The school is full of festival energy. Laughter, music, noise. But in the middle of it all, Yuuji is unusually silent.

He walks the hallway, Kanae’s words echoing faintly.

Kanae (voiceover):
“I don’t expect an answer. I just didn’t want to be silent anymore.”

Haruka finds Yuuji sitting on the rooftop alone, a rare frown on his face.

Haruka:
“Want me to go?”

Yuuji (shakes head):
“No. Just… stay.”

She sits beside him. No words. Just silence.
That kind of silence that says everything.

Comedy break: Down below, Tomo is running a takoyaki stand. His sign reads: “Emotional Dumplings – Free Existential Crisis with Every Bite.”

Classmate:
“Are these even edible?”

Tomo:
“Emotionally? No. Physically? Maybe.”

Kanae walks by, sees them on the rooftop. Yuuji and Haruka. She pauses… then smiles faintly.

Kanae (thinking):
“So that’s how it is.”

Meanwhile: Tomo is alone after closing his booth. He flips open his phone, staring at an old group photo of them all younger.

Zoom in on his thumb hovering over Haruka’s face, then pulling away.

Tomo (muttering):
“Not yet.”

Final scene: Yuuji finally speaks, still looking out at the sunset.

Yuuji:
“I think I used to feel a lot. But I buried it. Every bit of it.”

Haruka (soft):
“Maybe you don’t need to dig everything out at once. Just… start small.”

Yuuji (quiet smile):
“…Like this?”

He gently flicks her forehead.