Two or three minutes passed.

Shouko finally slumped against the chair and gave up trying to remember. "I can't think of it. I completely can't think of it."

Every time she tried, that moment from the afternoon would flash in her mind, pulling her thoughts away from what she was originally trying to recall.

Akira watched her. She must've really forgotten.

After a pause, he spoke a bit awkwardly, trying to phrase it right:

"Didn't you promise me a ten-minute lap pillow this morning?"

Shouko blinked. "Wasn't it five minutes? I never agreed to ten!"

Akira casually waved his hand. "Five, ten—it's the same to me. But can I… use it later instead? Like, save it for when I actually want it?"

He added thoughtfully, "We could treat it like a little coupon. You write a small note, and when I want to redeem it, I just hand it to you."

Shouko nodded without hesitation. "Okay!"

She thought the idea was kind of cute. Whether now or later, the lap pillow was only for Akira anyway—she wouldn't give that to anyone else.

Quickly, she reached for a notebook from her desk drawer, tore out a page, and started crafting the "ticket." Akira watched her quietly from the side.

"Done!" she declared, holding up the ticket in front of him.

She gave a proud little hum as he took it and examined it.

"This is the Lap Pillow Ticket," she said brightly. "Whenever you want one, just write the time on the back. And once it's used, I'll draw a line through that time."

She grinned. "Isn't it fun?"

Akira stared at the note. The words "Lap Pillow Ticket" were written across the center. Around the border, she had drawn a tree, birds, and little animals. Beneath the tree were two small figures sitting together.

He didn't need to guess who they were.

"…It's amazing," Akira said sincerely, reaching out to ruffle her hair. Then, picking up her pen, he wrote a bold 5 on the back.

Just as he finished, a thought hit him. "Wait—there's only one. What if it gets damaged…?"

Shouko patted her chest proudly. "No worries. If it breaks or gets lost, I'll just draw you another one."

Akira smiled, but his ears turned slightly red. His mind couldn't help circling back to that moment earlier that day.

Shouko noticed the subtle shift in his expression. Realizing her own little gesture earlier might've been a bit bold, she quickly blamed someone in her head.

It's all Mui's fault! Lately, she'd been doing that same hand-to-chest gesture, and Shouko had picked it up unconsciously.

Trying to change the subject, Shouko said quickly, "I've got ideas for more tickets too. Just wait—I'll show you soon."

She turned to her desk again, ears flushed. Sorry, Miu Matsuoka… she thought silently.

Akira noticed her cheeks were rosy, but said nothing. He figured if he spoke, it'd only make her blush harder.

About ten minutes later, Shouko handed over two new tickets. "Look!" she said excitedly.

One read Make-Up Ticket, the other Massage Ticket.

Akira was momentarily speechless, then gave them a few genuine compliments. Shouko, pleased but acting stern, warned him:

"These two are single-use. Once you use them, I'm taking them back."

They resumed their usual routine—Shouko helping him finish homework, followed by Akira tutoring her in the lessons she hadn't understood during the day.

"See you tomorrow," Akira said later, waving to Shouko at the front gate.

"Good night," she replied.

Neither of them mentioned the incident from the afternoon.

Shouko returned home and greeted Yaeko and Hachiko before heading upstairs. Her sister Yuzuru and Grandma were already asleep.

Back in her room, she sat down, cheeks still warm. She reached for a notebook, tore out a blank page, and carefully recreated the Lap Pillow Ticket from memory—this time for herself.

When she finished, she looked down at the paper, her blush deepening. Quietly, she placed it inside a small treasure box in her drawer.

Even though she was alone, she still felt like she had to hide it.

The Next Morning

Before they even reached the classroom, Shouko and Akira heard sharp thuds echoing from inside.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"

Puzzled, they hurried to the door.

Inside, Ishida Shoya stood on the podium, repeatedly slamming a chair onto the teacher's desk—Mr. Takenouchi's desk.

"Akira, this—" Shouko began, but was cut off by a furious roar.

"BAKA YAROU!! What the hell is this?! You think I don't have a temper!?"

Everyone in class stared at Ishida. Even some students outside had gathered, drawn in by the noise.

Akira scanned the room. Shimada Ikki was covering his mouth with his sleeve—probably trying to hide his laughter. Hirose Keisuke was frozen, staring blankly at the podium.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shoya smashed the desk again, shouting:

"You cowards! You can do it, but you can't own up to it!?"

Then his eyes landed on the doorway—on Akira.

His rage flared. Remembering how others compared him to this guy, how Akira always looked so composed, like he didn't even see him...

"What the hell are you looking at?! YOU WANNA DIE!?"

He hurled the chair straight toward them.

Gasps and screams filled the room.

Girls flinched and covered their eyes. Some screamed.

Akira stepped forward—not to run, but to act.

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POWER STONE!!!

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