The footsteps of two people echoed through the gymnasium after school. The pair dance competition was tomorrow. Chichi stood in the middle of the gymnasium, arms spread wide. Deep green hair flowed from her shoulders. Gray eyes looked straight at Kakarotto. "[serious]Got it? Left foot first, one step to the right, then……" "[gentle]Yeah, I'll try" Kakarotto took a step forward. Thud. "[angry]You stepped on me again!!" "[laughing]Sorry, sorry" One more time. Thud. "[angry]I said left, left!" "[gentle]Left……wait, which one's left again?" "[angry]Starting from there!?" Kuririn sat by the wall of the gymnasium. His light blue round head leaned against the wall as he watched the two practice. His golden eyes were quiet. He was smiling. But the quality of the smile was slightly off. Even he hadn't noticed. Kakarotto stepped on her again. Thud. "[angry]Seriously! How many times are you going to step on me!?" "[laughing]Why is stepping so complicated?" "[serious]It's not complicated. It's normal" "[gentle]Maybe you're just being strict, Chichi" "[serious]I'm not being strict. This is the bare minimum" He stepped on her again. "[angry]Arrrgh!!" Kakarotto scratched his head. "[gentle]But you know, dancing with you is fun" He was grinning. Not a trace of malice. Something pounded fiercely in Chichi's chest. (Fun……?) Her face grew hot. Kakarotto was smiling. That smile pierced her again. But. (……It's probably the same kind of "fun" as lunch) "[cold]……It's probably the same kind of fun as lunch, right?" Her voice had turned cold. Kakarotto tilted his head. "[surprised]Huh?" "[serious]Never mind. Let's keep going" Her gray eyes looked down. (Why did I say that?) Her own words came back to her. She thought they were mean. Kakarotto hadn't done anything wrong. He just didn't understand. And she knew that better than anyone. Even knowing that, she pushed him away. Her chest ached, tight. --- By the wall, Kuririn's laughter had stopped. He was looking at Chichi's profile. She stood with her head down, stepping through the routine. Kakarotto was still carelessly saying things like "So left first?" Kuririn understood. What kind of face Chichi was making right now. (She likes him. Always has) His hand on his knee clenched tight. --- Practice ended. The fluorescent lights in the gymnasium went out one by one. Chichi gathered her things and said quietly, "I'll definitely do better tomorrow." It wasn't clear who she was speaking to. They stepped into the hallway. Kuririn walked a little behind. Chichi turned back. "[gentle]Kuririn, cheer for me tomorrow!" Her voice was bright. The tension from practice had eased a little. She was smiling. Whether it was a real smile, Kuririn couldn't tell. Kuririn's mouth opened. "Chichi, I——" The words stopped. Chichi was smiling. That smile was directed straight at Kuririn. (I can't say it) "[gentle]……Never mind. Do your best" Chichi said "Thanks!" and walked down the hallway. Kuririn stood alone in that spot. The hallway lights were distant. --- Kuririn opened the rooftop door. Night wind came. October nights were cold. The lights of Misora City spread out below. To the east, the black ridge line of Komoreby Hills. To the south, the Hayase River reflected the streetlights, glowing faintly. He placed both hands on the fence. His fingers dug into the metal. (I don't want to ruin our friendship) (But I can't stop my feelings) (I don't want to get in Kakarotto's way) (I don't want to get in the way of Chichi's love either) (But——) "[sad]Damn it……" His fist struck the fence. "Damn it……" He hit it again. The sound of metal rang out into the night and faded. He was crying. He hadn't expected it. But he couldn't stop it. Tears fell down his cheeks and disappeared below the fence. His golden eyes saw Misora City's lights blurred. (My friendship with Kakarotto is real) (My feelings for Chichi are real too) (Both are real, both are precious, so why is it this painful?) He cried for a while. Eventually, the tears stopped. Kuririn kept his fist clenched, looking down at the city. Slowly, quietly, one conclusion emerged. I won't get in Kakarotto's way. I won't get in the way of Chichi's love. But——my feelings are real. That much, I can't erase. I don't want to erase it. He let go of the fence. The lights in the school building windows went out one by one. It grew darker. Only Kuririn remained on the rooftop. Stars appeared in the night sky. --- The next morning. The day of the pair dance competition. Class 2-3 was buzzing from the start. "It's today!" "Did you practice?" "Going for double dessert!" Voices flew back and forth. Outside the window, morning light fell on the grounds. The sky was clear. Kakarotto sat in the last row by the window, looking outside. (I'm dancing with Chichi today) (But I couldn't remember the steps at all) (Well, it'll probably work out) That's what he was thinking. Chichi sat in her own seat——two rows in front of Kakarotto, in the middle——writing something in her notebook. She seemed to be rewriting the steps from yesterday's practice. Kuririn sat in the seat by the hallway. There was a faint shadow under his eyes. The door opened. It was Morino-sensei. A Japanese teacher in his thirties who always looked a little tired. Today he didn't have his stomach medicine bottle, but instead held a single sheet of paper. "[gentle]Well, good morning everyone" The class quieted a little. "[gentle]Today's the pair dance competition, let's have fun. Before that……we have a new classmate joining us today" A transfer notice. Morino-sensei said "Come in" toward the door. A girl entered the classroom. The class went completely silent. Everyone looked. She had long golden hair. It flowed past her shoulders, down to around her waist. It had a gentle wave, and caught the light in the room, shimmering faintly. She was tall. About the same as Chichi, maybe a little taller. Her uniform looked pristine, as if it were her first day. Her eyes were striking. The color——wasn't normal. A golden amber, with something dwelling in its depths, that kind of eyes. The girl stood in the classroom entrance and slowly looked over the class. One by one, as if confirming. No one spoke. Her gaze moved to the back of the classroom——to the last row by the window, and stopped. Stopped. At Kakarotto. The girl began to walk. From the hallway side to the window side. Between the desks, straight ahead. No hesitation. As if she'd known her destination from the start. She came to stand in front of Kakarotto. The girl's mouth opened slightly. "[whispers]……Finally found you" The classroom froze completely. Kakarotto tilted his head. "[surprised]Huh? Me?" There was a pause. "[gentle]……Have we met somewhere before?" The girl didn't answer. Her amber eyes looked straight at Kakarotto. Her expression revealed nothing. Chichi watched the girl's back from her own seat. (Who……is she?) Her face had stiffened. Her gray eyes followed the girl's golden hair. Everything about yesterday's practice, the steps she'd rewritten this morning——all of it vanished from her mind. Kuririn watched from his seat by the hallway, eyes narrowing. The traces of last night's tears still lingered faintly under his eyes. With those eyes, he quietly watched the girl and Kakarotto. "[sad]Ah, um……let me introduce……" Morino-sensei clutched the transfer notice to his chest and spoke uncertainly. The girl didn't turn around. She stood still, looking at Kakarotto. Only Kakarotto had his usual expression. Bewildered, bright brown eyes. Black messy hair. Head tilted in curiosity. The air in Class 2-3 remained completely frozen, and no one moved.