-AURORA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE, CLASSROOM 1-A-
-8:12 AM, FEBRUARY 22, 2017-
The classroom felt quieter than usual.
Not empty—
Just… different.
Like something had settled after the storm.
Students chatted softly about the exhibition.
Some laughed.
Some replayed their favorite moments.
Rikuu sat by the window, looking outside.
Snow still covered the campus.
But the world felt calmer now.
Masayoshi leaned over.
"Dude, you're trending."
"…What?"
"People are talking about your performance."
Rikuu frowned slightly.
"I didn't sign up for that."
Takeda, sitting a few seats ahead, spoke without turning around.
"That's what happens when you stand out."
Rikuu leaned back in his chair.
"…Great."
Masayoshi grinned.
"Relax. It's good attention."
Rikuu didn't respond.
But his mind wasn't on attention.
It was on something else.
Something quieter.
Something heavier.
-AURORA ACADEMY HALLWAY-
-12:36 PM-
Lunch break.
Students filled the hallways.
Voices echoed.
Footsteps rushed.
But Rikuu stood still near the lockers.
Ichika approached.
"…You're thinking about something."
He glanced at her.
"…Yeah."
"What is it?"
He hesitated.
Then said,
"…My future."
She tilted her head slightly.
"That's new."
"…Not really."
"It is," she insisted gently.
"You've never talked about it like this before."
He looked away slightly.
"…I guess not."
A pause.
Then—
"What do you want to do?" she asked.
Rikuu didn't answer immediately.
Because for once—
He wasn't thinking about surviving.
He was thinking about living.
"…I don't know yet."
Ichika nodded.
"That's okay."
He looked at her.
"…Is it?"
"Yes."
Her voice was calm.
"But don't stop thinking about it."
"…Why?"
"Because you deserve a future too."
The words lingered.
Soft.
But important.
-AURORA ACADEMY ROOFTOP-
-2:03 PM-
The rooftop was quiet.
Cold wind brushed against the open space.
Rikuu stood near the railing.
Ichika beside him.
Below—
Students moved like small figures in the snow-covered campus.
"Do you think," Ichika said, "your grandmother will get better?"
Rikuu didn't answer immediately.
"…No."
The answer was honest.
And heavy.
"But she's stable."
"That's good."
He nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
Ichika spoke softly.
"I want to help you."
Rikuu looked at her.
"…You already are."
"I mean more."
She turned toward him.
"Not just as a friend."
The words were subtle.
But intentional.
Rikuu didn't interrupt.
"I want to be someone you can rely on."
He blinked slightly.
"…You already are."
She shook her head gently.
"I want to do more."
Silence settled between them.
The wind carried snowflakes across the rooftop.
Rikuu looked at her for a moment.
Then said quietly,
"…You're already enough."
Ichika froze slightly.
But he continued,
"…You don't have to try so hard."
The honesty in his voice was soft.
But real.
For a moment—
Ichika didn't respond.
Then she smiled faintly.
"…Okay."
-SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE AURORA ACADEMY-
-UNKNOWN TIME-
A man stood in a dimly lit alley.
The snow had begun to fall again.
He looked down at a folded piece of paper in his hand.
A photo.
A name written on the back.
Rikuu Arakawa
He tapped the paper lightly against his palm.
"…So that's him."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Interesting."
The snow fell harder around him.
And somewhere in the distance—
Something unseen had begun to move.