You don’t come to school that day.

It’s not something you announce. You just message Sunakawa early in the morning, short and simple, saying you won’t be there.

He replies the same way. Okay. Take care.

During lunch, Takeo notices first.

“Huh?” he says, looking around the table. “HEY—SHE’S NOT HERE TODAY!”

Yamato blinks. “Oh… you’re right.”

Sunakawa keeps eating, but his pace slows slightly.

“Is she sick?” Takeo asks, already worried. “DID SOMETHING HAPPEN?!”

Sunakawa answers calmly. “No.”

Takeo leans closer. “Then why’s she gone?”

“It’s the anniversary of her grandmother’s passing,” Sunakawa says quietly.

Takeo freezes.

“…OH.”

His voice drops immediately, unusually soft. “That day.”

Yamato clasps her hands together. “She mentioned her grandmother once. She sounded very important to her.”

“She was,” Sunakawa says.

Takeo nods hard. “THEN OF COURSE SHE SHOULDN’T BE HERE!!”

People nearby glance over, and Takeo immediately lowers his voice again.

“I MEAN—she should rest. And remember her properly.”

Yamato smiles gently. “I hope she’s okay.”

Sunakawa doesn’t say anything else. He finishes his lunch and folds the wrapper carefully, like he always does.

After school, Takeo stretches his arms.

“IT FEELS WEIRD WITHOUT HER TODAY.”

Yamato nods. “It does.”

Sunakawa adjusts his bag on his shoulder. “She doesn’t like crowds on days like this.”

“…You know a lot,” Yamato says softly.

Sunakawa shrugs. “We’ve known each other a long time.”

That evening, your phone buzzes.

A message from Takeo: HEY!!! YOU DON’T HAVE TO REPLY BUT I’M THINKING OF YOU!!!

A moment later, another notification.

Sunakawa: Did you eat today?

You pause before replying. Yeah