talk tonight, alright?"
She really didn't want Saki to feel distant.
Saki returned her smile sincerely. "Alright."
Her expression said, We're fine. Don't worry.
Once Hiroki and Miyuki left, Saki let out a deep breath. She fixed her bag on her shoulder, brushed her hair back, and walked slowly toward the school exit.
The hallway was as crowded as ever, but Saki didn't hear a single voice.
With every step, her heartbeat grew louder.
And then, right by the entrance…
Someone was waiting.
Yusuke.
He pretended to be on his phone, but his eyes kept flicking toward the doorway. It was painfully obvious he was waiting for her.
Saki stopped.
In an instant, her world split in two.
On one side were Hiroki and Miyuki.
On the other side were Yusuke and Hana.
Both paths offered something different. But Saki's heart… had already chosen one direction.
With each step she took, her pulse quickened even more.
What do I do?
Do I hurt Yusuke's feelings?
Do I explain?
But… Hiroki…
Right before she reached the door, a terrifying thought struck her:
She absolutely could NOT let Hiroki see her talking to Yusuke.
She had to prevent that.
But how?
Her heart was pounding wildly, her mind tangled, her breaths uneven. It felt like she was standing at the center of a crossroads.
The wind outside brushed her hair, her ears rang faintly, and the world around her blurred as if someone had smeared the edges of reality.
Time slowed.
And there, right in front of the door…
Everything froze for a single moment.