Desert dry.

As the last bell of the day rang, everyone rushed to the classrooms exit. Some of them went home, some went to their clubs while others were reading books in the library. School was over that day.

"Ayane-chan, Ayane-chan!" Miko's aggressive shaking and calling finally brought her back to reality. She looked around, seeing none but them in the empty classroom.

"Eh...? Where did everyone go? Do we have PE today?" She panicked.

"School is over, Ayane-chan." She moved closer to her face. Though hard to notice, she had tear marks on her cheeks.

"I see..." Ayane's lifeless voice felt like the desert— dry.

Ayane minded her own business and placed all her belongings in her bag and headed out of the classroom, without saying anything to Miko. She thought Miko would normally go away after telling her that school was over.

There was none in the hallway, the staircases and the classrooms. Her footsteps echoed across as she went by. Miko followed her steps in unison. She was trailing behind her, just a few meters away.

As she went to the locker room, devoid of emotion, she saw a blink of hope.

"Ayane-chan, do you... want... to go home together?" Kanako nervously asked.

"A-" she took a step forward with her glowing eyes, though it was just for a few seconds. But she realised the consequences... her heart ached. She could do nothing. This feeling is not healthy for her— this sudden mix of hope and despair, with hidden feelings. Kanako just stood there in awe. The sudden glow in her eyes startled him. He didn't know her eyes had such life in it, though it was for a short moment.

"N-no thanks..." she painfully voiced as she opened her locker and picked up her shoes, wearing them and moving away as if he didn't existed...

Kanako's eyes then followed Miko's, who was trailing behind her.

"Let me go home with her today, I will try to find some clues." She whispered to Kanako's ear before heading out, following Ayane.

Kanako found an empty classroom where he hid himself after the incident. He couldn't control his tears.

"I see... I see... so she might not have started to hate me... Im glad... I am so glad that wasn't the case..." that glow on her face just for a few seconds wasn't something he would get to see if Ayane started hating him. Though he knew he didn't do anything wrong to Ayane, some part of his mind second guessed it. What if, he did something that made Ayane start to hate him? What if she really is starting to hate him and he is just overthinking, guessing that something else is responsible for her behaviour? His thoughts were clouded with doubt. But now— though not fully gone— he felt a bit relieved.