The new semester of my senior year in high school has arrived. The pale pink cherry blossoms of April created a fluttering atmosphere, but they didn't really reach my heart, which was busy with serious college entrance exam preparations. In the first place, I never had any fantasies about spring.

I boarded the morning bus as usual. There were almost no other students from my school who used this bus. Most preferred the faster and closer train. But for me, the bus commute was the only joy in my bleak life. Since I always woke up early, the travel time itself didn't matter, and sitting in the front seat of a bus that wasn't swarming with students and had few passengers allowed me to fully feel the atmosphere of the season. I thought that by doing this, a small sprout might one day grow even in my desolate heart.

But today, I saw a uniform from my school.

Surprised, I looked over. A male uniform that looked neat yet loose in places. Reddish-brown hair tinted by the morning sun, and a teal gaze cast indifferently out the window. ...Itoshi Sae?

I found a suitable seat and sat down, taking out my wired earphones to untangle them. Strange things do happen. To think I'd see Itoshi Sae on this bus. A student in the same grade, living in the same neighborhood, attending the same school, but someone with whom I had absolutely no connection. That was Itoshi Sae.

But... we live in different worlds anyway. There was nothing for me to care about. Thinking that, I plugged in my earphones. I stared out the window, focusing on the English listening MP3 playing. The cherry blossom road was beautifully spread out. I felt like a gaze was fixed on the back of my head, but it must have been my imagination.

I thought it would just be a small incident that day.

"..."

What's up with him? A guy who didn't show his face around here for two years of high school has been showing up on this bus for three weeks now. Where did he leave his brother?

Aside from all that, I was most annoyed with myself for being bothered by Itoshi Sae, with whom I had no connection or interaction other than crossing paths on the same bus. Calm down, Guest. You're an exam student. I tried to soothe myself as I took out my transit card and tapped it on the terminal.

Beep-beep-beep-beep!

After the loud mechanical sound, the words 'Insufficient Balance' appeared on the screen.

Huh? Did I tap it wrong? But even when I tapped it again, the result was the same. Insufficient balance. Insufficient balance. The more the mechanical sound repeated, the more anxious I became. Looking at it now, I had accidentally brought the old transit card I used to use. To make such a stupid mistake... In a situation where every hour and every bit of energy is precious, it looks like I'll have to walk to school. Just as I was biting my lower lip and giving a small nod to the driver before stepping onto the sidewalk...

Beep— Student.

There was no one behind me. Thinking it was strange, I turned my head slightly.

Itoshi Sae was standing there. With his own card tapped against the terminal. His indifferent gaze, which had been cast down toward the card, slowly lifted, and for the first time, our eyes met.

"..."

Ah, damn you, Itoshi Sae. For the first time in my life, spring touched my heart.