Aoi remained lying on her bed, staring at the dark ceiling of her room.
After a few seconds, she slowly turned her face toward the console.
She covered her eyes with both hands.
- What was that...? - she whispered softly. - Was my father the one who made that game...?
She grabbed her phone from the bed and quickly typed a message to Takeo.
- "What do you know about that game? You weren't the one who made it, right?"
The reply came shortly after.
- "No. It was a present from your father for your seventh birthday."
Aoi stared at the message for a few moments.
Then she typed again.
- "But why did it take so long for you to give it to me? And why did you have it?"
A few seconds passed.
- "I tried to give it to you when you were seven... but you were different back then."
Aoi's hand trembled slightly.
A memory crossed her mind.
Her younger self, sitting alone in her room, staring blankly at the wall while tears endlessly streamed down her face.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
- "Ah... I was still trying to deal with everything back then. Sorry."
Takeo replied almost immediately.
- "I didn't want to bring this up right now... but our performance is already this week."
Aoi took a slow breath.
- "Yeah... I know."
Another message appeared.
- "Are you really okay, Aoi?"
She let the phone fall onto the bed.
Her hands were trembling again.
Aoi closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to calm herself down.
Then she picked up the phone once more.
- "I'm fine. I'll be able to perform normally, okay?!"
It took a little while before the reply came.
- "Alright. Let's do our best. Sorry for pushing the subject."
A brief silence settled between the messages.
Then Aoi typed:
- "It's okay. Fight."
And attached a panda bear sticker striking a karate pose.
She lay back down again.
Her eyes fixed on the ceiling.
- The performance...
Saturday and Sunday passed slowly.
Aoi spent the entire weekend practicing her lines over and over inside her room.
Changing the intonation.
Starting over.
Trying to find the perfect tone for every scene.
On Sunday night, she once again lay in bed staring at the dark ceiling.
Then quietly closed her eyes.
- Saturday is the performance...
Monday arrived.
Aoi woke up early, followed her usual routine, and headed to school.
She met Hina near the station.
Not long after, they spotted Mio waiting near the school gate.
Even with her usual serious expression, Aoi raised a hand slightly in greeting.
Mio smiled brightly.
- Aaah... finally a calmer week. Oh, right! Your performance is coming up now, isn't it, Aoi? When is it?
- This Saturday - Aoi answered. - Everyone in the club is nervous.
- Are you nervous too?
- A little.
Hina smiled softly.
- Ah, it's Darling.
Mio immediately turned toward her.
- You're calling Yamada that now?
Hina turned slightly red.
- I-I'm just joking... hehe...
At that moment, Yamada walked up to them.
- Ah, morning.
- Morning - Mio and Aoi replied together.
Hina smiled gently.
- Good morning, Riku-kun.
He smiled back at her.
But then-
Aoi suddenly tightened her grip on her bag strap.
Her eyes lowered slightly toward the ground.
Hina noticed immediately.
- Aoi...?
Then she looked ahead.
- Ah... it's Souma.
Everyone turned.
On the other side of the gate, Souma was entering the school alone.
Without looking at anyone.
Mio tilted her head.
- Huh... didn't he used to come from the other side?
- Did he move? - Hina wondered aloud.
Aoi answered calmly:
- He just changed his route.
And started walking ahead of them.
Mio quickly caught up behind her.
- Aoi... you said he just rejected your feelings, right?
Aoi kept walking.
Hina sighed.
- Stop bringing that up already, Mio.
- But it's been a whole week! They barely even cross paths anymore! It's way too weird!
- Only for you - Yamada commented casually.
Mio narrowed her eyes.
- What exactly is that supposed to mean?
- Nothing...
Then he turned toward Hina.
- You coming, Hina-chan?
Before she could answer, Yamada leaned closer and lightly kissed her cheek.
Then casually walked ahead as if nothing had happened.
Hina froze completely.
Her entire face turned bright red.
She quickly covered the kissed cheek with her hand, her voice trembling.
- I-I wasn't ready for that...! T-that's not fair, Riku-kun! D-don't do that at school anymore!
Yamada laughed while continuing to walk ahead.
- Yeah, yeah... sorry. I couldn't help it.
- C-couldn't help it...?!
Mio watched the two walking ahead and let out a long sigh.
- At least exam week tension is finally over...
The four of them headed toward Class 2-B together.
As soon as they sat down, Hina relaxed her shoulders.
- The classroom feels lighter now.
- Obviously - Mio replied. - Everyone was losing their minds over exams.
Then she turned toward Aoi.
This time with a serious expression.
- Aoi... seriously... I'm really sorry. I was the one who encouraged you to confess.
Aoi slowly shook her head.
- Mio... enough already. I don't want to talk about that anymore.
She looked away slightly.
- And none of it was your fault.
Hina lowered her head a little.
- I pushed you too...
Then carefully looked back at her.
- We're okay, right, Aoi?
- Yeah. I'm not mad at either of you.
Aoi paused briefly.
- It's just...
Mio leaned slightly forward.
- Just...?
Aoi looked down at her hands resting on the desk.
- My father left me a present before he passed away... and I only found out about it this weekend.
Both girls widened their eyes.
- Aoi... - Hina murmured softly. - After all this time...
- What was the present? - Mio asked quietly.
- A rabbit with a heart.
Her voice came out low.
- My mom gave it to me... but back then I wasn't really okay.
