Cherry Blossoms at 50 Centimeters per Second

"Huff..." ×2

The two, their breathing somewhat unsteady, rested beneath the Cherry Blossom Tree. Both of them were a little sweaty.

"Remember to keep your word, Ichinose."

"Of course. I'm someone who keeps her promises."

Ichinose said as she wiped away her sweat with a panda-print towel.

"It's still a little early. Let's go to the cafeteria later. I'll head over after resting for a bit."

Kamigami Haruo glanced at the time on his phone, then shifted his gaze to the Cherry Blossom Tree above them.

Ichinose placed a finger against the corner of her mouth and thought for a while before speaking.

"I'll stay too~"

Kamigami Haruo immediately understood what Ichinose was thinking and asked directly.

"You read what I wrote, didn't you? So you're thinking about how to come clean to everyone, right?"

"Yeah... I said I wanted to try facing it, but I still don't dare take that step and face everyone... But today, after the President rejected my application for a Student Council position, the Vice President talked to me, and I came clean to him."

"You didn't cry your eyes out, did you?"

Kamigami Haruo looked at the relatively calm Ichinose and remembered that night, so he asked out of curiosity.

"Of course not! Kamigami-kun was too blunt that night, and it brought back old memories. Back then, I didn't even dare step outside. I felt like everyone around me was looking at me like I was a criminal."

"I only did it for your own good."

"Ah, I don't mean to blame you, Kamigami-kun. I'm only blaming myself."

Ichinose hurriedly waved her hands to clarify.

"The Vice President, huh? That guy isn't a good person, believe it or not."

"Really? I heard he's a very popular upperclassman. But it's fine, right? I don't have that sort of... qualification, so he probably wouldn't..."

"It's always good to be a little wary of people."

After offering that reminder, Kamigami Haruo immersed himself in his manga.

After silently taking the advice to heart, Ichinose leaned over to look at the manga in Kamigami Haruo's hands.

"What manga are you reading, Kamigami-kun? Let me see. I know a little about manga too."

"Here. It's a food manga. Take a look."

After a long while.

"Kamigami-kun, you have such terrible taste. How could this possibly be a food manga?"

"Isn't it? The protagonist is always eating."

"I suppose you could put it that way... No, you've led me astray."

Realizing she had nearly been fooled, Ichinose patted her chest.

Kamigami Haruo suddenly brought up that night's events and thanked the person beside him once more.

"Ichinose, thank you so much for that day. Otherwise, I might have rotted away by now. Hahaha."

"That's precisely why I chose to do it—because I could help someone else."

Ichinose hugged her knees and spoke gently, no matter how unconcerned she tried to look.

"Idiot!"

Ichinose covered her slightly aching forehead at the sudden impact.

Looking at the dazed Ichinose, Kamigami Haruo still reminded her.

"But don't do that again. What if you run into a bad person?"

"That's not it. I'm sure you're not a bad person."

Rustle, rustle...

Kamigami Haruo was just about to ask something when he was interrupted.

A sudden gust of wind from the right carried countless cherry blossoms with it, sending Ichinose's hair flying.

All Ichinose could do was hold down the hair at her temples and let the rest flutter in the wind.

"Ichinose, your hair is smacking me in the face."

Hearing that, Ichinose hurriedly turned to fix her hair, but she couldn't help letting out a laugh.

"Pfft..."

"If you don't hold your hair down, I'm going to eat it with my mouth."

"That would count as sexual harassment, Kamigami-kun."

Even as she said that, Ichinose successfully held down her hair.

But with nothing blocking it, Kamigami Haruo's bangs were blown aside as well.

Surprisingly, there weren't any dead fish eyes beneath them.

Kamigami Haruo had bright eyes, so clear that one could distinctly see their own reflection in them.

Even though they were plain black pupils, they seemed to absorb every color and reflect all colors.

And Ichinose saw her own reflection in Kamigami Haruo's eyes.

Kamigami Haruo figured that since she had seen them anyway, it no longer mattered.

He had come to terms with it. He had only covered his eyes before because of that lingering resistance in his heart.

He simply brushed his hair back into a slicked-back style and enjoyed the shower of cherry blossoms blown down by the wind.

"I don't like it when people compliment my eyes."

"That was close. I almost collapsed."

After replying, Ichinose likewise enjoyed the rare sight before them.

Until the wind stopped and the cherry blossoms resumed their normal descent.

Looking at the cherry blossoms before him, Kamigami Haruo suddenly remembered a line and said it aloud.

"Five centimeters per second is the speed at which cherry blossoms fall."

"I know that one. It's from 5 Centimeters per Second, right?"

"You know your stuff."

Kamigami Haruo praised her.

"Thanks for the compliment, haha."

Growl...

Rubbing his rumbling stomach, Kamigami Haruo said,

"Uh... let's go eat."

"So many people..."

Kamigami Haruo looked at the Class B students around him and spoke with a helpless expression.

This wasn't a suitable time for him to eat. It was too noisy.

He could only sit far away from the seats centered around Ichinose and eat somewhere inconspicuous.

Ichinose understood. After all, Kamigami Haruo looked like someone who had isolated himself from the entire world.

After quickly finishing his meal, Kamigami Haruo exchanged contact information with Ichinose before saying goodbye, then left the student cafeteria.

After reaching the dormitory, Kamigami Haruo didn't return to his room right away. Instead, he went to Room 1201 on the twelfth floor.

Ding-dong, ding-dong...

After a while.

As the door opened, an expressionless face appeared behind it.

"Yo, Horikita. Hey, hey, hey, I'm here to borrow some scissors."

Seeing the door about to close, Kamigami Haruo hurriedly stated his purpose.

Hearing that, Horikita Suzune silently went back to get a pair of scissors and handed them over.

"Let me say this first: I'm borrowing the scissors to cut my hair, so don't blame me."

"Oh? What a shame. Even if you cut your hair, you won't be able to fix that twisted personality of yours."

"Huh? Does Horikita-san want me to treat you like one of those yasashii male leads? I can do that, little Suzune-chan."

"You should be grateful the scissors are in your hands. Otherwise, I don't know whether I'd be able to hold myself back."

"Then I'm off. Miss me, little Suzune-chan."

After teasing Horikita Suzune, Kamigami Haruo, afraid of getting stabbed, didn't even take the elevator and ran straight down the stairs.

In the bathroom, he carefully trimmed his hair in front of the mirror, mainly cutting down his thick bangs.

After a long while, a man with the same hairstyle as Fushiguro Toji appeared in the mirror.

They already looked rather alike; the only difference was their eyes, which made him seem less mature.

He subconsciously touched the scar at the corner of his mouth, then planned to return the scissors.

Room 1201.

"Hello, Horikita-san. I'm Kamigami-kun's neighbor. He asked me to return the scissors for him."

"Are you an idiot?"

As she spoke, Horikita Suzune pointed at the scarred corner of his mouth.

"As expected of the stunning Horikita beauty, adored by all who see her and loved by every flower. Please spare me."

"If you go crazy again, don't expect to spend the next three years in peace."

"Got it. But forget that for now—um, um, Horikita-san, could you make me lunch for another three days?"

Hearing that, Horikita Suzune wore an expression that said she had known it all along.

"You bought all those ingredients for me from the start because this was your real goal, wasn't it?"

"Hahaha... You're so smart. See you tomorrow. Good night."

Kamigami Haruo fled the scene without waiting for an answer, afraid she would refuse.

Leaving behind only a helpless-looking Horikita Suzune.