Threads of the Past

As I turned toward the hallway, the echo of hurried footsteps and frantic whispers filled the air. A sudden collision disrupted the flow of students—a blur of movement as two figures crashed into each other. Papers scattered across the floor like fallen leaves in a storm.

I approached instinctively; my curiosity piqued. One of them was a stranger, their face unfamiliar among the sea of students. But as my gaze shifted to the other person, my breath hitched.

It was her.

The senpai I had met that day.

She was on the ground, propping herself up on one elbow, her eyes, sharp and unwavering, locked onto mine. A flicker of recognition passed between us, brief but undeniable.

"Are you alright?" My voice sounded more hesitant than I intended.

She dusted off her skirt and stood up, exhaling sharply. "I'm fine," she muttered, barely glancing at me before turning to the other student. "You should be more careful."

The boy scrambled to his feet, bowing repeatedly in apology before rushing off, leaving behind only the fading echo of his retreating footsteps.

I turned back to her. "Senpai—"

"Well, something happened... Never mind me," she said, waving her hand dismissively. Then, her smirk deepened as she crossed her arms. "Wait a second—so, you're the 'cutie' he was talking about?"

I blinked. "Hmm? That sounds—"

My words trailed off as I struggled to process what I had just learned. A strange, nostalgic feeling stirred within me, like a memory just out of reach.

This girl... was Kane's older sister?

Who would've thought?

As if sensing my confusion, she placed a hand on her hip and gave me a playful grin. "Hey, I'm Komaru Inoue. Nice to meet you. And this idiot over here—" she jerked a thumb toward Kane, who groaned in embarrassment, "—is my little sister."

Kane scowled. "Did you have to introduce me like that?"

Komaru chuckled, unfazed. "Of course. Gotta let your kohai-kun here know just how much of a handful you are."

I stood there, watching the two bicker, a mixture of amusement and lingering curiosity settling in. There was something oddly familiar about Komaru… but I couldn't quite place it.

And that nagging feeling only grew stronger.

I watched as Kane huffed in irritation, crossing her arms while Komaru only grinned wider, clearly enjoying her little sister's frustration. Their dynamic was interesting—almost amusing. Kane, who was usually composed and sharp-tongued, now looked like a child being teased by an older sibling who knew exactly which buttons to press.

Still, that nagging feeling wouldn't leave me.

Komaru Inoue.

The name, her voice, even the way she smirked—it all felt strangely familiar, like a half-remembered dream slipping through my fingers.

"You're staring, kohai-kun," Komaru said, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her smirk turned teasing. "What, falling for me already?"

I scoffed. "You wish."

She laughed, a light and easy sound, before flicking Kane's forehead. "So? What were you doing, huh? Skipping class again?"

Kane swatted her hand away, grumbling under her breath. "We just finished class, thank you very much."

Komaru arched a brow. "Oh? Then I guess you were about to go on a date?" Her eyes darted toward me, mischief dancing in them.

Kane turned red. "It's not a date!"

"Ohh?" Komaru leaned in slightly, as if she had just uncovered something scandalous. "So, you two do hang out alone. Interesting~."

I chuckled as Kane groaned, clearly regretting every life decision that led to this moment.

But despite the playful atmosphere, that nagging feeling inside me only grew heavier. I found myself watching Komaru more closely—the way she moved, the way she spoke. It was as if I had met her before, but no matter how hard I tried to grasp the memory, it remained just out of reach.

Then, out of nowhere—

A flash.

A scene buried deep in my mind.

A girl standing in the rain, her voice soft yet distant.

A promise left unspoken.

A name I couldn't remember.

I inhaled sharply, the moment vanishing just as quickly as it had come.

Komaru was still grinning, teasing Kane relentlessly.

But now, I wasn't just looking at her.

I was searching for something.

Something I might have lost a long time ago.

My pulse quickened as I stared at Komaru. That fleeting memory—it felt too real to be a coincidence. But why? Why her?

I clenched my fists, willing myself to remember, but the harder I tried, the further the image slipped away, like trying to catch mist with bare hands.

Komaru, oblivious to my internal struggle, suddenly turned to me with a lopsided grin. "You okay, kohai-kun? You look like you've seen a ghost."

A ghost.

That's what it felt like. A lingering shadow of something—or someone—I had forgotten.

I forced a chuckle, masking my unease. "Yeah, just... spaced out for a second."

Her eyes flickered with something unreadable, but before I could decipher it, she stretched her arms behind her head. "Well, if you say so~."

Kane, still recovering from her sister's relentless teasing, shot me a look—half annoyed, half curious. "Anyway, what are you doing here, Komaru? You never visit."

Komaru hummed, rocking back on her heels. "Eh, something came up."

Something?

That answer was vague, almost intentionally so.

Kane frowned. "That's not an answer."

