Three months passed by.
For the first time in days, sunlight entered the dorm through the curtains instead of grey skies.
The silence inside the house felt different now.
Not painful.
Just quiet.
Akira stood in the kitchen early in the morning, half awake, holding a cup of coffee in one hand while staring outside the window.
The city below slowly moved as usual.
Cars passed.
People walked.
Life continued.
Even after someone disappears from the world… life still continues.
That thought bothered him more than he expected.
Footsteps echoed softly behind him.
He didn’t turn around immediately.
He already knew who it was.
Hanoka walked into the kitchen wearing an oversized hoodie and messy morning hair, still sleepy.
She rubbed one eye lazily.
Then looked at him.
For a few seconds, she simply watched him quietly.
Like she was checking if he was okay.
Hanoka: “You woke up early again.”
Akira: “Couldn’t sleep.”
She walked closer.
Without saying anything, she reached toward the counter beside him and stole a piece of toast from his plate.
Akira glanced at her.
Akira: “That was mine.”
Hanoka: “Sharing is caring.”
Akira: “You literally stole it.”
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
Small.
But real.
Seeing that expression made something in Akira’s chest loosen slightly.
Hanoka leaned beside him near the window.
The sunlight reflected softly in her eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them no longer felt uncomfortable.
It felt… natural.
After everything they had been through together, words weren’t always necessary anymore.
Then suddenly—
Hanoka: “There’s a fireworks festival tonight.”
Akira blinked once.
Akira: “…Okay?”
She stared at him blankly.
Hanoka: “That’s your reaction?”
Akira: “What reaction was I supposed to have?”
Hanoka sighed dramatically.
Hanoka: “Normal people usually say things like ‘Really?’ or ‘That sounds fun.'”
Akira: “Sounds exhausting.”
She crossed her arms.
Hanoka: “You seriously need emotional software updates.”
Akira quietly sipped his coffee.
Akira: “I’m functioning perfectly.”
Hanoka: “No.
You’re emotionally running on low battery mode.”
A small silence followed.
Then—
Akira laughed.
A real one.
Quiet.
Short.
But genuine.
Hanoka froze slightly.
Because ever since Nitagawa’s death…
she hadn’t heard him laugh properly.
Akira himself looked slightly surprised too.
Like he forgot he could still make that sound.
Hanoka smiled softly.
Not teasing this time.
Just relieved.
Hanoka: “…There it is.”
Akira looked away.
Akira: “Don’t make it weird.”
Hanoka: “Too late.”
Outside the window, the morning wind moved gently through the city.
And for the first time in months…
the dorm no longer felt filled with grief alone.
It finally felt alive again.
Later that evening—
The city was glowing.
Festival lights stretched across the streets.
Food stalls lined the sidewalks with colors, lanterns, and warm smoke rising into the evening air.
The sound of laughter and distant fireworks filled the atmosphere.
Akira stood near the dorm entrance wearing a black yukata, arms crossed while waiting silently.
A few passing girls nearby whispered the moment they saw him.
Girl #1: “Wait… Check that boy out!”
Girl #2: “He looks like Isamu sawada..”
Girl #3: “We don’t know for sure, but we don’t wanna go and disturb him.”
Girl #4: “Yeah lets just walk.”
Girl #5: “WAIT WHY DOES HE LOOK SO GOOD IN A YUKATA?!”
Girl #6:: “Yeah!!…Oh my god he looks like a male lead from an anime.”
Akira immediately looked uncomfortable.
Akira: “…I should’ve stayed home.”
Akira thinks to himself and says to himself
“Well I kinda forgot that my identity got leaked now the whole world knows my name now that Isamu Sawada is Akira tamayama”
“Well….there is nothing I can do about it so I guess I have to get used to it”
Then the dorm door opened.
And Akira froze.
Hanoka stepped outside slowly.
Soft festival lights reflected against her light pink-colored yukata.
Her hair was tied differently than usual.
A few loose strands moved gently with the evening breeze.
For a moment…
Akira genuinely forgot how to speak.
Hanoka noticed immediately.
A tiny smile appeared on her lips.
Hanoka: “What?”
Akira looked away instantly.
Akira: “…Nothing.”
Hanoka: “You stared for five whole seconds.”
Akira: “No I didn’t.”
Hanoka: “You absolutely did.”
Akira stayed silent.
Hanoka’s smile widened slightly.
Then softly:
Hanoka: “You think I look pretty?”
