CotE: Dearest

Chapter 3 - Sun

The first week of college was drawing to a close.

It was Friday, and I had a couple of lectures left before the weekend. The campus, brimming with vitality on the first day, had begun to lose some of its zeal.

Empty chairs occupied the rows that had been passionately fought for just days before, and the corridors felt calmer and more spacious.

I was walking toward the lecture halls when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"You're Ayanokoji-kun, right?"

I paused mid-step, turning to see a blonde girl I didn't recognize. Her gaze was steady and her expression effortlessly composed.

"Yeah, is there something you need?"

"Jeez, so serious. I guess he was right," she sighed, "Not me, but a friend of mine is looking for you."

After saying that, she pulled out her phone and started texting. It was clear she wasn't interested in talking to me—more like she was simply checking off a box from her to-do list.

"What's his name?"

"I'll call him over. You'll see for yourself," she replied, not bothering to lift her gaze.

We stood there, the stream of students moving around us like a river splitting around a rock.

Silence settled between us, awkward and unnecessary. Moments later, she walked away, leaving me waiting.

The minutes stretched on until I heard a distant voice cut through the background noise.

"Yo, Ayanokoji-kun!"

I recognized the voice immediately. He was waving enthusiastically, his pace quickening as he made his way toward me.

"Ishizaki."

His face lit up with a smile as he bounded over. "How have you been, dude? I missed you."

As soon as he reached, he put his hand on my shoulder.

"I've been well. I was mostly focused on college in the past week."

"Mh? What do you mean? Surely you're not struggling."

I shook my head.

It was not that I had been struggling to keep up academically, but just adjusting to this new lifestyle. Outside of lectures, I hadn't done much.

The usual routine had consumed most of my time—study, eat, sleep. Not much room for anything else.

"Just adjusting to this new lifestyle, but what about you?"

"Ah, me too. Life in Tokyo is much different, after all."

His expression was a mash of admiration and fondness for the city as if Tokyo had already begun to weave itself into the fabric of his life.

"I didn't have much time to explore the city yet," I admitted.

Ishizaki's mouth dropped almost comically. He looked at me, wide-eyed.

"Wait, you haven't explored Tokyo yet?"

"Not really."

"Dude, you're missing out. Let's go for a drink!" he suggested, giving my shoulder a playful shake.

"Maybe another day, I'm not thirsty right now."

"That's fine with me. I'll call Ryuuen as well if you like."

"Looks like you're still close."

"We talk just here and there, haha. Friends should stay in contact, after all."