ONE YEAR LATER
It was the first Saturday of spring break, and Katagiri High was buzzing with something rare: a joint alumni & student day, planned by the student council as an excuse to show off how "unified" the school community was.
Most people saw it as a glorified picnic.
Shuu Iura, now a second-year in college, saw it as an excuse to hang out with Aoi in broad daylight—on school grounds—and finally act like a normal couple.
That was the plan.
Until Hori dragged Miyamura into organizing the guest list.
Until Sengoku gave Shuu a megaphone and told him to help "hype up the booths."
Until Yuki roped Aoi into a "Who's the Cutest First-Year and Second-Year" poll and Remi started live-streaming it.
And suddenly, their cute low-key day turned into complete chaos.
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"Welcome to Katagiri Spring Day!" Shuu shouted into the megaphone, too enthusiastically. "Where everything is overpriced, and the sun is trying to kill us!"
"Iura!" Sengoku's voice rang across the field. "You're not supposed to say that into the mic!"
"Oops."
Aoi, standing near the refreshment booth, watched his boyfriend flash a thumbs-up like a total dork and tried not to smile.
Miyamura passed by and leaned down. "You okay over here?"
Aoi nodded. "Yes. Just… watching him."
Miyamura smiled knowingly. "He's kind of a mess."
"I know," Aoi said, a little too fondly.
Hori popped in with two lemonade cups. "He's loud but harmless, so don't be afraid."
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Later, Aoi was helping Yuki tally up votes for the "Cutest First-Year and Second-Year" board, which—to his horror—included him.
He was ranked second.
Behind a literal golden retriever boy from Class 1-D.
"I didn't even agree to this," Aoi mumbled.
Yuki grinned. "Oh, but you're killing it. Your popularity is kind of adorable."
Just then, Shuu walked over, holding takoyaki in one hand and a paper crown in the other.
"Yo, Prince Aoi, congrats on almost being campus royalty."
Aoi turned red. "Don't tease me—"
Shuu bent slightly, placing the paper crown gently on Aoi's head.
"I like you better without the crown. But, you know. Still cute."
The whole booth went silent.
Yuki choked on her soda. Tooru, walking by with Remi, stopped in his tracks.
Remi gasped. "Wait, wait, wait—are you two dating?!"
Aoi's brain short-circuited.
Shuu blinked, then grinned. "Uh. I mean. Yeah?"
Aoi looked up at him, panicking a little. "Was that—was that a confession?"
Shuu laughed, soft and a little crooked. "Kinda? Was I supposed to say it cooler?"
"No! I mean yes—wait—I mean…"
Aoi covered his face, flustered beyond saving.
Tooru gave a thumbs-up. "Honestly? You two are way cuter than I expected."
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As the sun dipped lower and the crowd started clearing, Shuu and Aoi snuck off to the sakura tree behind the school.
Same tree. New memories.
"You okay?" Shuu asked, nudging Aoi's shoulder. "That was kind of a lot."
Aoi nodded slowly. "It was."
He looked up, eyes soft.
"But I'm kind of glad it happened. I wanted to be able to tell people eventually."
Shuu smiled. "Me too."
A moment passed. Then Aoi, barely above a whisper, asked:
"Can I hold your hand?"
Shuu took his hand immediately.
"You don't have to ask."
They sat like that until the sun set completely—quiet, close, and full of that warm feeling that comes when everything is finally, finally right.