You Did it Sumire!

Gentle Steps Forward

The next two days were blissfully normal and problem-free for Sumire. It was as if the heavy clouds that had hung over her life had finally parted, letting the sunlight of normalcy shine through. She could concentrate on her classes again, and working on her assignments felt more like a routine than an insurmountable task. Her mornings were spent helping out in the gym, just as she liked.

However, on Kita-san's orders, Sumire was relieved of her manager duties after 4 PM. While Sumire felt that she was back to her old self, both Kita-san and Suna-san knew her too well. They understood that the experience had left some residual effects, ones that needed time and patience to fade away completely. They both wanted Sumire to take things slow, allowing her mind to heal at its own pace.

As the last day of the week, Friday came around, Sumire found herself at the library after classes, waiting for her friends while they finished practice. The library was quiet, a sanctuary where she could immerse herself in the pages of her favorite books. The soft rustle of pages and the faint murmur of other students provided a comforting background noise that she had missed.

Once her friends were done with their practice, they came to join her, and together they shared a few moments of silence over cappuccinos. There was a sense of camaraderie in their quiet gathering, a silent understanding that they were all there for each other. The warm mugs felt comforting in their hands as if they were holding onto something tangible in the otherwise intangible flow of life. After finishing their drinks, they headed out together, the soft evening breeze ruffling their hair as they walked back to their homes.

---

"Sumire, you look better now, but how do you really feel?" kita san asked, his gaze searching hers for any sign of lingering distress.

Sumire paused for a moment, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her sleeve.

"Honestly, I don't know, Kita-san," she admitted, her voice a touch hesitant. "I'm at ease, but every time my phone vibrates, I get scared. I still find it difficult to sleep sometimes, but yeah, it is getting better. I am just trying not to think much about it"

"It has been difficult for you lately," Suna-san said, glancing at her with a mix of concern and encouragement. "But rest assured, you are safe. Nothing will happen to you."

"I hope so"

As they reached her apartment, Kita-san turned to her with a gentle smile.

"Do you have any appointments tomorrow?"

"No, not really"

"Well, Atsumu-kun has invited the three of us to hang out at Sakura Cafe tomorrow at 3 PM. Would you like to join?"

Sumire's face brightened at the invitation, "I would love to! It's going to be us four?" she asked hopefully, imagining a simple gathering with her close friends.

"Um, it's going to be us four and two of Atsumu's teammates, plus his handsome twin," Suna-san chimed in.

"Oh, that's a lot of people," Sumire murmured, the initial excitement giving way to a flicker of uncertainty. "I'm not sure..."

Suna-san gave her a reassuring look. "Sumire, you trust us, right?"

"Now this is emotional blackmail," she pouted, but there was a playful lightness in her tone.

"Come along," Kita-san encouraged gently. "It will be a nice distraction from all this week's mess."

Sumire considered it for a moment, weighing her apprehensions against the prospect of a fun day out. Her friends were there for her, and she knew it would do her good to step out of her comfort zone a bit.

"Okay, done," she finally agreed, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Great," Kita-san smiled back, glad that she was willing to take this small step forward. "We'll meet you directly at the cafe. We'll be going earlier to play together like old days with the twins."

Seeing the hint of nervousness still lingering in Sumire's eyes, Suna-san quickly added, "I'll send you directions and everything, so don't worry at all." He then patted her head in a brotherly manner, adding a comforting touch to his words.

"Okay," she said softly, feeling reassured by their kindness. "And can I bring something for all of us tomorrow?"

"Of course you can! We all will appreciate it," Kita-san replied, his tone welcoming and genuine.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow. Rest well," she said, waving as she headed into her apartment.

"Rest well, Sumire," Kita-san called after her, waving back.