-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, THEATRE CLUB ROOM-
-3:37 PM, FEBRUARY 3, 2017-
Rehearsal had just ended.
Scripts were stacked.
Stage lights dimmed.
Students gathered their bags while chatting about the upcoming Winter Arts Exhibition.
The energy in the room had changed since the acting confrontation.
Less tension.
More focus.
Takeda stood near the side of the stage, quietly packing his script into his bag.
Across the room—
Rikuu leaned against the stage railing while Masayoshi talked loudly about food.
"…I'm telling you, if the exhibition has free snacks, I'm attending every booth."
"You're not even in the art club," someone said.
"That doesn't matter."
Ichika laughed softly beside them.
Then—
Takeda approached.
Masayoshi immediately whispered,
"…Incoming drama."
Rikuu glanced up.
Takeda stopped in front of him.
For a moment—
Neither spoke.
Then Takeda sighed.
"…About the other day."
Masayoshi leaned closer immediately.
Rikuu shot him a look.
Takeda continued,
"I was out of line."
The room had grown quieter without anyone realizing.
"I wanted the lead role," Takeda admitted.
"And when I didn't get it, I assumed the decision was wrong."
Rikuu shrugged slightly.
"You auditioned."
"Yes."
Takeda nodded once.
"And you deserved it."
Masayoshi blinked.
"…Wow."
Takeda ignored him.
"You're not just acting," he said to Rikuu.
"You understand the character."
Rikuu rubbed the back of his neck.
"…I just read the script."
Takeda almost smiled.
"No."
"You don't."
The tension that had lingered between them slowly faded.
Takeda held out his hand.
"Let's make the play good."
Rikuu stared at it for a moment.
Then shook it.
"…Sure."
Masayoshi clapped quietly.
"Character development."
Ichika smiled.
-AURORA ACADEMY COURTYARD-
-5:12 PM-
Snow covered the courtyard again.
Students crossed the campus in small groups as the sun lowered behind the winter clouds.
Rikuu and Ichika walked side by side toward the school gate.
"Takeda surprised me," Ichika said.
"…Me too."
"You handled it well."
"I didn't do anything."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You didn't escalate it."
"That's different."
They walked in silence for a moment.
Then Ichika asked softly,
"Are you visiting the hospital tonight?"
"Yes."
"May I come?"
Rikuu looked at her briefly.
"…You don't have to."
"I know."
Another pause.
"But I want to."
He nodded.
"…Okay."
-HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, DOCTOR'S OFFICE-
-7:26 PM-
The room smelled faintly of disinfectant and paperwork.
A desk lamp cast warm light across medical files.
Rikuu sat across from the doctor.
Ichika sat beside him quietly.
The doctor folded his hands together.
"I'll speak honestly," he said gently.
Rikuu didn't look away.
"…Alright."
"Your grandmother's lungs have weakened significantly."
The words felt heavy in the quiet office.
"We can continue treatment to slow the progression," the doctor continued.
"But…"
He paused.
"…we cannot reverse the damage."
Ichika felt her fingers tighten slightly.
Rikuu remained still.
"How long?" he asked calmly.
The doctor hesitated.
"It's difficult to predict."
"A year?"
"Possibly."
"Months?"
"…Also possible."
The silence afterward was thick.
The doctor softened his voice.
"What matters now is comfort and time together."
Rikuu nodded slowly.
"I understand."
When they stepped back into the hospital hallway—
The world felt strangely quiet.
Snow tapped softly against the large windows.
Ichika spoke first.
"…Rikuu."
He didn't look at her immediately.
But he spoke.
"She already knows."
Ichika blinked.
"She's known for a while," he continued quietly.
"She just didn't say it."
They walked slowly toward the elevator.
"Grandma's always been like that."
"What do you mean?" Ichika asked gently.
"She doesn't want people worrying about her."
Ichika lowered her gaze slightly.
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
For several seconds—
Neither spoke.
Then Ichika quietly reached for his hand.
He didn't resist.
Didn't pull away.
Just held it.
Because sometimes—
When winter gets colder—
Holding onto warmth becomes the only thing that matters.