Next Day—
Morning—
Reikou walked through the silent street alone. He still couldn't forget what had happened yesterday at school. He didn't regret being suspended—he regretted hitting Meiyu.
"Ahh!"
"What do I do? Hmm… Can I go to Meiyu's house with a present? Oh, but she might be at school at this time…"
"Oh… school—what are Kiyoshi, Ryuuto, Shiori, and Yueko doing right now?"
"Ahh… I've really gotten attached to them."
Reikou smiled softly.
The air was crisp, alive with the scent of blooming earth, carrying the quiet joy of a world bathed in light—
Reikou walked through the market, buying some groceries.
He was hungry. 'RUMBLE!' A soft, continuous sound of hunger came from his stomach.
"Ahh! I'm hungry," Reikou thought, rubbing his stomach with one hand while carrying a grocery bag in the other.
A gentle breeze danced through the emerald leaves, making them shimmer under the sun. Flowers swayed, their petals glowing with the colors of dawn. It was like nature singing a song only nature could understand.
Reikou finally reached home. He slowly stepped up the stairs. When he reached his room, he saw someone standing beside the door.
"Excuse me," Reikou whispered to the person.
The moment they turned around—
Reikou froze. His breath caught in his throat.
Meiyu Sazanami.
This time, Meiyu was gravity, pulling him in with every soft breath. Reikou wasn't just looking at her—he was memorizing her, as if afraid that if he blinked, she might vanish like a dream at dawn.
Lost in thought, Reikou stood there, unmoving.
Meiyu noticed and whispered—
"What are you staring at?"
Her words pulled Reikou back from his thoughts.
"H-Huh?"
"Ah-ah, nothing!" Reikou stammered, quickly shaking his head. "What are you doing here?"
Meiyu stared at him for a moment before whispering—
"Why?"
Her gaze was steady, unreadable.
"Do you have a problem with me being here?"
"N-No! Not at all!" Reikou blurted out, his voice cracking slightly. "I just thought you might be in school at this time."
He let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.
For a moment, Meiyu said nothing. The silence between them stretched, delicate yet heavy. Then, she whispered—
"Okay, I'll go then."
She turned, taking a step forward.
Without thinking, Reikou reached out and grabbed her hand, stopping her in place. His fingers wrapped around hers before he even realized what he was doing.
"N-No, that's not what I meant—" Reikou whispered hastily.
It was only then that Meiyu noticed—he was holding her hand she frozen there, And she hadn't even realized it.
A faint blush rose to Reikou's face as he quickly let go, stepping back.
"S-Sorry!" He apologized.
But Meiyu didn't say anything. Instead, she silently reached into her bag, pulled out a notice and handed to reikou.
"Huhh..." Reikou groaned, taking that envelope and whispered—
"What is it?"
Meiyu calmly looked at Reikou, then she whispered—
"The notice you got to be suspended for 2 days, this notice is the cancellation of that suspension. Come to school from tomorrow. Your suspension is canceled now."
"Ohh..." Reikou mumbled. So, she came here to give me this, Reikou thought.
Then Reikou asked one question— "How did this happen?"
Meiyu responded—
"You have no manners. You keep asking questions again and again. Here, out of the room, do you know how many hours I've been standing here?"
"Ahh—Sorry, sorry!"
"Let's go inside." As Reikou whispered, a soft hunger sound came from his stomach—
"RUMBLE!"
Reikou got embarrassed, but Meiyu ignored it mannerly, acting as if she didn't notice or hear anything.
Reikou quickly opened the door and welcomed Meiyu inside.
Meiyu came and sat on the sofa quietly and politely. But Reikou was still standing there, holding the grocery bag. Just as he was about to ask if she wanted something to drink or eat, Meiyu honestly said that she wanted nothing.
Reikou whispered— "Ah- Meiyu, you-"
Meiyu understood what Reikou wanted to say, so she murmured—
"Yes. Yesterday, after you left the school, I went to the principal's office to tell him that it was just a mistake. I explained the whole scene to him. The principal understood and canceled your suspension. That's why I'm not in school today—I came here only to give you the notice."
Reikou listened to her words with an unbelievable reaction because he couldn't believe it.
"I thought she was angry or started hating me for hitting her... but I was wrong," Reikou thought.
Before Reikou could respond, Meiyu again softly said—
"I had come yesterday… but I left because of some reason."
Again, before Reikou could respond, Meiyu murmured once more—
"You hit me… right? But I thought it was just a mistake. And a two-day suspension for a mistake isn't fair… I felt bad for you."
She whispered, her cheeks turning a soft pink.
"What am I saying this?"
"Why can't I control my words?" Meiyu thought, realizing she was expressing feelings she didn't intend to.
Reikou stood frozen in place, unable to believe what he just heard.
"What?!"
"Meiyu… felt bad for me?" Reikou thought.
But once again, a soft hunger sound came from his stomach—
"RUMBLE!"
This time, Meiyu whispered—
"Why is your stomach making that sound again and again?"
Right after she said it, she mumbled— "Oops!"—and quickly covered her mouth with her hand.
Reikou rubbed his head in embarrassment, then spoke—
"Ahh—Actually, I didn't eat since morning, so my stomach is growling from hunger."
Meiyu removed her hand from her mouth and said—
"Ohh! SORRY!"
She was about to leave, but—
Suddenly, the weather changed, and rain started to fall.
From the window, a cool breeze carried the scent of damp soil and blooming petals, filling the air with freshness.
The world seemed to slow, wrapped in the embrace of the rain, as if nature itself had decided to pause and listen.
"See! The rain started,"
"Wait a minute! I'll quickly make some noodles"
Reikou whispered with a soft, beautiful smile.
Meiyu's cheeks turned red, and she stammered—
"No, thanks."
Reikou pointed his hand on the window and whispered—
"See, it's raining."
Meiyu looked outside. Raindrops touched the earth, soft and cool like a lover's sigh. Leaves trembled under the gentle rhythm, and the air filled with the fresh scent of wet soil.
"Okay! Let me cook something then," Meiyu responded gently, tilting her head slightly with a cute, beautiful smile.