Shouko, who was about to pick up her chopsticks, turned and looked at her mother with surprise.

"Eat."

Before she could ask anything, Yaeko Nishimiya's calm voice cut her off.

"Oh—okay." Shouko quickly lowered her head and continued with breakfast. She decided she would ask her mother properly tonight why she had suddenly changed her mind.

Still, she noticed the redness around Yaeko's eyes, the faint bloodshot veins in the whites. Clearly, her mother hadn't rested well the night before and had risen too early today.

"Mom? Why are you awake so early too?" came a groggy voice from behind them—Yuzuru Nishimiya, still full of sleepiness.

Yaeko could only repeat what she'd said earlier. "Hurry and eat breakfast. Don't be late on the first day of school."

"Oh, okay." Yuzuru shuffled over and sat beside her sister.

———

Meanwhile, Akira, having just finished a three-kilometer run, spotted Nishikata buying breakfast nearby.

Originally, Akira had only managed a little over two kilometers, but gradually he'd built up to three.

"Nishikata?" he called out, wiping his forehead with a tissue.

"Hm?" Nishikata turned, a bag from the breakfast shop dangling in his hand. He blinked in surprise at Akira, who was panting and soaked with sweat.

"Morning, Akira. Just finished running?"

"Mm. Want to join?" Akira offered casually.

"No way." Nishikata quickly waved his hand, taking a bite of a steamed bun. "Getting me up this early to run is no different from killing me."

He held open the bag. "Want one?"

"No thanks." Akira glanced at the steamed buns and dumplings inside, then suddenly asked, "Don't you live on the other side? Why buy breakfast here?"

If he remembered correctly, Nishikata and Takagi Sana lived at least one or two kilometers away, on a different street.

"Don't mention it," Nishikata groaned, waving dismissively. After swallowing, he explained, "The neighbors are renovating. Too noisy. My parents couldn't stand it, so we moved temporarily into the old house. We'll go back after renovations."

"In that case, we could go home together after school," Akira noted.

But Nishikata hesitated, then shook his head slowly. "Probably not… I might have something to do."

"Alright then." Akira shrugged. "See you at school."

At the fork in the road, Nishikata pointed left. "Yeah, see you there."

———

"Akira! My mom said I can learn painting, and even join a training class!" Shouko said excitedly as they walked to school.

Suppressing his surprise, Akira asked curiously, "Have you thought about which class to take?"

He honestly couldn't believe Yaeko Nishimiya had agreed. In his eyes, Shoko's strict and practical mother would dismiss light novelists and illustrators as childish nonsense.

"No." Shouko shook her head. "I don't plan to join a class—I want to apply directly for the school art club."

"Isn't it a little late?" Akira frowned.

Shouko quickly countered, "I asked Takagi-chan and Ayumi. Some art club members are still learning basics, so it's not too late. Besides, I'm already grateful Mom agreed. I don't want to waste money on classes."

"Hm…" Akira noticed the light had turned green, so he took her hand and led her across. "That makes sense."

"Right?" Shouko's lips curved slightly. "Akira, you said you'd submit your novel in third year of junior high. That gives me three years to learn. There's no rush."

After crossing, Akira quietly let go of her hand as other students came into view. If he joined a club, school would end after 5 p.m.—he figured he'd just swing by to pick her up afterward.

But Shouko quickly re-gripped his hand. "No. You're coming with me. You have to apply to the art club too."

"???"

"You heard me. You're applying with me." Shouko struggled to hide her grin.

She simply couldn't trust leaving Akira alone for two whole hours after school. What if some shameless girl tried to hook him away? Even the smallest "what if" was unacceptable.

"…I should probably ask Mom first," Akira muttered.

"No need." Shouko wrinkled her nose smugly. "When you went to shower this morning, I already asked. Auntie Shizuka said I can decide for you."

"…?" Akira was momentarily speechless.

Shouko looked at him pitifully. "Would you really let me apply alone? What if I get bullied? Or… what if another boy applies at the same time? Wouldn't that feel strange to you?"

"I won't. I trust you." Akira answered without hesitation.

"Then are you applying or not?" Shouko tightened her grip.

"Fine, fine—apply." Akira sighed, gripping her hand back helplessly.

Where had she even learned this trick? Definitely not from him.

Shouko's smile finally broke free.

———

"Ah-choo!"

"What's wrong, Takagi-san?" Nishikata asked with concern.

"Nothing, just a sneeze," Takagi waved off. Then she eyed him curiously. "But why did you come out so late today?"

She noticed faint sweat still on his forehead.

"Haha…" Nishikata rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Overslept. Sorry."

"It's fine. It's the first day—understandable to oversleep."

------------------

A/N: Hello everyone i got a cold :(

1 chapter for now, sorry