I'm dragged suddenly from sleep by something I can't remember; a flash of light, maybe. My hand scrambles for my phone and I almost succeed in slapping it off of my drawer before bringing it close to look at the time.

...It's still a whole hour before I need to get up for Emi's run.

Ugh. Is this another side effect? Insomnia? Combined with the mood swings, this isn't going to do much for my personality...

But then I remember that I can faintly feel the soft blankets under me and I sigh happily.

It's not the same. These sensations feel too diluted, in comparison to the last medication that worked to a limited degree. It's still something, though, and I take it in greedily.

I guess I won't be going back to sleep tonight.

I pull the cord from a nearby lamp to offer some light so that I can move around, finding my way to the light switch on the far end of the room. Changing into my PE uniform for my run with Emi takes only a few moments and then I'm out the door, foregoing any kind of shower. I'll have to do it again after the run, so there's no point.

A run. Assuming that the medication continues to work, I will likely feel the strain from running. It shouldn't sound pleasant, yet the thought intrigues me.

...

Okay, maybe...not...

"How...H-How do you...do this...?" I ask, as Emi drastically reduces her pace to keep up with me. I almost trip onto my face, but manage to regain my balance in time as my feet continue to pound out an erratic rhythm along the track.

Shortly before running, I told Emi about my semi-limited ability to feel again, eliciting a happy grin that quickly turned into a malicious smirk.

I think I understand it now...

"Through lots and lots of practice." Emi replies cheerfully, turning around to face me while continuing to run around the track. I glare at her, but the effect it might have is ruined by the fact that I am gasping for air.

I brush off the unpleasant feeling of sweat across my forehead. More takes its place, rendering my efforts futile. My legs burn with the effort of propelling me forward.

"You can do it, Hisao! Last lap!" Emi cheers, turning back around to take the turn. I make a face at her.

"Hah...Slavedriver..." I gasp, to her amusement.

But I can do this. I will do this. I've done this before. I can do it again.

I will do it again!

"Final stretch!" Emi says. "Give it all you've got!"

More? I can't go faster than this!

Emi speeds up, as if taunting me. Gritting my teeth, I accept her challenge, running after the pink blur.

Suddenly my feet are over the finish line.

My head is pounding, my legs burning, my heart racing, and I'm gasping for air.

But...

I feel alive. I am undeniably alive.

Is this...the feeling? That normal people have? Is this what normal people live like all the time? Do they even know? Do they...even care?

They're lucky. So lucky. Is this what I have been missing the whole time? This certainty that I am living?

I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.

"You did it!" Emi says happily. "Congr-oof!" I cut her off with a tight hug, lifting her petite frame off the ground as I do so.

"T-Thank you." I say, squeezing before I release her and she falls a few short inches back to Earth. She shakes her head, blushing.

"Don't thank me with your words. Thank me by your actions. Keep running with me, every day. That's how I want you to thank me." Emi demands, her green eyes bright and playful.

"I wil! Rain or shine, tornado winds or doomsday, I will do my very best to show up at this track every morning!" I declare, taking a cheesy heroic pose. She seems to find this very amusing.

"Good! You'd better run if there's a tornado, though!" She replies, and for some reason I find this terribly funny, laughing as well.

This is the genuine Emi I remember from my first day out on the track, where she was bright and cheerful just like this. This is the running girl.

And then just because I can, I hug her again, for the first time properly appreciating this kind of intimate contact.

Her pink running shirt is covered in sweat. Most of it is probably mine, actually, since this is just light exercise for her. She hasn't gotten around to doing her sprints quite yet. The fabric is soft and damp. She smells like strawberries and sweat; it isn't a bad smell on her at all, oddly enough.

An odd feeling slowly starts to bubble in my stomach, one I've never felt before. It makes me feel decidedly uncomfortable, though, so I let go of Emi and step away, blushing bright.

"S-Sorry." I say sheepishly. She giggles.

"You did well today, so I will forgive your attempt at trying to cop a feel."

The world stops.

"W-W-What?" I ask, flustered. Emi leaves me in silence for a few more moments before bursting into laughter.

"Sorry, sorry! I couldn't resist! You're just too easy!" My scowl only makes her laugh harder.

Behind my fake scowl, I smile. Even though she flusters me a lot, Emi is enjoyable to be around.

She steps forward to take my forearm in her hand, tilting it to check my watch.

"Oh no! We'd better get a move on, Hisao! Class is in an hour, and I really need to shower!" Emi says, suddenly looking panicked. And we still need to meet with the Nurse...

