Morning arrived quietly, wrapped in pale sunlight that slipped through the curtains like a hesitant visitor.
Kai stirred before his alarm rang, eyes half-open, mind still tangled in fragments of dreams he couldn't quite remember. For a few seconds he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, breathing slowly. Then, as if on cue, a familiar thought surfaced—and his heart skipped.
Ayaka.
He sat up abruptly, rubbing his face.
"Get it together," he muttered to himself, standing up and stretching.
After washing up and changing, he stepped out into the hallway. The house felt warm already, filled with the faint clatter of utensils and the smell of breakfast drifting from the kitchen. As he descended the stairs, he spotted Ayaka standing near the dining area, adjusting her hair in the reflection of the window.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
For a split second, neither of them moved.
"…Good morning," Kai said, his voice softer than he intended.
"G-Good morning," Ayaka replied.
Silence followed—thin, fragile, and awkward.
Kai noticed it first: the faint pink blooming on Ayaka's cheeks. Almost immediately, heat rushed to his own face, like he'd been caught staring when he wasn't supposed to. He looked away far too quickly.
Ayaka did the same.
They walked to the table at nearly the same time, sitting opposite each other like strangers pretending not to know each other too well. Mrs. Ishida placed plates in front of them, humming gently.
"You two look unusually quiet today," she said casually.
"N-Nothing!" they both replied at the exact same moment.
That only made it worse.
Mr. Ishida chuckled behind his newspaper. "Youth."
Breakfast passed peacefully after that. Kai complimented the food as always, Ayaka ate while pretending not to glance at him every few seconds, and the quiet comfort of routine settled in. Yet beneath it all, there was a strange tension—like something unspoken hanging between them.
When they left for school, the morning air was crisp. Their footsteps fell into sync naturally as they walked side by side. No one spoke at first.
Then Ayaka broke the silence.
"…You slept okay?"
"Y-Yeah. You?"
"Mhm."
Another pause.
But this time, it wasn't uncomfortable.
By the time they reached the school gates, the familiar noise swallowed them—voices, laughter, footsteps echoing across the grounds. As soon as Kai stepped inside, he felt it: eyes on him.
Whispers followed.
"Isn't that him?"
"He's back again today…"
"He's kinda cute, right?"
Kai stiffened.
Ayaka noticed immediately.
She didn't say anything—but her gaze sharpened.
Classes began as usual. Chalk scratched against the board, pages turned, teachers droned on. Kai tried to focus, but his thoughts wandered. Every time he shifted in his seat, he could feel Ayaka beside him—too close, yet somehow not close enough.
At one point, their elbows brushed.
Both froze.
Ayaka's shoulders tensed. Kai nearly jumped out of his skin.
"S-Sorry," he whispered.
"It's fine," she replied, her voice barely audible.
The class continued.
By mid-morning, a few classmates approached Kai with questions—homework, notes, explanations. He answered as best as he could, polite but visibly nervous. Each interaction chipped away at his composure.
Ayaka watched every single one.
Her expression never changed—but something dark flickered behind her eyes whenever another girl leaned too close.
Lunch break arrived like a release.
Students flooded the cafeteria and courtyard. Kai and Ayaka sat at their usual spot. For a while, things were calm. They ate, talked lightly, laughed once or twice.
Then it happened.
A girl Kai had seen before—but never spoken to—approached their table. She was simple in appearance, neat uniform, nervous hands clasped tightly together. She stopped in front of Kai and took a deep breath.
"T-Tenjou… , right?"
Kai looked up, startled. "Y-Yes?"
Her cheeks flushed. "Um… I was wondering if you'd maybe like to… go out sometime?"
The world seemed to stop.
Kai's brain completely shut down.
"…A—A date?" he stammered.
The girl nodded quickly. "I mean—if you're free. It's okay if you say no! I just thought—"
Kai opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ayaka's grip tightened around her chopsticks.
The air turned heavy.
Kai swallowed hard, heart pounding so loud he was sure everyone could hear it. He glanced sideways—just for a second—and met Ayaka's eyes.
They were calm.
Too calm.
"I—uh—" Kai tried again, voice cracking. "I—"
Before he could finish, the bell rang sharply, slicing through the tension like a blade.
Students groaned. The girl flinched, then smiled awkwardly.
