May 21, 2017-----
One day until spring break.
The bus rumbled along the road, its engine groaning with every rotation of the wheels. Beside Lilac, Ai had her head resting on her shoulder, tired from all the talking they had done the night before.
Outside, rays of sunlight filtered through the dusty window as the world rolled by in a blur of green trees and rusted-brown fences. The rice fields rose and dipped beyond the glass, and for a moment, everything felt still—even when the world moved around her.
Lilac slowly leaned her own head against the window, the cold glass offering comfort, just as Ai did. With every turn and every slight movement, it was as if her own thoughts that were steering the bus itself.
Before long, the bus came to a stop—their stop. They had finally arrive at Kanagawa Junior and Senior High.
"Hey, Ai," Lilac whispered, gently nudging her leaning head. "We've finally arrived."
Ai didn't move at first, but with another nudge, she finally stirred, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Let's get going before the bus takes off with us on board."
Lilac slumped forward, grabbing both her own and Ai's randoseru from the floor.
"I'm still tired, though. Can't we stay just a little longer?"
"Come on," she said, gently taking Ai's hand and guiding her toward the door.
Slowly, Lilac hopped off the bus, ready to face the day ahead—while Ai lagged behind, her mind and body still caught between sleep and the morning.
"You okay?" Lilac asked.
Ai gave a small nod. "Just... tired. That's all."
"Alright then, let's take it slow for the today."
Ai stepped off the last stair of the bus with a quiet thud, the morning air brushing past her cheeks.
They walked side by side, the chatter of other students growing louder as they neared the school gates. But for Ai, everything felt distant—both her mind and body were still somewhere else, drifting.
She took a glance at the sky. The clouds were moving steadily today compared to any other day.
Crossing the courtyard, they passed beneath the towering sakura tree at its centre—its branches stretching so high, they reached the fourth floor of the school building. The sight was nostalgic for everyone: soft petals drifting through the air, the entire scene bathed in pink, a gentle reminder of fleeting moments and the beauty of spring.
"We better get going, or we'll have to hear it from Horiuchi-san again," Lilac said, offering Ai a nervous smile.
She had already been late to school nearly every day this term—this was her final stand.
Pacing briskly through the hallway, the two girls made their way toward homeroom. But at the pace they were going, it was only a matter of time before they ran into someone—and that someone ended up being Ai.
She collided into another student, her body hitting the wooden floor with a soft thud. Her sketchpad slipped from her fallen randoseru and scattered open across the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you th—" came the voice form above, cut short by the interruption.
Lilac stopped in her tracks, and her first instinct was to confront the person responsible.
"What the hell is wrong with you, you idiot?! Did you not see her?" she snapped, rushing over to help Ai. "Are you blind or something?"
Ai's eyes glanced up at the person who knocked her down.
The boy who had accidentally knocked into Ai took a cautious step back, clearly startled by Lilac's sharp tone. He was a year above both girls—being in senior high—with neatly combed black hair, amber coloured eyes and the emblem of Class 3-C sewn onto the pocket of his uniform.
"I really didn't mean to," he said quickly, kneeling down to hep pick up the scattered pages of Ai's sketchpad.
Lilac shot him a glare but didn't say anything more. Instead, she focused on helping Ai to her feet. "You okay?" she asked softly.
Ai gave a small nod, brushing a strand of her crimson pink hair behind her ear. "Yeah... I think so."
As the boy handed the last page of Ai's sketchpad, her expression shifted. "These are yours, right?" he asked, glancing at one of the open sketches.
Lilac covered the page before Ai could answer.
"Next time, watch where your going!"
"Right. I will. Sorry again."
Ai could only stand there, in silent shock, as she realized who he was.
Lilac gently bumped her shoulder, snapping her from her light trance. "Come on—if we run, we might still beat the bell."
Ai glanced once more over her shoulder, toward the corner where the boy had vanished.
"Hey, Kintarō," a familiar voice called out. "If you aren't busy, could you help Kenji-kun with his boxes? Looks like he's struggling a bit."
Turning around, he saw Kanade smiling at him, her hand gesturing toward Kenji, who was clearly having more than a bit of trouble with the boxes.
"Why are you both carrying so many at once?" Okamura asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced between them both.
Kanade chuckled, blowing a strand of hair from her forehead as she adjusted her grip on the boxes. "These are for the third-years' sending-off party," she explained. "We need to bring them to Kobayashi-sensei's office."
Kenji, clearly straining under the weight, gave him a sheepish frown. "Could you please help, Okamura-sama...?"
Okamura let out a soft sigh before reluctantly stepping forward to relieve Kenji of the boxes. "You know, being a good person doesn't always work out in your favour. If you couldn't handle them, you should've said something."
Kanade let out a quiet giggle. "You're not wrong," she admitted. "But sometimes people push themselves because they have something to prove—even if it's a little reckless."
Okamura gave her a blank stare, silently amused by the situation. It was clear—Kenji was trying to impress her. But whether Kanade was oblivious to it or simply pretending not to notice was another matter entirely.
The age gap between them was clear. Kanade had been in her second year of senior high, while Kenji was still in his second year of junior high. Whatever admiration he had for her, it was unlikely to lead anywhere.
"Kenji-kun, you should get to your homeroom," Kanade said, turning to him. "I won't keep you any longer. Kintarō and I will take care of the rest. Thank you for your help, all the same."
"Alright, Kanade-sama," Kenji replied, bowing slightly before hurrying off down the hallway.
Boxes in hand, Kanade and Okamura continued toward Kobayashi-sensei's office. Along the way, she glanced at him occasionally, her expression thoughtful.
"Got something on your mind?"
Startled, Kanade nearly lost her grip on the boxes. "It's not really a question per se, but…" she hesitated, her voice softer than usual. "I noticed you staring at someone earlier. Did something happen between you two?"
"I bumped into her, that's all. But for some reason, the girl next to her was so hostile, I wasn't able to properly apologize.
Kanade nodded, as if reassured by his answer. "Oh... well, I suggest you apologize when you get the chance."
"I will."
By the time they arrived at Kobayashi-sensei's office and dropped the items off, the atmosphere had changed between them completely. Now, as they made their way toward the Blue Bell clubroom, an awkward silence settled between them.
Neither of them knew exactly what to say when Asahi's teasing words echoed through Okamura's mind: "Better make a move before you miss your chance."
He stole a glance at Kanade—at her captivating blue eyes, her refined, slender figure, and the curve of her delicate, sultry lips. Okamura could only imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship with a girl like her.
Deep down, he knew the truth—he hadn't joined Bluebelle just for a noble cause. He had joined because of Kanade. He wanted to ne closer to her.
But now... what was the point? Hadn't he already found the love of his life? Or was he really going to let the events of earlier that week shake that bond?
"Okamura-kun, are you okay?" she asked gently, leaning in slightly to get a better look at his face. "Ever since your last year of junior high, you've had that same look."
"...And you're not the first to tell me that," he mumbled, slipping his hands into his pockets before turning with a hesitant smile. "All I can say is... I've been going through a lot lately. And it's getting harder to carry alone."
Kanade closed what little distance between them, her movements quiet and deliberate, and slowly reached for his hand.
Okamura, stunned by her unexpected gesture, blinked and looked down at her fingers interlapping with his. For a moment, he could only stare, a blank expression masking the confusion that stirred within him.
「愛.」