The next morning, the atmosphere in the classroom felt calmer compared to the previous day. However, for Banri, the calmness was only on the surface. He was still consumed by an unease that hadn't left him since Arata's arrival. Thoughts of Alya and Arata continued to haunt him, even though he tried to push them aside.
As Banri stepped into the classroom, he saw Arata already seated, engrossed in his small notebook as usual. Alya, sitting behind him, was talking to her seatmate. They didn't appear to be speaking to each other, but to Banri, it didn't lessen the strange feeling he had.
"Banri, why are you spacing out at the door? Come in," Shun's voice broke his train of thought. His friend nudged his shoulder lightly before heading to his seat.
Banri gave a small nod and walked to his own seat near the window. He sat down, pulled out his books, and stared out the window. The sky was bright that morning, but his heart felt the opposite.
When the teacher entered the classroom, the lesson began as usual. All the students were busy taking notes or answering the questions written on the board. However, Banri's attention kept wandering. He occasionally stole glances at Alya and Arata. There was no obvious interaction between them, but Banri couldn't shake the feeling that something was different—something he could sense but had no evidence of.
When the second period ended, the teacher gave the class a short break. Some students began chatting among themselves, while others chose to stay in their seats. Banri was still lost in his own thoughts when he suddenly heard a soft voice behind him.
"Banri," Alya called.
He turned, slightly surprised. "Yes?"
Alya was standing beside his desk, holding her notebook. "Do you have a moment? I want to ask about the lesson earlier. It felt like the teacher explained things too quickly."
Banri nodded, trying to hide his nervousness. "Sure, what do you want to ask?"
Alya opened her notebook and pointed to a few parts she didn't understand. Banri tried to explain slowly, even though his mind was still stuck on the fact that Alya had approached him directly.
"Thank you, Banri. Your explanation is clearer than the teacher's," Alya said with a gentle smile once they were done.
"You're welcome," Banri replied, trying to sound casual. But deep inside, he felt slightly relieved. Though simple, this interaction made him feel a little better.
As Alya returned to her seat, Banri noticed how she quickly refocused on her book. However, the relief he felt didn't last long. From the corner of his eye, he saw Arata glance at him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
Banri tried to ignore it, but deep down, he knew something was off. It was a subtle signal, barely noticeable, yet strong enough to stir unease in his heart.
The classroom grew quieter as the afternoon approached. The only sounds were the faint murmurs of a few students finishing their notes. Banri sat at his desk next to Alya, attempting to concentrate on his assignments, though his thoughts kept drifting. In front of him, Arata sat calmly, staring out the window as if the world around him didn't exist.
Alya, seated beside him, was busy jotting something down. Banri occasionally stole glances at her, watching the way she wrote with focus. Every now and then, she furrowed her brows, only to smile softly when she found the answer to her question. That sight should have calmed Banri, but an odd feeling continued to linger in his mind.
Meanwhile, Arata, sitting in front of them, appeared as he always did—calm, mysterious. Banri noticed the slight movement of Arata's shoulders as he took a deep breath. Then, unexpectedly, Arata turned around. Their eyes met briefly, and once again, that faint, cryptic smile appeared on Arata's face—a smile that seemed to carry a hidden message.
Banri quickly looked away, trying to stay composed. But inside, he couldn't shake the unease. What does that smile mean? Does he know something I don't?
When the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Banri hurriedly packed his books. However, before he could step out of the classroom, Alya gently tapped his arm.
"Banri," she called softly, her voice enough to stop him in his tracks.
"Yeah? What's up?" he asked, turning to face her.
Alya hesitated for a moment before saying, "Tomorrow... if you have time, could I ask for your help again? About the lesson earlier, I'm still a bit confused."
Banri nodded quickly, though his chest felt tight. "Of course. Just let me know whenever you need help."
Alya gave a small smile—a simple smile, yet enough to make Banri's heart race. "Thank you, Banri. See you tomorrow."
With that, Alya walked out, leaving Banri frozen in place.
After the incident in class, Banri tried to brush off the feelings that continued to bother him. He decided to head home with Shun and Fumiya, two of his close friends who had become part of his daily routine. Fumiya was Shun's classmate, but he often joined Banri due to their mutual closeness.
