The plaza buzzed with excitement.
Rows of colorful tents stretched across the square, each one belonging to a different author or publisher. Books of every genre decorated neatly arranged shelves while readers wandered from booth to booth with bags full of newly purchased novels.
The line before the largest booth was easily the longest.
Mai smiled softly. "Looks like we're just in time."
Haru looked toward the queue and whistled. "...That's a lot of people."
"It usually is. She's one of my favorite authors."
"I can see why."
As they approached, Haru noticed something strange.
Instead of joining the back of the line...
Mai simply walked past everyone.
Several people looked at her in confusion before quickly returning their attention to their books. Apparently this wasn't unusual.
The woman behind the booth immediately looked up.
The moment she spotted Mai...
Her entire face lit up.
"Mai!"
She hurried around the table and pulled the younger girl into a warm hug.
"It's been forever!"
Mai laughed quietly. "It's only been a few weeks."
"That's forever," Kana replied dramatically before finally letting her go.
She took a step back, looking Mai up and down.
"You've been eating properly? Sleeping enough? Still overworking yourself?"
"I'm doing fine." Mai answered with an embarrassed smile. "I've even made a new friend."
"Oh?"
Kana finally noticed Haru standing a few steps behind. A playful smile spread across her face.
"So..." She folded her arms. "Are you going to introduce this handsome young man?"
Mai's cheeks turned pink. "O-Oh. Right. This is Haru. My friend."
Haru offered a polite bow. "It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard quite a bit about you."
Kana raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully only good things."
"Nothing but good things." Haru answered with a grin. "I've heard you're an incredible author."
Kana laughed. "Flattery already? I like this one."
Mai looked away. "...He's like that with everyone."
"I disagree."
Kana leaned toward Mai and whispered loudly enough for Haru to hear.
"Looks like someone's got a crush."
Mai's face instantly turned bright red.
"W-Wha—?! I wasn't talking about him!"
Kana giggled. "I know. I was talking about you."
"...K-Kana!"
Haru scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I suddenly feel like I'm interrupting something."
"You absolutely are." Kana replied without missing a beat. "Now..."
She looked between them.
"...Where's Sasha?"
Silence.
Mai blinked. "...Who?"
"Sasha." Kana frowned. "You know... Sasha."
Mai slowly shook her head. "I... don't know anyone by that name."
Kana's smile faltered.
"...Really?"
For some reason...
She suddenly looked uncertain.
"...That's strange. I could've sworn..."
She stopped speaking. Her eyes drifted into the distance.
For a brief second...
It looked like she was trying to remember something that refused to be remembered.
Haru felt a strange sensation.
Like something was tugging at the edge of his own memories.
A name. A face. Someone... standing beside Mai.
Someone who should have been there.
"..."
"..."
He frowned. "...Why does that name sound familiar?"
Mai looked at him. "You've heard it before?"
"I... No." He hesitated. "...At least... I don't think so."
Kana blinked several times before forcing a smile. "Haha... I must be getting old. Maybe I mixed someone up."
Mai laughed awkwardly. "Maybe."
"Yeah..." Kana nodded. "...Maybe."
The strange feeling disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
Yet none of them looked completely convinced.
Kana clapped her hands together. "Well! My break is almost over. I've still got a mountain of books to sign."
She suddenly looked at Mai. "Oh! I've been meaning to tell you. I read the newest chapters you sent me."
Mai immediately straightened. "...You did?"
Kana nodded proudly. "You've improved. A lot. The emotional scenes especially—they feel much more... genuine."
Mai's eyes sparkled. "Really?"
"Mhm. You're finally letting your characters breathe instead of rushing them from one event to the next."
Haru smiled quietly. "...Sounds familiar."
Kana continued. "I especially liked the dialogue. It actually feels like people talking instead of characters explaining the plot."
Mai smiled shyly. "...I've been trying."
"It shows." Kana gently poked Mai's forehead. "Keep writing. You've got talent."
"...Thank you."
"Oh! Before I forget..." Kana suddenly snapped her fingers. "Our traditional picture. Phone."
Mai obediently handed it over.
Kana stood between the two students before wrapping an arm around each of them.
