I closed the apartment door behind me and immediately headed to the bathroom.
Cool water flowed over my heated body, gradually washing away the fatigue from the morning run.
But only my body was calming down.
My head kept returning to this morning.
Mio.
Her endless enthusiasm.
And Hayato’s words.
“I want to become stronger so I can protect the people dear to me.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“Damn body…”
I had to spend a little more time before my body finally calmed down after the workout.
Only after that did I feel like I could think normally again.
After changing into my school uniform, I put the kettle on.
While the water was boiling, I opened the refrigerator.
After the morning run, my appetite had only increased.
Another portion of rice.
Chicken breast.
Several boiled eggs.
A glass of milk.
And, of course, a protein shake.
I quickly finished eating and glanced at the clock.
There were about twenty minutes left before I had to leave.
Just enough time.
I turned on the laptop.
The next episode of the anime that Amano-san constantly discussed in the original game appeared on the screen.
“So that’s why she reacted so emotionally back then…”
Now I understood.
The story really turned out to be unexpectedly interesting.
I didn’t even notice how the episode came to an end.
The phone vibrated.
Time.
I turned off the laptop.
Adjusted my jacket.
Stepped out into the hallway.
The door opposite was still closed.
I calmly leaned against the wall and looked at the clock.
“If nothing has changed…”
“Amano-san will come out in a minute.”
As if to confirm my thoughts, the familiar click of the lock sounded from behind the door.
The door slowly opened.
Yuki stepped out into the hallway, carefully closed the apartment, and, turning around, unexpectedly met my gaze.
She flinched slightly.
“G-Good morning… Kurisaki-kun…”
A light blush immediately appeared on her cheeks.
I nodded shortly.
“Good morning, Amano-san.”
Silence hung for a few seconds.
Yuki habitually adjusted her braid.
It seemed that after the incident in the alley, she was still a little embarrassed to be alone with me.
We walked to the elevator together.
While waiting for the cabin, neither of us said anything.
Finally, Yuki quietly broke the silence.
“Kurisaki-kun…”
“Yes?”
She was looking somewhere at the floor.
“Your… knuckles…
Do they still hurt?”
She nodded cautiously toward my hand.
I looked at the healed knuckles.
“They’re almost healed.”
Yuki breathed a sigh of relief.
“Good…”
The elevator quietly dinged.
The doors opened.
We stepped inside.
And only when the cabin began to descend did Yuki suddenly say almost inaudibly:
“I…”
I looked at her again.
She was noticeably nervous.
Her fingers tightly clutched the strap of her bag.
“I watched your new video…”
She immediately blushed.
“The one… you uploaded this morning.”
I raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Really?”
She quickly nodded.
“It already has a lot of views…”
“And…”
After a short pause, she added very quietly:
“You explain very well…”
Having said that, Yuki finally became completely embarrassed and hurriedly lowered her gaze.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you.”
The elevator stopped on the first floor.
The doors slowly opened.
We stepped out onto the street together.
And, as usual, headed to school along the same route.
We walked unhurriedly along the familiar street.
The morning city was just beginning to wake up.
Rare cars.
Schoolchildren in identical uniforms.
Workers hurrying to the station.
Yuki walked silently beside me, as usual, a little behind the others.
Several times she opened her mouth.
Then fell silent again.
Her gaze kept stopping on Sakurai.
She wants to ask something.
But she can’t bring herself to.
I slowed my pace a little.
“Amano-san.”
She flinched.
“Y-Yes?”
“You wanted to ask Sakurai-san something, didn’t you?”
Yuki’s cheeks instantly turned pink.
“N-No…”
But a second later, she still said quietly:
“I… just…”
She looked at Hayato.
“Yesterday a new episode of Starlight Chronicle came out.
I wanted to know… if you liked it…”
Hayato smiled guiltily.
“Sorry…
After school yesterday I was so tired after training…
That I went to bed earlier than usual.
I haven’t watched it yet.”
Yuki barely noticeably lowered her head.
“I see…”
Disappointment was audible in her voice.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“If we’re talking about yesterday’s episode…
I think it turned out to be one of the best of the entire season.”
Yuki sharply raised her head.
“R-Really?”
“Of course.
Honestly, the finale surprised me.
Especially the post-credits scene.”
Yuki seemed to forget about everything around her.
“Yes!
I thought the same!
And the moment with…”
She suddenly stopped herself.
“Oh…
I almost spoiled it…”
I smiled quietly.
“So I wasn’t the only one who got hooked.”
Mio shifted her gaze from me to Yuki.
Then asked in surprise:
“Wait…
Kurisaki-kun…
You watch anime too?”
Even Hayato looked a little surprised.
I shrugged.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a big fan.
But I try not to miss good titles.”
Ayaka smirked sarcastically.
“Hmph.
So you’re an otaku after all.”
She laughed quietly.
“I never would have thought.”
Yuki immediately puffed out her cheeks slightly.
“There’s nothing wrong with that…”
Ayaka raised her hands with a smile.
“I was just joking.”
I calmly looked at her.
“Actually, Amano-san is right.
Hobbies by themselves don’t make a person worse.
Some people like sports.
Some like music.
Some like movies.
And some like anime.
If it makes a person happier…
Is there any point in laughing at it?”
Silence fell for a few seconds.
Yuki looked at me cautiously.
Genuine surprise was visible in her eyes.
And then…
A very small, barely noticeable smile.
“Thank you…”
She said it almost in a whisper.
But I still heard it.
And for some reason…
This quiet gratitude was enough to make the morning a little warmer.