"With the holidays finally over, the mundane routine of school begins all over again."

"Mutou fiddles with the teaching material on his desk, occasionally stopping to scrawl this note or that on the blackboard in preparation for the lesson ahead. While he might hope for a refreshed and eager class of students thanks to our chance to recharge, like every teacher would, I'm afraid he's going to be disappointed."

"A few look genuinely ready to go, but most appear either tired from seeing off the holidays with fanfare, or reluctant to even walk in the door as they face months of drudgery after the fun they've just had."

"After yesterday's late night trip back to Yamaku, and given my unfortunate allergy to schoolwork, I can safely say both apply equally to me. Bereft of anything else to do, I rock back and forth in my chair while looking to my side."

"Suzu sits with her hand in her chin as always, silently turning another page of the manga magazine on her desk. They never provoke much of a visible reaction from her, but she reads so many that she must like them."

"While piecing together my uniform from around my dorm room, I'd found the old crumpled-up blouse of the girl's summer outfit. Seeing her in her uniform once again reminds me of it."

mik "Hey, Suzu?"

"She continues to read the manga with the same bored expression."

suz "Yes?"

mik "Would you prefer it if I wore the normal girl's uniform?"

"I take the fact that she suddenly stops her reading, a page left in the middle of being turned, as a sign that the question's not as banal for her as I thought it might be."

"It was only a month or two before I gave up on it after coming to Yamaku, so she's probably never seen me wear it. The arms and bust felt too constricted and uncomfortable, while the men's shirt was much more loose and airy. Then there's that dumb bow."

"Suzu turns to me, trying to imagine how it'd look. The fact that her forehead is gathering creases shows it to be a hard task."

suz "That would look weird."

har "Damn right it would."

"The voice behind me turns out to be Haru, waltzing in with his bag held over his shoulder. He looks pleased with himself. Far too pleased."

mik "What's with that face? You hook up or something?"

har "The only thing better. Workin' at the family bakery over the holidays got me some fat stacks. I'm rich, baby."

mik "Awesome, you can pay for dinner!"

suz "Can't you buy your own dinner for once?"

mik "I can't help it if my allowance is shit."

mik "C'mon Haru, we're buddies, right?"

"Hisao decides to pick now to enter the classroom, showing some interest in our impromptue little gathering as he comes through the door. Pleased with the development, Haru clears his throat to make an announcement."

har "Worry not, children; dinner is on me! Everyone in the track club's welcome!"

his "Today's sure off to a good start."

har "You can come as well, Suzuki. If you wanna."

mik "Don't worry, we'll both be there. Got a restaurant in mind?"

har "I know this fantastic place. Best food ever."

mik "If it's a bakery, I will hit you."

har "Just a quiet little traditional place. Nothin' fancy, just real solid food."

# Timeskip

"Looking around the numerous low tables and cushions at their sides, Haru's definition of 'little' might be questionable. That might be for the best, though, given the number of track club members that showed up."

"The waitress who guided us to where everyone's set up bows out, leaving us to take in the scene before us. Compared to the fracas of the post-track meet celebrations, the mood is much more sedate. I'm glad, not so much for myself so much as Suzu."

"Looks like word got out, especially amongst the first-years, as the turnout's a good sixteen or so. The gathering ends up strewn across two tables, having outgrown the one, with the first-years having the numbers to claim their own."

"Given the usual amount of sausages at these things, perhaps the biggest surprise is how many of the fairer sex showed up. A good five by my count, which is five more than usual. Even Emi's here, yakking away to the track captain seated next to her."

"Perhaps the sheer number is why the teacher in charge of the club showed up, the old warhorse sitting quietly at the end of our table as he sips his carefully guarded beer. Between him, Emi and the captain, Yukio, Hisao, and Haru, our table will be full with the addition of Suzu and I."

"With everyone jammed tightly around the table, the only place left for Suzu and I to take a seat is at the end. I take my place next to Haru, with Suzu unsurprisingly ending up on the fringe."

har "Hey, you finally showed up."

mik "Sorry 'bout that. Someone was busy studying."

suz "Sorry."

har "Don't worry about it, it's fine! We haven't started eating yet, anyway."

"After glancing over our table and noticing a lack of drinks before Suzu and I, a waitress quickly shuffles over to take our orders. With a fairly sparse non-alcoholic menu, both of us take green tea. As she bows and leaves, I take a passing note of her uniform."