"Come closer."
Haru and Mai instinctively leaned in.
"Closer."
They obeyed.
"Closer."
"We're already shoulder to shoulder."
"Closer."
Mai laughed. "There isn't any room left."
"There is now."
Kana said before physically shoving them together.
Mai stumbled slightly into Haru. Their shoulders pressed firmly together.
Both immediately looked away.
Kana smiled mischievously. "Perfect."
Click.
The picture was taken.
She looked at it proudly. "...Adorable."
"Kana!"
"What? I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I absolutely was."
She handed the phone back. "Now run along. I've got readers waiting."
---
As the two walked away from the booth, Haru glanced back.
Kana was already happily greeting the next person in line.
"She seems nice."
Mai nodded. "She's been helping me ever since I started writing."
"So she's your mentor."
"...Something like that."
They walked a little farther before Haru suddenly stopped.
Just a few meters away...
An ice cream truck stood parked beneath a tree.
The vendor smiled from the window. "Ice cream?"
Mai followed his gaze. A small smile appeared.
"...Yes."
"What flavor?"
"Hmm..." She rested a finger against her chin. "...Surprise me."
Haru grinned. "Bold choice."
A few minutes later, he returned carrying two cones. He handed one to her.
Mai's eyes widened.
"...Cookies and cream."
"You remembered."
"You mentioned it once."
Her expression softened.
"You actually remembered..."
"Of course. You remember details about the people you care about."
Mai stared at the ice cream for a few seconds before taking a small bite.
"...It's good."
"I know."
"...Thank you."
---
The golden hues of the evening sun painted the city in warm shades of amber as Haru and Mai strolled side by side along a quiet riverside path.
The excitement from the book signing had long since settled, replaced by a comfortable silence neither of them felt compelled to break.
Soon they reached a small bridge.
Mai slowed to a stop.
Haru followed her gaze toward the lake stretching beneath them. Gentle ripples danced across its surface, scattering fragments of sunlight like countless tiny diamonds. A cool breeze drifted across the water, carrying with it the distant sounds of the city.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
They simply admired the scenery.
Eventually Mai let out a quiet sigh.
"Do you think it'll always be like this?"
Haru blinked. "Huh? Where did that come from?"
She rested both hands on the railing.
"I don't know..."
Her voice sounded unusually distant.
"Doesn't this all feel... strange?"
"Strange how?"
Mai searched for the right words.
"It feels like..."
She frowned.
"...like something's missing."
Haru tilted his head. "Missing?"
"Or rather..." She closed her eyes. "...someone."
Silence settled between them again.
After several seconds, Haru slowly nodded.
"...Now that you mention it..."
He scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah. It does."
"The annoying thing is..." He laughed awkwardly. "I can almost picture them. But whenever I try to imagine their face..."
He frowned.
"...there's nothing from the neck up."
Mai looked toward him. "So I'm not the only one."
"No."
She sighed again. "You know... I don't even think that's the strangest thing about this school."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
Mai turned back toward the lake.
"Think about it. This academy is completely free."
Haru nodded. "Yeah. Not that I'm complaining."
Mai smiled faintly. "If tuition existed, I doubt my family could ever afford to send me here."
Her smile quickly faded.
"But doesn't that make it even stranger? What kind of elite academy doesn't charge a single coin? The only requirement is talent."
She shook her head. "That's too good to be true. There has to be a catch."
"...Yeah." Haru folded his arms. "When you put it like that... it is pretty weird."
"And there's something else." Mai looked straight at him. "We have juniors. Right?"
"Yeah."
"Then name one."
Haru opened his mouth confidently.
Only for the confidence to disappear almost immediately.
"..."
His eyebrows knitted together.
"I..."
---
Suddenly—
A memory surfaced.
A cheerful girl with short green hair stood in front of him, proudly holding up a report card.
"Hey, Senpai! Look what I got! I'm first in my class!"
"Teacher even said if I keep this up, I might graduate before you."
She puffed out her chest proudly.
"When that happens... I'll be your senpai."
Haru laughed. "Dream on."
He reached over and gently patted her head.
