Chapter 25: Akio’s Return

The next day, the school was buzzing with its usual energy. Sora Nagi walked through the crowded halls, his steps a bit steadier than before. His mind was still on yesterday—on Nanako Shimuya's words, on his own small smile. It felt like progress, like the world around him was finally letting in a bit of light.

As he reached his classroom, a cheerful voice broke through his thoughts. "Sora! There you are!"

Sora turned to see Akio Sanagi waving at him, her brown hair bouncing as she hurried over. Her black eyes sparkled with the same bright energy he remembered. It had only been a few days since they last spoke, but somehow, it felt longer.

"Good morning," he said, his voice quiet but not as shaky.

Akio grinned. "Good morning! You look... different." She leaned in, her face inches from his. "Did something happen?"

Sora took a small step back, still not used to her boundless energy. "N-No, nothing much."

Akio pouted playfully. "You're no fun! Well, Nanako told me you two had lunch yesterday. That's nice! She was really happy."

Hearing Nanako's name brought a warmth to Sora's chest. "Yeah, it was... nice."

Akio clapped her hands together. "I'm glad! You know, it's rare for Nanako to be so open with someone. She usually keeps to herself, but with you, it's different."

Sora's cheeks tinged pink. "I-I don't know why."

Akio's expression softened. "Maybe because you're real with her. She likes that."

Before Sora could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Akio gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "See you later, Sora!"

Throughout the day, Sora found himself thinking about Akio's words. He had always seen himself as a burden, someone who dragged others down. But if Nanako liked being around him, and if Akio saw something good in him too, maybe he wasn't as invisible as he thought.

At lunchtime, Sora, Nanako, and Akio sat together under their usual tree. The conversation flowed easily, mostly led by Akio's bright chatter. She told stories about her childhood with Nanako, how they would play in the park or get lost during festivals. Nanako added her own memories, laughing as Akio exaggerated the details.

Sora listened, his usual tension slowly fading. It was different, sitting with friends—real friends—and not feeling out of place. Even when he didn't speak, they included him, drawing him into the warmth of their circle.

When the final bell rang, the trio walked home together. Akio filled the walk with stories, making both Sora and Nanako laugh. At the usual fork in the road, Akio waved them off, promising to bring snacks the next day.

As Sora and Nanako walked the rest of the way, the quiet settled comfortably between them. When they reached her house, Nanako turned to him. "I'm glad Akio's with us. She's... special."

Sora nodded. "Yeah, she is."

Nanako smiled. "And so are you."

Before he could respond, she slipped through the gate, leaving Sora standing there, her words echoing in his mind. As he walked home, the world around him felt a little brighter, the shadows a little less dark. And deep down, he knew that with friends like Nanako and Akio, he wasn't facing his battles alone.