Morning felt quieter than it should have been.
Not silent—just… lighter.
Haruki stood near the door, already dressed, his hand resting loosely against the wall.
He wasn't doing anything in particular.
Just standing there.
For a moment, his eyes moved toward the door.
A pause.
Then—
The bell rang.
A sharp, clear sound.
Haruki didn't react.
Not immediately.
"…right."
He exhaled quietly and reached for the handle.
The door opened.
"Haruki!"
A familiar voice, warm and bright.
His grandmother stepped forward before he could say anything, her hands already reaching for his shoulders.
"You've grown again, haven't you?"
Her smile didn't hesitate. It never did.
"…it's only been a few months," Haruki said softly.
"That's more than enough," she replied, as if it explained everything.
Behind her, his grandfather stood still.
Straight posture. Calm presence.
He didn't step forward immediately.
His eyes rested on Haruki—
Not sharply. Not heavily.
Just… long enough.
"…you look different," he said.
The words were simple.
But Haruki didn't answer right away.
"…do I?"
His grandfather gave a small nod.
"Maybe."
Then he walked past him, like the moment had already ended.
---
Dinner was quieter than expected.
Not uncomfortable.
Just calm.
His grandmother filled most of the space with easy conversation—asking about school, meals, small things that didn't require complicated answers.
Haruki responded when needed.
Simple. Short.
Across the table, his grandfather didn't speak much.
He listened.
Watched.
Occasionally nodded.
At one point, his gaze settled on Haruki again.
Not directly.
Just within view.
"…school's been normal?"
The question came without warning.
Haruki paused slightly.
"…yeah."
"Nothing unusual?"
The word lingered.
Not heavy.
But specific.
Haruki's fingers tightened slightly around his glass.
"…no."
A small lie.
Or maybe not.
His grandmother placed a dish between them, her voice light.
"Don't ask him strange things right after he gets home."
His grandfather didn't argue.
He simply looked away.
"Just asking."
The conversation moved on.
But something stayed.
---
The next day felt louder.
Not because anything had changed—
But because it suddenly felt like everything was moving at once.
Voices filled the classroom before the teacher even arrived.
Groups forming. Conversations overlapping.
Haruki sat at his desk, watching without really following any of it.
"…did you hear?"
Someone behind him.
"No way, seriously?"
"It's confirmed. The mayor's coming."
That caught his attention.
Just slightly.
"Why?"
"Sports festival. It's a big deal this year."
"Man, this is going to be insane…"
The noise continued.
Then the teacher walked in.
The room settled—somewhat.
"There will be an official announcement," the teacher said, placing their notes down.
"As you've heard, this year's sports festival will include a special guest."
A pause.
"The mayor."
The room reacted instantly.
Excitement. Curiosity. Energy.
But Haruki didn't react.
Because something else had already settled in his mind.
---
"Haruki."
Aoi's voice came from beside him.
Not loud. Not quiet.
Just enough.
He turned slightly.
"You knew."
It wasn't a question.
Haruki held her gaze for a second.
"…about the festival?"
Aoi shook her head once.
"No."
A short pause.
Then—
"…before things happen."
Haruki didn't respond.
Because he couldn't.
Because he understood what she meant.
And because he didn't want to.
"…you're overthinking," he said.
Aoi didn't argue.
She just looked at him a little longer.
"…maybe."
But her voice didn't agree.
---
The hallway felt different today.
Full.
Alive.
People moving in every direction.
Voices bouncing off the walls.
Haruki walked through it, slower than most.
Not lost.
Just aware.
Too aware.
Then—
It happened.
Not at the end of the corridor.
Not ahead.
Not behind.
Somewhere within it.
Inside the movement.
The same feeling.
That presence.
But now—
It didn't feel distant.
Haruki stopped.
Just slightly.
No one noticed.
No one cared.
The crowd kept moving.
But his eyes shifted.
Searching without knowing what to look for.
For a second—
Everything felt too close.
Too layered.
Like something didn't belong in the space between people.
His chest tightened.
"…even here…"
The words barely formed.
Then—
A shoulder brushed past him.
The moment broke.
The hallway returned to normal.
Just noise. Just movement.
Nothing else.
---
After school, the sky had already begun to soften into evening.
Aoi stood near the gate, waiting.
Haruki approached slowly.
"You stopped again today," she said.
No greeting.
No buildup.
Just that.
"…yeah."
"What did you see?"
He thought for a moment.
Then shook his head.
"…I don't think I saw anything."
Aoi frowned slightly.
"That doesn't make sense."
"…I know."
A pause settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just unfinished.
"…but it was there," Haruki added quietly.
Aoi looked at him.
Carefully this time.
"…then next time," she said, "don't just stand still."
Haruki blinked once.
"…what do you mean?"
Aoi turned slightly, looking ahead.
"Try moving toward it."
A simple suggestion.
But something about it felt wrong.
Or maybe—
Too right.
---
Night came quietly again.
Haruki stood near his window, looking out at the dimly lit street.
Nothing unusual.
No movement.
No presence.
Just stillness.
For once.
"…nothing today…"
He muttered it without thinking.
Then stopped.
Because that wasn't true.
Not anymore.
The silence didn't feel empty.
It felt like something was missing.
Or waiting.
Haruki's gaze lowered slightly.
His reflection faint in the glass.
For a moment—
He didn't recognize it.
Just for a second.
Then it returned to normal.
Haruki stepped back slightly.
His breath steady.
But not calm.
"…I knew before it happened."
The words came out slowly.
Not as a realization.
But as something he had already accepted.
And this time—
That felt worse.