Mio stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then suddenly slapped both hands on the desk.
- Alright. It's decided. We're going to karaoke after school.
- Mio... I'm really not in the mood...
- That wasn't an invitation.
Aoi frowned.
- Mio...
- You're bottling up way too much inside.
Mio rested her cheek against one hand.
- Whenever I need to clear my head, I play baseball... or go sing alone at karaoke.
Hina's eyes widened.
- Alone? You never invited us!
- Because I go there to blow off stress.
She smiled faintly.
- I lost count of how many baseballs I smashed when my mom was hospitalized.
Hina immediately covered her eyes.
- I thought you were kind of cold, Mio...
- I have a reputation to maintain, you know? Hehe.
Aoi looked genuinely surprised.
- I didn't know that...
Mio smiled softly.
- So let's go to karaoke. My treat this time.
- Uhuu! - Hina cheered immediately.
A small smile escaped Aoi's lips.
Almost imperceptible.
- Thanks, Mio...
Mio quickly looked away, pretending not to care.
But then Aoi's eyes drifted toward the front of the classroom.
At the far end-
Souma sat completely motionless.
One elbow resting on the desk.
His chin supported by one hand.
Around him, classmates laughed, chatted, and joked with each other.
But Souma looked completely disconnected from it all.
Like a silent statue abandoned in the middle of the classroom.
When classes ended, Aoi packed her things.
- I need to practice at the club today, okay?
- Sure - Mio replied. - Let's meet in front of the school at 5:40?
- Okay.
- Works for me too - Hina added.
Mio smiled.
- You're singing too, Hina?
Hina laughed awkwardly.
- I think I need it... I've been stuck on my manga lately.
- Then it's settled.
Aoi picked up her bag.
- See you later.
- See you! - Mio replied.
Later that afternoon, at the theater club-
Aoi entered the room while Shinohara was organizing some materials.
Takeo was talking with the teacher near the stage.
Shinohara noticed Aoi first.
- Ah, Aoi! Perfect timing. Can we practice Scene Five?
- Y-yeah... that's fine...
Shinohara let out a dramatic sigh.
- The problem is, I still don't know how I'm supposed to reach the right emotion for that scene...
Aoi answered tiredly:
- You always figure something out.
Shinohara suddenly became serious.
- Aoi... you need just a little more emotion. It's subtle, but it changes everything.
Aoi lowered her gaze briefly.
- Alright... let's do it again.
The two repeated the scene several times.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Until club activities finally ended.
Shinohara clapped her hands softly.
- Thanks for the hard work today, everyone!
Takeo crossed his arms.
- The performance is Saturday. This week we're increasing rehearsal intensity. Review your lines and adjust your tone carefully.
The teacher nodded.
- Dismissed. See you tomorrow.
Then Shinohara suddenly turned excitedly toward Takeo.
- Ah! Yumi-senpai is coming to watch our performance!
Takeo froze.
- S-seriously?!... The theater monster?!
Aoi tilted her head.
- Theater monster...?
Takeo sighed.
- Yumi was our senior in the drama club.
Shinohara immediately added:
- People used to say she was the best theater member in over twenty years.
- When we joined, she was still a second-year student - Takeo explained. - Even the third-years respected her.
Shinohara placed a hand on her chest.
- I wasn't nervous before... but now I am.
Takeo laughed awkwardly.
- Relax. She's in college now. She probably doesn't even compare college performances to high school ones.
Aoi quietly observed the two of them.
- You guys put a lot of pressure on yourselves.
Takeo smiled faintly.
- You never met Yumi, Aoi.
Shinohara inhaled deeply.
- Shin... tonight I'm practicing until dawn.
- You should sleep early instead, Mai...
Aoi picked up her bag.
- Excuse me.
Then she looked toward Takeo.
- And... thanks for showing me that game. I'm still trying to process everything.
Takeo scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
- Ah... I almost forgot about that.
He looked away slightly.
- You're not mad at me, right?
Aoi slowly shook her head.
- No... my mind's just too full right now to even focus on that.
She smiled faintly.
- But thank you. My father really made that game, didn't he?
Takeo nodded.
- Yeah. He did.
For a moment, Aoi stayed silent.
Then smiled again.
Small.
Fragile.
- Thank you... see you tomorrow, everyone.
- See you tomorrow! - Shinohara replied brightly.
As soon as Aoi left the room, Shinohara immediately looked toward Takeo.
- What was that game? And why did both of you look so sad?
Takeo let out a long sigh.
- Alright... I'll explain.
He sat down on the edge of the stage.
- After Aoi's father... passed away... my dad told me Hiroshi Sakamoto had been developing a birthday game just for her.
Shinohara listened quietly.
- I kept it for years - Takeo continued. - I wanted to give it to her when she turned seven... but I couldn't.
He lowered his eyes.
- Aoi stayed trapped in grief for a very long time.
Shinohara slowly tilted her head.
- Ah... I see.
She paused briefly.
- Well... I think I do.
Then she smiled softly.
- So... what were you like as a kid?
Takeo glanced toward Shinohara Mai and answered:
- Ah... normal.
Shinohara narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
- Hmm... one day your mom is definitely going to tell me what you were really like as a child.
Takeo immediately looked away.
- W-What?... Ah, whatever.
Shinohara laughed quietly.
- Are you embarrassed, Takeo-kun? Hehe.