It was night.
The same day. The same weight. But somehow, less sadness than before.
Ichika really did help me. More than she probably knows. I keep thinking about it, about how easily she stepped in when everything was falling apart. I owe her something. I do not know what yet, but I will repay her. I have to.
I just want all of this to stop.
I am not special. I am not brave. I am not some main character chosen by the universe. So why does everything keep happening to me?
I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, my room dark except for the faint light leaking through the curtains. My body hurt in places I did not want to think about. My head hurt even more. Thoughts kept circling, refusing to settle.
Then my phone rang.
I flinched.
Nozomi.
"Huh?" I muttered under my breath. Since when does she call?
I answered immediately, almost on instinct.
"K Kenji? How are you?"
Her voice was soft. Careful. Like she was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
"Um… f fine…" I replied, my voice coming out weaker than I wanted.
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Do you have time to talk?"
"Y yeah…"
As she spoke, I noticed something faint in the background. A quiet, steady sound.
Water.
A stream, maybe. Or a fountain.
"I am really sorry, Kenji. About what happened. It is not your fault. I am dealing with it now."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"It is okay. Really," I said, even though I was not sure if it was. "Did you enjoy your birthday party?"
"Yes," she said quickly. "It was fun until… you know. But everyone kept partying and I did not want to ruin the mood. I got tired after that, so I kind of slept the entire day."
I stayed quiet.
"I heard what happened from Minami," she continued, her voice dropping. "Those guys…"
"Well," I cut in gently, "you had fun. That is what matters, right?"
She hesitated.
"Yeah… but…"
Another pause. Longer this time.
"You did not," she said quietly. "So let me make it up to you. Okay?"
My heart skipped.
Make it up to me?
"Huh? What do you mean…?"
"What I mean is," she said, her voice brightening just a little, "let me treat you to a coffee. Or something. Whenever you are free."
My mind went blank.
I did not hate Nozomi. I did not dislike her either. She was kind. Too kind, maybe. But kindness had a price at our school. Rumors did not need proof. Just a reason.
"I I am not s sure…" I said, already backing away.
"Please?"
She said it in that soft, almost playful voice. Cute. Maybe unintentionally.
It did not work on me.
Or maybe it did.
"Okay…"
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Silence.
Then she laughed lightly.
"Good! Then I will call you tomorrow after school, okay?"
"Sounds… nice…"
"Great. See you, Kenji."
"Bye…"
The call ended.
I lowered my phone and stared at the dark screen. My reflection looked tired. Confused. Like someone who keeps agreeing to things without understanding why.
I was not sure what I felt.
Relief? Guilt? Fear?
Outside my window, the night was quiet. Too quiet.
Somewhere out there, Ichika was probably dealing with her own thoughts. Strong as she seemed, I knew better now. She always carried more than she showed.
And here I was. Lying in bed. Accepting coffee invitations. Pretending everything was fine.
I closed my eyes.
About half an hour later, a knock.
Not sharp. Just… hesitant.
Like, whoever was on the other side didn't know if they should be there.
I didn't move at first. I just stared at the door.
Then came a voice.
"Kenji?"
Kudo.
Another knock.
Then a second voice.
"I'm here too."
That made me sit up.
Ayumi?
But it's 10 PM!
I walked to the door and opened it.
Kudo stood there, hands in his jacket pockets, looking like he wasn't sure whether to grin or be respectful. Ayumi stood just behind him, arms crossed, hair tied up, chewing on something.
"Kudo?" I asked, blinking. "Why are you with Ayumi?"
Kudo opened his mouth, but Ayumi beat him to it.
"I told him I wouldn't visit unless you died. But he's too soft to visit alone, and according to him, you're his only friend, so…" She gestured toward Kudo with a sigh, "I'm here. Consider this a friendship mercy mission."
Kudo scratched his cheek, grinning awkwardly.
"She's joking. Kind of."
Ayumi rolled her eyes and collapsed into my desk chair. "He texted me in all caps, by the way. Like 'HE'S DEAD. WE NEED TO VISIT HIM.' Like you're a national emergency."
Kudo sat on the bed beside me, "Because it's important!"
I sat too.
No one said anything for a second.
"It's like ten," I said flatly. "Couldn't you come earlier?"
"And risk death by your girlfriend?" Kudo replied instantly. "No thank you."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Ayumi's hands tucked into her sleeves, eyes lowered. She did not smile. She rarely did. When she spoke, her voice was calm, almost careful.
"Kudo heard from someone that Nakamura is… very protective of you," she said.
"What?" My voice came out sharper than I meant.
"So we came later," Kudo said, nodding like this was basic survival logic.
I blinked. "T thank you?"
"Anyway," Kudo said, crossing his arms, "we heard what happened today."
My shoulders stiffened.
"If you are ever in trouble," he continued dramatically, "call the Anime Clan. Riku and I will personally appear out of nowhere and save you."
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
Ayumi cleared her throat softly.
"Yamamoto," she said, looking at Kudo, "you forgot to tell him."
"Oh right," Kudo said, snapping his fingers. "My amazing plan for tonight."
I already regretted answering the door.
"Kenji," Kudo said, leaning forward, "you're coming with us."
"…Where?"
"Karaoke."
"What"
"I do not know how to sing," I said immediately.
"That's fine," Ayumi said quietly. "Neither do most people there."
"That does not help."
Kudo grinned. "You do not get a choice."
I looked between them. Kudo was loud, annoying, and impossible to shut up. Ayumi stood silently, eyes steady, like she already knew I would give in.
"I'm not really in the mood," I muttered.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ayumi said, softly, "That's why we came."
That shut me up.
A few minutes later, I found myself outside with them, jacket half zipped, night air cool against my face. The city felt different at this hour. Quieter. Less eyes on me. Less expectations.