The bell signaling the end of the fourth period rings.

As soon as the teacher leaves the classroom, it becomes lively all at once.

Lunchtime. Ignoring the classmates starting to gather in groups, I leave the classroom alone.

After stopping by the purchasing department to buy yakisoba bread, I head to my usual spot.

Behind the special building, there was Koharu-sensei. When she saw me, her expression brightened instantly.

"Oh, here you are. It was faster today, huh?"

"The fourth period was classical literature."

Ihara-sensei, the classical literature teacher, is strict about the start time, but always goes over the end time. He was greatly disliked by the students.

"Today, it's not a bread roll."

I said. In Koharu-sensei's hands, there was a packaged yakisoba bun.

"Last time, I saw Enoki-kun eating it and thought it looked delicious. I was curious about how it tastes, so I decided to try it out."

And then I look down at my hands.

"Hey, Enoki-kun, you're having yakisoba bread again today, huh? You really do like it, don't you?"

"...I might be."

For some reason, I was able to admit it honestly today.

When I sit next to Koharu-sensei, I carefully unwrap the yakisoba bread.

"Have you had any good news lately?"

"Why is that?"

"Because you look like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders."

Koharu-sensei says.

"Besides, you have been going to school regularly lately. I'm sure something happened that I don't know about."

"..."

Lately, I have been going to school every day.

It was after that night spent with Rui-san that it happened.

But I had no intention of telling anyone what had happened there.

"But, since you skipped so many classes, I thought for sure you wouldn't be able to keep up with the lessons. But yesterday's quiz was no problem at all."

"If I read the textbook and study on my own, I'll manage somehow."

"You're not being very cute, you know. I was even preparing special supplementary lessons for the main subjects after school in case Enoki-kun came crying to me."

"Isn't the teacher the type who finds that kind of thing bothersome?"

When I was forced to be the club advisor, I complained a lot. I didn't welcome the extra work, though.

"I just hate being forced to do things against my will. If my cute student is in trouble, I want to help them somehow."

She says such things without any shame.

Receiving that straightforward kindness, I had spoken before I knew it.

"...Um, Koharu-sensei..."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you so much. And I'm sorry for making you worry."

After Koharu-sensei made a blank expression, perhaps feeling embarrassed.

"Ah, it's all good."

She said it in a strangely theatrical tone and laughed.

I also started feeling strangely embarrassed, so I changed the subject by saying, "By the way."

"What?"

"Yesterday, I passed by the ramen shop near the school. The person smoking at the ashtray out front looked like sensei."

The person who resembled the teacher was smoking in the designated smoking area in front of the ramen shop. She had a disheveled and decadent aura about her.

"Ah, yeah, that's me."

She acknowledged it readily.

"Koharu-sensei, you smoke?"

"I smoke it. Crunch, crunch."

"I didn't know."

"I can't smoke at school. Are you surprised?"

"That, that's true."

Because Koharu-sensei has a baby face, I somehow had the impression that she didn't smoke.

Looking back now, it was a presumptuous assumption.

"I'm sure it's the same."

"Huh?"

"Enoki-kun said that you have a lot of people who dislike you, but if I actually get to know you, I think I'll discover many sides of you that I didn't know about. Just like how you didn't know I smoked."

"So."

I asked.

"What do you mean?"

"It means that Enoki-kun is still too young to give up on the world."

Koharu-sensei said in a light tone,

"This yakisoba bread is delicious, isn't it? I might just switch from the bread roll to this."

She said with a joking smile.

Saying that the bread rolls would be sad, I laughed too.

Also, while thinking about visiting this place during tomorrow's lunch break.

☆

I had a part-time job shift that evening as well.

It was the same as Wine bag.

Until now, I would have surely felt depressed.

But now it was different.

The circumstances haven't changed at all.

As always, I stand out at my part-time job, and I'm looked down upon by the regulars. There have even been times when they've made sarcastic remarks on purpose.

Even so, my feelings were different from before.

End of the part-time shift.

While I was changing in the backyard, Wine bag called out to me.

"Hey, Eno-cchi, are you still hanging out with that person?"

"That person?"

"It's about Rui-san."

"Yeah, well..."

"How sad. You're just being played with."

He laughed at me mockingly. Does he still have lingering feelings for Rui-san? Maybe he keeps belittling me out of insecurity.

"...That might be the case."

After I said that,

"Um, Sakurada-san, the other day, you asked me, didn't you? If I had started to dislike you."

"...What about it?"

"At that time, I said it's nothing, but I'm sorry. That was a lie."

The expression on Wine bag, which had seemed relaxed until then, clouded over as if sensing something ominous.

He was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

To that pretentious face, I said.

"I hate you. I have hated you for a long time. In fact, I want to kill you."

Words I have always wanted to say. But words I couldn't say.

I finally managed to say it now.

"...Huh?"

Did he really not expect to be told something like that?

Wine bag had a bewildered expression.

The moment I saw the fear in those eyes, I almost couldn't help but laugh. Just a little, but I even felt a sense of affection.

What the. I was feeling down because of someone like this?

"Excuse me. That's all. Well then, I'll take my leave."

After changing clothes, I bow my head with a smile towards Wine bag and then leave the backyard.

When I stepped out of the back door, the rain that had been falling when I came to work had stopped.

In the night sky, a brilliant moon.

My heart felt as clear and bright as if it had been opened up.

Chapter 32: Dawn Breaks