-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN-
-8:10 AM, NOVEMBER 7, 2017-
Snow drifted lazily over Aurora Academy, blanketing the courtyard with a thin, shimmering layer. Students shook frost from their coats as they filed into the building, laughter echoing in the crisp morning air.
Ichika Komori stepped through the front gate, soft pink hair peeking from beneath her winter hood. She breathed out a pale cloud of warmth, her steps light and unhurried.
She didn't know why mornings felt a little brighter now.
Or rather… she did know.
And that alone made her cheeks warm.
As she approached the hallway leading to the first-year classrooms, she caught a familiar form ahead—
Rikuu Arakawa.
He stood by the window near Class 1-A, eyes half-lidded as he stared outside, snow reflecting faintly in his red irises. He looked tired, as always… but calm.
Ichika slowed her steps without meaning to.
Rikuu glanced over.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—
"…Morning, Komori."
His voice was quiet, almost careful.
Ichika's heart jumped.
"O-oh. Good morning, Arakawa."
He shifted slightly, hand in his pocket, gaze dropping to her coat.
"You… layered properly today," he muttered.
Ichika blinked. "Ah—yes. I get cold easily."
"Makes sense."
A pause.
"I don't want you getting sick. You look like the type who'd… accidentally catch everything."
Ichika froze.
"D-do I really?"
Rikuu looked away again, faint annoyance in his voice—though not at her.
"At first glance, yeah."
Ichika didn't know whether to be offended or flustered.
She settled for flustered.
-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE — MAIN HALL-
-10:30 AM, NOVEMBER 7, 2017-
Between classes, Ichika passed the main hall where students chatted loudly as they moved to their next rooms.
She spotted Rikuu walking with Masayoshi Fujikawa. Masayoshi was animated, talking with his hands, laughing loudly. Rikuu listened with an exasperated expression, occasionally clicking his tongue.
Ichika couldn't hear their conversation…
but she found herself smiling slightly.
He could get along with others.
He just chose not to most of the time.
As she turned the corner, someone nudged her shoulder lightly.
Kiyomi gasped. "Oh my gosh, Ichikaaaa—were you just smiling at someone??"
"I-I was not!"
"You were! Misuzu, did you see that?"
Misuzu adjusted her glasses. "…Yes. It was subtle. But present."
Ichika covered her cheeks with her hands.
"I-It's just—he's… calmer than he looks."
"Ohoooo," Kiyomi teased, leaning closer. "Someone's noticing details."
Ichika nearly melted into the snow again.
-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE — BACK COURTYARD-
-1:06 PM, NOVEMBER 7, 2017-
Lunch break.
Ichika sat beneath the courtyard pavilion, quietly unwrapping her bento. Misuzu sat beside her reading a book, while Kiyomi waved excitedly at a group of classmates passing by.
Ichika lifted a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks—
"Komori."
Her heart jumped.
Rikuu stood a short distance away, hands in his pockets, snow lightly dusting the shoulders of his uniform.
Ichika straightened. "A-Arakawa. Hello."
He looked oddly hesitant.
Not nervous. Just… unsure.
"Did you bring lunch today?" she asked softly.
"Yeah."
"Oh. That's good."
A pause—not awkward, just quiet.
Then Rikuu spoke:
"…That tea you told me about. The one with honey."
"Y-yes?"
"I tried it last night."
Ichika's eyes widened. "You did?"
Rikuu looked away as if embarrassed to admit it. "Helps with the cold. So… thanks."
Warmth spread through Ichika's chest, gentle and steady.
"I'm glad."
Rikuu nodded once, faintly.
And for a moment, he lingered—
long enough that Kiyomi whispered behind Ichika,
"HE CAME TO TALK TO YOU—HE TOTALLY DID—"
Ichika subtly elbowed her.
Rikuu's eyebrow twitched.
"…Your friends are loud."
"S-sorry…"
"It's fine. You're… different from them."
Ichika blinked. "Different?"
He shrugged lightly.
"I mean… calmer. Easier to talk to."
Her heart fluttered.
-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE — SIDE EXIT HALLWAY-
-3:11 PM, NOVEMBER 7, 2017-
School ended.
Students departed in groups, laughter fading into the cold afternoon.
Ichika stepped through the quieter side hallway, heading toward the gate. As she turned the corner—
Rikuu appeared from the opposite direction.
They both stopped.
For some reason, the silence felt… peaceful.
Ichika swallowed softly. "U-um… Arakawa?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"About yesterday…"
"You asking to be friends?"
Ichika's cheeks warmed. "Y-yes."
Rikuu exhaled slowly, rubbing his neck as if unsure how to handle his own thoughts.
"You're weird," he muttered.
Ichika blinked. "W-weird?"
"I don't get you. You're too polite. Too gentle."
He looked aside, voice lower.
"Most people stay away from me."
Ichika's voice softened.
"I don't want to."
Rikuu's eyes flicked back to hers—sharper, unreadable.
"…Why?"
Ichika held her books close.
"I don't know. I just… feel like I want to understand you."
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then he looked away, exhaling a sigh that wasn't annoyed— just tired in an honest way.
"…You're impossible."
Ichika smiled softly. "Is that bad?"
"No."
A brief pause.
"It's… confusing."
Ichika nodded gently. "We can go slowly."
Rikuu blinked at her.
She meant it.
Every word.
And for the first time in a long while—
something in Rikuu's expression eased.
"…See you tomorrow, Komori."
Ichika bowed her head slightly.
"Yes. See you tomorrow, Arakawa."
They walked in opposite directions—
but both felt the same tiny spark:
Something between them had shifted.
Quietly.
Softly.
Inevitably.