Chapter 33 - "Roof Bread"
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**2025. Shingen High School. Afternoon class.**
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk dust and summer sweat.
Silver-haired Yuki sat alone by the window—third row from the back, always the same seat. Sunlight slanted across her desk, catching the strands of her ponytail like faint moonlight.
The biology teacher—Mr. Tanaka, glasses perpetually slipping—drew a messy tree diagram on the board.
"Evolution," he said, tapping the chalk, "is like a massive, silent filter over millions of years. The engine? Natural selection. Tiny differences in DNA. Some wolves run faster. Some have thicker fur. Some hide better. The ones that survive pass on those traits. Simple."
A boy at the front raised his hand.
Nerdy. Messy black hair. Dark circles under his eyes like he never slept. Thick glasses. Shirt wrinkled.
"Sensei?"
Mr. Tanaka paused.
"Yes, Sato-kun?"
"If the goal of evolution is survival… why does the universe have a speed limit? Einstein says nothing goes faster than light. Thermodynamics says everything eventually dies. Isn't evolution just a temporary glitch? Are we just evolving better ways to delay the inevitable… or is there a mutation that lets us bypass the laws of physics entirely?"
The class went quiet for half a second.
Then laughter—scattered at first, then loud.
"Bro's thinking about the end of the world again!"
"Sensei, he's writing sci-fi in class!"
"Bro has direct contact with Aliens!"
Several girls giggled behind their hands.
Mr. Tanaka smiled—tired, but kind.
"Interesting question, Sato-kun. But it's not in the syllabus."
He tapped the board again.
"I'll give you an answer next lecture. For now—focus on the exam."
The bell rang.
Chairs scraped. Bags zipped.
Groups formed instantly.
"Oi, let's hit the toilet—"
"Did you see Ryo-kun today? So cool—"
Back alley behind the school—three boys, two girls, passing a cigarette.
Yuki stood up quietly. Slipped her bag over her shoulder. Walked out.
A girl from the next row called after her.
"Yuki-san! Sensei is calling you."
Yuki nodded once.
Went to the staff office.
Mr. Tanaka looked up from his desk.
"Yuki… your fees are pending again."
She bowed slightly.
"I'll pay soon."
He sighed.
"Next week, okay? We can't keep delaying."
She nodded again.
Left.
Canteen.
She bought one bread—simple, cheap—and one small chocolate milk.
Carried them up to the rooftop.
Restricted area. No students allowed.
She didn't care.
The door creaked open.
Wind hit her face—cool, carrying distant city sounds.
She sat near the fence—back against the wall.
Tore the bread wrapper.
Took a bite.
Sipped milk.
Then she noticed him.
The nerd boy—Sato.
Sitting a few meters away, knees up, staring at the sky.
Bread halfway to her mouth—stuck.
She swallowed fast. Drank milk to clear her throat.
"What are you doing here?"
He didn't look at her.
"Sitting."
"How long?"
"Long enough."
Awkward silence.
Wind. Children shouting below. Mosquito hum.
He spoke first.
"Do you believe that boy is killed?"
Yuki looked down at the bread in her hands.
"What boy?"
"Laboratory incident. The one who saved you."
Her fingers tightened on the wrapper.
"Yes. Because of me."
Sato shook his head slowly.
"I don't think so. I was there too. The important thing is… that time machine was just a prototype. How can a prototype kill anyone?"
Yuki's eyes widened.
She turned to him fully.
He finally looked back.
Quiet.
Curious.
And something else.
Like he already knew the answer.
Or want to find answer.
But wanted to hear hers.
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*End*