The final bell rang through the school corridors, signaling the end of the school day. Students poured out of classrooms with lively chatter, bags slung over shoulders, some rushing toward club activities while others headed home. Haruto quietly packed his things and left the building without much conversation, his mind still heavy with thoughts of exams, responsibilities, and the complicated promises he had made.
The afternoon sun hung warmly in the sky, casting a golden-orange hue over the countryside as Haruto began walking toward the convenience store for his part-time shift. The air was fresh and slightly humid, carrying the rich scent of wet earth, blooming wildflowers, and distant rice paddies. The dirt path leading away from school wound gently alongside the river, its surface sparkling under the sunlight like scattered diamonds.
Haruto pulled out his phone while walking and opened his messages with Miyu. His fingers moved across the screen as he typed:
