As the bell signaling the end of the last period rang throughout Tokisadame High School, students eager to go home and be done with school for the day swiftly marched out while chatting about their plans for the rest of day or complaining about the homework they need to do and leaving the once-filled classrooms silent and empty.

Well, almost empty.

Haruna Annaka couldn't help the heavy sigh that escaped her lips. It was just her luck that Ms. Sakurai assigned her to cleaning duty on the day her father was coming home from work earlier than usual.

''Should we get started, Annaka-san?'' The soft voice of her classmate and cleaning partner, Nano Shinonome, brought Haruna out of her thoughts.

''Yep!'' Haruna replied to the girl standing alongside her with some enthusiasm. The sooner they got to work, the better. ''Do you want to sweep the floor or wipe the desks?'' She asked.

Nano thought for a moment before replying. ''I'm fine with either.''

Haruna nodded.''Okay, then, I'll handle the floor.''

After deciding on their duties, the girls set their bags and got to work. A few minutes into sweeping the floor, Haruna heard her classmate begin humming an unfamiliar yet relaxing melody.

Even though a few months had passed, it still felt like yesterday when Ms. Sakurai announced to the class that a new transfer student was coming. Everyone was both curious and excited to find out what their new classmate was going to be like. At first glance, Nano Shinonome looked like any other ordinary teenage girl.

Except for one small peculiarity.

Haruna's eyes couldn't help but shift to the key-shaped device attached to her classmates back. Then the memory of when Nano had to introduce herself to the class came to mind. The poor girl tried to explain how such a thing ended up on her back, but in the end, just devolved into an incoherent mess. Haruna felt bad for the girl and suspected she was bullied a lot at her previous school because of it. Seeing how the key was a very sensitive subject sensitive for the new student, nobody brought it up and instead pretended not to even notice it.

''Um, is something wrong, Annaka-san?'' Nano asked, her grey eyes a hint of concern.

''What? Oh! No, nothing's wrong!'' Haruna said quickly. ''Umm… How do you like it at this school so far, Shinonome-san?'' She then asked.

Nano's face suddenly lit up with delight. ''Oh, I like it a lot! And everyone here's made me feel so welcomed. Especially Aioi-san, Naganohara-san and Minakami-san.''

''I guess you get into all kinds of shenanigans with those three.'' Haruna giggled.

Yuuko, Mio, and Mai were known in class 1-Q for their eccentricities. Haruna never knew either of the girls personally, nor had much interaction with them aside from the occasional greeting whenever they crossed paths.

''That's putting it mildly,'' Nano giggled along with her. ''Just today, Aioi-san suggested we all play kick the can after school.''

''Kick the can, huh? How nostalgic! I haven't played that game since elementary school. Are you going to play with them after this?''

''I wish I could, but I still have chores at home I need to do.' Nano admitted.

''Really? Then I'll finish the rest of the cleaning so you can get going.'' Haruna declared.

''What? But… we both have to…''

Haruna just shook her head. ''Don't worry about it! I'll be fine on my own. There's not a lot left to do around here, anyway.''

Nano appeared to want to protest again, but she relented and smiled gratefully at Haruna and bowed. ''Thank you very much, Annaka-san! I promise I won't forget this!''

Haruna watched her leave, her smile still on her lips. It always felt good to do something nice for others. Once the classroom was all cleaned up, Haruna handed in the report to Ms. Sakurai and could finally leave the school. With her mom having her hands full with chores around the house and cooking, she asked Haruna to stop by the grocery store after school to pick up a few things for the house.

Haruna was pleased to find the grocery store not too crowded inside. Taking a cart from the front of the store, she made her way up and down the aisles, checking the list her mom had given for her.

''Let's see: Milk? Check. Eggs? Check. salt and butter? Check and check!''

She had everything scanned by the clerk and paid for, then headed in the direction of home. It was round late afternoon when she reached her house.

''I'm back,'' Haruna cried as she opened the front door.

''Haruna? Is that you?'' Her mother's voice rang through the house. ''I'm in the kitchen.''

Yumiko Annaka had her usual red apron on, as she was busy with a boiling pot. She lowered the flame before facing her daughter with a smile. ''How was school, dear?''

''Good. I was on cleaning duty, so that's why I got home now.'' Haruna set the grocery bag on the kitchen counter. ''Here's everything you wanted. What're making?''

''Spaghetti.''

''Hmm, sounds good.''

''Got a lot of homework?'' Yumiko asked.

Haruna shook her head. ''Nah, I'll get it down soon.''

After a refreshing shower, and spending time working on her homework, Haruna helped her mother with the cooking. About twenty minutes later, the front door opened and Shinjiro Annaka announced his arrival. The smell of his wife's cooking filled him with joy.

''Right on time, huh? Boy, am I starving!''

Shinjiro washed his hands by the kitchen sink before joining his family at the dinner table. Haruna and her father eagerly dug into their meal. Yumiko was a superb cook, and they always appreciated whatever she prepared. Halfway through dinner, Haruna noticed her father with a pained expression as he massaged his wrist.

''Are you all right, dad?'' She asked.

''I'm fine, just had a really busy day at work, that's all.'' He said.

''You really should ask your boss for better hours,'' Yumiko told him.

''I'll try, but I doubt it'll get anywhere.''

Shinjiro had been a factory machinist for more than a decade. The hours were long, and the work was demanding. Despite this, he always returned home with a cheerful attitude and never complained about it, something Haruna really admired about her father.

They ate the rest of the dinner in relative silence. When they were finished, Haruna assisted her mother in transferring the dishes to the sink before retiring to her room for a restful night's sleep.