Silence.
Akira’s ears turned slightly red.
Which already answered the question.
Hanoka looked away shyly herself afterward.
Because hearing silence from Akira somehow felt more powerful than hearing words from anyone else.
The two of them slowly began walking through the festival together.
Lights.
Music.
Warm food smells.
Children laughing nearby.
For once…
the world around Akira didn’t feel heavy.
And without realizing it— his eyes kept drifting toward Hanoka instead of the fireworks above.
Hanoka noticed.
Of course she noticed.
But this time… she didn’t tease him immediately.
Instead, she simply walked beside him quietly, the soft sound of her sandals tapping against the pavement mixing with the distant festival music.
For once, neither of them felt the need to force conversation.
The warmth between them already said enough.
As they continued through the crowded street, Hanoka suddenly stopped near a small goldfish stall.
Bright lantern lights reflected across the water.
Tiny goldfish swam lazily inside the tanks.
Hanoka’s eyes lit up instantly.
Hanoka: “Akira.”
Akira: “…What.”
She pointed dramatically toward the stall.
Hanoka: “Goldfish.”
Akira stared at her blankly.
Akira: “Congratulations.
You discovered fish.”
Hanoka: “No.
We’re playing.”
Akira: “We?”
Before he could escape, Hanoka grabbed his sleeve and dragged him toward the stall.
The old stall owner laughed softly watching the two.
Stall Owner: “Young love at a festival, huh?”
Akira nearly choked.
Akira: “It’s not like that.”
Hanoka looked away hiding a smile.
Stall Owner: “Mhm.
Sure.”
A few minutes later—
Akira somehow found himself sitting beside Hanoka, holding the small scooping paper with the most emotionally exhausted expression imaginable.
Meanwhile Hanoka looked extremely serious.
Like she was preparing for battle.
Hanoka: “Don’t underestimate goldfish scooping.”
Akira: “I absolutely underestimate goldfish scooping.”
Hanoka ignored him and carefully leaned closer to the water tank.
A few strands of her hair slipped near her face as she focused.
Akira watched quietly.
Then paused.
That strange feeling returned again.
Warm.
Familiar.
Comfortable.
Like this moment…
was something he never wanted to lose.
Hanoka suddenly looked toward him.
Hanoka: “You’re staring again.”
Akira instantly looked at the water.
Akira: “No I’m not.”
Hanoka: “You literally froze.”
Akira: “…Focus on your fish.”
Hanoka giggled softly.
That sound alone somehow made Akira’s chest feel lighter.
A few moments later— splash.
Hanoka’s scooping paper ripped instantly.
She stared silently at the water.
Devastated.
Akira looked at her.
Then unexpectedly— he held out his own successfully caught goldfish toward her.
Hanoka blinked.
Hanoka: “…You got one?”
Akira: “Apparently.”
Hanoka: “You said this was pointless.”
Akira: “It is.”
Then he gently handed the small bag toward her.
Akira: “Take it.”
Hanoka froze slightly.
The lantern lights reflected softly in her eyes again.
Hanoka: “…You’re giving it to me?”
Akira looked away awkwardly.
Akira: “You looked sad.”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Hanoka’s expression softened completely.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
The crowd around them almost faded away.
Only the two of them remained in that tiny warm moment beneath the festival lights.
Then Hanoka smiled.
That same smile.
The one Akira could never ignore.
And once again— his heartbeat became impossible to control.
Then it was finally time for the fireworks show.
One by one, couples and families started moving toward the viewing area near the hill overlooking the sea.
The streets slowly became quieter as everyone gathered beneath the glowing summer sky.
Hanoka carefully held the small goldfish bag while walking beside Akira through the crowd.
The warm lantern lights reflected softly across both of them as they left the stall behind.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then suddenly—
Akira slowed his steps slightly.
Hanoka glanced at him curiously.
Akira looked unusually nervous.
Almost hesitant.
Like he was forcing himself to say something difficult.
Then quietly—
Akira: “Uhm… Hanoka…”
Hanoka: “Hm?”
He avoided eye contact.
Which already made Hanoka suspicious.
Akira: “…Can I hold your hand?”
Silence.
Hanoka froze completely for half a second.
Then her cheeks instantly turned red.
Even after everything they had gone through together…
he still managed to catch her off guard somehow.
A small embarrassed smile appeared on her face.
