The wind had changed overnight. The morning air was slightly damp, and the tips of her fingers resting on the bicycle handlebars were cold. The residential district of Mikage City had fewer people than usual for the school commute hour, and 相馬湖菜 coasted down the gentle slope without pedaling. What remained in her head was yesterday. "Use your brain." 雨宮慎也's voice was still there, even now in the morning. It lingered with the exact texture of the moment he'd said it. It wasn't criticism. But it wasn't praise either. It was like he'd found something and simply put it into words—that kind of voice. She realized she'd been chewing on it until just before sleep, turning it over and over in her mind. (Today, real theoretical instruction begins.) That's what the message from Chihiro said. Three emoji faces with "excited!" at the end. 湖菜 read it several times before replying. She wrote only "Yeah." It wasn't a lie. She didn't know if she was excited, but she definitely wanted to go. That