The morning came, but the house stayed dim.
Jousuke remained in his room—curtains closed, blankets wrapped around him, eyes open but distant.
He didn't speak. He didn't move much.
The letter Kaede wrote lay carefully folded on his desk, beside the unopened chocolates.
Down the hallway, his mother sat at the dining table, staring at nothing.
His sister was in her room—quiet. Too quiet.
There were no arguments today.
Only silence heavy enough to bend the air.
The house had forgotten warmth.
-CLASS 1-F-
Jousuke's desk was empty.
The moment attendance was called, Leah slowly looked toward the vacant seat. Her hands tightened in her lap.
She didn't say anything—but her expression said everything.
Rika frowned slightly, tapping her pencil once before setting it down.
"He's never absent." she said softly. "Even when he was sick last winter, he still came."
Leah nodded once, voice barely above a whisper.
"...Do you think something happened?"
Rika didn't answer.
But she didn't need to.
The silence between them did.
-STUDENT COUNCIL'S OFFICE-
Kaede Miyazaki was signing documents when Aria Poku entered.
"Miyazaki? You're spacing out."
Kaede blinked.
Her expression was unreadable, but something inside her felt off—like a thread pulled too tight.
"I... have a strange feeling." she finally said.
"Did something happen with Jousuke?"
Poku paused, confused.
"You mean Daikuhara? No announcement came in. Why?"
Kaede shook her head slowly.
"It's just... he always texted good morning. Even just one emoji. But today—nothing."
Poku placed a hand gently on the desk.
"Then wait. If it's something serious, he'll reach out when he can."
Kaede nodded, but she wasn't comforted.
Because she could feel it.
Something had shifted.
-JOUSUKE'S HOUSE-
Jousuke sat on the floor of his room, hands limp in his lap.
He looked at his grandfather's glasses on the nightstand.
The glasses that would never be worn again.
He inhaled slowly, exhaled shakily.
"Grandpa..."
The word dissolved into the quiet.
He wasn't crying.
Grief had moved beyond tears—
and settled into the bones.
-AFTER CLASS-
Leah walked home with Rika in silence.
Neither spoke at first.
Finally, Rika broke the quiet.
"...Let's wait before going to his house. If something bad happened... I don't think he's ready to see anyone."
Leah lowered her gaze and nodded.
"I understand."
Their footsteps continued down the street.
Meanwhile, in 2-A, Kaede paused before leaving the school gates— looking toward the road Jousuke normally took home.
Her breath trembled once.
"Jousuke..."
The name felt like a prayer.
But she did not go to him.
Not today.
Some days, all someone can do is keep breathing until the next morning arrives.