Hanoka: “Sure…”
Then she looked away shyly before adding softly:
Hanoka: “I mean… I’m your girlfriend.
You can do whatever you want with me.”
The moment those words left her mouth—
Akira’s face immediately turned red beneath the festival lights.
Hanoka herself realized how dangerous that sentence sounded and nearly died from embarrassment internally.
Hanoka: “W-Wait— not like that—”
But before she could recover—
Akira gently took her hand.
Warm.
Careful.
Almost nervous.
Hanoka’s breath caught slightly.
Because despite Akira’s cold personality…
his hands were always surprisingly gentle.
The two of them continued walking side by side through the festival crowd, both visibly flustered now.
Yet neither of them let go.
Not even once.
As they walked together beneath the glowing lanterns, Hanoka quietly looked at him from the corner of her eyes.
Then smiled softly to herself.
What got into him today…?
But honestly…
it made her relieved.
For the first time since Toru Nitagawa’s death…
Akira finally seemed like he was slowly escaping the darkness inside him.
Not completely.
But enough to smile again.
Enough to reach for someone else’s hand.
And that alone made Hanoka’s chest feel warm.
After several more minutes, they finally reached the viewing spot near the edge of the hill overlooking the ocean.
The city lights stretched beautifully below them.
Cool sea breeze passed through the night air.
Then—
BOOM.
The first firework exploded across the sky.
Blue light scattered beautifully above the ocean.
Then another.
And another.
The night sky bloomed with color.
Red.
Gold.
Silver.
The view was breathtaking.
Hanoka’s eyes sparkled as she looked upward at the fireworks exploding endlessly above them.
Meanwhile—
Akira wasn’t looking at the sky anymore.
He was looking at her.
Her smile.
The light reflecting in her eyes.
Her hair moving gently in the wind.
The warmth of her hand inside his.
And suddenly— he realized something terrifying.
The feelings inside him had already become too strong to carry alone anymore.
Hanoka slowly turned toward him with a soft smile.
Hanoka: “The view is breathtaking… isn’t it?”
Akira looked at her quietly.
For a moment, the fireworks, the crowd, the noise— everything disappeared around him.
Only Hanoka remained.
Then softly—
Akira: “…Yeah.”
But he wasn’t talking about the fireworks.
And before Hanoka could fully realize it—
Akira suddenly leaned forward and kissed her.
Hanoka froze instantly.
Her eyes widened slightly in shock.
The fireworks continued exploding above them endlessly.
Blue.
Gold.
Silver.
But Akira didn’t pull away.
It was almost as if— the moment he let go…
she would disappear from his life too.
So he stayed there.
Holding her hand tightly.
Pouring every unspoken emotion into that kiss.
Grief.
Fear.
Love.
Relief.
All of it.
Hanoka’s eyes widened slightly in shock.
The fireworks continued exploding endlessly above them.
Blue.
Gold.
Silver.
The light from the sky reflected across both of their faces as Akira held her hand tightly, almost unconsciously afraid to let go.
At first, Hanoka completely froze.
Her brain stopped functioning.
Because despite imagining this moment countless times before…
she never expected Akira to be the one to do it first.
And definitely not this suddenly.
For a few seconds, she could only stand there motionless, feeling the warmth of his lips against hers while the entire world around them disappeared into noise and color.
Then slowly— very slowly—
Hanoka closed her eyes too.
And kissed him back.
The moment she did—
Akira’s grip on her hand tightened slightly.
Not painfully.
Just enough to reveal the emotions he was desperately trying to hold inside himself.
The fireworks roared above the ocean.
People around them cheered excitedly at the sky.
But for Akira…
everything sounded distant.
Muffled.
Because right now, all he could feel was her.
Warm.
Alive.
Still here beside him.
After a few more seconds, Akira finally pulled away slightly.
But only barely.
Their faces remained incredibly close.
Hanoka’s cheeks were completely red now.
Her breathing uneven.
Akira looked just as overwhelmed himself.
Like even he didn’t fully understand what he had just done.
The sea breeze moved softly between them.
Hanoka stared at him silently for a moment.
Then suddenly—
Hanoka: “…You idiot.”
Akira blinked once.
Akira: “…What?”
Hanoka looked away immediately, embarrassed beyond recovery.
Hanoka: “You can’t just suddenly kiss someone without warning!”
Akira: “…Sorry.”
His apology came so genuinely that Hanoka’s heart hurt.
Because he really looked worried he had messed up.
