Mornings used to be simple. Wake up, get ready, ignore the world.
Now I had something else to think about.
"Good morning."
It wasn't much. Just two words. But when I said them, I could feel my chest tighten like I was doing something wrong.
She was standing by the school gate, just like yesterday, waiting for me. The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up like the sky clearing after a storm.
" Good morning " I greeted her. "You remembered!" Hikari beamed. "That makes it two days in a row. A streak!"
"I guess," I said, eyes on the ground.
She laughed and clasped her hands together dramatically. "At this rate, you'll be the most sociable guy in class by next week!"
"I doubt it."
"Ah, there's that charming pessimism again."
I didn't mean to smile, but maybe something like it slipped out. Just a little.
---
At lunch, I thought I'd get a moment of peace—until I saw her waving from the stairwell.
"Let's eat somewhere better today," she said. "You know, for the sake of variety."
Before I could say no, she tugged at my sleeve.
We ended up on the rooftop. The wind was cool and the sky felt open—free, even.
She handed me another homemade lunch. I didn't ask why she made it. Maybe I was afraid she'd stop.
We ate quietly for a while, the kind of quiet that didn't feel awkward anymore. She started talking about her family, about how her younger brother always messes up her room and how her mom sneaks snacks into her bag when she's not looking.
I didn't say much. But I listened.
And for her, I think that was enough.
---
On the way back to class, she walked a few steps ahead of me, humming some random tune. The sun caught in her hair, and for a second, it didn't feel like I was walking behind someone with only 91 days left.
It felt normal.
It felt...good.
But that was the problem.
---
After school, we walked together again. It was starting to feel routine, like something we did without needing to talk about it.
"Hey," I said.
She blinked and looked over. "Yeah?"
"Why me?"
"Hmm?"
"You could hang out with anyone. So why me?"
She didn't answer right away. She looked up at the sky, as if searching for the words.
"Because you looked like you needed someone," she said finally. "And maybe... I did too."
We stopped at the place where our roads split.
"See you tomorrow?" she asked.
I nodded.
As she turned away, I couldn't help but glance up, even though I didn't want to.
**91 days.**
The number was still there.
Still counting down.
---
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
I didn't want to care.
But I already did.