People in that street were mainly elderly people or couples with no children who left for work early, therefore at eight o'clock it was deserted and quiet. You'd be able to hear if someone was walking behind you, and if you turned around, there were not many hiding spots. Not that Osana wanted to hide.

Her palms, clutching school handbag, were sweating profusely though. This past few weeks she was overcome by a grave feeling that if this week won't be the one she confesses to Taro-kun, it might be late. Pleasant shivers ran along her skin when she heard the doorknob click. She straightened her skirt, and put on a reserved face – the one she reserved for him.

"Ah… Najime?"

The girl in question scoffed. "W-what is it, Yamada?"

Taro stopped for a minute, processing her new tone of hostility. It hit him, eventually. "Oh, sorry. You want me to call you Osana, right?" And even though he was still at a three meter distance, she averted her flushed face. "Y-yeah. You remembered. Maybe you are not so dumb after all."

"What? Hey! ...Was that necessary?"

"Eh? Well, t-then- don't just stay there! I've been waiting for you here for ages!"

"Sorry," apologized the boy as he came closer to her. "You should've said you would be waking up early today. I got used to waiting in your kitchen, haha."

"Oh yeah!? About that- d-don't you think it is inappropriate for you to be going in our kitchen every morning?"

"Oh? But your father insists that I read him the morning paper…"

"W-well, it is inappropriate, okay!? Sheesh… We are not kids anymore, stupid."

Taro closed his eyes and thought about it a little, before pushing the matter out of his mind. Maybe it is inappropriate. It is not far-fetched of a thought that she might have someone she likes. Then it would seem too much to be leaving from school from the same house. Hm.

It certainly is tougher to hear if someone else is walking behind you when you have someone walking by your side. Even more when that someone makes your heart beat faster. But normal people at their normal pace are audible if you focus enough.

However, the footsteps of Ayano Aishi were not audible, nor did they belong to a normal person.

...