His back was aching again. That gaping, almost excruciating pain flared on the puzzle piece-shaped wound. At the start of the week, he felt like it was healing, to a degree.

  By Friday, however, the ache found its way back to him.

  The bookworm sitting to his right still hadn't returned his book. While it wasn't the book he was bothered by, the recent distance between them had subconsciously extended.

  A bookworm of her stature would have finished a short book like that by now. And as he thought, there wasn't a bookmark on her when he had thrown a glance her way as she was reading said book earlier today.

  Raichi committed a mistake he thought he'd never come close to making. He'd pride himself on being candid with himself when advised, and yet, many were left unsaid between him and Yaori. And surely, a single lunch wouldn't be the cause of it.

  All the while, he had made a reputation for himself as being the only guy in the classroom whom Yaori made an effort to greet. She'd reply to anyone if a morning greeting were to come her way, but Raichi was the sole person she made the first move at.

  Miss Miyako Nishikigi, their homeroom teacher, resumed her lesson as Raichi looked out the window, the late afternoon glint shooting inside, burning his eyes.

  The light barely reached Yaori.

  Typically, she'd shift between chatting with him in secret or focusing on the lesson, taking notes. Instead, she was sleeping, a first for the bookworm.

  Yaori sat in shadow, her braids drooping down her folded arms, tucking her head firmly in.

  Looking at her, Raichi felt frustrated, uncomfortable. His chest tightened, and he smacked his desk hard enough to feel the wood sting his skin, but not enough to make a sound.

  He felt the need to reach out, to fix this, to bridge the gap between the two of them and put a lid on it. He knew Yaori, in reality, wasn't sleeping. He had to take the initiative.

  ''Yamada-san.'' He whispered, cupping a hand around his mouth.

  She didn't move a muscle.

  Nishikigi was still busy writing on the board. He tried again.

  ''Yamada-san?''

  Raichi said, this next one slipping from his mouth like an unfiltered thought, as if he didn't intend for her to hear it.

  Huh?

  Just when he was about to lose all hope, the sounds of clothing swishing reached the end of his ears.

  Yaori's shoulder, veiled by her braid, twitched up and down. Once, then twice more. In desynchronized, small motions, as if they weren't just twitches, but shivering, unable to breathe.

  His heart sank at the mere thought, causing his back to pulse again.

  He tried to reach out again, but to his dismay, the chalk stopped scratching the class board, and a clear voice cut through the silence.

  "...Sato-kun."

  Dozens of heads turned his way. Nishikigi, her arms crossed, stared at him from across the room, displeased.

  She let out a sigh.

  ''Care to share something with the rest of the class, Sato-kun?''

  Raichi got up from his seat in a frenzy.

  ''Forgive me, sensei. No, I don't…''

  A few chuckles went back and forth through the classroom, prompting Raichi to lower his gaze.

  ''In that case,'' She raised her arm. ''I'd like to see you in the faculty room after class. We have much to talk about.''

  ''Understood.'' His nod came out weak.

  Raichi obtained front row tickets to Nishikigi's quarters. Talk about a delinquent, he thought.

  He could feel his ears flushing as the laughter dispersed, decreasing to whispers until Nishikigi ordered total silence once more.

  In the midst, Raichi dared to let his eyes wander to his right.

  Her twitches had come to a halt. He couldn't know what was going on under her chestnut-colored hair and arms, but judging by the sniffling coming from underneath, his idea wouldn't be far off.

  When the dragging final lesson would meet its end, the crack between him and Yaori would be as anonymous as ever.

  ??????

  Raichi tried fighting against the urge to get up for another minute. His legs pushed him to his limits, but his thought process led him to believe Yaori might utter at least something.

  Around two minutes had passed since the bell rang. Hiroshi and Nao had club business and had already left, along with most of the classmates.

  Internalizing his conversation with Airi days ago and his forgotten lunch with Yaori, as much as he didn't intend to, he didn't have the guts to call for her again, not after getting caught.

  The unfortunate reality loomed upon him. His time was up. Unless he wanted an actual scolding, he needed to leave right away.

  Keeping his gaze ahead, Raichi slung his bag over his one shoulder and fixed his chair, approaching the door.

