Chapter 26: At School Together

The morning sun cast soft rays through the school windows as Sora Nagi walked down the quiet hallway. His footsteps echoed, mixing with the faint hum of morning chatter from nearby classrooms. His mind drifted back to his last conversation with Nanako Shimuya—her gentle smile, the warmth in her eyes. It made the school feel less daunting, less heavy.

As he turned the corner, he spotted Nanako by her locker. She was arranging her books, her expression calm and focused. Sora hesitated, a mix of shyness and a quiet longing holding him in place.

Before he could gather the courage to approach her, a cheerful voice broke through.

"Sora! Nanako!"

Akio Sanagi bounded over, her brown hair bouncing with each step. She wore her usual bright smile, her presence lighting up the hallway.

"Good morning!" she greeted, slipping between Sora and Nanako with ease. "What are you two up to?"

Nanako closed her locker, her lips curling into a smile. "Just getting ready for class. How about you, Akio?"

"Same!" Akio chimed, leaning against the lockers. "But it's so much more fun when I run into you guys. Are you walking to class together?"

Nanako glanced at Sora, who managed a small nod. "Yeah, we are."

"Great! Let's go!" Akio slipped her arms through theirs, pulling them forward. Sora stiffened at the sudden contact, but Akio's energy was infectious, and soon he found himself moving along.

The trio walked through the bustling hallway, weaving between students. Some stared, their expressions curious, but Akio's bright chatter drowned out the whispers. She talked about a funny story from her morning, her voice a constant stream of light.

When they reached their classroom, Akio released them and flopped into her seat, turning around to face Sora and Nanako. "Are you guys free after school? We could hang out!"

Nanako sat down, her eyes thoughtful. "I think that sounds nice. What do you think, Sora?"

Sora hesitated, his fingers curling around the strap of his bag. Spending time with both of them felt... safe. "O-Okay."

Akio's face lit up. "Yes! It's a plan!"

The school day moved forward, the lessons passing in a blur. Sora found himself stealing glances at Nanako, comforted by her presence. He even caught Akio's playful winks, which brought a small smile to his lips.

At lunchtime, they sat together under a tree in the school courtyard. The air was cool, and the leaves rustled gently above them. Akio unpacked a bento box, offering rice balls to both of them.

"Here! I made these myself. Promise they're good!"

Nanako took one, her eyes bright. "Thank you, Akio."

Sora accepted as well, his voice soft. "Thanks."

They ate in comfortable silence, only broken by Akio's occasional jokes. The world outside their little group seemed to fade, leaving only the peace of shared moments.

When the final bell rang, they walked out of the school gates together. Akio led the way, her laughter ringing through the air as they strolled through the quiet streets. Nanako walked beside Sora, their steps naturally falling into sync.

At the corner where they would part ways, Akio turned to them with a grin. "Today was fun! Let's do this again, okay?"

Nanako nodded, her smile gentle. "Yes, definitely."

Sora managed a brighter smile than usual. "Thank you."

As Akio waved and disappeared around the corner, Nanako and Sora were left alone. The sky above was painted with soft hues of evening, and the quiet between them felt full of unspoken words.

Nanako looked at him, her expression warm. "Did you enjoy today?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah. It... it was nice."

She took a step closer, her voice a gentle whisper. "I'm glad."

As they walked the rest of the way in silence, Sora felt something shift within him. With Nanako and Akio by his side, the world didn't seem as cold. The walls he had built around himself felt a little less high, a little less thick.

And for the first time, school wasn't just a place he had to endure. It was a place where he could breathe, surrounded by the friends who saw him—the real him—and chose to stay.