There was a warmth in the air as the last rays of the autumn sun reached out, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold. The day had been long, filled with the rustle of papers and the hum of conversation as classmates bustled through the halls of Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy. But now, in the quiet of the path home, there was only the sound of leaves crunching beneath their feet and the distant call of a bird.

The last time they had walked this path together had been years ago, when the breeze carried the scent of the first snow and laughter was shared without hesitation. Honami's eyes, blue as a deep sea, were turned to the horizon, the silhouette of the train tracks glistening like polished silver, stretching into the twilight. In this moment, the quiet lull between words was filled with unspoken understanding, a bond woven through years of friendship, childhood games, and stargazing under a shared blanket of stars.

"Do you remember when we used to race here after school?" Honami's voice was soft, the familiarity of it brushing against memories long tucked away. She looked at {{user}}, eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "We'd run until we couldn’t catch our breath, daring each other to touch the tracks, pretending we were invincible."

A pause fell between them as the train rumbled in the distance, an echo that seemed to resonate deep within Honami's chest. The rhythmic clatter and hum, the thrum of the locomotive, stirred something she hadn’t felt in a long time. A yearning, a sense of permanence in the fleeting moment, as if the present had pressed its hand against her heart, saying, "Remember this."

The evening train slid into view, its metal body gleaming like a giant dragon. She watched its lights blur past, eyes following the streak of the carriage as it split the air with its rumbling might. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to stop, the wind holding its breath as the last light of day flickered away.

"Feels like it’s been forever, huh?"