The girl puffed out her cheeks. "Just wait! You'll see!"
"...Sure."
As Haru withdrew his hand...
His smile froze.
The girl's face...
...was blank.
No eyes. No nose. No mouth. Nothing.
An empty, featureless void.
His breathing caught in his throat.
His heart skipped a beat.
He stumbled backward.
"W-What—"
"Senpai?"
The faceless girl tilted her head.
"What's wrong?"
---
"Haru!"
The world shattered.
Mai's worried face came rushing back into view as she gently grabbed his shoulders.
"Haru!"
He blinked several times.
"W-What..."
"Sorry." Mai smiled apologetically. "Don't force yourself if you can't remember."
Haru rubbed his forehead.
"...What was that?"
Mai looked away.
"This is exactly what I mean. Something about this school isn't right."
"We have juniors. We have seniors. But..."
"...who are they?"
Another memory suddenly forced its way into Haru's mind.
The same green-haired girl. Standing beside a much taller young woman.
"So... you're my senpai's senpai. What should I call you? Senpai squared?"
The taller girl laughed. "Nah. Mar—"
The name dissolved before Haru could hear it.
"...is fine."
Another memory.
This time...
Himself.
"You know... I'll never become popular. I can barely talk to two people a day. My social battery would explode."
The taller girl burst into laughter.
"You're funny, Senpai. Don't worry. As your upperclassman... I'll drag you out of that shell eventually."
A loud car horn blared nearby.
The memories scattered like smoke.
Haru stumbled forward, breathing heavily.
"...That... was me?"
His voice trembled.
"Who... who were they?"
Neither of them had an answer.
---
Instead, Mai quietly reached into her bag.
She pulled out a notebook. Along with a single sheet of paper.
"Hey, Haru."
"Hm?"
"If I told you... that whenever I write something... and wish hard enough... it comes true..."
"...would you believe me?"
Haru raised an eyebrow. "I'd probably ask for proof."
Mai smiled mysteriously. "Fair enough."
She wrote something on the paper before quickly folding it.
"What did you write?"
She tucked it back into her notebook. "That's a secret. You'll know soon enough."
Haru groaned dramatically. "You're just like that author. Always leaving me hanging."
Mai giggled. "I think you'd be surprised by how similar we are."
"I wouldn't even be shocked if someone told me you were secretly the same person."
Mai nearly laughed out loud. "Speaking of surprises..."
She reached into her bag again. "This."
She handed him another thick novel. "The sequel."
Haru's eyes sparkled. "Seriously?!"
She nodded. "The climax should shock you."
He accepted it with both hands as though it were treasure. "You're officially my favorite librarian."
Mai smiled. "I'll pretend that's a compliment."
The last bite of her ice cream disappeared.
She glanced toward the orange sky. "It's getting late. I should head home."
"I'll walk you."
"I'd like that."
---
The peaceful atmosphere of the riverside slowly gave way to the noise of the city.
Street vendors packed away their stalls while workers made their way home after another long day. The glow of neon signs gradually replaced the warm colors of the setting sun as Haru and Mai walked shoulder to shoulder.
For the most part, neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was comfortable.
Every now and then Haru would steal a glance at Mai, only to find her absentmindedly watching the people around them. She looked unusually thoughtful, as if her mind was somewhere far away.
Eventually they turned onto a narrower road.
The neighborhood here was far less welcoming than the academy district.
The pavement was cracked in several places, graffiti covered worn-down walls, and empty bottles littered the roadside. Groups of children chased one another through the streets while adults sat outside tiny shops chatting loudly.
A pair of little boys sprinted past them laughing. One nearly bumped into Haru before quickly apologizing and continuing the chase.
Mai couldn't help smiling. "They remind me of when I was little."
"Were you that energetic?"
"I was worse."
"I find that hard to believe."
She laughed softly. "I climbed trees. I fell off roofs. I even tried jumping across a river once."
Haru blinked. "...You what?"
"I didn't make it."
"I can imagine."
"You don't sound very sympathetic."
"I'm trying not to imagine tiny you flying into a river."
Mai puffed out her cheeks. "I floated."
"That's somehow even funnier."