We both start to jog towards the auxiliary building.

"Maybe he'll write us a late pass?" I ask. She nods.

"I'm sure you can convince him." She replies, cheerfully.

"...Wait, what the hell is that supposed to mean!?"

...

"H-Hey, Hanako." I say as I pass next to her homeroom seat, cursing internally. It's like this again? Again!?

"H-H-Hi." She replies, flushing before glancing away.

Ah...What do I say? It's just like before, this stilted awkwardness. I try to open my mouth to say something, but then realize that I can't think of anything, even when I force myself to try and think.

Wait. What? Hanako's not supposed to be here. The warning bell hasn't even rung yet, and normally she comes in a bit after classes start, when the hallways are empty. I mean, I'm not exactly the earliest person, given my runs with Emi, but I'm definitely on time. And Hanako is never on time.

I blink owlishly at her. Hanako seems to be hiding in her chair.

"You're here...earlier than usual." I say, tentatively.

"S-Sorry..." She squeaks out quietly. I cringe.

Smooth.

"No, it's just...different, to see you here so early. Good different." I clarify. "Did something change?"

"O-Oh." She seems to sit up just a little straighter at that. "I...just wanted to...be here..." And now she's back to square one.

"I see." I say. I'm not sure what the catalyst for her change is, but good on her. She seems to be just a little more willing to brave the crowds of people.

"Is y-your medicine working?" She asks me. I nod.

"Yeah. I just have to watch out for the mood swings." I say. I'm still trying to get used to simple things like the wind blowing through my hair.

My legs are uncomfortably sore, though. I must admit that I don't miss that particular sensation.

"But...it's good for you?" Hanako asks. She doesn't need to clarify what she means.

"Yeah. A lot. Being able to feel again is really...nice." I admit. Much more than that, though, it lifts the clouds of darkness a little farther away. One of the things I want to do is explore the courtyard with my newfound sense of touch.

"Ah. I'm...g-glad..." Hanako murmurs, almost too soft for me to hear. I smile slightly as Mutou walks in, a journal of some sort in hand.

"Er...roll, right..."

...

"That's strange. Normally Lilly's the first one here, if we don't arrive together." I say, as Hanako and I step into the tea room.

"S-She's not...coming today." Hanako replies.

"Oh? What for?" I ask, making my way the cabinet storing the tea set.

"She has...r-representative duties..."

"Oh, I see." I say. "Hm...I wonder if they're getting along a little better..." The last half is said under my breath, but Hanako seems to pick up on it regardless.

"T-They are. A...a little..." Turned away from her, my hands fumbling with the tea set, I frown. Hanako knows about Lilly and Shizune's disagreement and my involvement in it, then? Lilly must have told her.

"That's good. I think everyone involved would be happier if they got along." Especially since I can at the very least respect both of them.

I pour both cups of tea and set them on the table, a saucer already in place courtesy of Hanako. We sit down across each other and silently pull out our food; well, Hanako pulls out her food. I was so exhausted and distracted after running with Emi that I didn't remember to bring anything.

"That's a lot of food for one person." I point out, as Hanako pulls out yet another container. "Are you going to be able to eat it all?"

Hanako flushes. "Ah...n-no...this is..." She swallows heavily. "For...you..."

Oh. Doing stupid things again.

"Oh. Oh. Thank you, Hanako." I smile appreciatively. She nods as she pulls out two plates for us.

"I...I don't mind."

I really think she means it, but I don't really want to burden or rely on her more than necessary. I can accept help, sure, but I don't want to be a parasite...

That being said, I don't particularly enjoy my own cooking. And I really do like Hanako's. Maybe...I should arrange something.

"...Could...you accept payment? If you cooked for me..." This isn't coming out like I hoped it would. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.

She shakes her head. "Ah...y-you really s-shouldn't pay me...I don't mind." Hanako says. I frown.

"I mind, though. I don't...really want to take without giving." As I hoped, Hanako nods understandingly. I guess she knows the feeling, too, considering Lilly's relationship with her.

"Chess." She states firmly.

"What?"

"Every day...I'll cook...but w-we have to play chess. Okay?" Hanako asks.

"...Wait, so, you want to play chess every single day then?" I clarify. She suddenly looks unsure.

"If...t-that's okay, yes."

"That sounds good to me." I say. "Thanks, Hanako. I really appreciate it." She smiles tentatively at me.

"No...thank you..."