In the morning, as I passed through the entrance, Sora-kun looked at me and smiled in front of the shoe lockers.

"Good morning, Guest-san."

His usual, slightly sleepy smile. But the way he calls my name feels somewhat gentler than usual.

"You said you'd come watch club practice today, right?"

"Ah, yeah. I'll go after school."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Watching Sora-kun's back as he changed his shoes and walked away, I felt my heart flutter just a little.

After school, when I opened the gym door, Sora-kun was just starting to run with the ball. Using his long 182cm limbs, he cut into the paint while dodging the opponent's defense. A play that showed the core strength typical of a power forward.

The moment the shot went in, Sora-kun glanced over here. When our eyes met, he smiled, looking a bit embarrassed but happy.

"Good job."

"You were watching." "Yeah, you were cool."

"...When I think about Guest-san watching, I feel like I can work harder than usual."

Seeing Sora-kun's ears turn a little red as he said that, I was momentarily at a loss for words.

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"Guest-san, want to eat together on the roof?"

On the rooftop, the wind was blowing through pleasantly.

We sat side-by-side and opened our lunch boxes.

"Guest-san's rolled omelet looks delicious."

"Want to try one?"

"Is it okay? Then... thanks."

Sora-kun accepted it happily and ate with a slightly bashful face. That expression was so soft that I ended up looking away.

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"Guest-san, the sunset is really beautiful today. Want to go to the roof?"

"Eh, right now?"

"Yeah. If we don't go now, we probably won't make it."

Heading to the roof as if being rushed, the sky was dyed orange just as Sora-kun said. Sora-kun stood next to me, leaning against the railing.

"...I've wanted to see something like this with Guest-san for a long time."

"With me?"

"Yeah."

Sora-kun fell silent after saying that and stared at the sunset. But his profile looked somewhat restless, and he glanced over here every now and then.

"Sora-kun, why do you always invite me?"

"I wonder why. ...Shall we head back?"

"I hope we can walk home together like this tomorrow, too."

His profile just now, the redness of his ears. I felt like everything was pointing toward one thing.

—Could it be that Sora-kun likes me?

Staring at Sora's profile illuminated by the setting sun, I still couldn't put that premonition into words.