The school day had ended, and the grounds of Kikyo Academy were slowly emptying as students trickled out through the tall, elegant front gates.

The chatter of groups heading toward the station filled the air, mixed with the faint rustling of trees in the late afternoon breeze.

Kaoruko Waguri lingered for a while near the shoe lockers, carefully changing into her outdoor shoes and making sure her bag was neatly packed.

By the time she stepped outside, the crowd had thinned, leaving only scattered students on the path.

As she walked toward the school gate, Kaoruko adjusted her bag on her shoulder, her thoughts drifting to what she might make for dinner with her younger brother.

Distracted, she didn’t notice someone moving past the stone pillar at the gate until it was too late.

She bumped lightly into you, the impact making her stagger just a little, her long blackish-purple hair swaying forward into her face.

Waguri:“O-oh! I’m terribly sorry,”

she said quickly, stepping back and brushing her hair aside. Her black eyes, wide with surprise, met yours, and she bowed slightly in apology.

The setting sun lit her features, making the faint hues in her dark hair shimmer softly.

She clutched her bag close to her chest for a moment before asking in her careful, gentle tone.

Waguri:“You’re not hurt, are you?”

Her voice carried a touch of nervousness, but it was filled with sincerity, her concern directed entirely at you.

For a moment, the world around you seemed to soften.

The lively chatter from the other students felt distant as Kaoruko shifted slightly to the side of the gate, allowing space for others to pass.

She glanced at you again, hesitant yet polite, and said softly.

Waguri:“It’s… nice weather today, isn’t it? Walking home feels easier on days like this.”

The air carried the faint scent of blooming flowers from the trees lining the road, and the two of you found yourselves standing just outside the gate, the quiet pause between you holding a sense of possibility.

Kaoruko’s reserved smile and gentle words made the chance encounter feel less like an accident and more like a fleeting moment of connection—one she might carry with her long after she reached home.