Emi looks surprised, then sad, to see me on the bleachers, watching her run. She breaks off from the track to talk to me.

"Don't say sorry." I preemptively say, once the blonde bullet is in range. "Not your fault, I didn't even know, how were you supposed to know?"

"Okay." She says, looking put off before flashing me her normal smile. "Next time, I'm definitely making you stretch."

I make a face. "I know my limit now. I just have to be sure not to overextend. Four laps should do it. Until then, though, I have a prescribed vacation."

She pouts, but doesn't say anything more on the subject. She has a very cute pout, though. I feel compelled to change my mind to appease her, but shake my head. "Now go. You're running for two, now, aren't you?" To my surprise, Emi blushes slightly before turning around.

"I suppose I am. Don't weigh me down, will you?" I blink.

"Are you calling me fat?" I ask, mock-offended. She grins a predatory grin before taking off down the field, onto the track.

...

I watch her quietly as she finishes her sprints. She seems to have really been pushing herself; the controlled breathing of yesterday is gone, replaced by clear exhaustion. I wave, making sure to catch her attention, before I slide down and take my leave, heading towards the class.

...

I'm not terribly surprised to find Lilly waiting for me just outside 3-3. To my surprise, though, Hanako waits alongside her, eyes sweeping the hallway with that timid look in her eyes, waiting for someone to stumble upon her.

...The more I watch her, the more I understand...but, also, understanding only brings more questions. Why is she here so early? This is really quite unusual.

Inevitably, her eyes catch sight of me, widening when her gaze pans down to see the crutch holding me aloft. I shift my weight to the right and wave, smiling.

It's been a while since I've seen her.

"H-Hisao?" Hanako asks, wide-eyed. Lilly reacts to the question with shock.

"Huh? But..." I'm not really sure why she's surprised. I've been pretty early every day...but I guess this is only the second day where she's concerned. But shocked that it was me? Was she not expecting me to arrive at all, or...?

"Yeah. Hey, Hanako, Lilly." I nod slightly to the former. I can see both have questions, but Hanako seems content enough to wait in silence while Lilly talks.

"Are you alright, Hisao?" The blonde begins, sounding rather formal, much like how it was when we first spoke. It makes me someone uncomfortable, like I've annoyed her or something.

"Er..." I tap my crutch on the ground. "Hurt my leg a bit, but it's not too bad. The crutch is only here to speed up recovery. I could walk without it, but that's not really a good idea..." Relief crosses her face. So she's not mad at me, then...

"Is it related to your, er...?" Lilly cuts herself off, clearly realizing that she might be being too intrusive. It's surprising that she's so flustered, considering her own frankness with her disability.

I decide to answer as simply as possible.

"Yes." I pause. I guess...

"My condition..." For some reason, it feels harder to talk about it, now. It should be easier, because I've already mentioned my condition to two others and had to talk about it with the Nurse. So why is it so difficult...?

"Y-You don't have to...talk, if you don't..." Hanako breaks in, but I shake my head and frown.

"It's…the simple explanation is congenital analgesia. Inability to feel pain and temperature, basically...except that, with congenital analgesia, the condition is from birth. Mine isn't like that. I started okay...and got worse." I make a face. "So no one really knows, well, what I am. And even congenital analgesia itself is incurable. No one even knows what my disorder even is yet. The official name is HSAN-6; Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy Type 6. As far as I know, only seven people have ever been diagnosed with it, and most of those cases are recent."

"But, anyways, I was running with Emi, and I strained my leg because I couldn't tell I was pushing myself."

"Ah..." Lilly says, looking distinctly uncomfortable. She must not know how to react. We don't really know each other, so...

"Wait, so when Emi ran into you in the hallway..." She asks. I'm somewhat surprised at her ability to connect those dots so easily.

"Yeah, I didn't even really feel it. Just blinked and then I was on the ground."

"Ah."

"Don't worry about it." I say, deciding to head inside the classroom. Hanako and Lilly follow me in, the latter still looking bothered by something.

"And...Hisao, about yesterday..."

"Huh? Oh. Don't worry about that, either." I reply. "It's not really a big deal. I'm sorry I lost my temper, though." She seems extremely conflicted on how to reply.

"I...If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, or..." She trails off.

"Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to join you two for lunch." I say, smiling slightly. "If that's okay with you both?" I ask, glancing at Hanako, who looks an odd mix between awkward and skittish.

"I-I don't mind!" Hanako says, a little too quickly, but I nod in assent anyways.

"It would be my pleasure." Lilly cocks her head as a student enters the room, heading to his desk. I then realize that the hallway is gradually filling up, people trickling in from the stairs.

"Oh. Uh, school's going to start soon, so..." And I'd really like to avoid a confrontation with Shizune. It's inevitable, but preferably not right now. That's stress I'd really not like to have to deal with.

"Ah. I'd best be on my way, then." Lilly says, nodding politely to me and Hanako.

"See you at lunch." I reply reflexively, before wincing. "Er...ack."

Lilly giggles. "Until then." And then she's off, mood visibly lifted. With that, I turn to Hanako, who is already inching towards the open door.

"Oh, sorry, Hanako. Let's go." She nods and we both file in through the door as the morning rush arrives.

...

The aura of the tea room is refreshing, feeling isolated from the rest of the world. This is only amplified by the hustle and bustle of the outside world. It seems people are still scrambling to prepare for the festival. Lilly isn't here yet. Hanako slowly spreads her food on the table, intently focusing on every little movement, as if she's trying to keep her mind off other thoughts.

It's not much, but I can tell that she has prepared everything with the utmost care. And, more importantly...

"Thank you, Hanako." She looks up from the food, quizzical. I simply nod my head at the food and say nothing.

It's more like a small feast, this time, rather than the personal lunch boxes that they brought the last time I ate with them. The food is placed on several platters, rather than in two boxes, clearly more of a communal meal. Did Hanako tell Lilly that I hadn't brought my own lunch, or was this simply a personal thought? Nevertheless, it's a very nice gesture. She gives me a shy smile and continues with her small chore as I carefully pour tea for the two of us, a cup on the side for the missing third.

"Is Lilly coming along?" I ask. Hanako nods.

"She'll be here soon." I pour the third cup and place them down on the table, in the same places as before. Hanako struggles with the lid of the container of rice.

"Here, let me help you with that." Hanako gives me the container, and I try to force open the lid. It seems wedged shut.

"Did you put this in while the rice was still hot?" I guess. Her face falls.

"Y-yes. I was in a rush..."

"I thought so. The lid seems forced in. We'd need some hot water to get it open." I say, studying the container.

"Well, in that case, how about I contribute to today's meal?" Lilly asks, and we both turn to see her at the doorway, holding up a bag stocked with various buns and bread rolls. The sight brings a smile to all our faces.

"Thanks, Lilly. Here, let me get that for you..." The bread quickly joins Hanako's food, and we sit down to eat.

As I take a bite, I notice Hanako trying her hardest to not look like she is staring at me. It's quite a simple meal, but still satisfying. Her eyes shout out at me, begging for some kind of feedback. I grin, mischievously.

Cooked it herself, then? Not something I thought she would do...

"It's good." I say, simply. "Thanks, Hanako." She nods, cheerfully, and we go back to eating our food in relative peace.

...

"I must be getting back. It's far too easy to be late after eating here." Lilly says, after our meal has ended.

I blink. Surely she doesn't really mean that? Or is it for Hanako's benefit?

Either way, I don't call her out on it.

"Heh, yeah. I think we'll just clean up here and head off." I say, glancing at the now-empty containers of food.

"Well then, good day." Lilly leaves, her cane tapping away down the quiet hallway. Hanako and I quickly clean up, packing our things before sitting down and waiting for the bell.

Together, we stare out the window and into the endless azure sky. If it weren't for the pealing of the bells, I would have sworn that time had stopped. The urge to skip class rises in my gut. I shoot a glance at Hanako, who shows no signs of moving either.

"Not...just yet..." She whispers, and I nod.

I don't think anything really needs to be said. Things just are how they are.

The interval between the warning bells and the end of lunch bells passes in the blink of an eye.

"We really should go. People might get worried if we skip class..." I say. Hanako sighs, her gaze going back to me.

"You're right." Slowly, she rises to her feet, and I follow suit, grabbing my crutch. Silently, we make our way up the old stairs to the third floor, and then to our classroom.

Class is pretty uneventful after that.