The train moved smoothly along the tracks as the city slowly sank into the warm colors of the late afternoon.
Inside the carriage, the reflection of the sunset lights flickered on the window like water.
Buildings passed by slowly.
People walked along the sidewalks.
Cars stopped at traffic lights.
Aoi sat near the door, her hands resting on her lap, looking outside without really seeing the scenery.
The lights of the buildings, the busy streets, people returning home…
Everything felt distant.
In her mind, only one image kept returning.
The hug.
The moment Mio collapsed onto her shoulder.
The weight of her trembling body trying to stay strong.
The way Mio's fingers clutched her shirt, as if she was afraid of falling.
Aoi slowly blinked with her eyes half-closed.
"…Mio-chan…"
She looked back at the window.
A memory surfaced as she stared at the glass.
"Your mother and I were looking out this very window when we chose your name, Aoi."
Aoi kept staring at the window, her hands slowly closing into fists.
The reflection of her own eyes looked distant.
There were no tears.
Only a deep silence inside her.
The train finally began to slow down.
Her station had arrived.
At Home
A few minutes later, Aoi opened the door to her house.
The interior was dark and quiet.
She stepped inside, took off her shoes, and lined them up neatly.
"I'm home…"
Her voice echoed softly through the empty house.
She turned on the living room lights.
"Wow… it's already almost 7 PM…"
The digital clock read 18:56.
Aoi walked calmly to the bathroom.
The hot shower water fell over her shoulders, slowly running down her body.
She closed her eyes.
For a moment, Mio's image returned.
Her face.
Her tightly shut eyes trying to hold back emotions.
Her trembling voice.
Aoi opened her eyes again.
The water kept falling.
Silent.
Constant.
As if time had stopped.
Dinner
After her shower, now wearing comfortable clothes, Aoi went to the kitchen.
She opened the refrigerator and took out meat, potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Today she would make nikujaga, a simple stew her mother liked.
As she cut the vegetables, the sound of the knife hitting the cutting board echoed calmly through the kitchen.
Toc.
Toc.
Toc.
It was a domestic sound.
Peaceful.
Almost comforting.
The pot slowly began to boil.
The gentle aroma of soy sauce and cooked meat began to fill the house.
Aoi stirred the stew slowly.
"My mom will be home soon…"
She finished cooking at 7:50 PM.
She carefully set the table.
Two plates.
Two glasses.
Two bowls.
Everything neatly arranged.
After that, she sat on the living room sofa and turned on the television.
The news talked about traffic and the economy.
But Aoi wasn't really watching.
Her eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Mio…
I've never seen her like that…
Suddenly, the sound of the door opening.
"Good evening, daughter."
Aoi immediately stood up.
"Good evening, Mom. How was your day?"
Yukiko entered while taking off her shoes and placed her bag on the table.
"I'm fine… but this month the deadlines are tight.
I might come home late on some days."
Aoi nodded.
"Ah… d-do you want to take a bath? I prepared the ofuro."
Yukiko stopped.
She looked at Aoi silently for a few seconds.
"Daughter… what happened?"
Aoi blinked.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Yukiko kept looking at her.
"There's something… different in your eyes.
Are you okay?"
Aoi looked away.
"N-nothing, Mom… I just felt bored and decided to get things done early."
Yukiko watched her for a moment longer.
Then she smiled gently.
"Alright… I'll take a bath then.
Later you can tell me about your day."
"Okay."
After the bath, the two of them had dinner together.
They talked about TV shows.
About a comedy Yukiko had watched.
About a romantic drama.
It was a light conversation.
But at some point, Aoi lowered her gaze slightly.
"Mom… actually…"
Yukiko looked up.
"Yes?"
"I went to Hoshimi Hospital today… to deliver study materials to Mio-chan."
Yukiko blinked.
"Mio… Kanzaki Mio? That's nostalgic… Was your friend okay?"
Aoi moved her food a little on her plate.
"Her mother had a car accident…
But she's recovering well."
Yukiko stayed silent for a moment.
"Aoi-chan…"
Aoi then spoke slowly:
"Mom… you should rest more.
You don't have to wake up so early to make my bento."
She kept her eyes on her plate.
But when she looked up again…
A tear was running down Yukiko's face.
She quickly wiped it away.
"Aoi-chan… thank you for worrying about me.
But I'm fine."
She smiled softly.
"I come home and you've already done everything…
Let me do something for you too."
Aoi blushed slightly.
"I-if you don't get too tired, Mom…"
Yukiko laughed.
"On my next day off… let's do something together.
How about going to the beach?"
"The beach?"
Aoi blinked in surprise.
"I don't have a bikini…"
"We'll buy one before that."
"O-okay…"
"And your friend?"
