-SCHOOL HALLWAY, AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN-
-4:47 PM, NOVEMBER 23, 2016-
Ichika didn't mean to follow him.
At least—that was what she told herself as she slipped her script back into her bag and stepped out of the theatre room a little faster than usual.
Rikuu walked ahead of her, hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed in that distant way of his. He always left like this—quiet, unhurried, as if the world never tugged at his sleeve.
Normally, she let him go.
Today, her feet moved before her thoughts caught up.
"Arakawa."
He stopped.
Slowly, he turned around. "Yeah?"
The hallway was almost empty now, sunlight stretching long across the floor. Ichika hesitated, suddenly aware of how loud her heartbeat was.
"I was thinking," she said, then paused. "…No. That's not true. I felt something."
He waited.
"When you weren't around earlier," she continued, choosing her words carefully, "I realized I don't like guessing if you'll disappear."
His brows knit faintly. "I wasn't disappearing."
"I know." She nodded quickly. "That's why it scared me."
Silence settled—not sharp, but delicate.
Rikuu looked away first, gaze drifting toward the window. "You don't have to worry about me."
"That's the thing," Ichika said softly. "I already do."
He turned back to her.
Not guarded. Not defensive.
Just… surprised.
"You don't even know me that well," he said.
"I know," she agreed. "But I want to."
The words left her before she could soften them.
Rikuu exhaled through his nose, a quiet sound that almost resembled a laugh. "You're strange, Komori."
She smiled. "I've been told."
Another pause.
Then—hesitant, but real—Ichika took a step closer.
"Can I walk with you?" she asked. "Just to the gate."
He looked at her shoes. Then at her face.
"…Do what you want," he said at last.
She took that as a yes.
They walked side by side, not touching, but closer than before. Their footsteps fell into an uneven rhythm, yet neither of them tried to fix it.
Outside, the air was colder.
"I won't ask questions you don't want to answer," Ichika said suddenly. "I promise."
Rikuu glanced at her. "You already ask a lot."
"I know." She smiled again. "But today, I just wanted to stay."
He didn't reply.
But he didn't speed up either.
And when they reached the school gate, neither of them stopped immediately.
The distance between them—small, fragile—felt like it was quietly melting.
Not because either of them forced it.
But because Ichika had finally stepped forward.
And Rikuu… didn't step away.