  However, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

  Three of his classmates, like airport security, were waiting by the door, their eyes clawing at him.

  His gaze bounced around the room in confusion for a second, but his doubts weren't misplaced; they were, in fact, looking at him.

  He ignored them, but it seemed a conversation was inevitable when one of them blocked the exit.

  One hung his back toward the wall, another crossed his arms together in front of the door, and the other sat on the closest seat desk.

  ''Sato-kun, was it? You're the guy that Nishikigi-sensei caught speaking to Yamada, right?''

  ''Excuse me?''

  Not a single word would have escaped his mouth if they hadn't blocked his exit, but if the upcoming questions were going to be this personal, Raichi might just bury his head in the sand.

  ''Yeah, it is you.'' The boy by the wall said. ''What a gutsy move you pulled off back there. It wasn't the first time we've seen you talking to her on and off, but getting caught is a serious blunder.''

  An answer wasn't even necessary if drawing random conclusions like that were allowed.

  He stiffened, but again, his mouth hadn't even moved.

  This condescending tone the classmates had was something Raichi knew only too well.

  His brief relationship with his middle school classmates gave off that very same feeling, like he was a step below them in their eyes.

  The boy sitting on top of the desk flicked it.

  ''Surely, you must have done something. Yamada doesn't talk to just anyone, y'know.''

  Raichi gave a polite nod to prod the conversation along, hoping they'd get bored. He thought the weapons would be aimed at him, but in the brief moment the boy mentioned Yaori in such a snide remark, he swallowed.

  ''I hope you don't get the wrong idea, Sato. Maybe she just pities you.''

  His eyes flickered. The one with a misunderstanding wasn't him, and it did hurt. Jokes meant to put him down wouldn't work on him, for he had hit rock bottom long ago.

  Stop it.

  Yaori, however, was a different topic. He didn't like where this was going. The more they spoke, the more they patronized her. They were pretending like he was one of them and not at the same time.

  Being friends with Yaori or talking with her wasn't a bragging point for him, and he thought it shouldn't be for anyone.

  ''She could be bored, too. Someone new, like you, could suit her entertainment tastes better, perhaps. Don't you think so?''

  His hand tightened around the strap of the bag, biting his lip being the only vent for his increasing irritation.

  You don't know anything!

  The thought that ran in his head may seem conceited, to say he knew Yaori like the back of his hand. In fact, it'd be a lie if anything. But that wasn't his privilege.

  That day at the park, anyone could have comforted her, or he would have comforted anyone else sitting saddened by themselves under the ginkgo tree that saw him mature, almost too early, into the person he is today.

  And because he did, he had come to know enough about her this past week to tell—their words were nothing but conjecture, gossip-driven spikes.

  ''Heh, kinda funny though.'' The one in the middle chuckled. ''Someone like her, spending time with someone like you. Maybe she just isn't as perfect as the performance she puts on.''

  A rope, one holding his mouth shut, snapped. The instant his thoughts and senses synced, he let out a sharp, trembling inhale.

  ''How dare you!?''

  ''Huh? Got something to say, transfer-kun?''

  They stepped forward one by one, staring him dead in the eye. The boys were holding themselves back for dignity's sake, but when resistance showed, they didn't hesitate.

  ''Cat got your tongue? Gonna talk back now, are you?''

  That last line before he snapped hit him like a truck. It was worded so dastardly, yet the latter half was as true as it was cruel.

  Raichi was confident that Yaori was watching. He'd rather she hadn't seen him right before he was about to be beaten to a pulp by his new classmates.

  He paid no attention to his untimely screw-up. Yaori was a far cry from perfect. Among his small friendship circle, she was by far the most fragile. Her words about lunch, the promise they made, he hadn't forgotten. She hadn't, either.

  That was the consequence of being a coward. All he had to do was bring up his conversation with Nao, and to share a meal with her that day. He had been the one to distance himself when the situation got dire, and now he faced its karma.

  His heart was pounding up and down, about to snap out of his chest. Any moment now, the bullies would square up, and no way in hell he stood a chance.

  ''Oi.''

  Just when he was about to accept his fate, from outside the hallway, a boy's voice cut through.

  When Raichi was approaching the door, he remembered someone's bag remaining on their desk by the window seat. The realization just dawned upon him; it was Takahashi's bag.