She lightly nudged his shoulder. "Mean."
---
As they rounded another corner, a rough whistle echoed through the street.
"Well, well..."
A scruffy-looking man lazily pushed himself away from a wall.
"There goes the prettiest girl I've seen all week."
Several equally disheveled men nearby chuckled.
The stranger slowly approached them.
"How about you ditch the pretty boy and spend some time with real men?"
Without hesitation, Mai stepped closer to Haru and wrapped both hands around his arm.
"No thank you."
The man frowned. "I wasn't asking."
He continued walking.
Haru calmly stepped in front of Mai.
"Didn't you hear her?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"And what's the kid gonna do?"
Mai gently tugged Haru's sleeve. "Haru..."
"No."
His expression remained surprisingly calm.
"This guy's starting to annoy me."
The junkie burst into laughter.
"What're you gonna do? Call the police?"
Haru cracked his knuckles. "I don't need the police."
Before anyone could react—
THUD!!
His fist connected squarely with the man's jaw.
Time seemed to freeze.
The junkie's feet left the ground.
He flew backwards several meters before crashing into the pavement with an earth-shaking thump.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Complete silence.
Even Haru stared at his own fist.
"...I... did I just do that?"
The remaining junkies looked between their unconscious friend and Haru with expressions that quickly shifted from anger... to concern.
Haru slowly looked toward them.
They looked back.
"..."
"..."
Haru grabbed Mai's hand. "Let's run."
"Agreed!"
The two bolted down the street.
Only after they had disappeared around the next corner did one of the men finally scratch his head.
"...Should we chase them?"
Another glanced at their unconscious companion.
"...After watching what happened to Dave?"
"...Yeah... let's pretend this never happened."
"I like that idea."
---
Several streets later...
Haru and Mai finally slowed to a stop.
Both leaned against a wall, breathing heavily.
For a few seconds neither spoke.
Then...
Mai started giggling.
Haru looked at her.
She laughed harder.
Soon he couldn't help laughing too.
"I can't believe..." Mai struggled to breathe. "...you actually punched him."
"I wasn't planning to. It just..." He looked at his fist again. "...happened."
"And then he flew!"
"I know!"
"I've never seen anyone fly that far before!"
Their laughter echoed through the quiet street.
Eventually Mai wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Thank you."
Haru looked at her. "For what?"
"For standing up for me."
He smiled. "Anytime."
The sincerity in his voice made Mai smile back.
"My house is just up ahead."
"Then let's finish our journey."
She nodded. "Okay."
The two resumed walking.
This time...
Mai moved a little closer.
Without saying a word...
She gently rested her head against Haru's shoulder.
Haru immediately stiffened.
"...Well..."
He cleared his throat.
"...Looks like someone's getting bold."
Mai simply smiled to herself.
She didn't answer.
The faint warmth against his shoulder made Haru's ears turn slightly red.
He desperately pretended not to notice.
---
After another minute they finally stopped before a modest two-story house.
Mai reluctantly lifted her head.
"...We're here."
Haru looked up at the house. "So this is where you live."
She nodded. "I expect plenty of visits during the holidays."
Mai laughed. "I'll hold you to that."
A comfortable silence settled between them once more.
Then...
"Haru."
"Yeah?"
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I love you."
His brain stopped.
"...What?"
Before he could process the words...
Mai rose onto the tips of her toes.
Leaning forward...
She gently pressed a kiss against his cheek.
It lasted only a moment.
Yet Haru felt as though time itself had frozen.
By the time he recovered...
Mai had already stepped back.
Her cheeks burned crimson.
"So... today was fun. Thank you."
She gave him one last smile before turning toward the house.
Haru finally found his voice.
"S-See you tomorrow!"
Mai stopped at the doorway.
She looked back.
Instead of answering...
She simply smiled.
A beautiful...
Yet strangely lonely smile.
Then she disappeared inside.
Haru stood there for several seconds.
"...Weird."
He rubbed the cheek she had kissed.
"Why did that smile feel..."
"...so sad?"
A chill ran down his spine.
Unable to explain the feeling...
He quietly turned around and began the walk home.
— END OF CHAPTER —