Fumiya wasn't a standout student. He had an average build, short black hair, and always wore comfortable, casual t-shirts. Previously, Fumiya spent most of his time in his own class, but in recent months, he had been seen hanging out more frequently with Banri and Shun. Although he didn't talk much about himself, Fumiya was easygoing and always knew how to entertain his friends. He had a knack for joking around and never dwelled on serious matters, which often lightened the atmosphere around them.
That day, Fumiya and Shun were their usual selves, joking with each other on the way home. Shun teased Fumiya about something funny, and Fumiya responded with loud laughter, even making Banri chuckle a little. Sometimes, their jokes were silly, but they were enough to lighten Banri's mood.
"Hey, Banri! If you keep spacing out like that, we might lose to Fumiya in the next match," Shun teased, snapping Banri out of his thoughts.
Banri blinked, realizing he had been lost in thought. "Huh? Oh, yeah… Don't give Fumiya any chances, or he'll start bragging," he replied with a small smile.
Hearing this, Fumiya burst out laughing. "What? If I win, don't blame me. It's not my fault you're overthinking!" he said, giving Banri a playful grin.
The three of them often played games together after school. Although it wasn't always competitive, they still tried their best to win—especially in fighting games at the local game café. Despite his laid-back demeanor, Fumiya was a skilled player who often left Banri and Shun struggling to keep up. This was why, even though the two were academically sharp, they couldn't help but laugh whenever Fumiya playfully bragged about his gaming skills.
"Alright, let's go again," Shun said as he grabbed a controller from the café table. "We can't let Fumiya beat us again."
Banri nodded, trying to refocus. The game started, and in an instant, the anxiety and thoughts about Arata that had been plaguing him were replaced with laughter and excitement.
Fumiya casually chose his favorite character—a fast and agile fighter—and started playing confidently. Shun picked a defensive character with powerful attacks, while Banri selected a character with quick combo abilities.
"Watch out, Fumiya! This time, we won't lose!" Banri declared, trying to shake off the nervousness that had been weighing on him earlier.
The match began. Fumiya launched quick attacks, but Banri and Shun had started to adapt to his strategy. Occasionally, Fumiya would create funny moments that made them all laugh, but he remained serious when it was their turn to counterattack. The atmosphere became relaxed yet filled with healthy competitive energy.
A few minutes later, Shun finally managed to take Fumiya down. "Haha! Finally! We won!" he cheered, raising his hands in triumph.
Banri laughed, feeling a slight sense of relief at being able to contribute to the victory. "Fumiya, you were way too overconfident," he teased, though Fumiya just smirked.
Fumiya shrugged casually. "Win or lose, the important thing is we're having fun."
They continued playing and joking around, momentarily forgetting everything that had been troubling Banri. Fumiya, with his relaxed attitude, occasionally reminded Banri not to take life too seriously. His lighthearted words and laughter helped Banri feel a little more at ease, as if the weight on his mind could be forgotten, even if just for a while.
Later, they decided to gather at Banri's house to play games, enjoying their time together without having to go out.
"Let's just play here," Banri suggested, picking up his phone. "It's more comfortable, right? We can chat while playing."
Shun nodded, looking excited. "Agreed, playing at home is better. No need to go out, and we can relax," he said as he opened a game on his phone. Fumiya joined in, and they started strategizing for the next round.
Sitting in the chair beside them, Fumiya also pulled out his phone. "Alright, alright. Are you sure you guys can beat me this time?" he asked with a wide grin. "This game isn't for beginners."
Banri chuckled, even though he knew Fumiya was genuinely skilled in competitive games. "Let's see. This time, we won't give you any chances to win."
They chose a team mode, and in no time, they were immersed in the game. The usually quiet atmosphere of Banri's house was now filled with the sound of tapping phone screens and their lively chatter. Shun and Fumiya kept teasing each other, while Banri tried to focus, though he couldn't completely shake off the feelings still lingering in his heart.
Fumiya seemed more serious than usual, responding to every move with calculated precision. Banri and Shun, while more laid-back, did their best to fight back against Fumiya. They played for hours, laughing and cheering whenever they managed to defeat an opponent.
Occasionally, Fumiya would tease them lightly. "You're just lucky this time," he said, though the satisfied look on his face betrayed his words.
