The two of them rushed to the middle school gate, where Ayumi and the others soon arrived one after another.
Since it was still early—they had only just finished breakfast—Ayumi suddenly suggested, "Why don't we swing by Ginkgo Sakura High School first and see if the class assignments are already posted?"
The proposal won unanimous agreement.
It was only a fifteen-minute walk from Minato Namikaze Middle School. Soon, they stood before the red-brick pillars of the high school gate, streaked with faint marks of rain. Cherry blossom branches hung low, half-obscuring the school's metal emblem.
Akira explained their purpose to the security guard and signed the visitor's record before they were allowed in.
The three girls walked ahead, chatting excitedly about the new school, while Akira and Nishikata trailed behind. Nishikata animatedly recounted how he had pulled several shiny Pokémon the night before.
The stone path was lined with five old Somei Yoshino trees. One crooked branch reached so close to a classroom window that petals slipped inside through the open frame.
"Bet the teachers forgot to lock that during break," Ayumi whispered, pointing. "Whoever gets that room when school starts is doomed."
They glanced up briefly at the classroom before moving on, amusement flickering between them.
The tour carried them past the outdoor pool, where blue water gleamed like a cut sapphire. Petals clung to the drains, translucent brown after soaking in chlorine. Across the courtyard, the stainless steel of the water dispenser reflected the swaying branches above.
Beyond the cherry trees, the silver dome of the gymnasium shimmered. Through its glass wall, golden volleyball posts gleamed faintly. A rusted fire escape clung to the side of a building, with an old headband tied around the railing, left behind by some forgotten student.
At the shoe lockers, a yellow fire hydrant sat beneath a thin blanket of petals. Nearby, a dusty lost-and-found box held a light-blue handkerchief embroidered with tiny swimming goggles.
They never did find the class lists. Still, the stroll reassured them: this would be their new home soon, and Shouko especially seemed relieved by the warm atmosphere of the campus.
Leaving the grounds, Ayumi led the way through a maze of left and right turns until they arrived at Futaba Shopping Street. She stopped dramatically in front of a brightly painted restaurant, one hand on her hip.
"We're here! What do you think?"
The restaurant's walls were painted in a gradient of pink and blue, like a splash of manga panels. At the entrance stood a three-meter-tall mecha warrior statue, neon signs glowing in its raised arm: Dimensional Canteen.
"Wow…" Nishikata muttered, craning his neck.
"Come on, let's go in!" Ayumi beamed, pulling Shouko and Takagi along.
Inside, a uniformed waiter greeted them politely. "Welcome. How many in your party?"
"Five," Ayumi answered.
They were shown to a six-person table near the window. Only then did they take in the interior: glass display cases filled with anime figurines from classic shounen to current-season releases, pixelated vines etched into the window frames.
"Will this place be expensive…?" Shouko whispered.
She had around 100,000 yen in savings from Akira's manuscript advance, but she still preferred to be frugal.
"Relax, Shouko-chan. I checked beforehand—the prices are totally fine," Ayumi reassured her.
The waiter soon returned with menus, adding with a smile, "We're running a promotion. If you scan the LINE QR code and leave a positive review, you'll get a random discount coupon."
Ayumi immediately whipped out her phone. "I'm doing it first!"
Shouko and Nishikata followed, while Akira and Takagi flipped through the menus instead.
"9.5% off!"
"9% off!"
"Me too!"
"When you pay," the waitress explained, "just show the coupon to the cashier, and the discount will apply."
"Alright! Takagi, Miyamura, hurry up and scan too!" Ayumi urged, bouncing in her seat.
The two exchanged glances, then reluctantly pulled out their phones.
"Same as you, 9%," Takagi reported, holding up her screen.
All eyes then turned to Akira.
"…Don't bother looking," he said flatly. "I got 60% off."
He lifted his phone briefly, then calmly returned to browsing the menu, ignoring their wide-eyed stares.
With such a steep discount, they splurged on extra desserts and snacks. The prices turned out reasonable regardless, but thanks to Akira's coupon, the bill was laughably cheap.
As plates arrived, the group settled into their usual rhythm: the girls chatted animatedly about anime and high school life while Akira and Nishikata mostly listened.
When the meal was nearly finished, Shouko stood to handle the bill. Akira casually handed her his phone.
"Password's my birthday."
"…Okay." Shouko nodded, repeating it softly to herself. Even so, her anxious frown betrayed her nerves at having to speak to the cashier.
"0723."
The quiet murmur came from Ayumi.
Everyone froze. Nishikata's jaw dropped. The numbers she'd just said matched Miyamura Akira's birthday exactly.
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