  Takahashi didn't bother meeting their gaze, playing with his fingers.

  ''He's got a place to be. Did y'all forget? Nishikigi-sensei's waiting for him.''

  The bullies attempted to save face, waving him off.

  ''Chill, Takashi! We're just welcoming the guy.''

  ''Welcoming him, my ass.'' He gave them a half-smile. ''Is that your idea of a welcoming party? If you wanna play bad cop, then where is the good cop willing to go along with your stupidity?''

  One of the bullies coughed, not expecting the sudden sting.

  The middle one scoffed.

  ''You really had to ruin the mood.''

  ''If ruining the mood means stopping you from laying your hands on the transfer student, then you've got a long way to go, buddy. When was the last time you passed an exam?''

  ''C'mon, dude!'' The bully left the room, ''Thought you were one of us.''

  Takahashi turned his back toward them. ''If I knew you were like this, I never would have been in a million years.''

  ''You suck.''

  Betrayed, the three musketeers left to aim their cannons somewhere else.

  Raichi's hands trembled at the sight. The bullies spared him, and the one to save him, of all people, was Takahashi.

  On his first day in class 1-B, Raichi attempted to make friends with Takahashi, but he refused to talk to him. He didn't think Takahashi would remember him, let alone save him from a load of trouble.

  Takahashi let out a loud sigh.

  ''Sorry for showing up late there.''

  ''O-Oh, no, it's okay. Thank you so much, Takahashi-san.''

  ''And for, uh, Monday, I think? Y'know, when I told you off pretty much.''

  He shook his head, smiling from the bottom of his heart.

  ''I didn't take that to heart. I could understand that you had something to do.''

  ''Then, I appreciate it.''

  ''Also, you didn't have to step in. Why is that?'' He lowered his head. ''I… was okay with whatever was going to happen to me.''

  ''What? You know I couldn't let that happen, Sato-kun.'' The aggression in his voice showed. ''I heard enough from them. They have no right to say such things. And to think I once called them friends.''

  ''I-I see. Thank you for being honest with me.''

  Takahashi scratched his back as silence seeped in. He cleared his throat before muttering,

  ''Speaking of which, I wanted to ask.'' Takahashi extended his hand. ''Do you still want to be friends?''

  Raichi wasn't the type for a handshake, but he could sense the warmth in his intentions, the kind of connection he longed for.

  ''I would.''

  With their handshake still held together, Haruki said, ''My name is Takahashi Haruki. Nice to meet you, Sato-kun.''

  Haruki, the mysterious black haired boy who had told him off and then given him the death stare from the front row, had now become his friend and savior.

  ''Um, I would have liked to stay for longer, but I must go.''

  ''It's fine. Go. Nishikigi-sensei isn't the patient type.''

  His hopes clinging to his pale knuckles, Raichi ran off toward the end of the corridor, alone with his thoughts.

  He had kept Nishikigi waiting for long enough. It felt like his mind and body weren't in sync at that moment, but it didn't matter now.

  The ideal relationship the two bookworms had was etched into their memory. When it was tested, he failed to maintain it. With Yaori's reputation on her shoulders, it was his responsibility.

  Ready to face the harsh truth, Raichi ran off to the other end of the school building, where the faculty room was.

  ''You're late, Sato-kun.''

  The inside of the faculty room, the weight of the grilling from minutes ago on his shoulders, Raichi stood there panting, in front of Miss Nishikigi, his homeroom and literature teacher.

  Raichi bowed. ''F-Forgive me, Nishikigi-sensei. Something came up.''

  ''I could tell, but whatever it was, I almost thought you might have actually booked it. When a teacher calls you, it's not something to keep waiting.''

  ''I apologize for the misunderstanding.''

  Nishikigi, tapping her pen, gestured for him to take a seat across from her, and Raichi gladly obliged. Judging by her mood, she was about to say more than just criticize him for talking mid-class.

  As she did at the start of the week, Nishikigi looked Raichi up and down, her ball-point pen tinkering.

  ''You've been a bit out of focus these past two days, have you not? Not just you, but Yamada, too.''

  His fingers tensed up. ''You've noticed, sensei?''

