The next morning, Itsuki arrived at school with one simple goal.
Survive the day.
That was it.
No complicated plans.
No unnecessary drama.
No embarrassing situations.
No getting dragged into strange misunderstandings.
Just school.
Class.
Lunch.
Badminton.
Then home.
Simple.
Perfect.
At least, that was the plan.
"Itsuki."
He stopped walking.
He slowly looked behind him.
Aoi was standing near the school entrance, holding her white cane.
Her schoolbag hung neatly over one shoulder.
She tilted her head toward him.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Aoi."
"I found you."
Itsuki blinked.
"You found me?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Your footsteps."
Itsuki looked down at his shoes.
"Again with my footsteps?"
Aoi smiled.
"You walk differently from everyone else."
"Is that supposed to make me feel special?"
"It does."
Itsuki grinned.
"Then I'll accept it."
Aoi took a few steps toward him.
Then she stopped.
"Itsuki."
"Yeah?"
"Can you tell me where the main building is?"
Itsuki pointed.
"It's over there."
Aoi remained silent.
Itsuki froze.
"…Right."
He lowered his hand.
"You can't see me pointing."
"Correct."
"I forgot again."
Aoi laughed softly.
"You're still learning."
Itsuki sighed.
"Okay. From now on, I'll describe things instead of pointing."
"Good."
"The main building is straight ahead. Walk about thirty steps, then turn slightly right. You'll hear the fountain before you reach the entrance."
Aoi listened.
"Fountain?"
"Yeah."
"I can hear it."
She smiled.
"I know where it is now."
She started walking.
Itsuki followed beside her.
After a few seconds, Aoi stopped.
"You're following me."
"Of course."
"I can tell."
"How?"
"Your footsteps."
Itsuki stared at her.
"You really are a walking radar."
Aoi laughed.
"I could say the same about you."
"Me?"
"You've been following me for thirty seconds."
"Because I'm making sure you don't walk into anything."
Aoi raised her cane.
"I have this."
She tapped it lightly against the floor.
"I know."
Itsuki smiled.
"But you're new here."
"So?"
"So I'm your school GPS."
Aoi became quiet for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"School GPS?"
"Yep."
"Does it have a name?"
"Itsuki GPS."
"That sounds terrible."
"What?!"
Aoi laughed.
"I'd rather call you Human GPS."
Itsuki stared at her.
"That's even worse."
"Human GPS."
"No."
"Human GPS."
"Stop repeating it."
"Human GPS."
"Aoi!"
She laughed again.
And that was how Itsuki's peaceful school morning ended.
His reputation had changed.
He was no longer simply Itsuki.
He was now—
Human GPS.
Unfortunately, Yuna heard everything.
And Yuna never forgot anything funny.
By the time they reached the classroom, Yuna was already waiting.
She looked at Itsuki.
Then at Aoi.
Then back at Itsuki.
"Human GPS?"
Itsuki's soul nearly left his body.
"You heard that?"
"Everything."
Ren appeared behind Yuna.
"What happened?"
Yuna immediately answered.
"Itsuki has a new job."
Ren looked confused.
"What job?"
"Navigation."
Haruto walked over with his badminton bag.
"Navigation?"
Yuna pointed at Itsuki.
"Apparently he's Aoi's Human GPS."
Haruto stared at Itsuki.
Then he nodded seriously.
"That actually suits him."
"Why?!"
"You're always walking around telling people where things are."
"I do not!"
Ren raised a hand.
"You literally gave me directions to the gym yesterday."
"Because you asked!"
Yuna raised another finger.
"You told me where the cafeteria was."
"You were standing in front of the cafeteria!"
Haruto added,
"You told me where the badminton court was."
"You were looking for it!"
Ren nodded.
"Human GPS."
Itsuki covered his face.
"Why are all of you doing this?"
Aoi stood beside him, quietly smiling.
She couldn't see the expressions on their faces, but she could hear the laughter.
She understood enough.
"I think the name is cute."
Itsuki looked at her.
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I am."
"You're making it worse!"
Aoi giggled.
The bell rang.
Everyone returned to their seats.
The teacher entered.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning!"
Aoi sat quietly and opened her notebook.
Itsuki glanced toward her.
She was already organizing her things carefully.
Her pen was placed at the same angle every time.
Her notebook was aligned with the edge of the desk.
