The next day arrived with an unusual energy.
Luca felt it the moment he woke up — a mix of nerves and hope buzzing under his skin.
Marc yawned from his bed. "Bro, you're up early. What's the mission today?"
Luca tied his shoes. "…Helping Hana try again."
Marc nodded.
"Then don't overthink it. Just be there."
Luca smiled a little.
"Yeah."
After school, Luca walked to the track again.
He half-expected Hana to not be there.
But she was.
Standing at the starting line.
Wearing the ankle brace.
Looking determined… and terrified.
"You came," Luca said.
Hana swallowed.
"Yeah. If I didn't come today… I'd never come again."
"That's brave."
"That's stupid."
"It can be both."
Hana snorted. "Shut up."
But she was smiling nervously.
Hana took her stance again.
This time, she didn't shake.
She pushed off —
stronger than yesterday,
cleaner,
lighter.
Her form wasn't perfect,
but her spirit was.
Halfway through, she slowed for a second—
fear flickering—
but Luca called out:
"I'm right here!"
And something in her lit up.
She sped up again.
She finished the full lap.
When she stopped, she collapsed onto the grass, laughing.
"OH MY GOD—"
She clutched her chest.
"I DID IT—LUCA—I ACTUALLY—"
"You killed it," Luca said, breathless himself even though he didn't run.
Hana covered her face, laughing and crying at the same time.
"I thought I'd lost it," she whispered.
"I thought I'd never run again."
"You didn't lose anything," Luca said softly. "You just forgot how strong you were."
Hana stared at him, eyes shining.
"…Thank you. For being here."
"Always."
Aiden appeared near the fence, watching them with a stunned expression.
He waited until Hana went to grab water, then stepped up to Luca.
"Why are you doing this?" Aiden asked quietly.
Luca didn't flinch.
"I'm helping her."
"Why?" Aiden repeated, voice strained. "You barely know her."
Luca held his gaze.
"You don't need years to care about someone."
Aiden looked shaken by the answer.
"…Hana used to smile like that when she ran," he said.
"I haven't seen that smile in a long time."
Luca nodded.
"I'm glad she has it again."
Aiden stepped back, unsure if he respected Luca more…
or hated him more.
From behind the bleachers, Ryo wrote:
Luca = anomaly
Emotional shift catalyst
Hana's route diverging rapidly
Patterns no longer predictable
System reacting
He closed the notebook slowly.
"This is no longer a normal route," he whispered.
Marc was walking past the gym when Aria appeared beside him — silently as always.
"Marc."
He jumped slightly.
"Cmon— you gotta stop doing that."
Aria looked at him, expression unreadable.
"Something is shifting," she said.
"The world is… reacting."
Marc frowned.
"Because of Hana?"
Aria nodded once.
"Because Luca is touching the part of her the world thought was dead."
Marc's breath caught.
"What does that mean?"
Aria looked toward the track.
"It means the system is waking up."
Hana walked back toward Luca with water dripping down her chin.
Her face was flushed from running but glowing from happiness.
"Luca," she said quietly.
"…If I try again… will you be there?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"I'll be here. Every time."
Hana's expression softened — vulnerable, grateful, relieved.
"…Okay," she whispered. "Then I think… I'm ready."
And for the first time since they met—
Hana looked like she believed in herself again.