  ''Considering how much time I have to spend teaching you, it's only fair I catch on to my student's daily habits, and yours have been nothing but chatting with my star student on and off.''

  Nishikigi was as sharp as she was stern. Despite having possibly the most haphazard assortment of students for her homeroom, she knew the personalities of most of her students at heart.

  He had hoped his conversations with Yaori would remain discreet to all but them; however, even Nishikigi could tell they were talking from across the classroom.

  ''I… didn't realize.''

  ''Well, you were whispering one day and completely silent the next. I was optimistic, y'know? I could tell from day one you and Yamada would get along.''

  ''I remember that.''

  ''Those first two days made me think she might just open up to you.''

  Raichi could feel the pause left behind by Nishikigi's search for words. She intertwined her hands, resting her head on them. He was about to interject, but before he could, Nishikigi asked the big question.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  ''So.'' Nishikigi's brows furrowed in concern. ''Did something happen between you two?''

  If it were up to him to track down the truth of what happened between them, the traces would lead back to him. His low self-esteem may have been the one talking when he admitted to that, but that's how he felt.

  The difficulty bar of addressing an issue that bothered them mutually should have been rather low. During times like these, it should have been his duty and his alone when Yaori was in her social confinement.

  His puzzle-piece-shaped back wound ached, almost tangible, as his gaze lowered.

  ''I think I just messed up somewhere along the way.'' He said. ''I should've said something, but I didn't. After that… things just felt distant.''

  Nishikigi let out a sigh, pointing at her head with her pen. Her attitude had an underlying seriousness to it, but she was mostly mock-thoughtful.

  ''You shouldn't blame yourself too much. She had been like that once with me, Sato-kun. When something unsettles her, Yamada often turns inward.''

  ''Turns… inward?'' Raichi parroted absentmindedly.

  For an introvert such as himself, there could be numerous reasons for him to retreat into his shell. However, his shoes were clearly a different size compared to Yaori's, so it was hard to imagine.

  Yaori had a mysterious air to her, and her reputation revealed little to nothing about her true self. He searched for an answer, but nothing came to him on the spot.

  ''Yes. When she's indecisive about her place, she hides inside her thoughts, and it's hard to pull her away. Her usual go-to is books, although this time, it doesn't seem to be the case, does it?''

  ''Perhaps. I've had little chance to confirm, though.''

  Nishikigi either hit the nail on the head or missed by a long shot; there was no in between. Without talking to her, Raichi knew he wouldn't be any different than the gossipmongers, and that is a territory he never wanted to find himself in.

  ''Life has its ups and downs for everybody. You two are at that ripe age where your troubles may feel more profound. As such, her social circle being limited emphasizes that even more. I'm guessing you've seen her formal way of speaking?''

  ''I personally… haven't had too many chances of doing so, actually.''

  Yaori speaking formally was a rare sight to see for him. The times when she did speak formally weren't with him, but say with teachers and other students attempting to talk with her. While it was a good show of professionalism and held up her reputation with an iron foundation, it also kept people from becoming too familiar with her.

  A shock flowed through his body once he put some thought into it. That formality she showed was novel to him, which meant that she was way closer to him than everybody else, than he normally thought.

  He was aware of her reputation and tight friend circle, not unlike his, but he hadn't realized to what extent.

  ''Wait, really?'' Nishigi raised an eyebrow. ''Define her way of speaking to you in two to three words, right now.''

  ''I-I thought this was about reprimanding me for speaking in class…'' He tried to divert the situation, but to no avail.

  She let out a long, restrained sigh, putting her arm down from her chin.

  ''I'm not nearly as mad as you may think, Sato-kun. The only thing I have to criticize you for is disrupting my class at that moment. But as your homeroom teacher and your status as a transfer student, it is my duty to make sure you get along well with the rest of your class. So please, do tell me.''

  ''I-If I had to say something, then I would say… awkward yet natural. I know little to nothing about her, yet our conversations feel so real and engaging. There are moments where one of us is more embarrassed than the other, but I'd like to think our sincerity solves that problem before long.''

  Raichi didn't have a good way with words, and he thought of himself to be awful at describing. When it came to abstract topics like personality and characteristics, he couldn't put them into words, including his conversations with Yaori as a whole. But he hoped his message got through well enough.

