Isshiki still couldn’t believe his best friend was back. Even if the best friend in question is currently sitting on the windowsill in his room in the Polar Star dormitory.

Isshiki was sitting on his bed with one leg dangling off the edge and an arm slung over his other knee. Moonlight was streaming through the window, illuminating a part of the room with a silver glow from the bright full moon outside.

He watched in fascination as half of Natsuyo’s face caught the light as she stared out the window to the Polar Star dorm gardens, making it look like she was glowing.

It’s been one year since they saw each other. A year since Natsuyo told him she was leaving Tōtsuki to travel the world. He thought he would never see her again. Now, for some reason, she had returned.

It had been a week since the first year training camp. Thankfully, all his juniors had avoided getting expelled. Natsuyo had suddenly shown up in front of the dorm a few hours before the first years returned.

She told him that she got invited to watch the training camp, where a certain first year caught her attention. Yukihira Soma. She said that he was the reason why she returned to Tōtsuki for her third year.

”Something interesting is coming to Tōtsuki.” Were her exact words.

Today though, Isshiki could clearly see nostalgia in her eyes as she stared out into the gardens. The silence was comfortable to them, being able to not utter a single word as they sit in silence and bask in each other’s presence.

Isshiki knew that she enjoyed her travels around the world. He could clearly see the way she was yearning to go back out there and learn about different culinary styles from their source.

But she was back. She said that Soma was the reason why she returned, but he had a feeling that there was an underlying reason. Soma was just the deciding factor.

“What are you thinking about?” Isshiki asked, his voice slightly teasing. One year and she was still as breathtaking as ever. Possibly even more.