Nothing really changed.

That was the first thing Kirishima noticed when he got back.

The same narrow roads, the same faded signs, even the convenience store at the corner still had that flickering light that never seemed to get fixed.

It felt like the town had been waiting.

Not for him, just… waiting.

He adjusted the strap of his bag and kept walking.

Twenty-five wasn’t old, but it wasn’t young enough to come back without questions either.

“You’re back for good?”

“How long are you staying this time?”

He already knew the lines before anyone even asked.

So he kept to himself.

It was easier that way.

The air smelled the same.

A little dust, a little rain, something faintly familiar he couldn’t name.

He wasn’t planning to stay long.

Just a short break.

That was what he told himself when he left the city.

It sounded better than admitting he didn’t really have anywhere else he wanted to be.

He turned the corner.

And stopped.

There was someone standing near the convenience store entrance, just off to the side like they didn’t want to block the door.

He almost walked past her.

Almost.

Then she looked up.

Something in his chest paused before he did.

It took him a second.

Not because she had changed.

Because she hadn’t.

Same posture. Same quiet way of standing, like she was used to waiting without saying it.

“Hin—”

He stopped himself.

“…Ishikawa?”

She blinked once.

For a brief second, something shifted in her expression.

Subtle, almost unnoticeable.

“…Kirishima.”

No surprise.

No smile.

Just recognition.

He let out a quiet breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah.”

The word settled between them, heavier than it should have been.

He shifted his weight slightly.

“You still live here?”

“I do.”

A brief pause.

“You’re back?”

“For a bit.”

He didn’t elaborate.

She didn’t ask.

The automatic door behind her slid open, then closed again with a soft mechanical sound.

Neither of them moved.

He glanced toward the store, then back at her.

“You going in?”

“I was.”

Another short pause.

“You?”

“Same.”

They stood there for a moment longer than necessary.

Then, almost at the same time, they stepped forward.

Their shoulders nearly brushed as they passed through the door.

Neither of them mentioned it.

Inside, the light felt too bright.

He reached for a bottle from the shelf without really looking.

When he turned slightly, she was already there, standing a little too close to the same spot.

He paused.

“…You still drink this?”

he asked, holding it up slightly.

She glanced at it and gave a small nod.

“Some things don’t change.”

He let out a quiet breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

“Yeah.”

Then, after a second, he added,

“Some things do.”

She didn’t respond to that.

Not directly.

Instead, she reached for a different bottle from the shelf, turning it slightly in her hand before placing it into her basket.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable.

But it wasn’t easy either.

They checked out separately.

The cashier didn’t say much.

Just scanned, bagged, and nodded.

When Kirishima stepped outside, the air felt cooler than before.

He didn’t look back immediately.

But he knew she was still inside.

He stood there for a moment longEr than he needed to.

Then he started walking.

After a few steps, he stopped.

…

“Let’s stay like this, even when we grow up.”

The words came back to him without warning.

He let out a quiet breath.

“…Yeah.”

Then, after a second, he said quietly,

“That didn’t really work out.”