March 28th 2006 – Third Term, Final Week
– Classroom 2-B
Outside, the wind shook the sakura trees just enough to send a few petals floating past the windows. The classroom had that warm, slightly sleepy feel it always got when the school year was about to end — the kind of drowsiness that made even the clocks tick slower.
Yui tapped the end of her pencil lightly against her worksheet, chewing her lower lip. The teacher was still droning at the front of the room about kanji corrections and grammar errors. Every other desk in the room was filled with students pretending to care — heads propped on hands, eyes half-lidded, the energy of a class that had mentally already graduated to spring.
Next to her, Ayumi was clearly doodling something instead of taking notes. Her bangs hid the way her lips curled in amusement.
Then — a quiet rustle of paper.
Ayumi tore a piece off the corner of her notebook and slid it across Yui's desk with no ceremony.
"Bet Haru hasn't touched a textbook in a month."
Yui smiled, carefully writing back in her neatest handwriting:
"He probably thinks test scores come from punching the paper hard enough."
They passed notes back and forth, occasionally glancing up to make sure the teacher wasn't looking. It was childish and exactly what they needed. They joked about their classmates, about the way the teacher's voice never rose or fell, about how weird it was that the year was already ending.
"Do you still think being 13 is cool?" Ayumi scribbled.
Yui wrote under it:
"I guess, it's alright."
Ayumi snorted quietly, muffling it behind her sleeve.
For a moment, it really did feel like old times — like back when the worst part of life was forgetting homework or getting the hiccups during presentations. Before Limbo. Before transformation items. Before watching people nearly die.
Ayumi bumped her knee lightly into Yui's and gave her a small, sideways grin.
No matter how strange everything else got, this — them — stayed the same.
– Boys' Bathroom
The bathroom was dimly lit, the kind of fluorescent yellow that made your skin look sick. The scent of disinfectant didn't quite hide the metallic tang of plumbing, and one of the sinks dripped, an annoyingly slow rhythm.
Kaito leaned against the wall, clutching his sketchpad to his chest like a shield. His shoulders were hunched, his eyes flicking between Daichi — who was pretending to be bored — and Haru, who stood by the sink, casually twirling a pen between his fingers.
None of them really said anything.
Kaito didn't mind. He was just grateful to not be alone.
Then the door swung open.
A group of boys stomped in, laughing way too loudly. It took them all of three seconds to spot him.
"Yo, Tsukino," the tallest one called, grinning like a jackal. "Didn't think you'd survive this long in middle school."
"Yeah," another sneered. "Heard you actually made friends. Must be fake ones, right?"
Kaito stiffened. His fingers dug into his sketchpad. His mouth opened slightly — but nothing came out.
Haru turned. Slowly.
"You bored or just stupid?" he asked, voice even.
The first boy laughed. "What, you protecting this loser now?"
Daichi stood up from the stall he'd been leaning on, brushing imaginary dust off his pants. His voice was low, dry. "You guys pick fights like your parents pick lottery numbers — always losing."
The tallest boy stepped forward, puffing up. "You got something to say, freak?"
"Yeah," Haru snapped, stepping in between them. "Leave him the hell alone."
"Didn't think you'd care," the boy muttered.
Haru's eyes narrowed. "You think being loud makes you important? You think making people feel small means you're big? You're pathetic."
The room froze.
Nobody said anything.
Kaito felt something sting at the back of his eyes.
Then — the door creaked again.
A teacher stood in the doorway, eyes narrowing.
"You three. Go to your cleaning groups. Now."
No one argued.
The bullies shoved past, muttering under their breath. Kaito looked down, heart pounding. Haru let out a breath through his nose, then glanced at him.
"You good?"
Kaito nodded. It wasn't much, but it was real.
– Lunchtime
Lunchtime always used to be Airi's favorite part of the day — the place where she got to bask in attention, in the sound of compliments, in the security of her popularity.
But something felt… off now.
She stood with her tray in her hands, watching the usual table. Three girls sat there, chatting. Laughing. She smiled as she approached.
One girl looked up. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Sorry," she said, casually, gesturing. "No space."
Airi blinked. There were literally two empty seats.
"Oh," she said softly. "That's okay."
She turned and walked away slowly, each step heavier than the last. Her tray wobbled in her hands. She didn't want to cry. She didn't even know why it hurt this much.
It was just lunch.
Just girls she wasn't sure she liked anymore.
Just—
She made it into the bathroom and locked herself in a stall. Sat down on the closed lid, pressed her forehead to the back of her hand.
But something inside cracked.The door creaked open, "Airi?" a small voice said, a small voice that happened to be Haruka. The younger girl didn't try to pretend she wasn't there. She just tapped on the door gently.
"I know it's you. You okay?"
"I think you're cool," Haruka said simply. "Even if the others don't because you hang out with us now.."
Still silence.
"I like hanging out with you," she added. "And I don't care what anyone else says."
Airi's fingers curled tighter around her tray. Her lips trembled.
Haruka didn't leave. she waited, Eventually, the stall unlocked, Airi stepped out. Her eyes were glassy, cheeks a little pink. Haruka smiled and reached out — not forcefully, just an offer. Airi took it. And hugged her tightly and didn't let go.
After Cleanup –
The cleaning finally ended just as the sun began to dip low, staining the school hallways in gold.
They gathered outside near the school gates, the air warm and breezy. There were no more notes, no homework, no expectations. Just the weightless calm before spring break.
"So," Ayumi said, stretching her arms above her head, "are we doing anything for break?"
