The days that followed became some of the happiest days either of them could remember.
School resumed.
Life returned to normal.
At least— as normal as life could be when one of the students was secretly a famous actor.
They still kept their relationship hidden.
Mostly.
Though several classmates had started becoming suspicious.
Especially when Hanoka and Akira accidentally walked into class carrying matching drinks.
Three separate rumors appeared within an hour.
One weekend—
Akira surprised her.
Hanoka: “Why are we at a movie theater?”
Akira: “Because we’re watching a movie.”
Hanoka: “You literally act in movies.”
Akira: “Exactly.”
Hanoka: “You watch your own movies?”
Akira: “No.”
Hanoka: “Good.”
Akira: “Why?”
Hanoka: “That would’ve been weird.”
Akira couldn’t argue with that.
Another day— they visited a small bookstore.
Hanoka spent nearly an hour looking at novels.
Akira spent nearly an hour following her around.
Eventually—
Hanoka turned around.
Hanoka: “Why are you following me?”
Akira: “Because we’re here together.”
Hanoka: “You look like a lost puppy.”
Akira: “That’s rude.”
Hanoka: “It’s true.”
A week later— they found themselves back at the beach.
The same beach where they had watched fireworks.
The ocean breeze felt cool.
The waves rolled peacefully toward shore.
Hanoka removed her shoes.
Then immediately ran toward the water.
Hanoka: “Akira!”
Akira: “What?”
Hanoka: “Come here!”
Akira: “Why?”
A splash answered him.
Cold seawater struck his pants.
Akira froze.
Hanoka laughed.
A dangerous laugh.
The kind that guaranteed trouble.
Akira: “Hanoka.”
Hanoka: “Yes?”
Akira: “Run.”
Hanoka’s eyes widened.
Then immediately turned around and sprinted.
Akira chased after her.
The beach echoed with laughter.
The kind of laughter that only appeared when people forgot about everything else.
Forgot about fame.
Forgot about grief.
Forgot about the future.
And simply enjoyed the present.
As the sun began setting— the sky turned orange.
Then gold.
Then crimson.
Akira and Hanoka sat beside each other watching the horizon.
Neither spoke for a while.
Eventually—
Hanoka leaned her head against his shoulder.
Hanoka: “You know.”
Akira: “Hm?”
Hanoka: “When I ran away.”
Akira stiffened.
Hanoka: “Part of me was hoping you’d come find me.”
Silence.
Then:
Akira: “Good.”
Hanoka blinked.
Hanoka: “Good?”
Akira nodded.
Akira: “Because I would’ve searched the entire country if I had to.”
Hanoka stared at him.
Then laughed.
Hanoka: “You’re insane.”
Akira: “Probably.”
The ocean continued rolling against the shore.
The wind carried the scent of salt.
And for a brief moment— it felt like nothing in the world could separate them again.
Neither of them noticed— that fate had already begun preparing the events that would change everything.
The ocean continued rolling against the shore
And for a brief moment— it felt like nothing in the world could separate them again.
Summer slowly approached.
The days grew warmer.
The skies became brighter.
And somehow—
Akira and Hanoka found themselves spending almost every free moment together.
Not because they planned it.
Not because they had to.
It just happened naturally.
One Saturday afternoon—
Hanoka found herself standing in front of a large public swimming pool.
She looked at the entrance.
Then at Akira.
Then back at the entrance.
Then back at Akira.
Hanoka: “No.”
Akira: “What do you mean no?”
Hanoka: “No.”
Akira: “We’re already here.”
Hanoka: “I changed my mind.”
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Akira: “You’re scared.”
Hanoka: “I am not scared.”
Akira: “You’re scared.”
Hanoka: “I AM NOT.”
Five minutes later—
Hanoka accidentally slipped while trying to prove she wasn’t scared.
Splash.
Straight into the shallow end.
Children nearby laughed.
Akira laughed.
Hanoka immediately pointed at him.
Hanoka: “Stop laughing.”
Akira: “No.”
Hanoka: “I almost died.”
Akira: “The water wasn’t even waist deep.”
Hanoka: “THAT IS NOT THE POINT.”
Another weekend— they found themselves wandering through the shopping district.
No destination.
No plans. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Just walking.
Store after store passed by.
Clothing stores.
Electronics stores.
Bookstores.
Accessory shops.
Neither bought much.
The fun came from looking.
Hanoka stopped in front of a stuffed animal shop.
A giant cat plushie sat in the display window.
Hanoka immediately froze.
Akira noticed.
Akira: “You want it.”
Hanoka: “No.”
Akira: “You do.”
Hanoka: “I don’t.”
Akira: “You’re literally staring at it.”
Hanoka: “I’m appreciating it.”
Akira walked into the store.
Hanoka immediately followed.
Hanoka: “Akira don’t you dare.”
Akira: “Too late.”
That evening—
Hanoka returned home carrying a giant cat plushie.
She refused to admit she loved it.
She slept hugging it that very night.
Akira took a picture.
Hanoka chased him around the house for ten minutes.
Movie dates became a tradition.
At least twice a month.
Sometimes action movies.
Sometimes romance.
Sometimes terrible movies neither of them understood.
One night— they watched a horror film.
Hanoka spent the entire movie claiming she wasn’t scared.
Then immediately grabbed Akira’s arm during the first jump scare.
Akira: “Not scared, huh?”
Hanoka: “Shut up.”
Akira: “You nearly broke my arm.”
Hanoka: “Shut up.”
Akira: “The ghost hasn’t even appeared yet.”
Hanoka: “SHUT UP.”
One evening— they decided to drive without a destination.
Just drive.
The black S13 glided through the city streets.
The buildings slowly disappeared behind them.
The road eventually climbed into the mountains.
Streetlights became rare.
Trees lined both sides of the road.
