We walk to school together.

  I like the fresh green leaves of the cherry blossoms.

  "Hey, Tora-chan, don’t you think you should wake up a bit earlier?"

  Suddenly, Kanade, walking next to me, says this with a light sigh.

  "Huh? What’s that all of a sudden?"

  "It’s been a while since we enrolled, but I’ve never seen you with anyone else, so I was just thinking about it."

  "Is that really a big deal?"

  "It is! If you keep being late, you’ll become a delinquent."

  "Isn’t that a bit over-exaggerated?"

  Kanade frowns and makes a slightly serious face.

  "I’m serious. Your grandpa told me, 'Please look after Kotaro!'"

  Her voice drops, and she mimics him surprisingly well.

  "Look, I’m a little older than you, after all!"

  "Older? We're in the same grade, just a few months apart, you know."

  Kanade doesn’t seem to care and continues speaking.

  "But, you know, I never expected to be going to high school with you."

  "Me neither. We live so far out in the country, it takes more than an hour and a half to get to my school."

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "Eh? That’s way too far!"

  I smile wryly and nod.

  "Because of that, my grandpa suggested I go to this school instead."

  "Really? But your place is really... how should I say it, full of nature, right?"

  The Minami family and the Isshiki family.

  It seems like we used to live in the same area.

  However, during our grandparents' time, the dam development required us to relocate, and the Isshiki family moved to Gifu, while the Minami family stayed in the village.

  Despite that, the interaction continued, and that’s how it led us to where we are now.

  "So, did you find any good places in Gifu?"

  Kanade asks with interest.

  "Hmm, well, everything is better compared to where I used to live."

  "Really? That’s great!"

  "But the most impressive thing was the sunset."

  "Eh, just that?"

  "At my old place, because of the mountains, the sun would set before we could even see the sunset. So, I’d never seen such a big sun like that."

  I spread my hands, making a gesture as if to show the size of the huge sunset.

  "It was like something out of a manga. I was really moved."

  "Wow, that’s a fresh perspective."

  Kanade chuckles, and I can’t help but laugh along with her.

  "I once found a huge slug, about the size of a yakult bottle, at your place."

  "……"

  Even though we’re first-year high school students, sometimes Kanade still says things like a grade schooler. I smile wryly but feel a little relieved.

  "I swear, it was huge! I was so shocked!"

  "You’re definitely misremembering that."

  "No, it was definitely about the size of a 350ml cola bottle…"

  Kanade says this while puffing out her chest.

  By the way, I didn’t realize until later that the slug she was talking about, the yamana mekuji (Japanese giant slug), which can grow up to 13–16 cm, is actually a real creature.

  About 20 minutes after leaving the house, we saw the familiar school building.

  Bishu Central Academy.

  It’s an educational institution established after the war to train engineers who would research and apply CA (Cellular Automaton) technology.

  Although it is an ordinary high school, students in the advanced class receive special curricula with the aim of contributing to society by using CA technology in the future. The school also emphasizes the development and application of CA technology.

  Of course, I’m just parroting what I read in the school pamphlet.

  "Hey, hey, if you don’t hurry up, you’ll become a delinquent!"

  I follow Kanade as she runs ahead and pass through the school gate.

  I would greatly appreciate any reviews or support, as it would be a huge encouragement to me!"