"Yes, Yuuko's outfit is definitely better."

"As she passes by the table of first-year students, it's they who next enter my thoughts. I've seen the others our of the uniforms plenty of times, but this lot are new to me. Despite only being a couple of years younger, their styles as a whole are all subtly different to ours."

mik "What's with all the brats?"

har "You know how things are when Yukio gets involved. A first year girl heard about it from him, she told her friends, and..."

"One of the first-year students from the other table suddenly slips between Haru and I, both of us leaning to the sides to make room for her. The bright purple highlight in her carefully styled black hair is the most striking thing about her, followed by her dark punk-inspired clothing. She's an ostentatious one, if nothing else."

"She quickly flips around a small notepad so he can see it, to which he quickly shakes his hand."

hur "It's fine, the more the merrier."

mik "Hmm? What is it?"

"The girl looks to me and dutifully turns her notepad around."

yam "[What was that about me and Hasegawa?]"

mik "Oh, right. Wait, uh..."

"My brief look of confusion at whether she's deaf, and if so, whether she could read my lips, is quickly answered as she points to her mouth and makes a shaking motion with a balled fist. At least being mute wouldn't be as troublesome as being deaf."

"The wairtres returns with the tea for Suzu and I, gently placing it down before each of us before bowing and taking her leave. Suzu blows on hers to try and cool it down, while I just leave mine for later."

"Evidently wanting to continue the conversation futher, Junko quickly takes out her blue pen and scrawls on the notepad with both astonishing speed and immaculate handwriting. I guess this must be what Shizune's like when she's separated from her bright, bubbly shadow."

yam "[Junko Yamada. You must be Miura, right?]"

mik "Guess I'm easy to pick out. I like the hair, by the way."

yam "[My parents gave me no end of grief for that. It was pretty lame.]"

mik "Parents are important. You shouldn't be flippant about them."

"The response seems to greatly surprise her. Maybe it's from the way I was brought up, but I've never taken kindly to people who take their parents for granted."

"She taps at her pad a few times to try and work out what to say, eventually coming to a satisfactory new topic as she starts writing once more."

yam "[Who's the girl next to you? I haven't seen her at the track before.]"

"She pokes her head out a little to see Suzu, moving the pad into her field of vision."

"Suzu's reaction is to look at me with a slight edge to her expression. Come to think of it, I haven't told anybody about us dating yet, and there's no way she would have. How Suzu wants to play it soon becomes obvious."

suz "Suzu Suzuki. We're friends."

"I know why she says it, but that doesn't make it feel any better. Am I supposed to keep that lie going to everyone I know for the rest of my time here? Is it even okay for her to make that judgement for the both us?"

"Unsatisfied and perhaps a little jilted, I quickly take the pad and pen from Junko before she writes a response, adding my own addendum to what Suzu said before handing them back."

"As hoped, she gives an amused snort. Suzu's reaction is markedly less charitable, a silent frustration written to her face. There's no doubt I'm going to pay for this later."

mik "Damn..."

har "What's wrong?"

mik "I got her pissed at me again."

"He takes a moment to look at Suzu, but doesn't appear any the wiser for doing so."

har "You can tell?"

"I hadn't really thought I could read her better than anyone else in particular, but maybe it's true. We've been around each other for a year, after all."

"Another scrawled note is held to my side by Junko."

yam "[You're different to what I imagined.]"

mik "How so?"

"The way her face instantly drops makes it obvious she's heard the rumours. She immediately regrets what she's said, but it's far too late to take it back."

yam "[I heard that you got into a lot of fights.]"

"The temptation to grab Junko and force her to say who told her such things riushes to my mind, but I quickly smother the thought given the number of people around. There's no reason for the newer students to know."

"Looking bashful as she taps at her pad trying to work out what to say in apology for getting me riled up, I decide to take pity on her."

mik "Well... let's just say people change."

"I glance to Suzu to acknowledge her, but she's already back to her tea. I know that she changed me, but despite my best efforts, I'm not sure I've helped her much in return."

"It's a shame the conversation got awkward so quickly, but respite comes in the form of two waitresss bring in massive platters of assorted food. Sushi, nigiri, tempura, and various other little delicacies abound. The collective anticipation in the room can be heard from everyone."