"I—I guess you don't have to answer now," she said quickly. "Just… think about it, okay?"
She turned and hurried away.
Kai sat frozen, staring at his tray.
Ayaka stood up.
"…We should go," she said flatly.
Kai nodded, still dazed.
As they walked back to class, neither of them spoke.
But something had changed.
And Kai could feel it.
Students groaned collectively, trays clattering as they stood and returned them. Conversations trailed off as people filtered back into the corridors, the lazy freedom of lunch replaced once again by routine.
Kai adjusted the strap of his bag as he walked beside Ayaka, still slightly flustered from earlier.
That girl's words echoed faintly in his head.
"Would you like to go out with me sometime?"
He hadn't answered properly—just mumbled something awkward before the bell rang.
Now, as they walked back to class, silence stretched between them.
Not an uncomfortable one.
Just… charged.
Kai glanced sideways.
Ayaka was walking normally, posture straight, expression composed—but her cheeks were faintly pink. Not enough for others to notice. Enough for him to notice.
He quickly looked away.
Why is it suddenly so hard to breathe…?
They entered the classroom and took their usual seats beside each other. Chairs scraped softly, notebooks opened, and the low hum of voices settled into quiet as the teacher entered once more.
"Alright, everyone. Let's continue."
The lecture resumed.
Chalk moved across the blackboard in steady strokes. Numbers, symbols, explanations filled the air. Sunlight filtered in through the windows, warmer now, slanting across desks and arms.
Kai tried to focus.
He really did.
But every few minutes—
his eyes drifted.
To her.
Ayaka was writing diligently, her pen moving smoothly across the page. A loose strand of hair had slipped free, brushing against her cheek. She tucked it back absently, unaware of his gaze.
Then—
She looked at him.
Their eyes met.
Just for a second.
Kai's heart jumped. He looked away instantly, pretending to reread a line he already understood. His ears felt warm.
Beside him, Ayaka stiffened slightly.
Why did he look at me like that…?
Her pen paused mid-word.
She shook her head subtly and continued writing—but not before sneaking another glance.
Their eyes met again.
This time, neither looked away immediately.
Something unspoken passed between them—quiet, fragile, electric.
Ayaka's heart skipped.
Stop. Focus. It's just Kai.
But her thoughts betrayed her.
Without warning, her mind painted an image—
too vivid, too sudden—
Kai closer than he should be.
His hand—
His voice—
His lips—
Her breath caught.
—WAIT.
Ayaka's eyes widened.
WHAT AM I THINKING?!
She violently shook her head once, then twice, hair swaying as she snapped herself back to reality.
Her face ignited.
Red.
Then redder.
Then nuclear.
She slapped her notebook shut a little too hard.
Kai jumped slightly. "Eh—?! A-Ayaka…?"
"I-I'm fine!" she snapped instantly, refusing to look at him. "Just—just tired!"
Her cheeks were burning so badly she was convinced steam might come out of her ears. She stared straight at the board, hands clenched tightly in her lap.
Idiot. Absolute idiot. Why would you imagine THAT now?!
Kai watched her silently, confused—but also… worried.
The rest of the class passed in a blur of half-focus and stolen glances.
Whenever Kai looked her way, Ayaka pretended to be deeply invested in the lesson.
Whenever Ayaka accidentally met his eyes, she immediately looked away, heart pounding.
Neither of them noticed how many times it happened.
The final bell rang.
A long, echoing sound that signaled freedom.
Students erupted into motion—bags zipped, chairs pushed back, voices rising as the tension of the day finally broke.
Kai stood and stretched slightly, exhaling. "Finally…"
Ayaka stood too, calmer now, though her cheeks still held a faint blush. She slung her bag over her shoulder and glanced at him.
"…You okay?" she asked quietly.
Kai nodded. "Yeah. Just… long day."
She studied his face for a moment—searching, thoughtful.
"…Same."
They walked out together once more, side by side, the corridors glowing in late-afternoon light. Outside, the sky had begun to soften, clouds tinted gold and pale orange.
School was over.
But neither of them felt like the day truly was.
Because somewhere beneath the normalcy—
beneath the blushes, the awkward glances, the quiet moments—
The truth was waiting.
And Kai was closer than ever to an answer
he wasn't ready for.
They walked home together under the fading light of the evening sky.