Hanoka covered part of her face with her sleeve, trying to hide how red she was.
Then quietly—
Hanoka: “…I didn’t say I hated it.”
Akira froze.
Hanoka instantly regretted speaking.
Hanoka: “Forget I said that.”
Akira stared at her for another second.
Then unexpectedly— a small smile appeared on his face again.
Soft.
Real.
The kind of smile only Hanoka ever managed to bring out of him.
Hanoka noticed immediately.
And for a moment…
she completely forgot how to breathe.
Because honestly—
Akira smiling like that should’ve been illegal.
Another firework exploded across the night sky.
Bright golden light rained beautifully over the ocean below.
The wind became slightly stronger near the hilltop.
Hanoka gently held the sleeve of her yukata as it moved in the breeze.
Then quietly—
Hanoka: “…You scared me.”
Akira looked at her.
Akira: “Why?”
Hanoka lowered her eyes slightly.
The smile on her face softened.
Hanoka: “Because lately… I felt like you were carrying everything alone.”
A small silence passed between them.
The distant sounds of the festival echoed below the hill.
Hanoka slowly looked back at him.
Hanoka: “Even when you smiled… it still looked painful.”
Akira’s expression weakened slightly.
Not because he disagreed.
But because she was right.
Hanoka stepped a little closer to him.
Still holding his hand.
Hanoka: “But just now…”
Her voice became quieter.
Softer.
Hanoka: “…you finally felt close again.”
Akira looked down slightly.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
Then finally—
Akira: “…I was scared.”
Hanoka blinked softly.
Akira’s grip around her hand loosened slightly.
Like he was finally allowing himself to speak honestly.
Akira: “After losing Nitagawa…”
A pause.
The fireworks continued exploding above them quietly now.
Akira: “…I started thinking that maybe everyone important to me eventually disappears.”
Hanoka’s chest tightened instantly.
Akira looked away toward the ocean below.
His voice remained calm.
But underneath it— she could hear the fear hiding there.
Akira: “So when I looked at you just now…”
He stopped for a second.
Then quietly finished:
Akira: “…I suddenly felt terrified that you would disappear too.”
Silence.
Only the wind answered him.
Hanoka’s eyes softened painfully.
Then without hesitation— she stepped forward and wrapped both arms around him.
Akira froze slightly.
Hanoka rested her forehead gently against his chest.
Hanoka: “I’m not going anywhere.”
The fireworks exploded brighter above them.
Almost like the sky itself was listening.
Hanoka held him tighter.
Hanoka: “Not tomorrow.”
A pause.
Hanoka: “Not next year.”
Another pause.
Then softly:
Hanoka: “…Not unless you push me away yourself.”
Akira’s breathing became uneven again.
Not from sadness this time.
Something warmer.
Something heavier.
Slowly— carefully— he wrapped his arms around her too.
And beneath the endless summer fireworks…
the two of them quietly held each other like they were afraid the world would take the other away if they let go.
The fireworks slowly began fading from the sky.
One final golden explosion bloomed above the ocean— then darkness slowly returned to the night.
For a few moments, the crowd around them remained still, almost hypnotized by the fading smoke drifting across the stars.
Then gradually— people started moving again.
Couples laughed softly together.
Families gathered their children.
Festival stalls slowly began shutting down for the night.
The sound of footsteps and distant conversations filled the cooling summer air.
Akira and Hanoka still stood near the hill quietly beside each other.
Their hands remained connected naturally now.
Like neither of them even thought about letting go anymore.
The sea breeze passed gently through the silence between them.
Then unexpectedly—
Akira spoke first.
His voice was quieter than usual.
Almost awkward.
Akira: “…That was my first kiss, you know.”
Hanoka froze instantly.
Then her entire face turned red again.
Hanoka: “W-WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT SO CASUALLY?!”
Akira blinked once.
Akira: “…Was I supposed to announce it dramatically?”
Hanoka: “NO— THAT’S NOT THE POINT!”
Akira looked genuinely confused.
Which only made Hanoka more embarrassed.
She covered part of her face with both hands.
Akira tilted his head slightly.
Akira: “…Dangerous?”
Hanoka peeked at him through her fingers.
Hanoka: “You say emotional things with a completely normal face.”
A small silence followed.
Then unexpectedly—
Akira lightly squeezed her hand.
Softly.
Carefully.
Like he was still getting used to the feeling himself.
The embarrassment in Hanoka’s expression slowly softened after that.
