Harumi attacked the batter like it owed her money.
Mixing.
Whisking.
Violence.
The bowl almost cried for help.
It tilted.
Almost fell.
Batter splattered on the wall.
The spoon flew. Once.
But somehow—
The cake was born.
A little crooked.
Slightly sunken in the middle.
Emotionally damaged.
But…
It smelled good.
— DONE!!
She lifted it proudly like she had just created life itself.
Cake in hand (and prayers activated), Harumi marched to Sakura's house.
Knock knock.
The door opened.
And there he was.
Itsuki.
The handsome-working-neighbor.
Tall.
Dark, slightly messy hair.
Calm expression.
Way too casual.
Way too handsome to be real.
Harumi froze instantly.
Itsuki tilted his head slightly—like he recognized this exact "system crash" from years ago.
— Morning, Haru.
Haru.
HARU.
Her soul left her body, did a quick lap around the moon, and came back.
— G-good morning! I made—this—cake—please take it before I eat it out of stress—
He grabbed the plate before gravity could win.
— You still talk exactly the same.
Her brain:
ERROR.ERROR.RECOGNITION NOT FOUND.INITIATING PANIC.
— S-sorry… have we… met before?
Itsuki smiled.
Half amusement.
Half nostalgia.
— Come in.
Harumi walked inside like a malfunctioning robot.
In the living room, Sakura was already there, smiling with tea prepared.
— Haru-chan! Good morning, dear. Thank you for the cake.
— Ah—no—I mean—thank you—I don't even know how—
— Relax, dear. I'm sure it's wonderful.
Sakura gently touched her hand.
And just like that—
Harumi's chest tightened.
In a good way.
But then—
Itsuki leaned forward slightly on the couch.
— Harumi… seriously. You don't remember me?
She stared.
He raised an eyebrow.
She tried.
She tried hard.
Nothing.
— …Did you… cut your hair?
Itsuki BURST out laughing.
The kettle almost shook.
— It's Shimizu.
— Huh?
— Itsuki.
— What?
— ITSUKI. From the street behind yours. From school. From the group… your friend.
Her brain opened dusty folders.
Searching…
Searching…
And then—
FOUND FILE: "ITSUKI — Crybaby, but nice."
Flashbacks:
Petty fights.
A slightly annoying, overly protective, emotional boy.
Her yelling at older kids:
"GET LOST, YOU SPOILED STINKY BRAT!!"
A trip that went horribly wrong.
The whole group—
In the principal's office.
Sharing jelly.
Arguing.
Crying.
Laughing.
— …ITSUKI?!?!
— Finally.
He crossed his arms.
Harumi slapped her own forehead.
— OH MY GOD, I'M A MEMORY DISASTER!!
Sakura laughed softly.
Itsuki shrugged, gentle:
— You moved away suddenly. It's normal.
Tea was poured.
Silence settled.
Itsuki looked at her.
Softer now.
— And now… you have kids.
— I don't "have" them… — Harumi muttered. — I'm just with them. Until they have… another option.
Itsuki smiled.
Warm.
Understanding.
— That's already more than most adults have done for them.
Harumi looked down.
— They're good kids. Mei has her own world… and Takeru…
She paused.
— He doesn't know how to accept care without thinking he'll lose it later.
Itsuki nodded.
— He's like you.
— Huh?
— Always expecting people to leave first.
Harumi swallowed.
Silence.
Sakura returned with a photo frame.
There they were.
The group.
Small.
Messy.
Laughing.
And right there in the middle—
Kei.
Itsuki rested his chin on his hand, smiling at the picture.
— You still don't notice, do you?
— Notice what?
— Kei.
Pause.
— He was—and still is—completely in love with you.
…
System crash.
Hard crash.
Sakura clapped her hands.
— I always said you two were a romantic comedy couple! Just missing a dramatic accident!
Harumi turned red.
Not just cheeks.
Soul-level red.
— M-ME?! KEI?! NO!! HE'S— I'M— HE— I— GHH—
Itsuki was this close to crying from laughter.
— He was obsessed with you. He used to chase me down the hall just because I was your "boyfriend."
— MY WHAT?!
— Boyfriend. — Itsuki said calmly.
Harumi turned purple.
— W-W-WHAT?!
— You gave me sweets at the summer festival. That's basically a love confession.
— I TOLD YOU I WAS JUST HELPING A SHY GIRL!!! AND WE WERE LIKE TWELVE!!!
— I was thirteen. Very mature relationship. We shared jelly.
Harumi fell backward.
Spirit gone again.
Itsuki sighed, nostalgic.
— Then Kei tried to kill me.
— WHAT?!
— Every. Single. Day.
"ITSUKI, STAY AWAY FROM HER.""ITSUKI, I'M SERIOUS.""ITSUKI, I WILL BURY YOU."
Harumi held her head.
— …That's so him…
Sakura was laughing non-stop.
Itsuki shook his head.
— Haru… you really don't notice anything.
She looked away, embarrassed.
Itsuki softened again.
— But you've changed.
She looked at him.
— You're more responsible. Even tired… even overwhelmed… you're still standing.
Harumi went quiet.
He continued:
— We should meet up with everyone sometime. Most of them still live nearby. You've probably walked past them without realizing.
She sighed.
— That sounds like something I'd do…
They went to the market together.
Two teenagers spotted him.
— AAAAA ITSUKI-SENPAI!!!
— STILL HANDSOME!!!
Itsuki closed his eyes.
— This never ends.
— Never. — Harumi agreed.
She tripped.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He caught her twice.
— You're still dangerous.
— Gravity hates me.
— We all missed that.
She blushed.
— I see you changed… not crying anymore.
— …Heh… yeah…
(He absolutely had not. Just no opportunity yet.)
And for a second—
They stood there.
Not as adults.
Not as strangers.
But as two kids…
Who had accidentally found a piece of the past.
And for once—
It felt warm.