The next day, I packed my bags to head home on the Shinkansen.
"You could stay a little longer and take it easy, you know."
"She's right. If you'd like, you can stay for a week or so."
Satsuki-san and Jun-san offered.
"I'm sorry. A lot's happened and my attendance record is on thin ice, so I really can't afford to miss school."
The two of them slumped their shoulders in disappointment.
"That's a shame. But you're always welcome here, Subaru-kun."
"Yeah, come hang out with Miko again like old times."
Even though I had shown up unannounced, they had welcomed me with open arms; I truly couldn't thank them enough.
Last night, when we returned from the park, both of them had been startled by Miko's swollen, tear-stained eyes, but they breathed a sigh of relief once we explained that we had reconciled.
Satsuki-san had even teared up, silently stroking both my head and Miko's.
She had put on a cheerful front for me, but deep down, she must have been worried sick about our relationship after all.
I said goodbye to Satsuki-san and Jun-san at the entryway.
Miko accompanied me to the station to see me off.
On the way, we chatted about trivial, everyday things.
How life was at our high schools, whether we had made friends—just rambling along comfortably.
I didn't sense any awkward tension from Miko anymore.
Having cried her eyes out yesterday, she seemed to have finally found closure.
Catching up with my childhood friend for the first time in years was genuinely fun.
We arrived at the station.
In front of the towering station building, crowds of suited commuters and travelers bustled past.
"This is far enough. I'll be fine on my own from here."
"...Subaru."
I turned to Miko as she murmured in a timid voice.
Seeing her knit her brows anxiously, I offered a wry smile.
"Don't look like we're parting forever. I told you, we're childhood friends. We'll cross paths again somewhere."
"...Yeah, you're right."
"Come to think of it, we haven't exchanged contact info."
"Is that okay?"
"It'd be pretty inconvenient without it, wouldn't it?"
When I held up my phone, Miko's face lit up with a bright smile.
For the first time in years, my childhood friend's name was registered in my contacts.
"If you ever run into trouble, reach out anytime. No need to hold back anymore."
"...I will. I definitely will. When the baby's born, I'll send pictures, and if I ever get into a fight with a friend, I'll come to you for advice."
"Well, keep it in moderation, okay?"
If she messaged me that constantly, it would get out of hand.
Besides, I already had someone spamming me with texts every single day as it was.
"Alright, I'm heading out."
"...Subaru!"
As I took a step forward, Miko called after me in a clear voice.
Turning around, I saw her standing with teary eyes and set lips. She took a deep breath and let it out.
"Thank you for coming to see me!"
"..."
My expression softened, and I waved back.
Before stepping inside the station, I took one last look at the sky over the town where my childhood friend lived.
Following my lead, Miko looked up as well.
After years of crossing paths in the dark, we were finally gazing in the exact same direction.
The endless blue sky was breathtaking.
The season was July.
—Summer was just around the corner.
◇
About a week passed.
After the non-stop string of chaos lately, it felt like my first real chance to unwind.
I attended class diligently during the day, lounged in the clubroom after school, checked out my favorite shops on the weekend, and petted dogs on their daily walks on the way home.
...Ah, perfection.
This peaceful routine was the exact life I had been yearning for.
On Monday, I called out to Nakina as she sat in the classroom compiling her notes.
"Studying going all right?"
"...Huh?"
"Final exams are coming up. If you hit a wall, feel free to ask for help."
Probably because she had barely attended middle school, her grades were constantly teetering on the edge of failing. The fact that a former truant had passed the entrance exams in the first place was impressive, but compared to the other students, she was undeniably on thin ice.
"T-Thank you..."
"Don't mention it. Happy to help."
During the break between classes, I caught Shinonome as she walked down the hallway.
"How've things been lately?"
"...Pardon?"
"You aren't getting picked on by the other girls, are you? If anything happens, let me know right away. I've got your back."
"...Okay."
At lunchtime, I ran into Sakura while she was buying a drink at the vending machines.
I caught a subtle change in her appearance that most people would have missed in a heartbeat.
"Did you trim your bangs a bit?"
"Whoa, you can tell? You got it! Just a tiny trim for a change of pace. Still, crazy that you noticed. Well, do I look cute?"
Sakura beamed, twirling her bangs as she asked.
Reading her expression, I gave her the exact words she wanted, straight from the heart.
"Yeah, I think it looks really cute."
"...Huh?"
"I look at you often, Sakura, so of course I'd notice when you cut your hair."
"...???"
Grabbing my canned coffee, I headed to my usual spot by the emergency staircase and tucked into my favorite egg sandwich.
Then Nakina, who was sitting with me as usual, gave me a deeply suspicious look.
"Hey... Hatsukade-kun."
"What's up?"
"Did you... get a girlfriend or something?"
Finishing the first half of the delicious sandwich, I immediately reached for the second.
The fluffy, slightly sweet bread paired with the savory, rich egg salad was pure heaven.
"Nope. Why?"
"Gh—because you're acting way too relaxed and composed! It's suspicious as hell!"
What was she even on about?
"I'm the same as always."
"No, no, you're definitely weird today! It's like you've got this mature, enlightened aura, like you've seen through all of life's mysteries. Something definitely happened, didn't it?!"
Nakina glared at me with a sullen pout.
Hmm. Well, if I had to name something, making peace with Miko had certainly lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.
Still, to pick up on such a minute shift in my mood... Nakina was surprisingly perceptive.
"Don't worry about it."
"Nnngh, how can I not?!"
Good grief. Maybe she was grumpy because I hadn't spent much time with her lately.
What a handful.
"Next weekend, I'd like to take our time and hang out for the first time in a while. Could you keep your schedule open?"
"Fwah?!"
Her face flushed crimson, Nakina rubbed her hands together and looked up at me bashfully.
"...I-I'd love to."
"Good."
"No matter what comes up, I'll definitely keep it wide open!"
"Thanks. I'll let Shinonome and Sakura know, too."
"...Wait, what?"
"It'd be more fun if everyone's there, right? I can't wait. They keep sending me photos, but seeing them in the flesh is hundreds of times cuter, after all."
"C-Could it be that the one you want to see is..."
"Of course. Hulk, obviously."
"...Gh."
Heh heh heh. If Pii-chan and Rooney-kun could make it too, it was going to be the ultimate day off.