Ryusei's voice from yesterday still lingered in the back of Aosuke's ears. "…Forever." Just one word. Yet the texture of that single phrase clung to Aosuke's chest, refusing to dissolve even after a full night's sleep. The characters written on the back of the sketch—"Jade Garden"—floated up every time he closed his eyes. On the first floor of Suirei Hall in the morning, Aosuke passed by the electronic bulletin board. His feet naturally tried to avoid it, but his gaze moved of its own accord. Blue, red, green, purple. Four colors updated in real time. And at the edge, gray text remained static as always. 【Yanase Aosuke: Unassigned】 (Third day.) Aosuke exhaled quietly and looked away from the board. Approaching Hekisendo, he saw the usual arrangement in the display case. Plum, salmon, kelp. Three rice balls lined up in rows. Without thinking much about it, Aosuke picked up the plum. He paid one hundred thirty yen and unwrapped the plastic wrap as he walked down the hallway. ——Ao