"We could do both," Kaito offered with a small smile.
"There's the spring festival this weekend," Haruka chimed in, twirling her mop like a staff. "Lots of food stalls, games, fireworks…"
Yui's eyes lit up. "That sounds fun."
Ayumi grinned. "We should all go. Dress up, take cute photos!"
Even Airi hesitated before nodding slowly. "Yeah… that actually sounds kind of nice."
Haru shoved his hands into his pockets. "Alright. Sure. But if I have to carry Ayumi when she passes out from cotton candy overdose—"
"You wish," Ayumi snapped. "I can handle my sugar like a champion."Daichi gave a quiet, dry laugh. "This is going to be chaos."
—————————————————-
— Evening —
The sun had dipped fully beneath the horizon, casting the town in a soft lavender haze. Lanterns swayed from long strings across the street, glowing with warm amber light. The scent of fried snacks, yakisoba, and roasted sweet potatoes filled the air.
The main group met near the shrine entrance, where the festival was in full swing.
Yui arrived last with Haruka, Ayumi, and Airi — all four of them wearing colorful yukata. Haruka's was deep violet, speckled with white stars. Ayumi's was dark green with gold cranes. Airi wore pale peach with cherry blossoms stitched along the edges.
But Yui—
Yui wore soft white and sky blue, delicate and understated. Her hair, for once, was down — silky light brown strands brushing against her collarbones. She looked radiant in a way that caught the streetlight and glowed.
Haru turned his head at the sound of their approach and—
His breath caught.
Yui smiled at him, not noticing the way his eyes widened slightly.
She waved. "Hey, sorry we're late!"
Haru coughed into his hand and looked away too fast while blushing. "Its fine, we just came now to actually.."
Kaito spoke. "You all look… really nice."
Daichi nodded in agreement
Ayumi elbowed Yui playfully. "I wonder what that was about.."
"Huh, what are we talking about..?" Yui asked innocently.
Haru didn't say a word. He just stood there, watching her quietly when no one was looking — the noise of the festival dimmed just slightly in the distance.
The street glowed in soft amber and pinks as the group walked deeper into the heart of the festival. Paper lanterns swung overhead, the scent of grilled squid and sweet dango wafting on the breeze.
It didn't take long for the chaos to begin.
"I'm winning a goldfish," Ayumi declared, pointing at the booth with the plastic scoops and glittering fish bowls.
"You have no coordination," Haru replied, deadpan.
"Says the guy who tripped up the stairs last week."
"That was on purpose."
"Sure it was."
Yui laughed, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "I'll try too," she said, stepping beside Ayumi. "But I don't think I've ever actually caught one."
"I have," Airi offered confidently, slipping up beside them. "Twice. You have to be fast but not clumsy."
"Great," Ayumi muttered. "We brought a fish expert."
Yui smiled, bumping Ayumi lightly with her shoulder. "Let's all try together."
Even Haruka joined in, rolling up her sleeves like she was going into battle. Kaito and Daichi stayed back to watch — Kaito smiling, Daichi with his arms crossed and a look that screamed this is going to be a mess.
It was.
Ayumi's scoop tore the moment it touched the water. Yui squealed as her goldfish darted away at the last second. Airi nearly had one, then sneezed when a child ran into her. Haruka caught one, somehow, and held it up like a war trophy.
"I am the fish queen!" she shouted.
Ayumi gave her a dramatic bow. "Your majesty."
Daichi chuckled. "Truly the most regal of titles."
Next came the shooting gallery.
"Okay," Haru said, cracking his knuckles. "Now this I can do."
"You'll lose" Ayumi warned. "Definitely."
He ignored her, stepping up to the stand with all the confidence in the world. He missed the first shot.
Kaito won a prize instead — a small, fluffy cat keychain. He handed it to Haruka without a word. She grinned and looped it onto her festival bag.
"Thanks," she said. "You have good aim."
Kaito blushed and looked away. "Lucky shot."
As the night deepened, they stopped at food stands — takoyaki, yakisoba, candied apples, and melon soda in glass bottles. Yui bought roasted sweet potatoes for herself and Ayumi, and they walked arm in arm, chewing and laughing about nothing in particular.
Even Airi, at some point, stopped trying so hard.
She wasn't talking over everyone. She wasn't performing. She was just… there. Walking with the group. Smiling. Looking a little lighter than she usually did at school.
And when she caught Daichi watching her curiously, she tilted her head. "What?"
"You seem… different."
Airi blinked, then shrugged. "I guess.."
He didn't respond, but the look in his eyes softened.
Later, the group found a quieter spot near the back of the shrine hill. The booths were still bustling below, but here — it was calm.They sat in a rough circle. Some on steps, some on the grass. Lantern light flickered over their faces.
The first firework cracked the sky in pink.
Then gold.Then blue.Yui's eyes reflected the lights as she leaned back on her hands, smiling faintly. She was sitting next to Haru now — close enough that their arms occasionally brushed when they shifted.
"Thanks for coming," she said softly.
Haru looked over. The firework lit her face in color.
"Thanks for inviting me," he replied.
They didn't speak after that.But when Yui turned to look up again, Haru watched her for just a second longer. Not long enough for her to notice — but long enough that he had to look away quickly again, pretending like nothing happened.
Next to them, Haruka had dozed off against Kaito's shoulder. He didn't seem to mind.Airi sat between Ayumi and Daichi, and for the first time, she wasn't trying to win anyone over. She just sat quietly, legs folded beneath her, eyes on the sky.