"Junko gives a nod before retreating to her own table. While she seems a nice enough person, I can't say the conversation left me in higher spirits."

"Haru just gives a weak smile to try and cheer me up. I do my best to return the gesture. It's people like he, Suzu, Shizune, and Misha who I owe everything to, after all."

# Timeskip

mik "I'm dead."

"I let myself fall forwards onto the table, my near-bursting gut held in with my hand."

"The room is reduced to a quiet background hum after everyone's finished pigging out, simply too full to do much beyond trying to hold the food down. Each table's gigantic platter was followed by another, and this being the track club, that was seen more as a challenge than an offer."

"While a scant few sushi rolls are left, salmon by the looks of them, I'd say we did a pretty damn good job. Not helped much by Suzu who, as always, ate like a sparrow."

"Determined to make her eat more, I take one of the few remaining pieces and hold it in front of her mouth as she finishes sipping yet another cup of tea."

mik "Vroooom, here comes the airplane~"

"She looks at me with a despising frown before taking the sushi in her hand and thrusting it towards me. Before I know it, she's got it half into my mouth."

mik "Bib I piff you moff?"

suz "I feel like the only one with any constraint here."

"Giving in to my fate, I push the roll into my mouth with my thumb and force it down. It takes some effort."

mik "Probably."

suz "You shouldn't feel bad about it."

"She answers my questioning look by throwing her head back to where Junko's sitting."

mik "It's not like she's wrong. I did some pretty bad things back-"

suz "That's exactly why. You did bad things, but that's different to being a bad person."

"And again we come to this discussion. On the one hand, I want to just agree with her and wash my hands of everything I've done in the past, taking the weight of guilt off my shoulders. On the other, I don't feel like I have the right to do that. Not when I'm the one who did it in the first place."

"It's a lot easier to forgive, than to forget."

har "You two enjoy yourselves?"

mik "You picked a good place, man."

har "Was there any doubt?"

suz "It was nice though, thank you."

yuk "It sure was."

"Yukio pokes his head between Suzu and I, having scooted around to chat."

har "Shame we're not gonna be able to do this kind of thing any more, though."

yuk "I'm sure we can scrape something together to send us off with closer to graduation."

hur "It's not really gonna be the same."

"It's weird to see the eternally optimistic Haru looking so down. That, and that damned word 'graduation', makes the gravity of the coming months weigh down on all of us."

"The first years will be fine; they've got a good couple of years more to enjoy. Everyone at this table will go their separate ways, into different universities, colleges, and jobs. Then there's the matter of Suzu and I..."

yuk "It'll all work out. Haru's got his bakery, Emi and the captain easily good enough to get scholarships, I've got a political science course at a fine university lined up, and I'm sure Hisao will get into a good uni, too."

yuk "You've got a good brain up there, don't you Suzuki? I'm sure you could do whatever you wanted."

"Suzu just shrugs, not really invested in the conversation as she sips at her tea once more. His judgement of her seems a bit generous, given her relatively average marks in class."

yuk "Don't be so humble. Least you're doing better than that lout."

mik "Don't start."

har "What are your plans anyway, Suzuki?"

suz "University, I guess."

"Silence reigns as everyone waits for her to say what she intends studying, how good a university she'll try for, what area it'd be in, or anything further in general. All that's to be heard is the chatter from the table behind us."

yuk "...Well, I mean, it's good to keep your options open. Something will take your interest if you keep working at it."

"Smooth. I'm pretty sure I've heard that exact line from at least a half dozen teachers before, giving their usual generic pep-talks on life after Yamaku."

mik "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

yuk "Me? Pretty much. There's still a couple of things I want to wrap up before graduation, though."

"The track captain calls out to Haru, holding a camera as he does so. Shouldn't have thought we'd get out of this without a group photo."

"With Haru nodding in assent and calling over the first-year students, the captain calls over a passing waitress to take our picture."

"Suzu doesn't look thrilled by the idea, but closes her eyes as she realises she's not going to get out of this. No further prompting's needed as I bring my arm around her neck, tugging her closer."

"With Yukio reluctantly returning to his seat amidst the chaotic movements and orders being given, we end up with a haphazard arrangement of third-years and the teacher sitting in the front and first-years standing over us."