"She's going back to school tomorrow."
Yukiko nodded.
"If you want to spend more time with her… you can."
"Okay, Mom."
Yukiko stood up.
"Well… I'm going to bed. I'm tired."
"I'll go soon. I'm going to review some exercises."
Yukiko stopped at the bedroom door.
"I'm proud of you, daughter."
Aoi turned red.
"W-where did that come from?"
Yukiko laughed.
"Am I not allowed to say that?"
Then Yukiko entered her room.
Aoi stood there for a few seconds, looking at the empty hallway.
That Night
Aoi went to her room.
She studied for about an hour.
Notebooks.
Notes.
Equations.
When she finished, she stretched.
Her phone vibrated.
A notification from the Eternals group on LINE.
Hina:
"Want to play?"
Aoi:
"Just a little."
Souma:
"Light or moderate dungeon?"
Hina:
"Moderate! Let's try Grimroot Caverns."
Aoi turned on the console.
Logged into the game.
Her character appeared.
Hiro.
She typed:
"I'm online. Send invite."
Soon two characters appeared beside her.
Soumakey.
Prince John.
Hiro raised her sword.
"Let's go!"
The dungeon corridors were dark and covered in giant roots.
Evolved goblins appeared.
Along with orcs.
Prince John cast a protection spell.
Soumakey advanced on the front line.
Hiro attacked from the middle.
Explosions of magic lit up the dark corridor.
But Hiro's HP dropped drastically.
Soumakey quickly typed:
"Drink a healing potion, Aoi!"
Hiro opened the inventory.
No potions.
The goblin raised its weapon.
Just as it was about to deliver the final blow—
At that moment—
Soumakey jumped in front.
The attack hit him instead.
Prince John cast a water bubble spell.
The last goblin drowned inside the bubble.
Hiro finished the enemy with a quick slash.
Prince John:
"We did it. That was easy hehe."
Soumakey:
"…"
Hiro:
"I need to heal. I'm at 2% HP."
After the Dungeon
Outside the dungeon.
Hiro typed:
"I'm going to log off for a bit. Thanks for today."
Aoi turned off the console.
The room became silent.
She lay down on the bed.
And closed her eyes.
But the image that returned wasn't the dungeon.
It was Mio.
Crying.
Holding her shirt.
Aoi turned her face into the pillow.
And stayed silent.
For a long time, as she slowly fell asleep.
The Next Day
Morning came.
Aoi followed her normal routine.
She met Hina on the way.
They took the train together.
When they arrived at the school station…
Mio wasn't there.
Aoi looked around.
"Mio isn't here…"
Hina frowned.
"Oh no… did she skip again today?"
Aoi remembered the hug.
Mio crying.
She took a deep breath.
"Let's go to school… I'll send her a message."
Hina was already typing.
A few seconds later—
Notification.
Hina opened the message.
"Ah! She's already in the classroom! She came
early!"
Aoi saw the message too.
Mio:
"I'm already in the classroom."
Aoi let out a deep sigh.
Hina laughed softly.
"I felt relieved just now too…"
Aoi murmured:
"Mio-chan…"
When they entered classroom 2-B…
Mio was sitting there.
Using her phone as a mirror.
Fixing her hair.
Aoi and Hina smiled.
"Mio-chan!"
Mio looked up.
And gave them a huge smile.
"Aoi-chan! Hina-chan!"
And in that moment…
Even after everything that had happened…
It felt like the world had returned a little to its place.
Hanae watched the three of them in silence, resting her chin on her hand with a small smile, as if she were watching a peaceful scene after a storm.
The classroom door opened and Misaki walked in casually as always, lightly swinging her bag on her shoulder.
Right behind her, Matsuda Ren entered talking with Yamada Ren and Yamamoto Souma.
Ren spoke in a low but serious voice:
"So… don't tell anyone, okay?"
Yamada immediately smiled with a mischievous expression.
"Alright, I won't tell anyone that you like Misaki."
Ren froze for a second.
Then grabbed Yamada by the collar.
"S-shut up, you idiot… Damn it… did she hear that?"
Souma looked toward Misaki, who was sitting with earphones in, using her phone.
"I don't think so… she's wearing earphones."
At that moment, Misaki removed one earbud and looked at them.
"Did you guys say something?"
Ren immediately let go of Yamada and answered way too fast:
"N-No! We didn't say anything! Everything's fine, Misaki!"
Hanae turned her face away, trying to hide her laughter.
Yamada was clearly holding back a laugh.
Souma just sighed, as if he was already used to this.
At that moment, the teacher entered the classroom.
"Good morning, students."
The conversation slowly stopped, and everyone returned to their seats as class began.
But the light atmosphere of that morning remained in the air, as if, at least for a moment, everything was normal again.