I had heard somewhere that if you've been close friends with someone for a year in high school, they've met enough conditions to become a friend for life. As a high school student, Yuka couldn't quite grasp this concept. In fact, she only made her first real friend after entering middle school.

Kotone.

And she wasn't even from the same school.

Well, since they did the same activities and met often, in a sense, it wouldn't be strange to call them club mates.

No, maybe it would be strange.

Normal clubs don't involve swinging real swords. Even in kendo clubs where they seriously learn swordsmanship, they wouldn't swing their swords at living things.

When Yuka first met Kotone, she was bright.

Though the concept of a "lifelong friend" still felt distant to her as a high school student, she definitely agreed that first impressions last.

In Yuka's mind, Kotone had been "the bright girl" for quite a long time.

Someone who would willingly approach even when openly rejected and pushed away, someone who couldn't leave a lonely person alone.

"..."

She was probably still like that.

Kotone was the type who would willingly jump into fire to save the younger sibling of someone who had bullied her.

She'd heard that's how Kotone met Shii and Souta, and they've been like siblings ever since. Kotone had taken the sick Shii home and ended up looking after her for a while.

Since Shii herself had told her this, it might not be completely objective—but well, it was probably true.

That's exactly what Kotone would do.

So, for almost several years, Yuka had thought of Kotone as simply a strong person.

A girl who wouldn't give up on life even in dangerous situations, who would fight to survive somehow. A girl who protected what she cherished with all her might.

Shii sometimes seemed to think of Kotone as some kind of hero, and perhaps that wasn't entirely wrong.

That made Yuka a little happy.

If Kotone was a hero, then Yuka, who had been fighting before her, was also a hero. Until then, she had taken what she did for granted, but seeing Kotone's attitude made her realize it was helping others.

Until then, Yuka had to move on to other tasks before she could see the world change after saving and changing something.

Was that too childish a thought? Yuka didn't care.

It's not like she was going to reveal these thoughts to anyone. Even if she indulged in such feelings alone, as long as she didn't show it.

She thought it would probably be fine.

"Yuka?"

Perhaps her thoughts had gone too deep.

Her absentminded steps had slowed down.

Kotone, who had already moved quite far ahead, was looking back and calling her name.

There were many children around her. All of them were Kotone's friends. Now they were Yuka's friends too.

Kotone's face was bright.

Kotone, mixed in among her friends, looked so happy that it seemed like her head might be full of flowers.

...Hadn't she said it would only end when she died?

With that expression, was she thinking such thoughts?

Had she felt guilty all this time just for being alive?

"Yeah."

Yuka responded like that for now.

There was still so much she wanted to ask. Things she hadn't been able to ask then, and words she couldn't bring herself to say even when they met separately on the rooftop afterward.

Each one was a frightening thing to say. What answer would come back, how would Kotone react? Words too scary to even utter.

Could she ask?

Things seemed fine now, but somehow Ms. Kagami's expression suggested otherwise. Could she know something that Kotone didn't?

For now, she decided not to.

She didn't want to.

She didn't want to distance herself from someone who might become a lifelong friend.

Yuka joined Kotone's group.

Soon she was able to naturally join in various conversations. Now Yuka could watch TV at regular times, and often watch dramas and movies. She lived near her friend's house, walked the same path to school in the morning, and was often invited for meals.

So, not now.

A little more.

A little later.

That's what she thought.

*

The good thing about living near a friend's house is definitely walking home together on the same path.

Before, Yuka had to split off first. Because the train directions were almost opposite. She didn't mind the long commute home, but somehow it felt a little lonely thinking that the others were going in the same direction.

Being alone after evening wasn't that lonely either. Since she had many friends now, she could exchange emails, watch TV, or play games to her heart's content. Well, she might miss her family someday, but not right now.

"..."

On the way back.

Kotone was staring blankly out the window.

Even as peaceful days continued, Kotone would occasionally have this blank expression.