Her cane was folded and placed beside her chair.
She had her own system.
Itsuki realized something.
Aoi didn't need someone constantly helping her.
She simply needed the environment explained when something was unfamiliar.
That was all.
During the first lesson, the teacher suddenly announced a classroom activity.
"Everyone, take out the worksheet from the back of your textbook."
Aoi paused.
She touched the pages carefully.
"Itsuki."
Itsuki turned.
"What?"
"Which page?"
"Page forty-two."
Aoi flipped through the book.
"Is this forty-two?"
"No, that's forty."
She turned another page.
"This?"
"Forty-one."
Another page.
"This?"
"Forty-two."
Aoi smiled.
"Thank you."
Itsuki nodded.
Then he realized something.
He was becoming useful.
Not because Aoi couldn't do things.
Because sometimes the world gave her information visually, and someone simply needed to convert it into words.
That was it.
The teacher began explaining the worksheet.
Aoi listened carefully.
She wrote down what she needed.
Itsuki returned to his own work.
Five minutes passed.
Then—
"Itsuki."
He looked over.
"What now?"
"Question three."
"Yeah?"
"What does the picture show?"
Itsuki looked at the worksheet.
"It's a diagram of—"
He stopped.
Aoi waited.
Itsuki explained the diagram in words.
Aoi listened.
"Okay. I understand."
She started writing.
Itsuki smiled.
Then he returned to his work.
Three minutes later—
"Itsuki."
He slowly turned.
"Yes?"
"What does the symbol beside question five mean?"
Itsuki looked.
He explained it.
Aoi nodded.
"Thank you."
Itsuki went back to writing.
Two minutes later—
"Itsuki."
He put his pen down.
"What?"
"Where is the teacher?"
Itsuki looked toward the front.
"She's at the board."
"Thank you."
Itsuki sighed.
"No problem."
Yuna was watching.
She whispered to Ren,
"He's really becoming a GPS."
Ren nodded.
"Level one."
Haruto whispered,
"What happens at level two?"
Yuna smiled.
"He starts giving traffic updates."
Ren immediately whispered,
"Attention, Aoi. Three students approaching from your left."
Yuna covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.
Unfortunately, Itsuki heard them.
"I'm sitting right here!"
The teacher turned around.
"Is there a problem?"
Everyone immediately became quiet.
"No, Sensei!"
The lesson continued.
At lunch, the group went outside.
Aoi held her cane and walked confidently along the familiar corridor.
Itsuki walked beside her.
Yuna followed behind.
Ren and Haruto followed them.
Aoi stopped at the stairs.
"Is this the staircase?"
"Yes."
"Going down?"
"Yes."
She carefully moved forward.
Her cane touched the first step.
Tap.
She descended without assistance.
Itsuki stayed nearby but didn't grab her.
At the bottom, Aoi stopped.
"Which way?"
"Left."
She turned left.
"Straight?"
"Straight."
"Then?"
"Right at the corner."
Aoi nodded.
"Human GPS activated."
Itsuki groaned.
"Please stop."
Yuna burst out laughing.
"This is too good."
Aoi smiled.
"I think it fits him."
"You're enjoying this!"
"Yes."
Itsuki sighed.
"I'm surrounded by traitors."
Ren patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. We'll support you."
"Thank you."
"We support the Human GPS."
"I take it back."
Haruto laughed.
They reached the cafeteria.
Aoi stopped.
"I can smell food."
Itsuki smiled.
"You're at the cafeteria."
"I know."
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"Then why did you ask me?"
"I wanted to check."
Itsuki stared at her.
"You were testing the GPS?"
"Maybe."
Yuna laughed so hard she had to hold the wall.
"You've been tricked!"
Itsuki pointed at Aoi.
"You're dangerous."
Aoi smiled innocently.
"I can't see you pointing."
Itsuki immediately lowered his hand.
Everyone laughed.
After lunch, they returned to class.
But the Human GPS joke had already spread.
A student from another group stopped Itsuki in the corridor.
"Hey, are you Itsuki?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you Aoi's Human GPS?"
Itsuki's eyes widened.
"How did you hear about that?!"
The student laughed.
"Yuna."
Itsuki slowly turned.
Yuna was already walking away.
"YUNA!"
She shouted back,
"I'm sorry!"
