The notifications from last night's group chat were stuck behind her eyelids. "She's two-timing." "That's the worst." — Even with her phone face-down, those words wouldn't disappear. Minato Mirai woke several times in the night, staring at the ceiling, then closing her eyes again. When morning came, her face in the mirror was terribly puffy, and she laughed a little at the sight. Even though she knew this wasn't a situation to laugh about. The moment she opened the sliding door to Class 2-3, the air changed. No one had shouted. No one had yelled at her. But the instant Minato Mirai stepped inside, the entire classroom — slowly, deliberately — froze. Groups of girls looked away. Not just looked away, but made a conscious choice not to see her. The boys in the back were whispering something to each other, and someone laughed quietly. When she glanced toward the sound, they turned away sharply. Minato Mirai simply walked to her seat. She hung her bag beside her desk and sat down. She took out her textbook. She placed her pen case. If she didn't do each action carefully, methodically, her mind would break. When she looked up, her eyes met Riku's. He was sitting in his usual spot by the window, looking at her. His pale blue eyes recognized her face — for a moment, his mouth moved as if he wanted to say something. The silver ear cuff on his right ear caught the morning light in a small reflection. But Riku didn't stand up. His gaze shifted away. Toward his problem set. (I see.) That was all it was. Riku could read the classroom atmosphere too. If he spoke to her, he'd get dragged into this too. She understood that. She understood it, but — Minato Mirai gripped the pen in her hand and simply looked down. The time until the first period chime felt unnaturally long. --- The moment the lunch chime rang, Minato Mirai grabbed her bag and stood up. She couldn't stay in the classroom. That was all. She hadn't thought about where to go. But her feet naturally carried her north down the main building's hallway. Komorebi — the library. The two-person table by the window that she and Riku used often. (Maybe I can calm down a little there.) The library, with its collection of about eighteen thousand books, was quiet even during lunch break. It smelled of paper. If she was here, just a little — Minato Mirai put her hand on the sliding door and opened it. She could see the window-side table. Riku was there. And right beside him, nestled close — Hina was sitting. Deep crimson long straight hair flowed over her shoulder. Hina was laughing out loud while naturally touching Riku's arm. She looked happy. Really happy. Riku's mouth had relaxed in response, as if answering her. Hina's bag was placed on the chair where Minato Mirai always sat. There was no gap between the two of them. Hina looked up. Their eyes met. Hina — smiled sweetly. Only her mouth moved, her facial muscles forming the shape of a beautiful smile. But deep in her violet eyes, there was no warmth. That smile said it all: "This is my place." Minato Mirai didn't step inside. She closed the sliding door. She walked down the hallway. Without thinking about where. When she reached a corner on the east side of the first floor of the main building, her feet stopped. A space between two walls, a place no one came to. This was where she'd been surrounded by Urakaze on her first day as a transfer student. Minato Mirai pressed her back against the wall and slowly slid down into a crouch. She hugged her knees. She hadn't done anything wrong. She'd only been helped by Sora. Someone had taken a photo of her, it had been spread in a group chat without her consent, and she'd been arbitrarily labeled a "two-timer." So why — why was she now huddled in a corner like this? Tears came. She tried to stop them, but they wouldn't. Keeping her voice silent, Minato Mirai simply cried. She hadn't realized that her "I trusted you" toward Riku could hurt this much. Because she'd trusted him, because she'd felt safe with him — the fact that he hadn't spoken to her cut so quietly, so deeply. She still didn't know if she liked him. But when those pale blue eyes turned away from her, something inside her chest crumpled. That much was true. --- After school. Her feet moved on their own. At the north end of the Higashioka campus, there's an old single-story building — the old club building. A dusty structure used only by the drama club and light music club. One room in it. The old photography club's room. She'd heard from Komori that Sora used it as a place to skip. She didn't understand why she was heading there. (Even if I go, it won't change anything. Sora said Riku told him to stay away, and if I get involved, it might cause trouble —) Still, her feet didn't stop. She stood in front of the door and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again, a bit harder. "[cold]...Come in," A low voice came from inside. Minato Mirai opened the door. Sora was sitting by the window. Red mesh streaks mixed through his black hair in the backlighting. Beyond the window, Minaka Bay glimmered small and distant. He looked at Minato Mirai, then at her face — and without saying anything, simply waited. (He can tell my eyes are swollen.) She felt ashamed. But she was too exhausted to even feel that shame anymore. Minato Mirai closed the door, leaned against the wall, and spoke. About last night's photo. About the group chat comments. About the classroom atmosphere this morning. About Hina sitting beside Riku in the library. About Riku not speaking to her. About having nowhere to belong. Sora didn't interrupt once. With sharp, reddish eyes, he looked out the window and listened to everything. The small scar between his eyebrows was clearly visible in the backlighting. "[serious]...It's my