After the ramen incident, Kazuki thought the day couldn't get weirder.
He was wrong.
By late afternoon, the school festival was in full swing. Crowds filled every hallway. Music blasted from the gym, and the courtyard had transformed into a chaotic blend of cosplay contests, karaoke disasters, and haunted houses run by overly enthusiastic drama kids.
Aira dragged him—again.
"Where are we going now?" Kazuki asked, mildly annoyed.
"You'll see," she said with a mysterious smile, tugging at his sleeve.
They ended up on the roof.
The rooftop was quieter, away from the noise and rumors. There were string lights above, gently swaying in the breeze, and someone had set up a few chairs and a table with drinks. A peaceful spot.
"I figured you'd need a break," Aira said, looking up at the sky. "You looked… overwhelmed."
Kazuki blinked. "You noticed?"
She chuckled. "Of course. You're not exactly subtle when you're annoyed."
He looked away. "You didn't have to drag me all the way up here for that."
"Maybe I wanted to be alone with you," Aira said casually.
Kazuki froze.
She was staring at him now—no teasing smile, no sarcastic tone. Just her eyes, calm and serious.
He shifted uncomfortably. "Don't joke like that."
"I'm not joking."
Silence.
For a moment, the only sound was the faint hum of music from below and the wind rustling through the wires.
"I…" Aira started, then paused. Her voice was softer now. "You've changed lately."
Kazuki glanced at her. "How so?"
"You're… more open. Less cold. You talk to me now. You let me drag you around like some anime sidekick."
"…Thanks, I guess?"
"I like this version of you," she said.
Kazuki didn't respond. He just stared at the sky.
And then, as if the universe wanted to crank the tension even higher, fireworks began to explode in the distance—early fireworks from the second-year students.
Aira took a deep breath.
"…Kazuki, I think I—"
"THERE YOU TWO ARE!!"
Suguru burst onto the rooftop like a man who'd just discovered the holy grail.
Both Kazuki and Aira jumped a little.
"Oh, sorry," Suguru said, realizing the mood. "Was I… interrupting something?"
Kazuki glared at him. "You think?"
Suguru held up a bag. "I brought takoyaki. They said it was limited edition."
Aira facepalmed. "Suguru…."
She didn't get to finish her sentence.
The moment—the confession—was gone.
But for Kazuki, it still lingered. Her words. Her tone. Her eyes.
Later that night, as he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, he whispered to himself,
"…What was she about to say?"