"I can't help but give a wide grin as the waitress's finger comes down on the camera's trigger. Suzu's body is held tight to mine as everyone crushes together to fit into the shot, and the new generation of the track club stands behind, ready to take our places once we leave."

"For a brief moment as the camera flash blinds us, it feels like everything really will work out."

# Timeskip

"With the event over and time marching on, I idly stand around on the dark street outside the restaurant, a slumbering girl held to my back. Only Haru and the teacher are still around, the rest of the students having left by bus."

"Our teacher busies himself with moving things from the back seat to the trunk, so that Suzu and I can hitch a ride to Yamaku with him. Haru, on the other hand, slowly reads the long receipt with a remarkably dour face, prompting me to peek over his shoulder at it."

har "Man..."

mik "Geez. That's pretty much the lot, isn't it?"

har "The teacher said he'd help with the cost a bit, but still..."

mik "Easy come, easy go."

"He just hangs his head. If nothing else, at least he's going to finish his time at Yamaku being venerated as a benevolent god of free food. There are worse fates."

"I adjust my hold on Suzu a bit, hitching her up a little further. She's gone a fair while without a nap, so it isn't a surprise it'd catch up with her eventually. I'm just glad she managed to last through most of the dinner."

har "Think you'll be alright with Suzu?"

mik "I've done this plenty of times before, dude."

har "That's not what I'm talking about."

"Haru just smiles. After being around each other since entering Yamaku, for good or ill, it isn't a surprise he'd have a pretty good read on me."

mik "Everything'll be fine. Somehow."

har "I never thought I'd get to hear you say that, after all these years."

mik "You gettin' sentimental, boy?"

har "No, no."

har "...A bit."

mik "Well cut it out. It's weird."

"He gives a grin and a salute as the teacher calls out for us to get in. Knowing him, we'd better get a move on."

# Timeskip

"After giving thanks to the teacher for the lift back to Yamaku, and letting Haru go on ahead to the male dorms, I slowly continue the journey to the female dormitories."

"The school building looks different of a night, barely lit by the lamps in the grounds out the front. Without teenagers running about and the rooms busy with staff and students, it's little more than an empty shell. It's not creepy at all, but more... lonely. A world without people in it."

"But that's how Suzu's world largely was, before meeting me. How someone could live so long without others, whether they liked you or not, is a mystery to me. Maybe that's the reason for her distorted personality; spending so long in her own mind without the company of other people."

"As if she'd heard my thoughts, she chooses now to stir. I obediently let her down as she starts to fidget, waiting a little for her as she reorients herself."

suz "What did I miss?"

mik "Nothin' much. It was winding up when you went to sleep, and the club teacher gave us and Haru a ride back."

"We start walking back to the dorm, her hand slipping into mine as we do so. She does her best to look like it's an ordinary thing, but I can tell she's a little brighter than usual."

suz "I'm sorry about before."

mik "What's there to apologise for?"

suz "Calling you a friend."

mik "...Yeah, that did kinda hurt."

mik "They'll be fine with it, you know. I'm pretty sure a few think I lean that way already."

suz "I assumed you were straight."

mik "So guys think I'm into girls, and girls think I'm into guys. I'm wounded."

mik "If that's true though, why'd you confess to me?"

suz "When you said you refused your father's offer in order to stay with my family, I felt..."

"She tops herself, too embarrassed to continue as her grip on my hand tightens. Too curious to let her wiggle out of this, I patiently wait for her to continue on."

suz "I felt hope. I'd never felt that before, so I ended up clutching desperately at it."

mik "You make that sound like a bad thing. When I was thinking about what happened afterwards, that courage you showed made me like you even more."

suz "That's..."

"Maybe I was coming on too strong, the girl falling silent as we come to the front of the dormitory building and make our way inside."

"Both of us squint as we enter the brightly-lit first floor. The common room lies empty as we pass, everyone most likely sleeping by now in preparation for the day ahead."

"Coming up the stairs and down the hall to the door of my room, I move to take my hand from Suzu's in order to grab my keys. It proves futile, with her hand refusing to let go of my own."

mik "Suzu...?"

suz "I don't want to let go."

mik "I can't get in if you don't."

suz "Then sleep in my room."