fault," Sora said it. His voice was low and quiet. "[serious]I dragged you into this. I'm sorry," Minato Mirai shook her head. If Sora hadn't helped her then, she didn't know what would have happened. She was about to say that when — Sora stood up. He pushed open the window, letting in the outside air. The smell of salt from Minaka Bay mixed faintly into the dusty room. With his back still turned to her, Sora continued. "[cold]My brother was right. When I'm around, everyone gets hurt," Minato Mirai said nothing. "[cold]In middle school, when I transferred to Minaka City Third Middle School — a different school. I had trouble with Urakaze there too. I dragged some people nearby into it," His voice was flat. Stripped of emotion, the way he spoke. That flatness itself conveyed the weight of what he was saying. "[cold]Things changed between me and Riku around that time. The reason — doesn't matter. Anyway, that's the kind of person I am. Just being near me, you too —" "[sad]Sora," The words came out. Sora turned around. Surprised — his sharp eyes actually widened just a little. "[sad]...I want to decide that myself," Her voice was shaking. She was about to cry. But she continued. "[sad]Don't decide for me. Who I want to be with — I decide that. I don't even know if that's right, but — being pushed away hurts more," Sora said nothing. Minaka Bay beyond the window glimmered silver in the evening light. After a long silence, Sora turned back to face the window. "[cold]...Go home," It wasn't rejection. But it wasn't acceptance either. Just — a limit, like "I can't say anything more." Minato Mirai nodded. She picked up her bag and opened the door. (At least I was able to say this much.) She decided to think of it that way. Whether she truly felt that way, she didn't know. --- Back in Cosmo Asahi 305, Minato Mirai lay on her bed the whole time. Her mother still hadn't come home. Beyond the balcony, she could see the ridge line of Takatsuki Mountain. There were many clouds today, and the mountain's outline was hazy. Her phone rang. A notification from Talk Ring. From: Fujimiya Hina Her chest grew heavy before she even opened it. 【Minato, I want to talk to you tomorrow after school. I'll be waiting at Sakura Road ♪】 Her hand holding the phone stopped. A bad feeling washed over her. Her whole body felt it — a bad premonition. Hina's smile from the library this afternoon floated back. That warm, beautiful smile with no temperature behind it. But — (If I just run away, nothing will change.) Minato Mirai looked up at the ceiling. Run away, get through tomorrow's classroom atmosphere, keep looking at Hina's smile from a distance while thinking it's scary — what would that solve? If she didn't hear directly from Hina what she was thinking, nothing would change. She didn't consult Riku or Sora. She didn't feel like she could. Tonight, Minato Mirai had no choice but to decide alone. She typed a reply. 【Understood. I'll be there.】 She sent it and set her phone down. --- The next afternoon. Sakura Road still had a few petals remaining, even now in late April. Through the gaps in the trees that had become leafy, white and faintly pink petals danced in the wind. That two-hundred-meter tree-lined path where Minato Mirai had gotten lost on her first day as a transfer student. Hina was standing there. Beside her, five other girls stood in a line. Minato Mirai's feet stopped for a moment. But she couldn't turn back and leave. It was six against one. "[cold]I'm glad you came," Hina's voice was sweet. Her usual bright, soft voice. But today, something was mixed into it — something she wasn't bothering to hide. "[cold]I'll be direct. I want you to stop getting close to Riku," One of her followers laughed through her nose. "[sarcastic]Read the room, you're a transfer student," "[sarcastic]The way you use the buddy system to get close to him is kind of gross," Voices overlapped. A single cherry blossom petal fell on Minato Mirai's shoulder. Hina opened her mouth again. "[cold]I'm going to ask the homeroom teacher to change your buddy too. That would be better for you too, right? I've liked Riku for a long time. There's no room for you to fit in," She kept smiling. Only the temperature in her voice was like a knife. "[sarcastic]Don't get cocky, seriously," "[sarcastic]You just transferred and immediately took a spot next to Riku, how shameless," Minato Mirai stood there. She searched for words to say back. No, that's not it, I just — but her voice wouldn't come. Her throat felt closed, immobile. Her knees were shaking. (Call Riku? Contact Sora?) It was impossible. Her fingers wouldn't obey her to take out her phone. More than that — she couldn't bring herself to call for help when she hadn't invited any of this. Another cherry blossom petal danced down. Hina smiled sweetly and turned on her heel. The followers trailed after her in a line. No one looked back. Minato Mirai was left alone on Sakura Road. The strength drained from her legs, and she crouched down right there. Both hands touched the ground. Petals scattered across the white asphalt. Tears ran down her cheeks. Riku hadn't spoken to her. Sora had pushed her away. And Hina — had said "let's stay friends" with a smile, but today she'd waited with six people. Maybe this transfer was a mistake. She didn't know who to trust anymore. Beneath the falling cherry blossoms, Minato Mirai cried alone. Voice silent, knees hugged to her chest. Petals accumulated on her shoulders. No one came. That night, without turning on the lights, Minato Mirai held her phone the entire time. She didn't open Talk Ring. When her mother called "Dinner's ready," she only replied "Just a moment." Whether she could go to school tomorrow — that question slowly grew larger in the darkness of her room.