  Nishikigi leaned against her chair, a confident smile on the edge of her lips.

  ''Is that so? Your description of Yamada's mannerisms reminds me of her big sister. How amusing. When I'd ask Ayaka about her little sister back then, she'd say something nearly identical.''

  ''Y-Yamada-san's big sister?''

  Nishikigi nodded, her expression filled with brimming nostalgia. ''Yes. Yamada Ayaka. I was her homeroom teacher, too.''

  ''I, um, didn't know…''

  From Yaori mentioning her in passing, Raichi knew little to nothing about Ayaka, other than her growing interest in patissiers and restaurants.

  Ayaka was the one who recommended the restaurant to Yaori. From the way the bookworm described her, Ayaka seemed like someone uplifting.

  ''...Nishikigi-sensei.'' Raichi looked down at his hands. ''I'd like to know more about Ayaka-san, if you don't mind.''

  Raichi going out of his way to learn more about someone, comparable to fishing out gossip, was unprecedented.

  What's worse, he already had in mind his reasons and intentions for wanting to learn about her on the spot. While transgressing Yaori's boundaries wasn't his intention, he did wonder if it would be a step too far.

  I may deeply regret asking this, but I feel that this is a turning point, my connection with Yamada-san being on the line.

  Would she despise him if he were to? Why was his first instinct to ask about Ayaka? And what would it give him?

  His decision-making ran in real time. He didn't know how, but all roads somehow led to the same conclusion—that he must close the gap between them, at any means necessary.

  ''There's no avoiding it, huh? I knew the instant I mentioned Ayaka, you'd be putting your nose in.''

  ''If I'm getting too ahead of myself, then please feel free to keep me in the dark. It would be the least I deserve.''

  Nishikigi shook her head as she spoke.

  ''No, it's okay. My teacherly intuition told me the very first day you arrived here at the start of this week and introduced yourself to me. As I said beforehand, the two of you are two peas in a pod, and this conversation was inevitable.''

  ''In that case,'' Raichi bowed, eyes furrowed. ''Please go ahead and tell me about her.''

  Nishikigi closed her eyes, as if going back in time, reminiscing about years prior.

  In the corner of the faculty room where he stood in front of Nishikigi, the room was dimly lit, covered by the orange afternoon light.

  The other teachers in the room messing around with the papers, and the clock nearby ticking and tocking, provided ample ambiance.

  She spun back and forth in her rolling chair, hands gripped tightly on her lap.

  ''By the time her first term in high school was over, Ayaka had already made a name for herself like her little sister. She was voted class president by the entire class. While she wasn't perfect in her grades, her passion shone brighter than anyone else I had ever taught.''

  Nishikigi had a newspaper by her side and stared into it, her eyes glimmering.

  ''I saw her bloom like a flower in the span of months. At some point, she started growing attached to a certain field. She loved reading and literature, like her sister after."

  The newspaper Nishikigi had in her hands looked strangely enticing. She grabbed it and put it up to her chest.

  "When most people were still searching for their meaning in life and choice of study, she had already chosen hers. One day after class, she told me."

  A tear, glowing under the orange light of the setting setting sun, fell down Nishikigi's cheek. What a profile Yamada Ayaka was, Raichi thought.

  "I started with a little chuckle, then broke out into spiraling laughter. Soon after, tears ran down my face! Ayaka asked me why I was crying. You know why I was crying? Take a guess."

  "...Tears of joy?"

  "I was ecstatic, over the moon for her. Just look at my sweet Ayaka, I thought." Nishikigi wiped away her tears. "Her innocent smile asking me what was wrong made my day, my month, maybe my year. Guess what she wanted to be?"

  "She… sounds like someone with a sense of justice."

  Nishikigi nodded.

  "Yes. I thought so, too. Maybe she had decided on a lawyer, a cop, anything. But no. Ayaka clutched her newspaper like I am right now, and, 'I want to be a journalist!', she told me."

  A journalist… wow. How fitting that feels for the Yamada family.

  Yamada Ayaka, under the guidance of Nishikigi Miyako, had decided to be a journalist.

  Nishikigi added on, going over just how much Ayaka valued the truth.

  "Often, she would exchange ideas with me after class, taking notes like an investigator. She'd say that she loves hearing my candid opinion, and that… there was nothing else she despised more than deceit. I respected her so much for that."