"It seems Suzu still can't speak about such things in a straightforward way, but even coming that close is a surprise. Her eyes betray her nervousness, as if she might be making a terrible faux pas in asking in such a way. It's probably one of our biggest differences, as I don't really get why she gets so keyed up about it."

"With no offense or refusal forthcoming, she gingerly leads on down the hallway."

# Timeskip

"I open the door with my copy of her key, and the moment Suzu closes the door behind us, I pull her into a tight embrace and press my mouth to hers with all the force I dare use."

"Her surprise melts away almost instantly, defensively raised arms dropping loosely by her side as she lets herself be swept up in the lustful rush."

"For a flicker of time, it feels like we're both in unison with our emotions. A desperation to affirm our feelings for each other, and to continue what had come to flourish during the holidays. After spending the day suddenly surrounded by so many people now that we're back in Yamaku, this is a time for us, and us alone"

"Things are different now. We can't go back. We don't want to go back."

"Our kissing deepens as our want for each other redoubles, the feel of her breath brushing against my face as her body remains near-limp, all but surrrendered to my desires."

"I pull away with reluctance, as much to gasp for air as take in the sight of her. Suzu's face is dreamy as she looks back into my eyes, breathing heavily as her lips remain just slightly open, as if hoping they were met again."

"My shirt and undershirt find themselves dropped to the floor, my temptation getting the better of me after I shirk my jeans as I dive at her neck and collar, licking them to take in her taste. She merely lifts her chin to allow my indulgence, saying not a word."

"My lips meet the skin between her breasts soon after, my knees bending as I work my way down. A peck to her left breast is followed by another to her navel, my hand taking hold of herleg and working its way up her supple thigh underneath her dress."

"Her shyness makes her hesitate, but I need not ask as she timidly brings her forearms underneath her dress, holding up its front. Her reward is a kiss to her pink underwear, her breath catching in response."

"I begin to lap between her legs, teasing her with my tongue through the thin fabric. Her wimpers only drive me on, my want to see her in raptures making he grip her leg all the harder."

"As her underwear discolours from her excitement and moans begin to heighten, I tug downward at her panties. Her dainty legs lift one after the other to allow them off, my lapping at the delicate nub between her legs resumed."

suz "Miki..."

"I move faster and faster, my motions progressively less thought out as my sense of restraint all but leaves me. I want to ravage this body, to make it mine. To see her squirm and moan at my control. I want her."

"Suzu's grip on her dress tightens as she desperately tries to control her growing ecstasy, quivering legs and pained expression giving away the growing difficulty. My lips cover her most private area, sucking as I flick her with the tip of my tongue."

suz "Aah... Aaaaahn!"

"She teeters on the adge of euphoria, but I don't care. I can't stop until I've had my fill of her. Her muscles tighten as she clings on, but as her breathing accelerates, it becomes all but impossible."

suz "Ah...!"

"Her moan of joy is suddenly silenced, all control of her body lost as her knees buckle from underneath her. I quickly jerk my head back as Suzu's crumples to the ground before me, her upper body thrown forwards with what little energy she has left."

"Exhausted, her head lies on my shoulder with hair dishevelled, arms slung around me in a loose embrace as she pants. The sweat on her cheek is cold, gently pressed againstmy own in her near-lifeless state."

"But it's not enough. I want more of her. I want every inch of her, my hand taking a hold of her shoulder and pushing her back onto the floor with a thud."

"I throw myself on her without a moment's notice, taking hold of her dress and jerking it up. Once, twice, three times I try to reef it off, my reward for succeeding being the beautiful skin of her heaving chest. Her chemise follows without as much of a struggle, leaving her body bare."

"With the floor too uncomfortable, I scoop her small body up in my arms, her arms coming up to hide what she can of her breasts."

suz "Please, Miki...!"

"Her voice more startled than panicked, I step over to her bed and dump her body onto the sheets. She bounces up and down as she lands on the thick mattress back-first, my bra and panties thrown off before I throw myself on top of her."

"Suzu's body squirms and wriggles under mine as I force my mouth to hers once more, tongues intermingling as her back arches and feet kick about."

"Hair falls past my face as I grope her breast, taking in its softness as the smell of her sweat from the exertion begins to enter the air."

"Satisfied, break off and turn on all fours to orient my head between her legs. Suzu seizes the brief moment of freedom as she turns on her side and begins to shufle towards the head of the bed, but her strength leaves her after I fall onto my shoulder and kiss her below the tuft of hair."