Then Akira quietly looked toward the city lights below the hill.
Akira: “By the way…”
Hanoka looked at him.
Akira: “From tomorrow… we have to go back to school.”
The atmosphere shifted slightly again.
Not sad.
Just real.
Reality was finally returning after weeks away from normal life.
Hanoka nodded softly.
Then suddenly remembered something.
Hanoka: “…Wait.”
Akira looked at her.
Hanoka: “We never told anyone we’re dating.”
A pause.
Then Hanoka tilted her head slightly.
Hanoka: “…So what now?
Do we tell everyone or not?”
Akira thought quietly for a moment.
The night wind moved softly around them.
Then finally—
Akira: “No.”
Hanoka blinked once.
Hanoka: “No?”
Akira nodded.
Akira: “Let’s just survive this last year peacefully.”
That answer honestly sounded exactly like him.
Hanoka smiled slightly.
Then Akira continued:
Akira: “And on graduation day…”
He looked toward her quietly.
For a moment, his expression softened again.
Akira: “…we’ll walk out together holding hands.”
Hanoka’s heart nearly stopped.
Because the way he said it— calmly.
Naturally.
Like he had already imagined that future beside her— felt more powerful than any confession.
Hanoka smiled warmly.
Hanoka: “Okay.”
The two of them slowly began walking down the hill together beneath the dim festival lights.
Then Hanoka suddenly remembered something else.
And immediately looked worried.
Hanoka: “…Akira.”
Akira: “Hm?”
Hanoka: “You know the entire school knows you’re Isamu Sawada now, right?”
Akira sighed softly.
Clearly exhausted already.
Hanoka continued dramatically:
Hanoka: “Girls are literally going to chase after you now.”
Akira: “…Sounds terrible.”
Hanoka: “AND people are definitely going to try becoming your friend too.”
Akira stayed quiet for a moment.
Then unexpectedly— he smiled slightly again.
Not arrogantly.
Not coldly.
Just honestly.
Akira: “If girls ask me out, I’m rejecting them immediately.”
Hanoka blinked.
Akira looked toward her calmly.
Akira: “I already have you.”
Hanoka completely stopped functioning again.
Meanwhile Akira continued speaking normally like he didn’t just drop emotional damage directly onto her soul.
Akira: “I don’t need anyone else.”
Hanoka quietly looked away, trying to hide how hard her heart was beating now.
The night breeze moved gently around them as they continued walking side by side.
Then Akira’s expression slowly became more thoughtful.
More distant.
Like he was remembering someone.
Akira: “…But I think I understand something now.”
Hanoka looked at him quietly.
Akira looked toward the dark road ahead.
Akira: “The entire reason Nitagawa came to my school six months ago…”
A small pause.
Akira: “…was probably to destroy that quiet side of me.”
Hanoka listened silently.
Akira’s voice remained calm.
But softer now.
More honest.
Akira: “Isamu Sawada was always inside me somewhere.”
The city lights reflected faintly in his eyes.
Akira: “…suffocating.”
A small breath escaped him.
Akira: “The only time that side of me ever felt alive… was when people noticed me.”
Hanoka’s expression softened gently.
Because this was probably the most emotionally open Akira had ever been.
Then quietly—
Akira looked toward her again.
Akira: “So… I’ll try.”
Hanoka blinked softly.
Akira: “I’ll try getting along with my classmates from now on.”
A pause.
Then with a quieter voice:
Akira: “…I think Nitagawa would’ve yelled at me if I kept isolating myself forever.”
Hanoka laughed softly at that mental image.
And honestly— she could imagine it perfectly too.
The two of them continued walking beneath the quiet summer night together.
Still holding hands.
Still healing.
And somewhere above them— beyond the dark clouds and fading fireworks smoke— it almost felt like Toru Nitagawa was smiling too.
By the time they finally returned home, the streets had become quieter.
Most of the festival lights in the distance were already shutting down one by one.
The night air still carried traces of fireworks smoke mixed with the cool scent of the ocean breeze.
Akira unlocked the dorm door while Hanoka stretched tiredly behind him.
The moment they stepped inside, the peaceful silence of home greeted them again.
Hanoka slipped off her sandals near the entrance and exhaled dramatically.
Then suddenly she looked at Akira with narrowed eyes.
Hanoka: “You know something?”
Akira glanced at her while placing the keys on the counter.
Akira: “What.”
