The morning sun painted the classroom in warm gold. Students filtered in slowly, bags thumping against desks, sleepy greetings exchanged.
Normal. Ordinary. Perfectly routine.
Yuki bounced in with her usual energy, dropping into her seat with a grin. "Good morning, good morning! Beautiful day, isn't it?"
Kaito, already at his desk, gave a slight nod. Riko offered a polished smile. Hikari grunted from her pillow.
Normal.
Then Yuki stretched dramatically. "Oh! By the way! I'm going to spend lunch with Shizuka today. We haven't caught up properly since I got here."
Riko's pen paused. Hikari's head lifted slightly.
Kaito looked at her. "You're skipping rooftop?"
"Just for today!" Yuki waved her hands. "You guys can survive one lunch without me, right? I mean—" she grinned "—who will cause chaos if I'm not there?"
"We'll manage," Riko said smoothly.
"Somehow," Hikari added.
Yuki clutched her heart dramatically. "HIKARI! That hurt! I'm wounded!"
Kaito watched her for a moment. Something flickered behind his eyes—too fast to read. Then he nodded. "Fine."
Yuki beamed. "Perfect! You three have fun without me!" She paused, then added, softer: "Really. Have fun."
For just a second, something passed through her expression. Something that looked almost like... sadness.
Then it was gone.
The bell rang. Homeroom began. Normal.
---
The morning passed uneventfully. Lessons were taught. Notes were taken. Yuki was slightly quieter than usual, but no one commented.
When lunch arrived, Yuki bounced up. "Okay! Off to find Shizuka! You guys enjoy the rooftop!" She waved and disappeared through the door.
Kaito, Riko, and Hikari gathered their lunches and made their way up.
The rooftop was peaceful. Windy. Empty.
They settled into their usual spots—Kaito against the fence, Riko on her mat, Hikari sprawled nearby.
Silence. Comfortable. Normal.
Except it wasn't.
Riko spoke first. "It feels strange without her."
Hikari nodded. "Too quiet."
Kaito said nothing. But his gaze drifted toward the door, as if expecting it to burst open any second.
It didn't.
They ate in a different kind of silence. Not awkward—just... missing something.
Riko glanced at Hikari. Hikari glanced at Kaito. Kaito stared at the sky.
Somewhere below them, Yuki was with Hoshino. Talking. Catching up. Being somewhere else.
And for the first time in weeks, the rooftop felt just a little bit empty.
(End of Chapter 80)