After school, the sky turned gray.
Kazuki walked alone, hands in his pockets, thoughts full of her.
"I don't like her… right?"
From behind, Kagami zipped by on a folding bike, balancing a triple-flavored ice cream.
"Yo, Kazuki! You team strawberry or vanilla?"
"I'm team peace and quiet."
"Deep answer, my bro," Kagami grinned, licking his ice cream like life was easy mode.
From afar—
"Kazukii! Wait for me!"
Aira waved, running toward him with a transparent umbrella.
"She's here again…"
She caught up, slightly out of breath.
"It's gonna rain. Let's go home together?"
Kazuki glanced at Kagami.
"Go on ahead."
Kagami winked. "Got it. I'll leave the world to you lovebirds."
Now just the two of them, walking side by side under one umbrella.
Awkward.
Really awkward.
But… strangely warm.
"…Have you ever dated anyone?" Aira asked suddenly.
"Never. Too much hassle."
"Geez. You always answer like a concrete wall."
"Well, maybe I am a wall."
Suddenly—THUD!
Something dropped from above.
A shopping bag?
They looked up.
An old lady on the third floor had accidentally dropped her drying bag over the railing.
Inside: a fancy lunchbox, tissues, and… a love letter?
Aira picked it up and read softly.
"To Kazuki-kun from the girl downstairs."
"…What the hell!?" Kazuki blurted.
Aira burst out laughing.
"PFFFT—YOU GOT A SKYMAIL LOVE CONFESSION?!"
"This is NOT how the world works!"
She laughed so hard, tears formed in her eyes.
Kazuki watched her face light up with laughter.
Then—
His heart glitched.
Like an NPC hit with a bugged event.
"…Crap."
"Huh? Why'd you go quiet?" Aira tilted her head.
"…Just rebooting my heart."
They both laughed.
And for once—
Kazuki didn't feel like rushing home.