The young lady frowned.
As Akihiro prepared to depart the classroom, he glanced back, discovering Ayano still nestled upon her lap. The president of the student council gestured for her to follow, leaving little room for choice as Ayano rose from her seat and trailed behind Akihiro.
Together, they explored the many nooks of the school, visiting the bustling cafeteria, the buzzing computer lab, and the serene library. At last, Akihiro beckoned Ayano into the library, leading her to a secluded corner adorned with a grand window. This sanctuary of knowledge rested gracefully on the third floor.
"This is an excellent location for studying because you can see everything from here. Take a look at that... You can enjoy the beauty of both the river and the mountain." Akihiro was filled with joy as he pointed toward the distant river, its waters shimmering far from his current spot.
The river's allure was magnified by the majestic mountains standing sentinel behind it. Through the rain-kissed window, the panorama unfolded like a dream, enchanting all who beheld it. Ayano, captivated by the student council president's gaze, found her eyes drawn to the tranquil stream, its clarity whispering secrets of serenity. Just beyond the school gate, the river beckoned, a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.
"very lovely... It would be even more enchanting if it didn't rain "Ayano exclaimed.She intended to mumble the compliment to herself, but Akihiro overheard her.
"Yes, the soil around the river becomes loose and slippery when it rains like this. Take caution when going through it "Akihiro forewarned his new friend. Ayano's gaze was drawn to an old structure that appeared to be an abandoned terminal.
"Is that the bus terminal? Why aren't there any buses passing by?" The ice queen is intrigued.
"Our village is very small, and no one uses buses, so the terminal has not been used in a long time. As a result, the bus's operation was also halted "Akihiro explained his arguments.
Ayano's gaze was irresistibly drawn to the bus terminal, a realm of whispers and farewells. She found herself pondering the enigma of why this bustling place stirred such feelings within her as a transfer student. From afar, her eyes caught sight of a solitary figure nestled in a terminal chair. The boy, lost in thought, gazed down at the ground, his Hongdae school uniform a silent testament to his presence.
"What is that student doing there during school hours?"
Ayano again whispered her curiosity, not wanting to be overheard.
“Em? Whom do you speak of?” Akihiro, with ears attuned to the whispers of the world, stepped closer to Ayano, his gaze following the direction of her pointed finger. Yet, all that met his eyes was a forsaken and desolate terminal.
“Perhaps it’s just your imagination; there’s no soul in sight?” In a bid to dissipate the weighty silence enveloping them, the spirited student council president ventured a lighthearted jest.
Ayano focused intently on the terminal, her vision straining against the relentless downpour. The rain cascaded so fiercely that the windowpanes transformed into mere shadows. Could it be that her perception was skewed by the tempest's embrace?
As the first day of school gracefully drew to a close, the skies wept, their tears unceasing. The rain, a steadfast companion, would linger until the night enveloped the world. Ayano and Akihiro, having exited the halls of learning together, strolled side by side, with Akihiro still endeavoring to weave words with the girl beside him. Just beyond the school gate, their paths diverged, marking the end of their shared journey for the day.
Ayano wanders alone, her gaze tracing the rain-kissed landscape around her. She strives to unearth the echoes of her childhood from the eleven years spent in this village. It was at the tender age of eleven that fate intervened, leading her into an accident that robbed her of her memories. Since that fateful day, the tapestry of her past has remained shrouded in mystery. Her parents recounted that during a fierce rainstorm, she vanished for several hours, only to be found unconscious by the river's edge. For days, she drifted in a haze, unaware of her own plight. In their deep concern, Ayano's parents resolved to seek solace in the bustling heart of Tokyo, where she could receive the care she so desperately needed.
As she meanders along the verdant path beside the river, Ayano finds herself drawn closer to its flowing embrace. The water glistens with clarity, a stark contrast to the storm above. Yet, as she gazes into the depths of the stream, an inexplicable feeling stirs within her chest—a whisper of familiarity. The river seems to hold secrets, cloaked in the shadows of her lost memories, and Ayano senses that it possesses a profound significance in the story of her past.
As Ayano meanders through the desolate expanse of an abandoned bus station, her gaze falls upon a solitary male student perched quietly upon a weathered bench. Clad in a uniform emblazoned with the Hongdae school emblem, his attire diverges from that of his peers. Each droplet of rain has drenched him from crown to sole, and he is acutely aware of Ayano’s presence. For a fleeting moment, their eyes meet—his, large and expressive, framed by an above-average height and a high nose, revealing an unmistakable pallor. A veil of melancholy cloaks his features, and the sight of his sodden form sends an involuntary shiver coursing through Ayano. The mere thought of inhabiting his drenched reality chills her to the bone. Yet, with a resolute spirit, the enigmatic student ultimately gathers his courage, braving the relentless downpour as he strides away into the storm.
"Is he the same student I saw before?" Ayano recalls the male student she saw earlier through the library window. She wanted to confirm the man's identity, but she had already lost sight of him.
"Where has he gone?" The female student was perplexed as she searched for a figure that vanished quickly.