8th May 2026
At Kentarou's class, the usual noise of students filled the room.
Some were talking about the upcoming wedding. Others were discussing their weekend plans. A few students were simply waiting for the teacher to arrive.
But Kentarou wasn't paying attention to any of it.
He sat at his desk, staring at the window.
His mind was somewhere else.
Three days.
He quietly counted the days in his head.
Three days until the wedding.
And after that...
Violet will return to Japan.
Kentarou clenched his hands beneath the desk.
This is my final chance.
He had already tried visiting Mrs. Kubo's house twice.
The first time, he had stood outside the house and lost his courage.
The second time, a little child had called him a stalker.
Kentarou still hadn't recovered from that humiliation.
He sighed.
"I need to do something."
Just then, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey."
Kentarou jumped.
"Whoa!"
He turned around.
Senku was standing behind him.
"Why are you looking like someone just told you the world is ending?"
Kentarou stared at him.
"Nothing."
Senku narrowed his eyes.
"That's definitely not a 'nothing' face."
"I said I'm fine."
"You've been staring at that window for ten minutes."
"Have I?"
"Yes."
Kentarou looked back at the window.
"...Maybe the window is interesting."
Senku glanced at the completely ordinary window.
"It's a window."
"Exactly."
Senku sighed.
"You're hopeless."
He pulled a chair beside Kentarou and sat down.
"So, what's going on?"
Kentarou hesitated.
He didn't really want to tell anyone.
But Senku was one of his closest friends.
Maybe he could help.
Kentarou lowered his voice.
"I'm thinking about what to do on the 11th."
"The wedding?"
"Yeah."
Senku nodded.
"You're coming, right?"
Kentarou looked at him.
"Yes. I have to."
Senku smiled.
"Because Violet will be there?"
Kentarou immediately looked away.
"...Maybe."
Senku raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe?"
"Okay, yes!"
Kentarou lowered his voice again.
"Violet is going to be there. Her family was invited, and they're returning to Japan soon."
Senku already knew about that.
"So you want to talk to her."
Kentarou nodded.
"I want to confess."
Senku blinked.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"Finally!"
Kentarou covered Senku's mouth.
"Shh!"
Several students looked toward them.
Senku removed Kentarou's hand.
"Sorry."
Kentarou sighed.
"I've been trying to confess for days."
"And?"
"I couldn't."
Senku stared at him.
"Why?"
Kentarou thought about it.
"Every time I see her, my brain stops working."
Senku nodded seriously.
"That's a serious medical condition."
"Don't make fun of me!"
"I'm not."
Senku paused.
"Okay, maybe a little."
Kentarou sighed again.
"What should I do?"
Senku leaned back in the chair.
"Hmm..."
He thought for a few seconds.
"You need a plan."
"A plan?"
"Yes. You can't just walk up to her and suddenly say, 'Hey, Violet, I love you.'"
Kentarou's face became red.
"That's exactly what I was planning to do!"
Senku stared at him.
"That's why you need me."
Kentarou frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you clearly have no idea what you're doing."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
The bell suddenly rang.
Both of them looked toward the classroom door.
Their teacher entered.
"Everyone, take your seats."
Senku stood up.
"Don't worry. We'll figure something out."
Kentarou nodded.
But even after the lesson began, he couldn't concentrate.
He kept thinking about Violet.
What if I fail again?
Only three days remained.
---
After School
The school gates were crowded with students.
Kentarou and Senku walked together.
"So," Senku said, "first thing—we need to make sure you actually talk to Violet."
"Obviously."
"Second, you need somewhere quiet."
Kentarou nodded.
"Somewhere without a hundred people watching."
"Exactly."
"Like the garden?"
"Maybe."
Kentarou thought about it.
"That could work."
Senku continued.
"And third..."
He stopped walking.
Kentarou looked at him.
"What?"
Senku pointed at him.
"You need confidence."
Kentarou stared at him.
"I don't have any."
"I know."
"Then what am I supposed to do?"
"Borrow mine."
Kentarou laughed.
"That's not how confidence works."
"It is now."
They continued walking.
For the first time that day, Kentarou felt slightly more hopeful.
Maybe he really could do it.
Maybe the wedding would finally give him the opportunity he had been waiting for.
---
After School
The final bell rang.
Students slowly began leaving the school grounds, but Kentarou had somewhere he wanted to go before heading home.
The library.
He walked through the familiar streets with his laptop bag over his shoulder.
His mind was unusually focused.
Tomorrow was May 9th.
Then May 10th.
And after that—
The wedding.
His last chance.
Kentarou took a deep breath.
"This time, I'm really going to do it."
---
A few minutes later, he entered the library.
The familiar quiet atmosphere immediately calmed him.
He looked toward his usual table.
Two familiar girls were already there.
Hee-Young and So-Yul.
Hee-Young noticed him first.
"Kentarou!"
So-Yul looked up from her book.
"You're here!"
Kentarou smiled.
"Yeah."
He placed his bag on the chair and sat down.
Hee-Young noticed that he seemed unusually serious.
"Something happened?"
Kentarou paused.
Then he nodded.
"Actually... I wanted to tell you both something."
So-Yul closed her book.
"What is it?"
Kentarou looked between them.
"I'm going to confess."
Both girls stared at him.
"To her?"
Kentarou nodded.
"To the girl from my novel?"
Again, he nodded.
"I'm finally going to tell Violet how I feel."
For a moment, neither girl spoke.
Then So-Yul's eyes widened with excitement.
"Really?!"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"This weekend."
Hee-Young immediately smiled.
"So you've finally decided."
Kentarou laughed nervously.
"I don't know whether I'll be able to say it properly..."
"But I can't keep running away."
So-Yul leaned forward.
"That's right!"
"You've spent enough time worrying."
Hee-Young nodded.
"Whatever happens, you'll at least know that you were honest with her."
Kentarou looked down.
"Yeah."
"I'm still scared, though."
So-Yul smiled.
"That's normal."
"Being scared doesn't mean you shouldn't do it."
Hee-Young raised her hand enthusiastically.
"Then there's only one thing we can say."
So-Yul immediately joined her.
"Ready?"
The two girls looked at Kentarou.
Then, together—
"ALL THE BEST!!"
Kentarou blinked.
Then laughed.
"Thank you."
For the first time, the thought of confessing didn't feel quite as frightening.
He had people cheering for him now.
People who believed he should finish the story he had started.
Kentarou looked at his laptop.
Then smiled faintly.
---
That evening, Kentarou sat at his desk.
His school uniform was hanging beside him.
On the table was a notebook.
He opened it and wrote:
May 11 — Confess to Violet.
He stared at the sentence.
Then he added:
No running away.
He thought for a moment.
Then:
No pretending to forget why I'm there.
He added another line.
No getting scared by random children.
Kentarou paused.
"...Why did I write that?"
He crossed it out.
Then he heard a voice from outside his room.
"Kentarou! Dinner!"
"Coming!"
He closed the notebook.