Komaru's grin widened, but there was something different about it now. Something that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You don't need to know everything, little sis."

Kane's scowl deepened, but before she could argue, Komaru turned her attention back to me.

"Say, kohai-kun."

The way she said that—it was almost lazy, yet laced with something else. Amusement? Curiosity? Recognition?

She took a step closer, tilting her head slightly. "Have we met before?"

The words hit me like a shockwave.

I felt my breath hitch.

A cold, sinking feeling settled in my gut.

Did she feel it too? That strange familiarity?

I hesitated. "I... I don't know."

Komaru studied me for a second, then shrugged. "Huh. Guess it's just my imagination then."

But something in her tone told me she wasn't convinced either.

Kane, oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, sighed dramatically. "Well, whatever. Since you're here, you might as well treat us to something."

Komaru snorted. "Oh? So now I'm a walking wallet?"

"Yes," Kane deadpanned.

Komaru laughed. "Fine, fine. How about ramen? My treat."

Kane's face lit up. "I knew there was a reason I tolerated you."

I chuckled, shaking off the lingering unease. Maybe I was just overthinking things. Maybe Komaru was just Kane's annoying older sister—nothing more, nothing less.

And yet, as we started walking toward the ramen shop, I couldn't help but glance at her again.

The way she walked. The way she carried herself.

That feeling still wouldn't go away.

Like I was walking beside someone I had lost a long time ago.

And they didn't even know it.

As I walked through the dimly lit hallway toward the shoe lockers, I spotted Haru leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his usual laid-back smirk in place.

"Yo, took you long enough," he said, pushing off the wall.

I scratched the back of my head, already thinking of an excuse, but before I could say anything, his gaze flicked past me to Kane and Komaru, who were trailing behind.

His smirk widened. "Oh? And here I thought you were ditching me, but turns out you were just busy with some pretty company."

Komaru raised an eyebrow, a spark of amusement in her eyes. "Pretty, huh?" She stepped forward, arms folded. "And who might this gentleman be?"

"Haru," I introduced, sighing. "And Haru, this is Komaru. Kane's older sister."

Haru whistled under his breath. "Older sister? No way, I thought you two were just friends. But now that I look closely—" He grinned at Kane. "Guess good looks run in the family, huh?"

Kane groaned. "Don't encourage her."

Komaru, however, seemed thoroughly entertained. "I like him already," she said, nudging Kane. "At least someone here knows how to compliment a lady."

I shook my head, amused, but then turned to Haru. "Listen, I was planning to go with you, but—"

Before I could finish, Kane cut in smoothly, catching my hesitation. "Haru-kun, why don't you come with us? Either way, my sister is paying, so you might as well join in."

Komaru nodded, tilting her head in mock curiosity. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind getting to know this so-called gentleman a little better."

Haru hesitated for a second, looking between me and the two sisters, then shrugged. "Well, if it's on the house… I guess I can't refuse."

"Great!" Kane clapped her hands. "Then it's settled. Let's go!"

As we stepped out into the cool evening air, I couldn't shake the feeling that this night was going to be more interesting than I had anticipated.

The night air carried the scent of street food and the distant chatter of students heading home. We walked toward the ramen shop, the city lights casting a warm glow over the streets. Komaru and Haru had already fallen into a conversation, their banter light and teasing.

"So, Haru-kun," Komaru said, flashing a grin. "Do you always loiter around school waiting for my dear kohai here, or do you have other hobbies?"

Haru smirked. "I like to think of it as quality time. Can't have him getting too lonely, y'know?"

Kane rolled her eyes. "You mean you just don't have anything better to do."

"Hey, that's harsh." Haru put a hand over his chest in mock offense. "I'm an incredibly busy guy. I just happen to prioritize my friends."

I chuckled, shaking my head as we turned a corner. The ramen shop was just ahead, the bright red lanterns swaying slightly in the evening breeze.

The moment we stepped inside, the rich aroma of broth and sizzling toppings filled the air. The place was cozy, filled with the quiet hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of chopsticks against bowls.

A waitress greeted us with a smile. "Table for four?"

Komaru nodded. "Yep. And put the bill on me."

As we took our seats, I glanced around, feeling a sense of ease settle in. The warmth of the restaurant, the sound of friends talking—it felt… nice.

Then, just as I reached for the menu, Komaru leaned toward me, her voice dropping slightly.

"You know," she said, resting her chin on her palm, "you still haven't told me how you know me."

I froze, fingers tightening around the menu.

The others were busy scanning their choices, unaware of the sudden shift in atmosphere.

I forced a smile. "What do you mean?"

Komaru tilted her head, eyes sharp yet playful. "You've been looking at me like I'm some kind of puzzle all night."

For a second, I didn't know what to say.

Because the truth was—I wasn't sure either.

And something told me… this wasn't the last time I'd feel that way.