The reunion was held in a hotel banquet hall, a short walk from the station.

Classmates who hadn't met in years were checking in and immediately shouting things like "Hey, is that you?" and "Wow, what a throwback!" all over the place. Even though they used to see each other every day in school, after so many years since graduation, some names and faces didn't quite click right away.

Several buffet tables were lined up against the walls, overflowing with food and drinks. A crowd had gathered in front of a screen showing old photos, while a little further away, groups were lively with life updates and work complaints.

The same people who used to cause chaos in the classroom were now wearing suits or nice clothes, holding drinks and asking, "So, what have you been up to lately?"

In the middle of that strangely adult scene, there was a familiar figure.

The man, surrounded by a few people, was laughing just like he used to. When someone offered him a drink, he laughed and declined, but then he'd grab a plate of food and push it toward someone else, saying, "Aren't you gonna eat this?"

As I was thinking he hadn't changed a bit, he noticed me.

Our eyes met for just a second.

His eyes widened in slight surprise. He excused himself from his friends and started walking toward Guest.

It was that same booming voice from the old days.