End of the trip at the beach on the Izu Peninsula in Shimoda.

The space beside me seemed larger than before. Too empty. Too noisy. As if the entire beach had become brighter… and more dangerous at the same time.

"So... she left quickly, right?" Sakura said, breaking the silence.

I looked at her.

She was sitting too close.

Close enough for me to smell the sunscreen mixed with the light perfume she was wearing. It wasn't overpowering. It wasn't flashy.

It was calculated.

"Yes... she had an appointment," I replied .

"I understand. She seems quite busy." Sakura smiled, in that polite way that didn't reveal anything.

Haruto and Kenta were distracted, arguing about who had seen more pretty girls in the water. Sakura 's friends were laughing at something on their cell phones.

(Nobody's paying attention.) — I realized.

Sakura crossed her legs slowly.

"You two seem quite... different," she commented casually.

— Different…? — I repeated .

— Yes. Not in a bad way. Just… too organized. — She tilted her head.

My stomach tightened.

"Organized?" I repeated again.

"Yes. Everything seems very perfect. Schedules, conversations, attitudes..." She played with a strand of hair.

She chuckled softly.

— It's almost as if you two had planned everything beforehand. — he said Sakura with a smile.

"You're imagining things," I replied too quickly.

Sakura stared at me for a second.

Just one.

And then she smiled.

"Maybe," he said . Sakura .

But I felt it.

She had thrown out the bait.

And I had bitten.

" Riku ... can I ask you something?" she said, now in a lower tone.

"It depends," I replied.

"Are you happy?" she asked.

The question was simple.

Direct.

It's completely unfair.

— Of course I am. — I replied .

But my voice didn't sound as firm as I wanted it to.

Sakura observed my face as if she were reading a familiar script.

"Funny... you used to say the same thing in elementary school," she murmured.

My chest jumped.

"Back then... you always seemed to be trying to prove something. To others. To yourself," she continued.

She moved a little closer.

"I thought a lot after that day," she continued.

"From the day I confessed my feelings?" I asked.

She nodded.

"I was a coward. I ran away," she said bluntly.

I remained silent.

"But I grew up. And when I saw you again... I realized I hadn't forgotten anything," Sakura continued.

Her hand reached out to mine.

It didn't ring.

But it stayed there.

Suspended.

"Sometimes... we realize too late who was by our side all along," she said, almost in a whisper.

My heart was beating too fast.

(Is she confessing? Is she testing me? I should stop this now.) — I thought, confused, unable to think straight.

But I didn't stop.

I didn't pull my hand back.

I didn't say "enough".

And that was my mistake.

— Sakura … — I began.

But before I could finish—

— RIKU!

Haruto 's voice came like a lifeline.

"We're going into the sea now! Are you coming or are you going to stay there philosophizing?" he asked.

Kenta appeared right behind him.

— Hurry up, man! — he shouted. Kenta .

The moment broke.

Sakura pushed her hand away as if it had never come close.

"It seems you've been called," she said, with a smile that was too calm.

"Yes..." I said.

"Go ahead. We'll talk later." Sakura stood up.

She walked past me.

"When she's not around... you're different," Sakura whispered, low enough for only me to hear.

My whole body froze.

Sakura returned to her friends.

Laughing.

Normal.

Perfect.

She suspects something.

But enough to be dangerous.

I went into the sea with Haruto and Kenta , but my mind wasn't there.

Because, for the first time since it all began, I understood something very simple and very frightening:

When Mio is with me, I get nervous.

But when she leaves…

I feel vulnerable.

And Sakura realized that.

The sun wasn't burning as much anymore.

It was that warm, late afternoon heat, when the beach starts to get tired and the people too. The sea remained there, too calm for everything that was happening inside my head.

I got out of the water with Haruto and Kenta , throwing sand on my legs, trying to laugh at something Kenta was saying.

But I wasn't really there.

(My body stayed. My head… didn't.) — I thought, confused.

That's when I saw her.

She was a few meters ahead.

No bikini.

No "perfect girlfriend" attitude.

Simple clothes.

Loose hair.

Glasses on the face.

Kanzaki Mio.

(She's back... but not as Kurokawa .) — I thought.

She was with Rina and Emi , laughing at something on their phones, completely integrated into their world. Natural. Light. Invisible.

And that hurt.

More than it should be.

"Hey, Riku ," Haruto nudged me.

" Where are you looking?" he asked.

— Nothing — I replied too quickly.

They continued walking, talking about food, buses, and sleep.

I lagged behind for a moment.

I looked again.

Mio's gaze met mine.

He didn't smile.

He didn't deviate.

It was a short, dry, professional look.

As if to say:

That's the end of it.

I looked away first.

(My chest tightened.) — I thought, looking downcast.

Sakura was a few steps ahead, chatting with her friends, but I felt it. I sensed the exact moment she noticed that look between me and Mio.

She turned her face slowly.

He observed.

And she smiled.

Not a big smile.

A small smile.

At 5:40 PM, the teachers began calling the students to gather near the bus.

"Attention, everyone! Let's get organized for the return trip!" Professor Touya 's voice echoed.

The beach began to break apart.

Towels being shaken.

Bags are being closed.

Laughter growing quieter.

The tour was coming to an end.

I got on the bus and sat in the same seat as on the way there.

Window.

Haruto in the middle.

Kenta in the hallway.

"Man... I didn't get much sleep, but it was worth it." Kenta sighed.

"The beach is always worth it," Haruto agreed.

I simply nodded.

A few rows ahead, Kanzaki was sitting with Rina and Emi .

Speaking softly.

Laughing normally.

No sign that that day had been hell for me.

Sakura entered soon after.

He looked around.

And he sat behind me.

Too close.

"It was a good day, wasn't it?" she commented casually.

"It was..." I replied.

"Funny. I thought you seemed more cheerful in the morning," she said.

I didn't reply.

She didn't insist.

That was worse.

The bus started to move.

The coastal road appeared through the window.

The sea was left behind.

And with it came the illusion that I could control everything.

I rested my forehead against the cold glass.

(On the beach, I thought I could pretend. Pretend it was just a contract. Pretend there were no consequences. Pretend no one was watching.) — I kept reflecting.

But when Kurokawa left the scene…

When Kanzaki became just Kanzaki again …

I perceived.

It wasn't just acting.

It wasn't all lies.

It was too fragile to continue as it was.

It's too dangerous to simply end.

The bus continued down the road.

Silent.

Taking the world back.