That morning, the electricity had returned.
Nao woke up earlier than usual.
She stood in the kitchen, staring at the empty pot for a long time before finally taking a breath and starting to cook.
Her hands were still trembling slightly—not from fear, but because her mind was full.
Last night…
Ayano's words kept replaying in her head.
"I want to."
That was all.
Not excessive.
But enough to make her chest feel warm.
"Am I… thinking about it too much?" she murmured softly.
Ayano came downstairs, his hair still slightly messy.
"Oh—"
He stopped when he smelled the food.
"You're up early."
Nao flinched slightly.
"I-I couldn't sleep."
Ayano nodded.
"Me neither."
Silence.
Not awkward—more like a comfortable quiet.
They ate breakfast.
Nao placed an egg onto Ayano's plate.
Without realizing it, Ayano said, "Thanks."
Nao froze.
Then smiled faintly.
"…You're welcome."
At school, something felt different.
Nao was still cold.
Ayano was still calm.
But when they passed each other in the hallway, their eyes met for a moment.
Not long.
Not obvious.
But enough to make Nao's steps falter for half a second.
After school, it rained again—a light drizzle.
At home, they changed into comfortable clothes.
Nao sat in the living room, hugging a pillow.
"Ayano…"
"Hm?"
"I want to try."
Ayano turned to her.
"Try what?"
Nao took a deep breath.
"Talking… more. With you."
Ayano smiled faintly.
"I'm listening."
Nao nodded.
"If I stop halfway… please wait for me."
Ayano answered without hesitation,
"I'll always wait."
Nao froze for a moment.
Her face turned red.
"…You're too kind."
Ayano let out a small laugh.
"Maybe."
That night, they stood by the pool.
The garden lights glowed softly, the water reflecting a golden yellow light.
Nao dipped her toes in.
"It's cold," she said quietly.
Ayano sat on the edge of the pool.
"You don't have to go in."
Nao shook her head.
"I want to."
She stepped in slowly.
The water reached her waist.
"Ayano…"
"Hm?"
"…If I've been acting strange lately…"
Ayano looked at her.
"You're not strange."
Nao lowered her gaze.
"I just… don't want us to be awkward forever."
Ayano stood up and stepped into the pool.
The water rippled softly.
"We don't have to go back to how we were before," he said gently.
"We can become a new version."
Nao looked at him.
Her eyes shimmered.
"…This version?"
"Yes."
Nao smiled—a small, fragile, honest smile.
"…I like it."
The pool water swayed gently.
That night, they swam without talking much.
But for the first time,
the silence no longer hurt.
---
Several days passed.
Their routine began to take shape.
Morning:
Nao cooks.
Ayano prepares their uniforms.
Afternoon:
They are strangers.
Evening:
They go home together, silent but side by side.
Night:
Sometimes they talk.
Sometimes they just sit together.
And somehow, Ayano had started coming home earlier.
That day, Ayano came home looking a little tired.
He set his bag down, then stopped.
Nao was asleep on the sofa.
Her hair spread out, the blanket half fallen, her small hand still holding her phone.
Ayano stood there for a few seconds.
"…You're tired."
He picked up the blanket and gently covered her.
Nao shifted slightly, then unconsciously grabbed the hem of Ayano's shirt.
Ayano froze.
"Nao?"
Nao didn't wake up.
But her hand didn't let go.
Ayano swallowed, then sat down on the floor, allowing it to happen.
"…If this keeps going, I might misunderstand."
He smiled faintly, bitterly.
That night, the rain poured heavily.
The power went out again.
Nao sat on the stairs, hugging her knees.
Ayano came with a candle.
"Are you afraid of the dark?"
Nao nodded slightly.
"A little."
Ayano sat beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Silence.
Rain beat against the windows.
Nao spoke softly, almost whispering.
"Ayano…"
"Hm?"
"When… that one month ends."
Ayano looked at the candle flame.
"Yes?"
"Will you reject it?"
Ayano didn't answer right away.
"…I don't want you to regret it."
Nao clenched the edge of her own shirt.
"…I'm just afraid you'll reject it not because you don't want to,
but because you're thinking about me."
Ayano turned toward her.
For the first time, Nao looked at him without her cold mask.
Her eyes were honest.
Fragile.
"…I want you to think about yourself too."
Ayano fell silent for a long time.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I think about you because I want to."
Nao smiled faintly.
"…Then I will too."
The candle flame trembled.
The distance between them felt like it was shrinking—
not physically,
but emotionally.
The next day at school, a male student greeted Nao.
"Nao, about the assignment—"
Nao shot him a sharp look, as usual.
But before she could speak, Ayano walked past.
His steps paused for a moment.
Nao unconsciously said,
"…Later."
Her tone was softer than usual.
Ayano heard it.
And for the first time…
he felt jealous.
---
The change happened without a sound.
Nao Karuizawa didn't suddenly become cheerful.
She didn't smile widely.
Didn't laugh loudly.
But… she stopped avoiding people.
When a female student greeted her, Nao responded.
Short.
Soft.
But she responded.
During group work, she sat with the others.
Listening.
Nodding.
And that… was enough.
"It's weird, Nao's become more normal."
"Yeah… but she actually seems closer now."
"Maybe she's not scary, she just can't talk much."
Ayano heard it from the back row.
He looked at Nao's back.
"…So that's it."
That day, a male student sat next to Nao.
"Uh… Karuizawa. You're good at math, right?"
Nao stiffened.
Usually she would stand up and leave.
But today—
"…Yeah. A little."
That answer made the boy smile.
"Can you help me?"
Nao hesitated.
Then nodded slightly.
Ayano saw it.
His hand stopped writing.
His feelings felt… strange.
Break time.
Nao sat with several female friends.
Another boy joined them.
"I just realized your voice is soft, Karuizawa."
Nao blushed.
Her face turned faintly red.
"…Don't get too close."
Her tone was still cold.
But she didn't refuse.
Ayano stood in the distance, holding his drink.
"…Hah."
He drank it too quickly.
In the afternoon.
They went home together.
Walking side by side.
A safe distance.
Nao broke the silence.
"At school… I tried a little."
Ayano looked at her.
"Tried what?"
"Talking."
She laughed softly.
Awkwardly.
"Turns out… it's not as scary as I thought."
Ayano nodded.
"…You're amazing."
Nao stopped walking.
Looked at him.
"Why does your tone sound flat?"
Ayano fell silent.
"…It's nothing."
Nao tilted her head.
Studying him.
"…Are you jealous?"
Ayano stopped completely.
"What—"
Nao smiled slightly.
Mischievous.
Subtle.
"Relax."
She walked ahead again.
"I'm only comfortable with you."
Ayano followed.
His face was red.
"…Don't say things like that so casually."
Nao held back a laugh.
That night at home.
Nao knocked on Ayano's bedroom door.
"Can I come in?"
Ayano nodded.
Nao sat at the edge of the bed.
"…If I start being able to talk to other people more."
Ayano looked at her.
"You'll still… be you, right?"
Nao smiled gently.
"I'm just learning.
But my home is still here."
Silence.
Ayano spoke quietly.
"…Then don't go too far."
Nao nodded.
"I promise."
And that night—
For the first time,
they sat side by side with no distance.
Not touching yet.
But their hearts… were already very close.
---