  Raichi's eyes widened for a second.

  "I think I can… understand her view."

  While Ayaka's ideology seemed a little harsh and far-fetched to most, to Raichi, it was admirable, and he could see where she was coming from.

  The possibility that her upbringing influenced her dreams seemed quite plausible, and Raichi didn't mean that in either a positive or negative way.

  She wanted to be a journalist, never once concealing information. Nishikigi talked more about Ayaka's ideal definition of journalism.

  To absolve someone of their right to know the truth hurt the young Yamada, who wanted to spare whoever she could from the ignorance that came with it.

  A stark contrast to her little sister who came after, Ayaka had gotten herself involved in many potential scoops to fuel her thirst for tidings.

  This summary of her made her seem like the type Raichi would loathe the most. But, quite the contrary, her intention came from a place of good.

  However, Raichi could sense this wasn't the end of her story.

  ''Although she had a graduation that she passed without fail, there were times when I had to see her light dim. Whenever I would ask her about her family life, she'd put on a grim face. Not glaring, but still distinct compared to her usual. Eventually, her parents stopped coming to her parent-teacher meetings, which made the school alarmed, to say the least.''

  ''H-Her parents… why didn't they come to the meetings?''

  Nishikigi's expression was hidden under her Sacramento green hair, but even he could tell it wasn't as warm. She put the newspaper back on the desk.

  ''I could tell things weren't all that great at home for her, so I assisted her in getting this matter off the hook, so that she could enjoy her dreams freely, which I was certain made her most happy.''

  Raichi scratched his cheek as he stuttered, ''I-I am guessing I am not allowed to indulge in on that information in any way?''

  ''That, unfortunately, yes. I hope you respect that.''

  ''Of course.'' Raichi nodded. ''The reality that I got to hear this at all is something I should be grateful for.''

  ''And that's what I'd expect of you, Sato-kun. I appreciate your consideration.''

  Yamada Ayaka was perhaps as perplexing as she was free-spirited. From what Raichi could gather, she forged her own path, one in which she relished everything that was adorned along it. The social standing she garnered, the passion she showed, and the possible hardships she faced— she did it all with a smile.

  This conversation alone provided him with a glum reality. The information he gathered from Nishikigi's story of Ayaka towered above the little bit he knew about Yaori.

  Before he walked away any further from Yaori, Raichi had to put an end to the growing distance between them. That was his only option.

  ''Yaori… I want to pave the way for that girl's success, too.'' Nishikigi admitted. ''Whatever I do to highlight her intelligence and ability, she retreats back to her shell, treats her classmates with strange formality, and reads books. I ask her a question, the hardest I could come up with. She answers with utmost certainty, then sits back down, and moves on with her day.''

  ''I do not doubt Yamada-san's academics, not even a little bit.''

  ''You think I do? Of course not. But everything else where her big sister succeeded, she seems to largely scale back on.''

  ''Yamada-san… is herself, isn't she?'' Raichi's voice, in a way, put Nishikigi in her place, even though he didn't intend to. ''She is not Ayaka-san.''

  Raichi was certain Nishikigi knew Ayaka down to her core. But the more she spoke of Yaori, the more doubt began to seep into Raichi's mind.

  His words were simple, yet Nishikigi was still taken aback as she blinked.

  Once again, to say Yaori's personality was this and that based on the interactions he's had with her would be presumptuous. But he could at least draw a pattern from it. Yaori didn't act like her sister at all.

  Inheriting her sister's intelligence and nothing else, Yaori was the person she presented herself as. Her grades and beauty were inevitable factors in her standing out, but her insistence on avoiding people created a contrast.

  When talking to her about Miyamoto's novels, after revealing how much comfort he found in them, this is what Yaori had to say.

  ''...So you're like me then, aren't you, Sato-kun?''

  ''...For me, they are an escape from reality. Something I can find comfort in.''

  And her responses in the park, looking back at them now, were nothing but surface-level reveals about herself.

  ''You see, this reputation I have. I never asked for it. I studied my head off until I couldn't be satisfied, not expecting to be treated like the ace I obliviously tried to be.''