The mountain pass stretched ahead.
Sharp turns.
Long corners.
Beautiful scenery.
The setting sun painted everything orange.
Akira lowered a gear.
The engine hummed softly.
Not aggressively.
Comfortably.
Hanoka rested her head against the window.
Watching the scenery pass by.
The mountains.
The valleys.
The distant city below.
Everything felt peaceful.
Hanoka: “You know.”
Akira: “Hm?”
Hanoka: “This is nice.”
Akira: “The view?”
Hanoka: “No.”
Akira glanced at her.
Hanoka smiled softly.
Hanoka: “This.”
Silence followed.
The car continued winding through the mountain road.
Neither spoke for several minutes.
Neither needed to.
Sometimes— being together was enough.
As summer approached further— school life continued.
The graduation ceremony grew closer.
And closer.
And closer.
One afternoon—
Akira sat beneath a tree on school grounds.
Hanoka sat beside him.
The wind moved gently through the leaves above.
Students walked across campus.
Talking.
Laughing.
Living their lives.
For a moment—
Akira simply watched them.
Then suddenly spoke.
Akira: “We’re graduating soon.”
Hanoka nodded.
Hanoka: “Yeah.”
Akira: “Feels weird.”
Hanoka: “A little.”
Akira looked toward the sky.
His expression softened.
Akira: “A year ago I would’ve eaten lunch alone.”
Hanoka looked at him.
Akira: “A year ago I would’ve gone home alone.”
A pause.
Akira: “A year ago I would’ve thought all of this was pointless.”
The wind blew gently.
Then Akira smiled.
A genuine smile.
Akira: “I’m glad things changed.”
Hanoka stared at him.
Then quietly smiled too.
Because she knew exactly who had changed him.
Not fame.
Not acting.
Not popularity.
People.
But Nitagawa.
And eventually— her.
Neither of them noticed it.
But the shadow of the future had already begun moving closer.
Waiting.
Patiently.
For the day it would finally reveal itself.
The weeks continued passing peacefully.
For the first time in years—
Akira wasn’t spending every lunch break alone.
At first— the change felt strange.
Almost uncomfortable.
One afternoon, Akira sat beneath his usual tree preparing to eat lunch alone.
Then— three boys suddenly appeared. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
One dropped down beside him.
Another stole his drink.
The third immediately opened his lunchbox.
Akira stared.
Akira: “Why are you touching my food?”
Takumi: “Communism.”
Akira: “Give it back.”
Takumi: “No.”
The second boy pointed at him.
Kaito: “See?
That’s why nobody talked to you before.”
Akira: “What does that even mean?”
Kaito: “You have the personality of a brick wall.”
Akira: “…”
Takumi: “See?”
Kaito: “See?”
Akira sighed.
For some reason— he didn’t tell them to leave.
And before he realized it— he was laughing with them.
The following days became similar.
Lunches together.
Walking home together.
Group projects.
Random conversations.
Things Akira never imagined himself doing.
One afternoon— a group of girls approached.
Immediately.
The boys abandoned him.
Akira: “Traitors.”
Takumi: “You’re famous.”
Kaito: “Figure it out yourself.”
Akira: “Cowards.”
The boys fled.
Leaving Akira alone.
Hanoka watched from another classroom.
Laughing so hard she nearly fell from her chair.
Another day— the boys decided to visit an arcade after school.
A terrible idea.
Because Akira turned out to be ridiculously competitive.
Takumi: “It’s just a racing game.”
Akira: “There is no such thing as ‘just a racing game.'”
Ten minutes later—
Akira had defeated everyone.
Twice.
One evening— the boys gathered on the rooftop of the school.
The sun slowly setting.
Graduation only weeks away.
Everyone sat quietly.
Talking about the future.
University.
Jobs.
Dreams.
Life.
Eventually—
Takumi looked toward Akira.
Takumi: “You know.”
Akira: “Hm?”
Takumi: “When school started I thought you hated everybody.”
The group laughed.
Akira rubbed the back of his neck.
Akira: “I kinda did.”
Kaito: “See?”
Takumi: “I told you.”
Akira: “Not helping.”
The boys laughed again.
And for the first time—
Akira realized something.
These people were his friends.
Real friends.
Not coworkers.
Not fans.
Not people interested in Isamu Sawada.
People interested in Akira Tamayama.
Just Akira.
As graduation approached— the final day of school finally arrived.
The atmosphere felt different.
Everyone knew it.
The classrooms.
The hallways.
The courtyard.
Everything felt nostalgic.
Like the end of something important.
That afternoon—
Akira and Hanoka decided to take one final drive.
No destination.
Just one last drive before graduation.
The black S13 climbed the mountain pass once again.
The same road.
The same corners.
The same sunset.
But somehow— everything felt different.
Because they knew this chapter of their lives was ending.
Hanoka lowered the window.
The cool air rushed inside.
Then suddenly pointed ahead.
Hanoka: “Race that truck.”
Akira: “Absolutely not.”
Hanoka: “Coward.”
Akira: “That’s a delivery truck.”
Hanoka: “Still counts.”
Akira: “No.”
Hanoka: “Coward.”
Akira: “Child.”
Hanoka: “Old man.”
Akira: “We’re the same age.”
Hanoka: “Details.”
Soon— both of them were laughing.
The kind of laughter that made your stomach hurt.
The kind that left tears in your eyes.
The kind that only happened when you completely forgot about tomorrow.
For a while— they weren’t future graduates.
They weren’t actors.
They weren’t people carrying grief.
They were simply two teenagers driving through the mountains.
Enjoying one perfect evening.
Neither knew it yet.
But years later— when life became complicated— this would be one of the memories they cherished most.
The sunset.
The mountains.
The laughter.
And the feeling that the future seemed endless.
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