Banri smiled faintly, though his thoughts still lingered on Alya and Arata. But at least, amidst the laughter and banter, his uneasiness faded slightly. "What matters is we're having fun, right?" he said, echoing Fumiya's earlier words.
Finally, they wrapped up a few more rounds before calling it a day. Despite their teasing and jokes, Banri felt a little lighter after spending the day temporarily forgetting his worries about Alya and Arata.
"Alright, let's take a break for a bit," said Shun, putting down his phone. "I'm thirsty. Got any water?"
Banri nodded and headed to the kitchen to get some drinks. Fumiya and Shun got up as well, their endless banter lightening the atmosphere. Meanwhile, Banri felt a brief sense of calm, realizing that sometimes he overthought things that hadn't even happened yet.
When Banri returned from the kitchen with three glasses of cold water, he found Shun and Fumiya still joking around. Shun was imitating the heroic moves of a game character while Fumiya pretended to be in awe, lightly clapping his hands.
"Here's the water," Banri said, placing the glasses on the table.
"Ah, perfect timing. I was about to die of dehydration from all these wins," Shun quipped with a laugh as he grabbed a glass.
Fumiya raised an eyebrow. "All these wins? Weren't you the one I just beat?"
Shun scoffed. "That was beginner's luck. Just wait until the next round."
Banri chuckled, sipping his water. Watching his friends being so carefree made his own worries feel a bit lighter. Even though his thoughts about Alya weighed heavily on him, he reminded himself to appreciate moments like this—simple times with his friends that never failed to make him smile.
"Hey, Banri," Shun suddenly said, pointing at him with his glass. "Why do you seem so quiet today? Thinking about something?"
Banri paused for a moment, then shook his head. "Not really. I'm just tired. It's been a while since we gamed like this."
Fumiya gave him a look as if trying to read his thoughts but chose not to press further. Instead, he grinned and said, "If you're tired, don't use that as an excuse to lose. You know I won't go easy on you in the next round."
Fumiya's comment was met with laughter from all three of them. Banri felt relieved that he didn't have to explain what was really on his mind. For now, he could forget everything and enjoy the night with his friends.
After a few minutes of rest, they got back to their spots, ready to continue the game. The night grew later, but their energy only increased. Banri, Shun, and Fumiya exchanged strategies amidst their laughter during the matches.
"Banri, cover me! I'm going in!" Shun shouted, tapping furiously on his phone screen.
"You sure? That's definitely a trap!" Banri replied, eyeing the game map.
"Trust me!" Shun shot back.
Banri sighed but eventually followed through, protecting Shun's position from enemy attacks. Meanwhile, Fumiya, who was positioned on the other side of the map, gave commands in a calm yet teasing tone. "I'll back you up from behind. If this fails, don't blame me."
As Banri had suspected, Shun rushed in too recklessly and ended up getting caught in an ambush. "Crap! I'm down! Banri, help me!" Shun yelled in panic.
Fumiya let out a small laugh. "Told you—you're too confident."
"Ugh, Shun. You're such a hassle," Banri grumbled but still worked to help. With their teamwork, Banri and Fumiya managed to rescue Shun, even though it was a tough situation.
When the match ended, Fumiya immediately teased Shun. "You're way too impulsive. When are you ever gonna learn strategy?"
Shun groaned and slumped back on the sofa with a frustrated look. "Whatever, as long as it's fun."
Banri chuckled at his two friends, who never stopped arguing about games. That night, he truly felt like he could let go of all the worries that had been bothering him. Shun and Fumiya brought a different kind of brightness to his life—they were the ones who made him feel accepted without having to pretend.
As the clock neared 11 PM, Fumiya let out a wide yawn. "Alright, I give up. We still have school tomorrow, don't we?"
Shun glanced at his watch and nodded. "Yeah, I should head home too. If I don't, I'll oversleep."
The three of them cleaned up the leftover snacks and drinks before Shun and Fumiya got ready to leave. "Thanks, Banri. Your house is always the best place to hang out," Fumiya said as he grabbed his bag.
"No problem. Take care on your way home," Banri replied.
When the door closed and the sound of Shun and Fumiya's footsteps faded away, Banri stood for a moment in his now-quiet living room. He took a deep breath and smiled faintly. Tonight, though simple, had given him a renewed sense of energy to face the days ahead.