The lively energy of Yamabuki's streets hadn't faded one bit. The district still buzzed with movement, chatter, and color—crowded with hundreds of people weaving through the narrow lanes. Timeo checked the time on his phone; his bus wouldn't arrive for a little while yet. He had time to spare.
As he slipped the phone back into his pocket, something caught his eye—a sleek, modern-looking hair salon just across the street. Through the large front window, he spotted a familiar figure sitting in one of the chairs. Her golden hair gleamed under the soft lighting.
It was Marin.
Curious, Timeo crossed the street and gently pushed the door open. A bell above the frame chimed with a soft ring, drawing the attention of both the stylist and the girl in the chair.
"Huh... it's you," Marin said with a light laugh, glancing at him from the mirror. Her long blonde hair was being brushed carefully by the stylist.
"Welcome!" the hairdresser greeted cheerfully as Timeo stepped inside and paused near the center of the salon. "Here for a haircut?"
Timeo shook his head. "No, just stopping by," he said simply, his eyes flicking to Marin, who was practically glowing with excitement at the sight of him.
"What a coincidence," she said, beaming. "What are you doing around here?"
He scratched the back of his neck, trying to find the right words. His answer came honestly.
"I saw you through the window," he said, his tone calm as always. "Figured I'd stop in. Looks like you really enjoy changing up your look."
Marin giggled, her eyes warm. "Actually, yeah! I just found this salon today. It looked cute, and Yui—" she motioned to the stylist—"offered me a haircut for a discount. So I thought, why not? I've always wanted to do something with my hair anyway."
She leaned slightly forward as the stylist combed gently through her locks. "And honestly... I've always loved salons. Back home, I used to visit them all the time. I could never stick to the same style." She laughed, just a touch embarrassed.
Timeo took a seat nearby, setting his bag down and slipping his hands into his pockets. He looked at her thoughtfully. "You want to be a hairdresser?"
"Heck yeah!" she replied without hesitation. "I've always had this dream of working with style—y'know, appearance, first impressions. I think there's something really personal about it, about helping someone look like who they want to be. People walk in here nervous, or tired, or unsure... and they leave with confidence. Like, you can actually see the difference in their face after a haircut. That's what I want to do—give people that feeling. Like they matter. Like they're worth the effort."
Her voice was filled with sincerity, her excitement rising with every word. It wasn't just a passing interest. It was something she clearly believed in.
Timeo watched her quietly, taking in her energy. She'd only met him the night before, yet here they were, talking like old friends.
"What about you, Yamamoto?" Marin asked suddenly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Do you have any dreams for the future? Like, something you want to be—or someone you're hoping to become?"
She leaned slightly toward the mirror as the stylist continued trimming her hair, but her focus was clearly on him now.
"You've got this calm, closed-off vibe," she added with a teasing grin. "Kinda mysterious, honestly. But maybe it's time you opened up a little. So? What say you? Have you ever thought seriously about what you want to do?"
The question caught Timeo a bit off guard. He hadn't expected something so direct, and it made him pause. The truth was… he didn't really have an answer. Not a solid one.
"Well… I guess I never gave it too much thought," he admitted, adjusting the headphones resting around his neck. "But if I had to say… I did think about becoming a music composer once. Just never chased it seriously."
Marin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Ohhh, that actually makes a lot of sense!" she said, smiling brightly. "I noticed those headphones the moment I met you. You've had them on you every time I've seen you. At first I thought it was just, y'know, part of your style—like a fashion statement or something."
She tilted her head as the stylist continued working.
"But now I get it. They're important to you, aren't they? You really love music." She gave him an encouraging look. "That's honestly pretty cool. I love music too—but I'm more of a casual listener. I don't really wear headphones unless I'm at home, curled up with a playlist or something."
Her expression softened.
"Still, writing music? That's a beautiful dream, Timeo. Even if you're not chasing it right now, it's something that means something to you. That kind of thing sticks with people."
Timeo nodded slowly. He didn't smile, didn't shift his posture. He just sat still on the bench, quietly watching as Yui continued her careful work on Marin's hair. Her hands moved with practiced ease—clipping, trimming, sectioning. She used a fine-toothed comb to part the strands evenly, snipped with precise scissors along the ends, and followed it up with a round brush and a compact blow dryer, shaping the golden locks with gentle strokes. Occasionally, she used a flat iron to refine the texture, her movements smooth and methodical.
"To be honest…" Timeo's fingers reached up, gently gripping the sides of his headphones. His gaze lowered slightly, his voice quieting.
"These aren't mine," he said. "They belonged to my mother. She passed away in a car accident."
He paused, his grip tightening just a bit.
"My father… he doesn't really matter."
