That thought lingered in my mind as we reached the school gate, the evening light stretching long shadows across the ground. Students passed by in small groups, laughter drifting away like echoes of a world I never fully stepped into.

And then I saw him.

Miyamura.

He was standing near the gate, hands in his pockets, looking like he was waiting for someone.

For a moment, his eyes met mine.

Then he saw her.

Something shifted on his face — just for a second.

Not anger.

Not resentment.

Something quieter.

He smiled.

And before either of us could reach him, he turned around and walked away.

I watched his back disappear into the crowd.

A strange feeling settled in my chest.

Guilt.

I didn’t like it.

We started walking.

The street was calm, bathed in the soft orange glow of evening. The city felt slower at this hour, like it was exhaling after a long day.

Aira walked beside me quietly, her steps unhurried.

Then she spoke.

“Why did you ask me to walk home with you?”

The question caught me off guard.

I stopped for half a second — then continued walking, my expression unchanged.

“I don’t know myself.”

She looked at me, genuinely surprised.

That wasn’t the answer she expected.

“…You’re unusually honest today,” she said.

I didn’t respond.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

“Well,” she said lightly, “I thought you were going to invite me to the fireworks festival this weekend.”

My steps slowed.

I glanced away.

“Do you… want to go with me?”

The words slipped out quieter than I intended.

She stopped walking.

I felt it even before I turned — the shift in the air.

Her cheeks flushed, eyes widening just slightly.

“Well—”

Before she could finish, I spoke again.

“I think you should ask Miyamura.”

The warmth vanished.

She stared at me.

“Why do you always take one step forward,” she asked quietly,

“and then two steps back?”

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

She exhaled slowly, as if deciding something.

“Alright,” she said, regaining her usual teasing tone.

“Let’s make a deal, Mr. Nonchalant.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Tomorrow’s math test,” she continued.

“If I score higher than you, you have to answer one question honestly.”

I stayed silent.

“And,” she added, “you have to go to the fireworks festival with me.”

I stopped walking completely this time.

“…What’s in it for me?”

She smiled.

“If you win,” she said, “I’ll go out with your best buddy Miyamura.”

That hit harder than I expected.

“And,” she added casually, “I’ll stop teasing you.”

I hesitated.

Just for a moment.

Then—

“Okay.”

Her eyes widened.

“…Really?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Okay.”

She raised her hand, smiling brightly.

“It’s a deal.”

I looked at her hand.

Then shook it.

Her grip was warm.

Firm.

A promise sealed without either of us knowing what it would cost.

As we continued walking, the sky slowly darkened above us.

And for the first time…

I had the uneasy feeling that this small, careless promise

was going to change everything.