Saki was sitting at her desk, waiting for Hiroki and Miyuki.
But her mind wasn't in the classroom.
Yusuke's words kept spinning in her head, right beside her ear.
As if someone were whispering the same sentence over and over again.
What are you really trying to do, Yusuke…?
— Ugh…
Saki had bottled everything up inside.
She was just waiting.
What was done was done. The project had already been submitted.
As time flowed by like water, Saki could barely focus on the lesson.
Her notebook was open, but the pages were blank.
The pen was in her hand, yet she had no strength to write.
There was only one thing that truly mattered to her:
Becoming the president of the Field Trip Club.
But with Yusuke's project…
Was that really possible?
Doubt about the project gnawed at her from the inside.
No matter what she did, she couldn't shake the thought away.
There was nothing she could do, and that made her even more uneasy.
What can I do…?
The more she thought about it, the tighter her chest felt.
It seemed like there was no way out.
Just then, the classroom door opened.
Hiroki and Miyuki walked in.
Without realizing it, Saki was biting her fingernail.
She was so lost in thought that she hadn't even noticed them arrive.
— Hey, Saki, Miyuki said.
— What are you thinking about so seriously?
Saki flinched.
She looked up.
She pressed her lips together to keep herself from saying anything,
but she couldn't stop her eyes.
Her gaze drifted instinctively to the other side of the classroom.
Yusuke…
And Hana.
She saw Hana send her a sly smile.
Saki took a deep breath, then turned back to Hiroki and Miyuki.
— I'm fine, Miyuki.
— I'm just a little distracted.
Miyuki raised her eyebrows with a knowing smile.
— I wonder why.
Then, as if something else suddenly came to mind, Saki added:
— By the way, what did you talk about with the music teacher?
— About our performance, Miyuki said.
— Apparently Hiroki's guitar needs tuning.
— Did you at least get it done?
— We'll do it during the next break.
Time passed quickly once again.
But Saki's distraction was obvious in everything she did.
When the lesson ended, the bell rang.
It was lunchtime.
With every second that passed, the tightness in Saki's chest grew stronger.
Hiroki and Miyuki came over to her.
Hiroki slipped one hand into his pocket and scratched his head with the other.
— My guitar's still with the music teacher, he said.
— I'll go get it. Let's meet in the cafeteria, okay?
Saki nodded with a forced smile.
— Okay.
Hiroki left the classroom along with the other students.
Saki and Miyuki thought they were alone.
But there were two more people in the room.
Hana and Yusuke.
Miyuki sat on the desk in front of Saki and lowered her voice.
— Why are you so distracted?
Saki hesitated for a moment.
— I thought… you guys had done the project.
Miyuki shook her head from side to side.
Saki lowered her head.
Her voice sounded sadder.
— Actually… Yusuke did it.
Miyuki frowned.
— Are you serious, Saki?
— How did you find out?
— He came and asked me himself…
Just then, Saki was cut off.
Yusuke had stood up.
Hana was beside him.
The two of them walked over together.
— So, Saki, Yusuke said.
— Did you decide to thank me?
Miyuki immediately stepped in.
— Of course she didn't, Yusuke.
Hana joined in.
— Stay out of this, Miyuki.
— Hana, what are you even saying?
Yusuke cut in with a slightly irritated tone.
— Ladies, please.
— Stop arguing over me.
Hana and Miyuki frowned and looked at Yusuke.
— I was just expecting a thank-you from Saki.
Saki frowned.
Her heart started racing.
— Are you expecting thanks because of that promise, Yusuke?
Yusuke crossed his arms.
He looked down at the floor.
— I guess you're right, Saki.
— Fine.
— Hana, let's go eat.
Yusuke left the classroom.
Before leaving, Hana shot Saki a sharp look.
— You have a big rival in the Field Trip Club, Saki.
— Just so you know.
Hana left as well.
Saki couldn't make sense of what had just happened.
She stared blankly into space.
She clenched her hands.
Her eyes locked onto the wall.
Miyuki sat on top of the desk.
— Let's wait a bit, Saki.
— Once they're gone, we'll leave too.
Saki didn't seem to hear her.
She was just thinking.
There was a moment of silence.
— Let's go, Miyuki said.
— Hiroki shouldn't have to wait.
They stepped into the hallway and started walking toward the cafeteria.
As they walked, Miyuki rested her hand on her chin.
— Hmmm…
— By the way, Saki…
— What promise were you talking about with Yusuke?
Saki's thoughts tangled.
Right…
Miyuki and Hiroki didn't know.
— A long time ago…
— Yusuke promised he'd help me.
— You didn't ask Yusuke for help when you couldn't handle the project, did you?
— No, of course not.
— Then what?
— He put it under my desk on his own.
— I really don't understand Yusuke.
— Neither do I.
— Should we tell Hiroki about this?
— I don't know…
— I think we shouldn't.
— It's something Yusuke did on his own anyway.
— But if something happens again…
— It might be hard for me to make peace between you two.
Saki's expression fell.
Her eyes filled slightly.
— I don't want that either…
— You lovebirds, seriously.
— I'll say something to cheer you up.
— What?
— Don't be surprised if you hear something unexpected.
— What do you mean?
— Never mind. Look, we're at the cafeteria.
Saki let out a deep "ugh" inside her head.
But there was nothing she could do.
They took their trays.
Seeing the food made Saki a little happier.
It was something she liked today.
They walked between the tables, looking for Hiroki.
Yusuke and Hana glared at them, but they ignored it.
They found Hiroki and sat down next to him.
— Where have you been?
— My food's almost finished already.
Saki couldn't say anything.
— We had to go to the restroom, Miyuki said.
— By the way, Hiroki, what happened with the music thing?
Hiroki brought his finger to his lips.
— Shhh…
— Yeah, it's all taken care of.
Miyuki winked at Saki.
Saki still didn't understand anything.
Her head was full of questions.
But there was only one thing she knew for sure:
For now, the only thing she could do…
was wait for the answers to come on their own.