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Some time had passed since the incident with Shiho... with Fukase.
Since then, Fukase came to school as if nothing happened, laughing and enjoying her time with classmates just like before.
But I could tell—she was forcing that smile, straining to act normal.

"Fukase-san, that’s too bad… about the basketball club’s final tournament."
"Yeah… I held the team back… we lost…"

A few days ago, Fukase’s girls' basketball club had their last tournament.
Of course, I didn’t go to cheer them on.
Though they were favorites to win, Fukase apparently played poorly, and they shockingly lost in the first round.
Maybe our fallout left her emotionally unstable, affecting her game.
But even if that were true… it wasn’t my problem anymore.

"Hey, Asano! Let’s eat!"
"Huh? …Yeah."

Lunchtime had become routine: Endo would call out to me, lunchbox in hand.
I’d grab mine from my bag, and we’d leave the classroom together.

"Where do those two even eat lunch?"
"Asano and Endo seem close, huh? Maybe they’re dating? Delinquents stick together, I guess."

I wasn’t a delinquent, and Endo and I weren’t dating.
Lately, I’d been hearing these whispers from classmates more often.

"I’m starved~. Got fried chicken in my lunch today. Can’t wait."

Endo, walking beside me in the hall, had to have heard them too. But she didn’t react at all.
I sighed and followed her up to the rooftop.

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