The streets were quieter now, bathed in soft orange hues as the sun dipped lower. Their footsteps matched naturally, a comfortable rhythm they had fallen into without realizing it. Ayaka talked about small things—something Claire said, a quiz next week—while Kai nodded along, answering when needed, his mind half elsewhere.
When they reached the house, Ayaka slipped off her shoes and glanced at him.
"Don't disappear again," she said lightly, though there was something searching in her eyes.
Kai hesitated for half a second. "I'll be back soon."
She frowned just a little but nodded. "Dinner's soon."
He went straight to his room.
The moment the door closed behind him, Kai exhaled deeply. He changed quickly—washing his face, combing his hair half-heartedly—then swapped his uniform for loose, comfortable clothes. A plain shirt. Soft pants. Something easy to move in.
He checked his phone.
The map pin glowed faintly on the screen.
Tenjou Auto Works.
Without letting himself overthink it, he slipped out of the house, the door closing quietly behind him.
The bus ride was short but felt long.
Buildings changed slowly, familiar streets giving way to older ones. The air felt different here—heavier somehow, carrying the scent of oil, rust, and time. He stepped off near the marked location and looked around.
…Nothing.
No signboard.
No workshop noise.
No garage doors.
Just a quiet stretch of road with a few shuttered shops and an empty lot where the map insisted the place should be.
Kai walked up and down the street twice, eyes scanning every corner.
"Did I… get it wrong?"
His chest tightened.
Then—
"Hey. Young one."
Kai froze.
He turned toward the voice. An old man sat on a wooden stool near a small tea stall, skin weathered, eyes sharp despite his age. He looked at Kai with mild curiosity, as if he'd been watching for a while.
"You look lost," the man said. "What're you searching for?"
Kai hesitated, then pulled out the photograph. His fingers trembled slightly as he held it out.
"This place," he said. "Tenjou Auto Works. It was supposed to be here."
The old man's expression changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
"…Ah," he murmured. "That name."
Kai's heart skipped. "You know it?"
The old man nodded slowly. "Closed years ago. Long time now." He leaned back slightly. "The original owner—Tenjou-san—was a good man. Skilled. Honest. After he passed… things didn't stay the same."
Kai's breath caught. "Passed…?"
The man glanced at him more carefully now. "You didn't know?"
Kai swallowed. "…I know."
The old man sighed. "After his death, the place was run briefly by someone else. Second owner. But it didn't last. The shop shut down, and the land was sold."
"Then… where is he now?" Kai asked quietly. "The second owner."
"He moved on," the man replied. "Settled down with his wife. Still in this city—but far from here."
Kai clenched his fists. "Do you know where?"
The old man shook his head. "Not the exact location. But I know this—he opened another shop. His own this time."
Hope flickered.
"What's it called?"
The old man pointed vaguely toward the east. "In the Kisaragi district. The shop's called Kisaragi Customs."
Kai repeated it under his breath, engraving the name into his mind.
"…Thank you."
The old man waved him off gently. "If you're chasing the past, kid… be ready for what you find."
Kai bowed politely, then turned back the way he came.
The sky was darker now.
By the time he reached home, the lights were on inside.
"Kai?" his mother's voice called the moment he stepped in. "Where did you go?"
Ayaka appeared too, arms crossed, eyes narrowing the second she saw him.
"…You said 'soon.'"
Kai scratched the back of his head. "Sorry. I just… needed air."
She stared at him for a moment longer, then huffed softly and turned away. (face got reder) : "Dummy..."
Upstairs, Kai sat at his desk briefly, flipping open a notebook. He tried to study—just a little—but his eyes kept drifting to the drawer.
Kisaragi Customs.
At dinner, the atmosphere was warm but watchful.
Ayaka sat beside him, closer than usual. Every time his arm moved, it brushed hers, sending a quiet spark through both of them. Kai apologized twice for zoning out; Ayaka snapped once, then immediately looked embarrassed.
"I'm not mad," she muttered, cheeks pink. "Just… don't worry me."
Their parents exchanged knowing smiles and said nothing.
Later that night, Kai lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Across the hall, Ayaka hugged her pillow tightly, heart still restless.
Somewhere in the same city, the truth waited.
And tomorrow—
Tomorrow wouldn't bring answers.
It would bring consequences.