Yuka could guess what she was worried about without asking.

"..."

She still couldn't ask. It was an extension of her earlier concerns.

But—

While going back and forth on her thoughts, the three of them got off at the same station.

The three walked silently, leading Koko who trudged along with a somewhat sleepy expression.

Days like this weren't uncommon. When you talk about various things regularly, eventually you run out of things to say. At those times, you just walk without thinking much, then notice a newly opened store and talk about it, or discuss TV programs you've been watching lately.

But perhaps because of her earlier thoughts, Yuka felt today's silence was unusually heavy.

"Ah."

Kotone, who had been lost in thought the entire walk, blinked.

Before they knew it, they had reached a fork in the road.

It wasn't much of a fork—just a main road continuing straight and a side road leading into a residential area. Yuka's room was less than a minute's walk from here.

"Then, today..."

"Yeah."

Yuka nodded.

"See you tomorrow, Kotone."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

Kotone responded with a small smile to Yuka's words.

Was it just Yuka's imagination that the expression seemed fleeting?

"Bye."

Koko followed, waving her hand sleepily. Yuka waved back at her.

The two figures gradually moved away. Not quickly. Neither of them had particularly hasty personalities.

While quietly watching their backs,

"Kotone!"

Yuka found herself calling out without realizing it.

Somehow she didn't want to just let her go.

It felt like there needed to be a reason. A reason for Kotone to see Yuka tomorrow.

At first, it was fine.

This incident was over, so it should be fine. After a big event, things would be quiet for a while, so it should be fine.

The other kids treated Kotone as usual, and Kotone treated the other kids as usual.

But since that incident, Yuka couldn't look at Kotone the same way anymore.

...

...

...she thought it was unfair.

She knew. It was absolutely not Kotone's fault. Having those thoughts, overhearing those hidden thoughts, being in that situation—absolutely, absolutely none of it was Kotone's fault.

If anyone was to blame for having these thoughts, it was Yuka herself.

But she hated it.

Somehow she couldn't throw away those thoughts even afterward, and every time Kotone smiled silently, it felt like she might suddenly disappear.

Just as she had suddenly popped into Yuka's life, she hated the feeling that Kotone might vanish without a trace at any moment.

Harumi, Mako, and Yuu had said it. That one day, Kotone suddenly stopped coming to school.

Thinking about it now, that was probably because of Kosuzu.

But still, but still.

You never know when, at what moment, it might happen. Yuka didn't want to experience what those three had gone through. She didn't want a separation of unknown length.

"Want to sleep over at my place tonight?"

"Huh?"

Kotone's eyes blinked.

Emotion returned to her previously blank face.

Somehow seeing that expression made Yuka feel relieved.

"I've been living alone, you know? For a year now. It gets kind of boring."

"Ah, that's right."

Kotone blinked again.

"Yeah, that's true. I haven't been visiting much lately."

"Right? I think it's been a while since you stayed at our place too."

Feeling somewhat relieved, Yuka smiled, and Kotone smiled back.

"It's a weekday though. We have school tomorrow."

"You can just bring your stuff."

Yuka said with a shrug. Kotone thought for a moment, then,

"Okay, let's do that. I'll tell my mom, and Koko and I will come over after dinner."

"Great. I need to clean up."

"You haven't cleaned?"

"Well, I don't want it to look messy when friends come over."

"You're so diligent."

Kotone smiled brightly.

Finally seeing Kotone's smiling face, Yuka felt completely relieved.

"Then, see you later. I'll message you after dinner."

'Tomorrow' had become 'later.'

"Yeah."

"Should we rent a DVD or something?"

"That sounds good."

Yuka replied to Kotone's suggestion.

"Are we sleeping at Yuka's tonight?"

"Yeah. Looks like we're staying at Yuka's tonight."

Kotone answered when Koko asked.

Yuka liked that bright appearance and felt reassured.