It really was completely dark.
The shops lining both sides of the street were lit up, and there were fewer pedestrians than during the day. The evening breeze carried a deep chill.
Hoshinomiya Chie walked beside Kazehara Tetsu at an unhurried pace. She really did stop bringing up her "fear of the dark," only chatting with him now and then about little things at school.
"Seriously, Kagihara."
After they had walked a little farther, Hoshinomiya Chie suddenly spoke, her tone more earnest than before. "Honami is a good girl."
Kazehara Tetsu turned to glance at her without responding.
"She looks like she can shoulder anything, but deep down, she's more exhausted than anyone."
Hoshinomiya Chie watched their shadows stretch beneath the streetlights ahead. "Everything in Class D rests on her shoulders alone. She never complains to me, but as her teacher, I can tell."
She turned her head and glanced at Kazehara Tetsu.
"You're the first person she's cared about that much. What she was thinking today was written all over her face. Don't let her down."
"That sounded a lot more serious than your earlier line about being 'afraid of the dark,' ma'am."
"Obviously. Joking around is one thing."
Hoshinomiya Chie rolled her eyes. "But as her homeroom teacher, there are some things I have to ask on her behalf."
Kazehara Tetsu gave no direct answer. He simply raised his head and looked at the night sky.
There was no moon. Thick clouds covered the sky.
"I know what I'm doing."
Hoshinomiya Chie stared at him for two seconds, seemingly trying to read something in his expression. In the end, she asked nothing more and merely huffed.
"You'd better."
They headed out along Commercial Street. Neither brought up Ichinose Honami again after that conversation.
"By the way, Kagihara, let