‘That sounds exactly like you, Subaru.’

Kokoro might have called him out on it, but the fact remained that Aki did have issues. Something Aki herself must be well aware of.

‘Thank you, Kokoro-chan. Today’s the last day of February, and I’m annoyed with myself for making us all feel bad.’ Subaru gave her a smile.

Maybe he was a little too by-the-book, a boy who never did himself any favours, but that’s what she liked about him.

Only one month to go.

The time had finally come when they had to say goodbye.

March

MARCH THE FIRST.

When Kokoro got to the castle, she found Aki and Fuka already there. Surprisingly, they were playing one of Masamune’s video games in the Game Room.

‘You’re too good at this, Fuka. Go easy on me, will you?’

‘Come on, this is a competition, you know.’

Yesterday things had become uncomfortable as the two of them argued over whether one person’s wish should be granted or not, and whether it was a waste or not for their memories to be the only thing left, but now they were obviously getting on fine.

‘Fuka, about yesterday,’ Aki said, her voice sounding upbeat, and Kokoro found it hard to interrupt them. They must have found time to make up yesterday. And there was Subaru’s apology to Aki, which might also have contributed to her good mood.

This was how the month began, the month of their farewell.

AT SCHOOL THE THIRD SEMESTER would be coming to an end, and the spring holiday would be starting soon.

As they’d be going into a new school year, her homeroom teacher, Mr Ida, brought her slippers and seat cushion round to her house.

Kokoro caught up with him for a bit. She had just got back from the castle and her mother hadn’t come home from work yet.

She wasn’t very keen to see him, but was relieved he hadn’t tried to visit while she was in the castle. She imagined him questioning her about where she was, and the last thing she would have wanted to do was talk to him, even if just to give him some excuse.

She was still angry about Miori Sanada’s note. Ms Kitajima must have told Mr Ida how upset it had made her. So Kokoro had been expecting him to bring it up, but when she came to the front door he only greeted her with a simple ‘Hey.’

Then he went back to behaving like a model teacher again. ‘Kokoro, how are you?’ he asked.

Kokoro nodded a greeting – not angry or sad, just a bit down.

Mr Ida seemed uncomfortable, and she was pretty sure she wasn’t imagining it.

‘Everyone’ll be waiting for you at school in April, when the new academic year begins,’ he said. He put down the slippers and cushion he’d brought her.