Akane entered the classroom.
Suddenly, the room erupted
"Happy Birthday, Akane ma'am!"
She froze for a second, eyes wide.
*Huh? How do they know?*
Before she could react, Sakura carefully carried the cake and placed it near Akane's table, with a smile.
From the back, Haruto smacked Sachi lightly on the back and whispered,
"Hey, shout louder!"
Sachi suddenly grabbed his math rough notebook and started tearing out the pages, throwing them into the air like confetti.
Natsuki shot to his feet and yelled,
"Hey—Sachi! That's your math notebook!"
His eyes wandered—and then froze.
A beautiful girl with soft black curls resting on her shoulders stood before him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her soft pink lips moved gently as she sang along, and her delicate hands clapped perfectly in rhythm.
*Suzume,* he thought, captivated.
The classroom noise faded around him, leaving only her and the quiet flutter in his chest he couldn't quite explain.
Yukino's eyes darted around the room, unsure where to look. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out she couldn't bring herself to sing.
Her hands fidgeted at her sides, her face slowly turning red.
"I wanna disappear…" she murmured under her breath.
The birthday song continued anyway, loud and cheerful, while Yukino stood there—
nervous, awkward.
But Aizuki remained completely still.
He didn't sing, didn't clap.
The tight set of his jaw and the distant look in his eyes made it clear—
he hated what was happening around him.
While the classroom buzzed with laughter and noise,
Aizuki remained silent, untouched by the celebration.
Akane began cutting the cake into neat slices. She forced a smile, holding back the tears she didn't want anyone to see.
"Yuji, distribute this to everyone," she said softly.
"I'll be back in a few minutes—I have a meeting."
With that, she turned and quietly left the classroom, leaving behind the laughter…
and the emotions she couldn't share.
Yuji began giving the cake to everyone. Amid the noise, Aizuki slowly slipped out of the classroom.
"They're acting better than real actors," he muttered, relieved.
"Thank God I left… staying there any longer would've drained me."
He wandered around the ground for a few minutes, letting the air calm him. Then he started walking back toward his classroom.
*Now that the unwanted celebration should be over,* he thought,
"I can go back peacefully."
From outside, Aizuki glanced into the classroom. Everyone was back in their seats, talking with others.
"Ah… finally, it's over," he muttered.
He took his seat, letting out a slow breath. A moment later, Yuji walked up to him, holding a piece of cake.
"Take it," Yuji said simply.
"…"
Aizuki froze.
He hadn't expected this.
He thought they would have forgotten about him.
"I don't want it," Aizuki said quietly.
Yuji didn't move.
"Take it."
Aizuki clenched his jaw. He didn't know what to do, irritation rising inside him.
"I don't want anything for free."
The room slowly went quiet. Conversations faded, and curious eyes turned toward them.
Yuji looked at the cake in his hand, then back at Aizuki.
"Take it," he said calmly. "Or open your mouth—I'll feed you."
He brought the cake closer.
Aizuki froze. With no escape and too many eyes on him, he finally gave in and took the cake.
Yuji smiled and walked away.
Aizuki stared at the cake for a few seconds, then called out,
"Tell me the price."
Yuji stopped and looked back at him.
"The price is simple," he said.
"Talk respectfully to Akane ma'am—
not just to her, but to everyone."
Inside the restroom, Akane locked the door and leaned against it. The moment she was alone, her strength gave way. She slid the tap open, letting the sound of running water cover her sobs, and cried like a child unrestrained, honest.
Her mind replayed the moment she had cut the cake. The smiles, the voices, the surprise. The tears refused to stop.
"I knew it…" she whispered, wiping her cheeks, though they kept getting wet.
"This was Yuji's plan."
She laughed softly through her tears.
"Last year… I told him my birthday."
She looked at her reflection in the mirror—eyes red, smile trembling.
"I love this," she said quietly.
"I love cutting the cake…"
Her voice softened, almost childish.
"I want to cut it again…"
A small giggle escaped her lips as she covered her mouth, standing there in the restroom—
not as a teacher,
but as a five-year-old girl holding on to a simple, precious happiness.
Back in the classroom—
Yuji, Haruto, Sakura, Natsuki, Sachi, Suzume, and Yukino had gathered together, chatting and laughing.
*I thought I'd never have friends…* Yukino thought, taking a quiet moment for herself.
*But here…*
She paused, letting the moment sink in.
*These people came to me. They're talking with me…*
Her eyes flicked to Yuji.
*They're giving me hope… but what if it all ends the same way?*
Even with the doubt lingering in her chest, a small warmth bloomed inside her—fragile, hesitant, but real.
Natsuki still couldn't take his eyes off Suzume, completely captivated by her.
Yuji, meanwhile, found himself staring into Yukino's eyes. *She's beautiful,* the thought slipped into his mind.
Then, a memory from his childhood surfaced—him and a girl, laughing and playing in the mud. The innocence, the closeness—it hit him suddenly. He flinched and shook his head, trying to push it away.
*What am I doing… No... no, for me, only Mizuki is beautiful,* he reminded himself firmly, lowering his gaze.