  ''...But eventually, people would treat me like I was above them just because I was the first years' ace. I felt isolated, like I couldn't be like them anymore. And so, I turned to books instead. I treated them the way they were treating me.''

  Despite the shallow feeling her words gave off, cracks would show in between, during moments such as when they made their promise.

  ''I know this already is your favourite bench, your safe space under this ginkgo tree, which fascinates me, too. But I want you to feel that way with me present, as well. So that I can return the hospitality you've shown me.''

  The promise felt unreasonable after the growing distance between them now, but putting more meaning into it revealed something deeper than returning hospitality. Could it have been her attempt at reaching out beyond the walls she had built?

  Just maybe, the material she had used to build her walls may have been crafted from her connection to Ayaka. Raichi knew that Ayaka was somehow another piece of the puzzle. All that was left now was to confirm it.

  ''Nishikigi-sensei. I had another question about Ayaka-san. How often does Yamada-san mention her?''

  ''G-Good question. And here I thought I was the one asking questions…''

  Nishikigi put her hand on her chin again, her thoughtful eyes dropping downward onto the desk.

  Her expression took on a more serious tone.

  ''She doesn't actually mention her at all. I used to ask her frequently; however, I eventually had to stop entirely.''

  ''Had to stop?''

  ''For Yaori's sake. She'd react strangely, twitching at the mere mention of her sister. She'd give me a vague answer, saying that Ayaka is still studying and dreaming big.''

  Twitching at her sister's name? Why?

  Yaori hadn't shown such a reaction when talking about her sister with him. And surprisingly, she was the one who spoke of her in the first place.

  Before leaving class together, Yaori mentioned her sister and how she had brought some sweets from the recently opened patisserie, which they had visited together a few days ago. She was even comfortable enough to say that Ayaka would scold her if she were late.

  That difference had more meaning than he thought, and it gnawed at him.

  ''By… react strangely, do you mean she avoids revealing too much or gets uncomfortable?''

  ''...I suppose you could say both.'' She tapped her desk. ''While I most certainly believe the notion that Ayaka-chan is still studying and going strong, that's because I would like to believe so. However, I had a lingering doubt at some point.''

  ''Lingering doubt?''

  ''Hearing the same answer over and over does tend to make you question the validity of her words. After a while, it felt wrong trying to push her, so I stopped inquiring.''

  The same Yaori who once happily talked about her sister's taste in pastry with him turned out to be an exception.

  She would refuse to elaborate further on the state of her sister, notwithstanding her awareness of Nishikigi's homeroom teacher status.

  Being her homeroom teacher, Nishikigi would, naturally, never relinquish the opportunity to raise another Yamada.

  If so, then why the peculiar reaction? Did Yaori and her sister have it rough with one another? And most importantly, why be open with him?

  In terms of image, the two Yamada sisters were polar opposites of the same magnet. There was no need to describe Ayaka's popularity, but from the tidbits Yaori revealed about herself, he could conclude that she wasn't fond of it as much as Ayaka might have been of hers.

  And Nishikigi had the pleasure of seeing both sides, perhaps seeing Ayaka in Yaori. There was one thing the homeroom teacher wasn't aware of, however, Raichi realized.

  Yamada-san… to think I have much to learn about who you really are.

  This quiet game of ''Guess Who I am'' was being played on Yaori's terms, and the game was fairly one-sided. Only the bookworm could choose how much to reveal about herself, and had drawn a careful line between what she could share and what she refused to let people touch, which she never once crossed.

  Except for when Raichi stood on the reins, behind Yaori's lines, where he had a mild access to the truth. He didn't put himself in that position; Yaori partially allowed him to be there.

  ''I'm… guessing you never pointed out her behaviour, then?''

  ''Definitely not. Everyone has boundaries, no matter how close Ayaka-chan and I were. She smiled, deflected, and put an end to the conversation then and there.''

  Raichi nodded, hesitating.

  ''...I see.''

  A silence, filled with mixed feelings of bittersweet nostalgia and soft tension, settled between the student and teacher.

  Raichi looked at the clock on the wall, seeing the late hour for someone like him, being in the go-home club.

  Nishikigi let out a teacher's sigh. ''It seems I have much to learn about little Yamada, way more than you, Sato-kun.''