"No, you're not!"
Aoi laughed.
By the end of the day, even the badminton club had heard.
Itsuki entered the gym.
Haruto looked at him.
"Human GPS."
Itsuki dropped his bag.
"I'm quitting."
Haruto laughed.
"You can't quit."
"Why?"
"Because you're our best navigator."
"I play badminton!"
"Exactly."
"What does navigation have to do with badminton?"
"Nothing."
"Then why—"
Haruto started laughing.
Yuna entered behind them.
"Okay, Human GPS. Warm-up."
Itsuki looked at her.
"I'm going home."
"No, you're not."
Ren walked in.
"Human GPS doesn't abandon his passengers."
Itsuki stared at the ceiling.
"Why did I make friends with you people?"
Aoi arrived a little later with her cane.
She stopped near the entrance.
"Itsuki."
He turned.
"Yeah?"
"Where's the court?"
Itsuki pointed automatically.
Then he remembered.
He lowered his hand.
"Straight ahead. About twenty steps. You'll hear the shuttlecocks."
Aoi smiled.
"Thank you."
She walked toward the court.
Itsuki smiled too.
For some reason, helping her didn't feel like a burden.
It felt normal.
Maybe that was what friendship was supposed to feel like.
Not rescuing someone.
Not treating them like they were helpless.
Just being there when they needed information.
Aoi reached the court.
Then she suddenly stopped.
"Itsuki."
"Yes?"
"Where are you?"
"Behind you."
Aoi tilted her head.
"You're close."
Itsuki blinked.
"How close?"
"Very."
He took two steps backward.
"Now?"
"Better."
Yuna started laughing.
Ren whispered,
"Human GPS has proximity settings."
Haruto nodded seriously.
"Version 2.0."
Itsuki turned toward them.
"I'm going to smash a badminton racket over all three of your heads."
Aoi laughed.
"You sound angry."
"I'm not angry."
"You're definitely angry."
"I am peacefully suffering."
"That sounds worse."
Everyone laughed.
And across the gym—
Hotaru had just arrived.
She stopped near the entrance.
Her eyes moved toward the sound of laughter.
Itsuki was there.
Aoi was there.
Yuna, Ren, and Haruto were surrounding them.
Hotaru watched silently.
Again, that strange feeling appeared.
She didn't know why.
She didn't know what it meant.
She only knew that whenever Aoi laughed with Itsuki, something inside her became slightly uncomfortable.
She looked away.
Then, almost immediately—
She looked back.
A small frown appeared on her face.
Why am I doing this again?
She didn't have the answer.
And perhaps that was the most confusing part.
She wasn't remembering anything.
She wasn't suddenly recovering her childhood memories.
She simply had a feeling.
A feeling that had no explanation.
Meanwhile, Itsuki had no idea what was happening.
He was too busy arguing with his friends.
"I am NOT a GPS!"
Aoi smiled.
"You are."
"No!"
"You helped me find the classroom."
"That was once!"
"The cafeteria."
"Once!"
"The library."
"You asked!"
"The nurse's office."
"You were sick!"
"The badminton court."
"That's literally my club!"
Aoi smiled.
"So…"
She tilted her head.
"Human GPS."
Itsuki looked at the ceiling.
"Fine."
He surrendered.
"But I'm charging you."
Aoi laughed.
"How much?"
"Five hundred rupees per direction."
Yuna gasped.
"That's expensive!"
Ren nodded.
"Inflation."
Haruto added,
"GPS subscription."
Itsuki pointed at them.
"You're all fired."
Aoi laughed again.
For once, Itsuki didn't feel like he was running away from his past.
He was simply standing in a noisy school gym with his friends.
Laughing.
Complaining.
Helping someone.
Being teased.
Living an ordinary day.
And somewhere in that ordinary day, something new was quietly taking shape.
Not a dramatic confession.
Not a sudden revelation.
Just friendship.
Just laughter.
And perhaps—
A few feelings that none of them were ready to understand yet.
Especially Hotaru.
She quietly watched Itsuki one last time before turning away.
Her expression remained calm.
But inside her mind, one question remained.
Why does seeing him with Aoi bother me so much?
She didn't know.
Not yet.
The answer could wait.
For now, the Human GPS had another passenger to guide.
And tomorrow…
He was probably going to regret giving Aoi directions in the first place.