That morning, Kiyotaka walked to school alongside Kenta.
The moment they arrived, Kiyotaka made it clear—Kenta had returned.
The announcement spread quickly, drawing surprised reactions from nearly everyone.
Whispers filled the hallways, curiosity rising like a sudden tide.
But not all eyes looked upon him kindly.
Among the crowd, a small group of three students watched with clear hostility—a rebellious faction that harbored a quiet dislike for Kiyotaka.
Even so, with his strong standing in the student council and the support of both teachers and classmates, they found no easy way to oppose him.
Kenta was soon surrounded.
“Why were you gone so long?””Hey… didn’t your body change?”
Questions came from all directions.
When class began, even the teacher seemed caught off guard during roll call.
“Kenta Kawazaki?”
“Present, sir.”
During lunch break, Kiyotaka and Kenta sat together.
Kenta let out a tired sigh.
“Everyone keeps asking me things… I’m exhausted.”
Kiyotaka replied casually,
“That just means you’re popular now.”
Kenta gave a small smile.
“…I guess you’re right.”
Suddenly, Hirata approached them.
“I need to talk,” he said, his tone serious.
“Privately.”
But before Kiyotaka could respond, Hirata added,
“…Kenta, you come too.”
Once they were alone, Hirata spoke hesitantly.
“How do you get closer to someone you like?”
Kiyotaka answered without much thought.
“You have to be ready to be rejected. But more importantly… you need courage. And you need to know how to talk to them.”
Hirata frowned slightly.
“…I still don’t quite understand.”
Before the conversation could continue, the bell rang—signaling the end of break.
But just as Kiyotaka was about to return to class, Yuzuki grabbed his sleeve.
“Come with me.”
She led him to an empty classroom.
Inside, Shikimori and Fumino were already waiting.
The air felt… heavy.
Shikimori stepped forward first.
“Why are you two dating?”
Kiyotaka answered calmly,
“Because someone’s been following Yuzuki.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Shikimori spoke again, her tone sharp.
“You can act like a couple if you want—but not in public.”
She paused, her gaze turning cold.
“The public won’t forgive you. Understand?”
Kiyotaka nodded immediately.
“…I understand.”
After school, Kiyotaka walked Yuzuki home.
Halfway there, rain began to fall—sudden and heavy.
Yuzuki opened her umbrella.
“We’re dating, right? Let’s share it.”
Kiyotaka hesitated.
“…Wouldn’t that break our agreement?”
Yuzuki glanced at the rain.
“With things like this… what choice do we have?”
Suddenly—
“Oh? What are you two doing here?”
Fumino had appeared.
As Kiyotaka tried to steer the conversation away, his eyes caught something in the distance.
Shikimori… walking under the same umbrella as Izumi.
“…Are they dating?” he asked quietly.
Fumino looked at him as if it were obvious.
“Of course. You seriously didn’t know?”
Kiyotaka fell silent.
Then, as if struck by a thought—
He leaned closer to Yuzuki and whispered,
“…What if we just run through the rain?”
Before she could respond—
He grabbed her hand and ran.
“We’re dating, aren’t we?!” he shouted.
From afar, Kuze watched the scene unfold.
“…He really is like a child,” he muttered.
A girl beside him spoke up.
“Want to walk home together?”
“…Sure.”
As they walked, she asked,
“Yuzuki is your younger sister, right? She already has a boyfriend. What do you think?”
Kuze shrugged lightly.
“I’m fine with it. At least… she’s not alone anymore.”
Back with Kiyotaka and Yuzuki—
They ran beneath the rain, laughter and chaos blending together.
Yuzuki felt annoyed…
Embarrassed…
And strangely—
Happy.
Elsewhere, Fumino walked alone.
A quiet loneliness followed her steps, memories of the past flickering faintly in her mind.
But then—
“Want to walk home together?”
Nagumo had appeared.
As it turned out, they were heading the same way.
When Kiyotaka and Yuzuki finally reached her house, they immediately cleaned up and joined the family for dinner.
During the meal, Yuzuki’s mother suddenly turned to Kuze.
“Do you have someone you like?”
“…No.”
But before the moment could pass, Kiyotaka spoke up casually,
“Weren’t you just walking home with someone earlier, Kuze-senpai?”
Yuzuki’s mother smiled knowingly.
“Ara ara… it seems you’re growing up, aren’t you?”
Kuze remained silent.
After dinner, Yuzuki turned to Kiyotaka.
“Let’s study together.”
And just like that—
He had no way to refuse.
That night, the two of them studied quietly in her room.
The storm outside had passed.
And the day came to a close—
In a far calmer silence.