His words lingered in the air, heavier than before. When he looked back up at Marin, her smile had faded. The brightness in her eyes dimmed with a soft wave of empathy.
"Oh... I'm really sorry," she said gently, her tone full of genuine regret. "I had no idea you'd gone through something like that… That's awful."
The energy in the room shifted—subtle, but real. From light-hearted and playful to something more grounded. More human.
Time passed, and Yui eventually finished styling Marin's hair, leaving it with a soft, polished shape that perfectly suited her features. Meanwhile, Timeo had already left the salon and was making his way toward the nearby bus stop, a few meters down the street. His pace was unhurried, hands tucked in his pockets as always.
"Hey, Yamamoto! Wait up!"
He paused, turning around just as Marin came running after him, her bag slung over her shoulder and her freshly styled hair catching the sunlight. She caught up with him, smiling warmly despite being a little winded.
"Let's walk together," she said, falling into step beside him. "Tomorrow's Tuesday, right? That's the day we've got Minazuki Rotation."
She glanced at him with a spark of energy in her eyes.
"It's gonna be our first time doing that schedule together. I'm kinda curious to see how you handle it—bet you'll act all chill even if it's a mess."
As they walked side by side, Marin glanced up at Timeo, still smiling but with a bit of curiosity behind her eyes.
"Hey, do you actually know what Minazuki Rotation is all about?" she asked. "Like, properly?"
Timeo looked at her briefly, his expression unreadable as usual, but he didn't interrupt. She took that as a sign to continue.
"It's kind of a weird thing Aokusa does. Every Tuesday, instead of the usual classes, we rotate through different practical subjects. Stuff like design, fieldwork, creative writing, basic medical training, and even team-building activities. It's supposed to 'develop our social and survival skills,' or at least that's how the principal puts it."
She waved her hand casually, mimicking quotation marks in the air.
"Most of it's pretty fun, honestly—just depends on the teacher you get. Some classes are outside, some are group-based, and a few are… just plain awkward." She laughed. "But I guess it beats sitting through back-to-back math and history."
Then she glanced sideways at Timeo again, teasing just a little.
"Bet you'll end up in one of the serious ones though, huh? Something all mysterious and dramatic, just like you."
Timeo glanced away, his fingers lifting to rub the back of his neck. A flicker of uncertainty passed through his eyes.
"I mean... I just transferred in too," he admitted quietly. "How do you already know all that?"
Marin grinned, clearly expecting the question.
"Well, yeah, I'm a transfer too—but I like to do my homework," she said with a playful shrug. "Before I enrolled at Aokusa, I spent a whole week digging through their school website, reading forums, watching videos people posted. There's even this old student blog that talked about the Minazuki Rotation like it was some wild survival trial or something."
She laughed, adjusting her bag over her shoulder.
"I guess I just wanted to be ready, y'know? New place, new people. Thought it wouldn't hurt to know what I was walking into. Plus, I was curious. A school with a reputation like Aokusa's? There had to be something weird going on in the schedule. And what do you know? There totally is."
She glanced at him with a light smirk. "You didn't do any digging before you came, huh?"
Timeo gave a slight shrug, eyes still forward. "Not really," he said. "Didn't think I'd need to. Figured I'd just… figure it out along the way."
Marin laughed softly, bumping her shoulder lightly against his arm as they walked. "Yamamoto—just rollin' with the wind, huh?"
He didn't respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched—maybe not a smile, but something close.
Marin glanced at him again, this time with a playful glint in her eye.
"Well, I hope I end up in the same rotation as you," she said with a grin. "Y'know, just so I can watch you try to blend into group activities while pretending not to hate them."
She giggled, clearly teasing him now. "You've got that whole quiet-guy energy, but I bet the moment they put you in some weird group dance or nature hike, you'll short-circuit."
Timeo looked at her for a moment, blank-faced.
"...Noted," he muttered dryly.
Marin burst out laughing. "See? That reaction right there—I need to be in your group."
Timeo gave a quiet nod as they continued walking side by side toward the bus station. Marin matched his pace easily, her mood still light. They were both heading in the same direction, so naturally, they'd be taking the same bus home.
"Oh, and try not to be late like you were today," she said with a teasing grin. "You might actually get in trouble next time."
She wagged a finger at him playfully, her tone mock-stern but cheerful. "I mean, yesterday was your first day, so they probably let it slide. You could've gotten lost, and honestly, I think most of the teachers assumed that's what happened. But tomorrow? Nah, no excuses. Don't mess up, alright?"
Timeo blinked, mouth slightly open, caught somewhere between amusement and mild concern. He knew she was joking—but she had a point. As much as today spiraled out of control, he couldn't guarantee something similar wouldn't happen again. And next time, he might not get off so easily.
To be continued...