The quiet comfort of the literature club was broken only by the soft sound of pages turning.
The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, painting everything in a calm golden hue. Some students sat in small groups, discussing stories in low voices, while others simply read in silence.
Kanzaki Mio sat at one of the tables near the window.
A small book lay open in her hands—a short story written by another club member. Her eyes moved carefully across each line, as if she were absorbing every detail. From time to time, she tucked a strand of her reddish hair behind her ear without even noticing.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the text.
Sometimes her lips parted slightly, almost unconsciously, as she followed the story.
A few meters away, Yamada Riku was talking with another boy from the club.
"So if the protagonist discovers the secret in chapter three..." the boy said.
But Yamada wasn't really listening.
His eyes had drifted again.
Once more—
He was looking at Mio.
And he only realized it after staring for too long.
He immediately looked away.
Damn...
I'm staring at her again.
Think about something else.
"Hey, Yamada-kun."
"Hm?"
"Do you like Kanzaki?"
"WHAT?!"
Yamada's voice came out much louder than he intended.
Everyone in the club turned to look at him.
Silence fell over the room.
Yamada froze.
Then he quickly placed a hand behind his head and started bowing repeatedly.
"S-sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"
A few students chuckled quietly.
Mio glanced up for a moment—but calmly returned to reading her story, as if nothing had happened.
The boy next to Yamada leaned in closer.
"Dude... you should just tell her already."
Yamada frowned.
"Why? And that's none of your business."
"Relax, Yamada-kun."
He lowered his voice even more.
"There's a rumor... that Kanzaki likes Fujimoto Takeo, from the third-year drama club."
Yamada fell silent.
The name echoed in his mind.
Fujimoto Takeo.
"If I were you," the boy continued, "I'd at least say how I feel before losing the chance."
Yamada stared at the open book on his desk, but he wasn't reading anymore.
"...Yeah."
He sighed.
"Thanks... I guess."
On the outside, he looked calm.
But inside, only one thing kept spinning in his mind.
Fujimoto Takeo.
He tightened his grip slightly on the book.
I need to do something first.
Meanwhile, in the drama club—
Shinohara had just returned from the bathroom. Her steps were quick.
As soon as she entered the room, her eyes searched for someone.
And found him.
Takeo was talking with the club advisor.
Shinohara walked up to him.
"F-Fujimoto-kun..."
Takeo turned his head.
"Hm? What is it, Shinohara-chan?"
She stood there, staring at his face—his eyes, his calm expression.
She opened her mouth to speak.
But no words came out.
"...Nothing."
Takeo blinked.
"Oookay... sure, I guess."
Shinohara quickly walked away to the other side of the room.
As she passed by, her eyes briefly landed on Aoi.
Aoi was sitting down, reading the script.
Her face was completely neutral.
No emotion.
No expression.
Just reading, quickly and quietly.
Shinohara frowned slightly.
"...Is that her method?"
She murmured under her breath.
Across the room, Takeo crossed his arms thoughtfully.
So... Aoi's friend likes me...
He scratched his chin.
Should I talk to her?
In another building, Takase Hina was working on her manga.
She was completely focused, drawing with precision. The supervising teacher watched over her shoulder.
Suddenly, the teacher's expression turned serious.
"Takase."
"Yes?"
"Put some clothes on your character."
Hina looked up, shocked.
"Whaaaat?!"
The teacher simply sighed.
By the time club activities ended, the sky had already begun to darken.
Aoi waited near the school gate. Soon Hina and Mio appeared, and the three of them began walking home together.
At one point, Hina spoke:
"Aoi... have you noticed Mio-chan's been a bit cold with some people?"
Aoi thought for a moment.
"Well... she's probably tired."
She gave a small smile.
"Worrying about her mom... and still trying to keep a normal school routine... that's not easy."
Hina nodded slowly.
"...Yeah. Probably."
A few minutes later, they split ways.
Later that night—
Hina sent a message in the game chat.
Eternal Aegis Online
"Let's play! A millennial dragon appeared!"
Aoi turned on her console.
Her character appeared on the screen.
Hiro.
Soon, the group gathered again inside a dungeon.
The dragon was massive.
Black scales.
Eyes glowing like embers.
The battle began.
"Cover me!" shouted Prince John (Hina).
"You're the one who should be covering me!" replied Hiro (Aoi).
The dragon opened its mouth.
A roar echoed through the dungeon.
Then—
Fire.
A devastating attack.
Flames engulfed the characters.
"AAAAH!!"
"NOOO!!"
Aoi stared at the screen.
Hiro was being swallowed by flames. It looked like agony.
But the revive screen didn't appear.
Only Soumakey, the tank, remained.
He tried to hold on.
But another blast came.
And he turned to dust.
Silence.
"Our coordination was terrible," said Prince John.
"We need more people," Soumakey added.
"A healer would help."
"You're right," Hiro replied.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"I'll find us a healer," said Prince John.
"I'm going to sleep," Hiro replied.
"See you tomorrow."
Aoi turned off the console.
The screen went black.
But she remained kneeling there, staring at it.
In her mind, Hiro was still burning.
The screams echoed.
And then—
A memory surfaced.
Like a flash.
A door.
A police officer standing there.
Her mother, Yukiko, crying.
Aoi was six years old.
She was coming down the stairs.
The officer looked at the child.
He lowered his cap, hiding his eyes.
His mouth remained serious.
"Good evening, ma'am."
Little Aoi looked at her mother.
"Why are you crying, Mom?"
The memory faded.
Back in the present—
Aoi still stared at the dark screen.
Her face was completely expressionless.
"...I should sleep."
The next morning—
Aoi woke up.
Her face still neutral.
"Another day..."
She took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
On the way to school, she met Hina and Mio.
Hina said excitedly:
"Today I'm hunting for our healer!"
Mio blinked.
"Healer?"
Aoi smiled slightly.
"It's for our game."
"Oh... right."
When they arrived at the school building, they went to change their shoes.
That's when Mio suddenly stopped.
"...What?"
Aoi and Hina stepped closer.
On top of Mio's shoes was an envelope.
Aoi picked it up.
"...Is this a letter?"
Mio opened it slowly.
In the center of the envelope was a small drawn heart.
Hina's eyes widened.
"Who is it from?!"
Mio read quickly.
Then sighed.
"It says to meet him... after school."
"Behind the school building."
Aoi tilted her head.
"Are you going?"
Mio crossed her arms.
"I don't think so."
Hina nudged her.
"Come on, Mio! It's a secret admirer!"
Mio sighed again.
"I'd only go if it was Fujimoto-senpai..."
She looked at the envelope once more.
"...Could it be..