The final whistle echoed through the badminton court.
"Practice is over!"
Coach Shimizu smiled.
"Good work, everyone."
The members bowed together.
"Thank you, Coach!"
---
Itsuki wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"...That was exhausting."
Ren stretched dramatically.
"I can't feel my legs!"
Haruto laughed.
"That's because you spent more time talking than training."
"I'm building team spirit!"
"You call that team spirit?"
Yuna shook her head.
"You call everything team spirit."
The group burst into laughter.
---
Students slowly began leaving the gym.
Itsuki quietly picked up his school bag.
Then...
He carefully peeked around the hallway.
Left.
Right.
Behind him.
"...Good."
"No one's watching."
He slowly tiptoed toward the school gate like a detective on a secret mission.
Ren suddenly appeared from another hallway.
"Itsuki!"
Itsuki froze.
"...!"
Ren scratched his head.
"Oh."
"I forgot my water bottle."
"See you tomorrow!"
He immediately ran away again.
Itsuki let out a long sigh of relief.
"...That was close."
---
A few minutes later...
Itsuki was riding his bicycle through the streets of Kathmandu.
The cool afternoon wind brushed against his face.
The city buzzed with life.
Shops.
Street vendors.
Children laughing.
Everything felt peaceful.
Until...
He reached an old bridge.
His hands slowly squeezed the brakes.
Screech...
The bicycle came to a stop.
Itsuki quietly walked to the railing.
Below him...
The river flowed gently.
He stared at the water for a long time.
"..."
A memory surfaced.
Middle school.
Ren.
Other classmates.
Everyone laughing.
Jumping into the river together during summer.
Even Hotaru had been there once, smiling quietly from the riverside.
Back then...
Life had felt simple.
"..."
Itsuki smiled sadly.
"So much changed..."
He rested both hands on the railing.
"...I can't change the past."
"...But I can choose what I do today."
He took one deep breath.
Then another.
"I still have Aunt Miyuki."
"And I want to make her smile."
His expression softened.
"...Let's keep going."
He picked up his bicycle again.
The painful memories stayed behind with the river.
---
Twenty minutes later...
Itsuki stopped in front of a small café.
A wooden sign hung above the entrance.
Neko Café Momo
He smiled.
"I'm here."
---
Inside...
The café was filled with warm lights and the gentle sound of cats purring.
Several fluffy cats wandered between the tables.
"Good afternoon, Manager."
The owner smiled.
"You're right on time, Itsuki."
"Go get changed."
"Yes."
---
A few moments later...
Itsuki returned wearing the café uniform.
A black apron.
A white shirt.
And a pair of adorable cat ears.
He looked into the mirror.
"..."
"I'll never get used to these."
One of the waitresses laughed.
"They suit you."
Itsuki scratched his cheek.
"...Please don't tease me."
---
The café slowly became busy.
Itsuki greeted customers politely.
"Welcome."
"Please follow me."
He served coffee.
Cleaned tables.
Played with the café cats whenever there was free time.
One tiny orange kitten climbed onto his shoulder.
"...Again?"
The kitten purred happily.
"I guess you like me."
---
Ding...
The entrance bell rang.
"Irasshaimase—"
Itsuki stopped.
"...Huh?"
Standing at the entrance...
Were Ren...
Yuna...
and Haruto.
The three of them froze.
Silence filled the café.
Ren slowly pointed at Itsuki.
"..."
"...ITSUKI?!"
Itsuki immediately lowered his head.
"..."
"...You found me."
Yuna blinked several times.
"No way..."
"You work here?"
Haruto couldn't stop laughing.
"I never expected this."
Yuna looked at the cat ears on Itsuki's head.
Then...
She covered her mouth.
"They're..."
"...actually cute."
Itsuki's face immediately turned red.
"D-Don't say that..."
"It's part of the uniform."
Ren burst into laughter.
"I need a picture!"
"No!"
"You absolutely do not!"
Haruto laughed even harder.
"The great badminton player..."
"...defeated by cat ears."
Itsuki sighed dramatically.
"...Can I pretend I don't know you three?"
Yuna giggled.
"Sorry."
"But this has always been our favorite café."
"My family has been bringing me here since I was little."
Ren nodded.
"Same here."
"We come here almost every week."
Itsuki looked genuinely surprised.
"...Seriously?"
Haruto grinned.
"Looks like we'll be seeing each other even after school."
Itsuki folded his arms.
"...Wait a minute."
He narrowed his eye at Ren and Yuna.
"...Be honest."
"You two aren't secretly on a date, are you?"
"W-WHAT?!"
Ren nearly dropped the menu.
Yuna immediately smacked Ren lightly on the shoulder.
"Why are you panicking?"
"I'm not panicking!"
"You definitely are."
"I'm just surprised!"
Haruto laughed so hard he had to grab the table.
"I've never seen Ren this embarrassed."
Itsuki couldn't hold it anymore.
He laughed.
A real laugh.
Not one to hide his pain.
But one that came naturally.
Watching him laugh...
Yuna smiled quietly.
"That's better..."
"This smile is real."
The warm café lights, the playful cats, and the laughter of new friends made the evening feel lighter than it had in years.