"I saw Tachibana."
Haruki nearly chokes on his drink. "Bro—what? Where?"
"In her classroom. The teacher sent me to pick up worksheets, and she walked in."
He stares like the universe just handed him the funniest joke ever.
"Man, you must have broken a shrine in your past life."
I drop my head onto my arms with a groan.
"She told me I haven't changed. That I still hesitate."
Haruki shrugs. "Well… she's kinda right."
I glare at him. "Seriously? That's your support?"
"You want lies or the truth?"
"I want a hole to swallow me whole."
He lightly kicks my foot. "Look. You like her, right?"
…Silence. That's enough of an answer.
Haruki leans back, thoughtful. "Then quit waiting for the perfect moment. Life ain't a drama. You screw up, you fix it. Simple."
"It's not that simple."
"Nope. But doing nothing? Guaranteed failure."
We fall into the kind of silence where the school feels too loud—normal lives happening without us.
I missed my first chance with Tachibana.
Maybe I'm not the guy who gets things right the first time.
But I can be the guy who tries.
Maybe that's enough to start.
---
The next afternoon, I'm heading toward the second-year building.
Same sky, same school… but the air feels heavier on her side.
Haruki's voice echoes in my head:
> Quit hesitating.
I tell myself I'm just walking.
Coincidence.
Lies.
Then I hear her.
"…I don't really care about that."
Tachibana's voice. Soft. Tired.
She's by the lockers with Tanaka.
Tachibana looks worn down—like she's been holding everything in too long.
I could turn away.
Wait for a perfect moment.
But perfect moments don't come to guys like me.
"Tachibana-san."
She freezes.
Tanaka looks up too, alert.
Tachibana crosses her arms. "What now?"
"I wanted to apologize. For last year. For what I did."
Her gaze stays cold. Guarded.
"I know an apology won't fix anything. Back then… I didn't know how to say anything right."
"It's been a year, Takahashi."
"I know."
"You followed me around," she says, voice trembling. "You made me feel watched. And then you vanished. Like it meant nothing."
The memory punches me hard.
"I was scared. And stupid. And every day since… I've regretted it."
She looks away—barely—but enough to show the wall is cracking.
"And now what?" she whispers. "Do you expect us to reset?"
"No. I don't expect forgiveness.
I just want you to know… I'm trying to be better."
A long silence. Heavy. Real.
Finally, she scoffs. "You're an idiot."
"I hear that a lot," I manage.
Her lips twitch—almost a smile.
"This doesn't change anything," she warns.
"I know."
"But…" her voice softens, "you're not the same guy anymore."
The words hit too hard for me to stand still.
She walks past me:
"Better keep changing. I won't wait forever."
My heart nearly stops.
I turn to leave, but—
"Takahashi-kun."
Tanaka.
She stands calm, arms relaxed, expression… kinder.
"You surprised me today," she says. "I thought you'd keep running."
"I almost did."
She studies me—too perceptive.
"Tachibana looks strong," she says quietly. "But she pretends. A lot.
If you miss that again… you'll hurt her again."
I swallow. Hard.
Then her tone brightens—sparkly, threatening, magical-girl energy:
"So don't screw it up, Takahashi-kun.
Or I'll personally handle you."
"…That sounds mildly terrifying."
"It should be." She smiles—soft and dangerous.
"Because she noticed you changed. That's huge."
She gives a small bow and leaves.
No judgment.
No resentment.
Just belief.
For the first time since last year…
…I feel like I'm allowed to chase Tachibana again.
---
I walk back toward the first-year building, heart still charging ahead without me.
Haruki looks up instantly.
"There you are. I thought she buried you somewhere."
"Not yet."
"Oh? So you lived the rom-com moment?"
I tell him everything.
Haruki whistles.
"So the school idol threatens your soul, and her best friend cheers from the sidelines?"
"Don't make it sound like that."
"It is like that. This is a rom-com."
"It's not."
My voice cracks.
"It's the type of romance that hurts to watch."
Haruki's grin softens into something real.
"…She still matters to you."
I don't answer. I don't need to.
He slaps my back. Grounding.
"Then don't screw it up.
Be the guy who moves."
"…I'll do what I can."
"That's better."
I roll my eyes. "Stop quoting anime."
Haruki laughs.
"Come on, tragic protagonist.
Let's go before someone adds more drama."
I follow him inside.
One step at a time.
Maybe that's enough…
for now.