The days started to feel… normal.
For the first time since coming to Tokyo—
Itsuki Kuonji wasn't getting lost.
"…Progress."
She muttered to herself while walking toward college.
A small smile on her face.
"YOU'RE EARLY TODAY?!"
Hina Tsukishiro almost shouted.
"…Don't make it sound like a miracle."
"It IS a miracle."
Hina laughed.
Itsuki rolled her eyes.
But inside—
She felt lighter.
Tokyo was no longer overwhelming.
Classes made sense.
Assignments felt exciting.
And most importantly—
She wasn't alone anymore.
Hina leaned closer.
"So…"
"…So?"
"You and your neighbor."
Itsuki froze.
"…What?"
"The handsome one."
Hina smirked.
"I saw him yesterday."
"…You saw him?"
"Mhm. Tall, quiet, looks like he walked out of a magazine."
"…Stop exaggerating."
"I'm not."
Hina tilted her head.
"So? What's going on?"
"…Nothing is going on."
"Hmm~"
Itsuki looked away.
"…We just met by coincidence."
"Twice."
"…Still coincidence."
Hina smiled knowingly.
"Sure."
Itsuki sighed.
Why did it feel like she was being interrogated?
"…He's just a neighbor."
She repeated.
More to herself than to Hina.
But her heart didn't fully agree.
That evening—
The sky turned orange again.
Itsuki stepped out of her apartment.
And there he was.
Souta Amagiri.
Sitting on the same bench.
Looking at his phone.
"…Again?"
He glanced up.
"…You again."
"…You're always here."
"…You're always noticing."
"…That's because you're always here."
"…Fair point."
A small silence.
Then—
"…How's your fever?"
Itsuki blinked.
"…It's gone."
"…Good."
"…You sound like a doctor."
"…You act like a patient."
"…HEY—"
For a second—
They both stopped.
Then—
Very lightly—
They laughed.
It wasn't loud.
Not dramatic.
Just—
Natural.
"…You're going somewhere?" Itsuki asked.
"…Audition."
"Again?"
"…Yeah."
"…You really don't give up, do you?"
"…No."
"…That's cool."
Souta looked at her.
"…You too."
"…Huh?"
"…You didn't give up either."
Itsuki's eyes widened slightly.
"…You remembered?"
"…You talk a lot."
"…I do not—"
"…You do."
She paused.
Then laughed softly.
"…Maybe I do."
A moment passed.
"…You'll pass this one," Itsuki said.
"…You always say that."
"…Because I believe it."
Souta didn't reply immediately.
But this time—
He didn't deny it either.
"…Thanks."
Days turned into a pattern.
Small meetings.
Short conversations.
Shared silence.
Sometimes—
Just a glance.
Sometimes—
A simple "good morning."
But somehow—
Those moments stayed.
Meanwhile—
Far away—
Reo Kisaragi stood on an empty field.
The sound of footsteps echoed as he ran.
Fast.
Sharp.
Focused.
"…Again."
His coach watched.
"You're pushing too hard."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
Reo stopped.
Breathing heavy.
"…I need to get stronger."
"…For what?"
Reo didn't answer.
Because the answer was simple.
"…So I don't fall behind."
Behind her.
That night—
Itsuki sat on her bed.
Phone in her hand.
A message.
Reo: "How's Tokyo?"
She smiled.
Quickly typing.
Itsuki: "It's amazing. Scary, but fun."
A pause.
Then—
Reo: "Sounds like you."
She laughed softly.
Itsuki: "What does that mean?"
Reo: "You always find something good… even in chaos."
Itsuki stared at the message.
"…He really knows me."
A small warmth spread in her chest.
Then—
Another thought appeared.
"…Souta…"
She blinked.
"…Why am I thinking about him now…?"
Her fingers hovered over the screen.
Two different feelings.
Two different people.
One—
Familiar.
Safe.
Always there.
The other—
New.
Unpredictable.
Hard to understand.
"…This is confusing…"
She lay back on her bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
"…What am I feeling…?"
No answer came.
Because sometimes—
Feelings don't make sense at the beginning.
They just grow.
Quietly.
✨ Distance creates longing.
💭 Closeness creates confusion.