  ''I'm not so sure of that myself, Nishikigi-sensei. Do you ever feel… that Yamada-san keeps everyone at arm's length?''

  ''I have indeed. That's why I think you know her more than I do.'' She mused. ''As her homeroom teacher who has been teaching for almost half a year, she's a kind of girl who understands emotions too well to burden others with, that's what I think.''

  ''She does… come off that way.''

  His closeness with Yaori didn't mean much to him in the large scheme of things. He thought of himself as being in the same category as everyone else, those who are unaware of her true self. The only prospect setting him apart was that she actually talked with him, but to what extent, he didn't know.

  ''However, don't cut yourself short, Sato-kun.''

  ''What do you mean?''

  She poutingly tapped on the folder in front of her with her pen, demanding his attention.

  ''Your bond with her, I mean. You may have already crossed the line she has set for everybody else, judging by how talkative she was around you those first few days.''

  ''But… we're apart again. And it's my fault, too.'' He grumbled.

  ''Now, now. Your foot's in the door, isn't it? The fact that she's got you close enough to make you this worried is proof of that.''

  ''I, I don't know…''

  Nishikigi started multi-tasking as she started signing the folder in front of her, which had empty spaces for her. Her eyes hovered back and forth from the folder and Raichi.

  ''I'd like to think that your sincerity is exactly what keeps that door open. She'd have no other reason to open it.''

  Raichi's eyes widened at Nishikigi's statement. ''I-I think I might understand what you're implying.''

  ''Yes. Do you get it now? Whether she has something to hide or not, she willingly let you into her circle. Nobody else cares about why she was sleeping in class. Well, I do, but you get the point.''

  Sharing mochi and borrowing books were one thing. Raichi didn't know what the boundaries between empathy and understanding were, yet he acted on his intuition and the aforementioned small steps.

  Her small slip-ups of vulnerability were his prize for earning her trust. But what had he done to return it?

  The picture of Yaori, sitting below the ginkgo tree, her sorrow hidden beneath her bangs, came to him. If that exact same happenstance had occurred a year ago, he surely would have left the scene.

  Because he didn't, Yaori promised to 'return his hospitality'. Raichi couldn't comprehend why his natural instinct needed to be rewarded by her trust, but now, they were bound for god knows how long.

  For as long as they were surrounded by one another, that memory could never be thrown to the wayside after its truth was uncovered. One thing was clear: he had to be there for her.

  Raichi felt humbled by Nishikigi's reaffirmation and was grateful. He had learned a thorough lesson by the end of the day.

  After scratching the back of his neck, ''Nishikigi-sensei,'' he bowed deeply. ''Thank you for today, and I apologize for speaking in class.''

  Nishikigi would normally shut down the formality, but she chuckled instead. Her head swayed from side to side in exasperation.

  ''Don't make me call you again, little troublemaker. I thought I was gonna have to give you a warning, but I should be grateful, really.''

  Raichi straightened himself, unsure if Nishikigi really meant it.

  ''I didn't do anything.''

  ''No.'' Nishikigi pointed at him. ''You're underestimating how much people might appreciate your honesty, and a rewind was much needed for me today. So, thank you.''

  ''If my efforts paid off, anytime, Nishikigi-sensei.''

  Raichi couldn't help but smile, too. His world had been broadened, and he wouldn't have gotten the opportunity if he hadn't been called to his homeroom teacher's headquarters. He considered himself lucky to have a teacher such as her standing by.

  ''Now, I think it's about time you go. You have a weekend ahead of you, so make good use of it.''

  Raichi nodded. ''Thank you for your time today, sensei. I'll be taking my leave now. I'll see you next week.''

  With that, Raichi got up from his seat and approached the other end of the faculty room, passing by the other teachers.

  When he turned around, what he saw was a gleeful Nishikigi, busy dealing with her papers. She looked like a light had been rekindled in her.

  Nishikigi really was the casual and easygoing teacher Nao and Hiroshi hyped her up to be.

  I'm not sure what I can do to fix this situation, but I'll find a way to close the distance between us somehow and to learn more about her.

  Raichi had much to think about, sorting through the events that had occurred today. Everything considered, his first week was a mess of misunderstanding, yet among the dirt, there was a diamond to be found, shining brightly.