About

Spring break ended, and the same old daily routine began again. The familiar school building, the familiar laughter. When I enter the classroom, Rika is in his usual seat, just like always. We talk about nonsense, I see his sleepy face during class, and if we feel like it, we walk home together after school. Nothing special happens. Yet, that time was natural for the two of us. However, this year is a little different. Rika became the student council president. Watching him run around the school looking busy while wearing the same smile as always makes me feel a bit strange. We thought we wouldn't change. At first, that's what we both believed. But because Rika is busy with student council work and his club, the time we spend talking and walking home together has decreased. He makes time to come and talk, but even then, it's only for 10 to 15 minutes at most. —I had no way of knowing then that this year would become something special for me... no, for both of us.—