Hanoka crossed her arms dramatically.
Hanoka: “You made me walk all the way to the festival…”
A pause.
Then she pointed accusingly outside.
Hanoka: “…even though you literally have a freaking car.”
Akira blinked once.
Then calmly:
Akira: “Walking with you felt more romantic than driving.”
Hanoka froze instantly.
Akira continued casually while removing his shoes.
Akira: “Besides, you were the one who suggested walking in the first place.”
Hanoka’s face immediately became red again.
She pointed at him in disbelief.
Hanoka: “YOU IDIOT.”
Akira looked genuinely confused again.
Which somehow made everything worse.
Hanoka walked closer and lightly tapped his forehead with her finger.
Hanoka: “How do you say these things with a completely normal face?!”
Akira rubbed his forehead slightly.
Akira: “…I was just being honest.”
Hanoka sighed dramatically.
Then tapped his forehead again.
Hanoka: “See?
No brain.”
Without missing a beat—
Akira immediately replied:
Akira: “Yeah.
Same way you apparently don’t have E.Y.E.S.”
Silence.
Hanoka stared at him.
Akira stared back.
Then suddenly— both of them burst into laughter at the exact same time.
Real laughter.
Loud enough to echo slightly through the dorm hallway.
For a moment, they looked less like two emotionally complicated people carrying grief and trauma— and more like normal teenagers again.
Hanoka laughed so hard she nearly lost balance against the wall.
Meanwhile Akira was actually smiling openly now.
Not the tiny hidden smiles from before.
A real one.
And honestly— seeing Akira laugh like that felt almost unreal after everything that happened.
Eventually the laughter settled down little by little.
Both of them still smiling softly afterward.
Then Akira suddenly spoke again.
Completely serious this time.
Akira: “Hanoka.”
Hanoka: “Hm?”
Akira: “I wanna test something.”
Hanoka immediately looked suspicious.
Hanoka: “…Why does that sound dangerous?”
Akira walked toward the kitchen calmly.
Akira: “Cook today.”
Hanoka froze.
Hanoka: “…What?”
Akira opened the fridge and stared inside dramatically like a starving survivor.
Akira: “Make food for both of us.”
Then he looked toward her with complete seriousness.
Akira: “I’m starving.”
Hanoka stared blankly at him.
Akira sighed softly.
Akira: “You literally made me realize during the festival that I actually wanted to eat something.”
A small pause.
Then quietly:
Akira: “…I really feel like eating homemade food right now.”
Hanoka’s expression softened slightly hearing that.
Because lately Akira barely even cared about food at all.
But still— she crossed her arms stubbornly.
Hanoka: “Akira… you could’ve just said that normally.”
Akira blinked once.
Akira: “…I thought I did.”
Hanoka ignored that sentence entirely.
Then immediately shook her head.
Hanoka: “And absolutely no chance I’m cooking tonight.”
Akira looked disappointed instantly.
Hanoka pointed at herself proudly.
Hanoka: “I suck at cooking.”
Akira: “…How bad?”
Hanoka looked away.
Hanoka: “We don’t talk about it.”
That answer somehow scared Akira slightly.
Hanoka started walking toward the stairs afterward.
Hanoka: “Besides, I’m studying tonight.”
Akira looked up toward her.
Hanoka stretched tiredly while climbing the first few steps.
Hanoka: “I’m skipping school tomorrow.”
Akira raised an eyebrow slightly.
Akira: “Already escaping school after deciding to fix your grades?”
Hanoka: “Shut up.”
Akira almost smiled again.
Hanoka continued climbing the stairs slowly.
Hanoka: “I need time to catch up on all the work we missed.”
Then she looked back toward him from halfway up the staircase.
Her expression softened gently again.
Hanoka: “…And honestly, I think you should rest tomorrow too.”
Akira leaned quietly against the kitchen counter.
The dorm lights reflected softly across the room.
For once…
home no longer felt empty anymore.
Then calmly—
Akira: “Hanoka.”
She looked down toward him.
Akira: “Thanks for staying.”
A small silence filled the dorm.
Hanoka’s eyes softened instantly.
Then she smiled.
That same warm smile again.
The one capable of destroying Akira emotionally every single time.
Hanoka: “…Goodnight, Akira.”
Akira: “Goodnight.”
Hey Isamu here!
I don’t know why but my left hand kinda hurts.
So I am away from writing for a while like possibly up to 3-5 days?