"Clutching her butt with my hand and bringing my stump over her other side, she surrenders and brings her lips to me. The pleasure as she does so surges through my body like lightening, driving me to pleasure her even further."

"Again and again I lap at her, my advances less delicate than those of Suzu. It's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I can feel my body filling as she holds me, taking in my taste as I do hers."

"It isn't long before I feel the pleasure from that spot welling up inside of me, my grip tightening as I begin to lose myself."

"Just a little more, just a little further..."

"I'm forced to break my mouth from Suzu as the muscles in my neck tighten, a groan coming from deep in my chest as I desperately fight to control the feeling threatening to overwhelm me."

"It's no use. I can't hold back, I can't...!"

mik "Aaaaaah!"

# Timeskip

"The cool night air sticks to my skin, the first sensation to return as my eyes blearily flicker open. The plain white ceiling hangs over me, a faint light from the front of the room just barely illuminating it."

"I reach out with my hand to feel out Suzu, but I only end up patting at the bed. A brief glance confirms the fact."

"Diappointed that I couldn't wake next to her, I sit up and rub my eyes in an attempt to see where she is. Despite still being out of focus, the silhouetted figure staring at her laptop's screen is unmistakable."

mik "Suzu...?"

"She glances around to see me, her pajamas back on and a blanket draped loosely over her shoulders and back for warmth."

suz "Sorry. Did I wake you?"

mik "Nah, it's fine."

"She did, but I manage to mumble out a half-truth that seems to satisfy her enough to turn back to what she was doing."

"Curious, mildly frustrated, and already awake, I have little reason to stay in bed. After looking at Suzu with a disgruntled face as if I might will her back, I give up and throw my legs over the side, staggering up behind her."

"On the screen is an unfinished history assignment. My first instinct is to scold her for being overeager, but if her narcolepsy is messing up her sleep patterns again, it's not like there's much else to do in the dark."

"Her finger repeatedly taps lightly on a key, only stopping as I drape my arms over her shoulders and bring my head beside hers. I get the feeling she's frustrated, given how she still keeps her focus on the screen instead of me, despite her usual timidity about physical contact."

mik "Sorry about being so forceful before. I just kinda let myself go, and..."

suz "Hmm? I don't really mind."

"The way she says it makes me think she actually rather enjoyed it. So she's that kind of person."

"Relieved that I haven't actually annoyed her, the question of what the problem is remains unsolved. Maybe it really is as simple as what's before my eyes."

mik "If you're having trouble, just leave it for later."

suz "But I know this. It's what I was trying to get done before we left."

"I read what she's done already to see if I can be of any help. An essay on the Meiji Era, by the looks of it. The four paragraphs she's done so far look fine, if a little padded in the usual 'meeting a teacher's arbitrary wordcount' way. As for the rest... I haven't even started it myself, so I don't really know."

"I remain quiet for fear of disrupting her thought process, though it looks like she's struggling to get out of neutral either way."

"The brick wall refuses to move as she wracks her brain, the frustration boiling over as she brings her forehead down to her open palm and grinds against it in annoyance. I can't help but feel sorry for Suzu as her face scrunches up, silently beating against the immovable block in her mind."

suz "I know this... I know this...!"

"I quickly come to realise that there's little I can do for her, even if I did know more about what she was writing on. The problem isn't merely academic, after all."

"If Hisao had his physical prowess torn from him thanks to his heart attack, it's Suzu's intelligence and work ethic that were torn from her by this troublesome condition. No matter how smart she may be, or how stubbornly she may stick to a task, she still hits the wall created by her permanent state of sleep deprivation."

"I think over the tak I had with her sister earlier. Perhaps, thanks to that, she might get a new medicine regime that'll work better. It's not like the current one seems to be doing her much good."

"She saved me, I have absolutely no doubt of that, yet I can't help her. My heart sinks as I wrap her in a hug, able to do little else."

mik "Just come back to bed, Suzu. A fresh set of eyes'll help."

suz "But I-"

"I clamp my hand over her mouth, having expected her to protest. I feel terrible as her face goes from frustration, to displeasure, and finally, to defeat."

"My hand is removed from her mouth. She closes the laptop with a solemn click. Hope for working tonight leaves her."