At long last, the day drew to its inevitable close.
Kouhei's entire body felt like it was dragging behind him, his limbs heavy with fatigue, his mind fogged and overloaded. A dull ache pulsed behind his eyes as if every part of his being had been wrung dry by the sheer chaos and energy that the day had demanded. So much had happened—far too much for a single day. It was almost surreal how all of it had fit into such a short span of time, like time itself had stretched just to torment him.
He walked in a slow, almost lethargic pace along the path back to the Saionji mansion, accompanied closely by Nagisa, Hina, Yuuna, and Kozue. Their footsteps echoed softly against the paved walkway, the cool evening breeze brushing past them, carrying faint scents of grass and distant sakura. Yet, despite their proximity, Kouhei couldn't ignore the subtle but piercing coldness radiating from one of the girls beside him—Hina.
