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In the residential area at dusk.
As streetlights began to illuminate one by one, I stood in front of Hayami-san's house.
The cake box in my hand trembled slightly.
Hayami-san's favorite, as told by Reiko.
Strawberry shortcake.
The strawberries, carefully arranged one by one by the patissier, shone like jewels in the setting sun.
Hayami's house, exceptionally tasteful even in the quiet residential area.
The lights leaking from the windows were all on, except for one room on the second floor.
That must be Hayami-san's room.
I hesitated many times before reaching for the intercom.
Still, I had to press it.
To bring back Hayami-san's smile.
"Yes, this is Hayami."
A young girl's voice came from the intercom.
It must be her sister.
"My name is Satou. I'm a classmate of Hayami Ryoko-san..."
"Oh! Are you my sister's friend?"
A cheerful voice. But a slightly worried tone was mixed in.
She must be concerned about her sister's condition.
When the door opened, a cute girl who resembled Ryoko-san stood there.
Black twin tails.
Unlike her sister, the ace of the volleyball team, she had a somewhat graceful atmosphere.
"Big sister, your friend is here!"
A faint rustle from the stairs.
Slowly, very carefully, footsteps descended.
The usual light movements of the volleyball ace were not there.
"Satou-kun...?"
Hayami-san's voice had lost its usual cheerfulness.
It wasn't the voice of the ace who led everyone at school.
A trembling, almost frightened voice.
"I bought some cake."
I offered the shortcake box.
"Huh...?"
"Strawberry shortcake. I heard you like it."
"Reiko... told you?"
I nodded slightly.
Hayami-san's eyes seemed to well up for a moment.
"Hinata, please get us some tea."
"Okay!"
The sound of her sister scurrying to the kitchen.
During that time, Hayami-san remained staring at the floor.
"Hayami-san."
I spoke slowly.
"There's something I need to talk to you about. If possible... just the two of us."
"Huh...?"
"It's an important matter."
Hinata-chan, returning from the kitchen, looked up at her sister worriedly.
She must have noticed something was wrong from her sister's behavior these past few days.
"Hinata, I'm going to talk in big sister's room."
"Okay... I understand."
Her sister's voice contained gentle consideration.
The stairs leading to Hayami-san's room.
Step by step.
Each footstep echoed heavily.
What I needed to talk about now.
What I needed to convey.
Where should I begin?
Hayami-san's room was fitting for a volleyball ace.
Numerous medals and trophies adorned the wall.
But now, they might feel like a burden.
"Have a seat."
Hayami-san indicated the bed.
I sat on the chair she offered.
"Hayami-san... first, there's something I need to apologize for."
"Huh...?"
"I have... a special ability."
I slowly began to explain.
The ability to see the past by touching objects.
How I gained that power in an accident six months ago.
"You might not believe me. But..."
"Ability...?"
Hayami-san's voice trembled.
"My ability... you don't believe me, do you?"
Seeing Hayami-san's anxious expression, I looked around the room.
I used my ability on the bed in the room to confirm her daily life.
"For example... inside this closet."
"Huh...?"
"Third shelf from the top, right side. Underneath your volleyball uniform, you've hidden a pink massager, haven't you?"
A secret that even her family wouldn't know.
I correctly identified a secret that no one but Hayami-san would know.
Hayami-san's face quickly turned red.
"This morning, you were studying at that desk over there... and soothing yourself there. Sitting on the floor, from around 7:15."
"Wait a minute..."
"Last night, before going to bed, in your bed..."
"Stop! I believe you! I believe you!"
Hayami-san hastily stopped me.
Her face was bright red.
"Don't... don't say it in such detail..."
"I'm sorry. But this is my ability."
Hayami-san, still covering her face with both hands, nodded slightly.
With this, perhaps she would trust me a little more.
"Really... don't tell anyone."
"Of course."
I would keep the pink massager a secret too.
Because that's how I can build trust.
"Shirota-san and Sakurai-san were worried... and asked me for help."
"No way..."
"I apologize. Your shoulder bag, Hayami-san..."
My words trailed off.
Hayami-san's face quickly turned pale.
"You... saw it?"
A small voice.
Trembling lips.
"Everything... Sagara and his gang... did?"
I nodded silently.
Large tears spilled from Hayami-san's eyes.
"Don't tell... anyone."
Hayami-san slumped down as if collapsing.
"Not to Akita either... please. Not to anyone..."
"Of course. I haven't told anyone."
"Not to Reiko and Misaki either?"
"I haven't told them the details either. It's Hayami-san's privacy."
The trembling in Hayami-san's shoulders eased slightly.
"And... Hayami-san."
"Yes...?"
"I had Sagara and his gang delete all the data."
"Huh?"
"Including backups, everything."
Hayami-san's eyes widened.
"How did you..."
"Well... I persuaded them using methods other than words."
"Other than words...?"
"You might have heard the rumors... I persuaded them with physical language."
Hayami-san's eyes went to the scratches on my arm and the bruises on my cheek.
Then, she took a small breath.
"Satou-kun... for me..."
"It's alright. This much will heal quickly."
At my words, Hayami-san covered her face with both hands.
Her shoulders trembled, and I could hear faint sobs.
"It's over now. No one will hurt Hayami-san anymore."
"But... they... again..."
"I also made Sagara and his gang promise regular meetings."
I continued to explain calmly.
"Once a month. A rehabilitation program, or rather... for surveillance."
Hayami-san wiped her tears.
"Are you really... okay?"
"Yes. They are truly remorseful."
After a moment of thought, I continued.
"Actually... I confirmed it with my ability. By touching their belongings."
"Huh..."
"They really seem to have repented. If anything... they're terrified."
Hayami-san's eyes looked at me.
"Satou-kun... why did you go so far..."
"That's..."
I was at a loss for words.
Why did I go this far?
It was because I couldn't overlook Hayami-san's tears.
But I felt there was something more than that.
"I wanted to... bring back Hayami-san's smile."
I answered honestly.
"The ace of the volleyball team. Everyone's idol. But, even before that... Hayami-san is fine just being Hayami-san."
"Besides..."
I looked out the window.
The twilight sky was dyed orange.
"Because of those guys, you've been skipping club activities. Your teammates are worried too."
Hayami-san's gaze turned to the uniform hanging on the wall.
Ace number 4.
"Me... can I go back to volleyball...?"
"You can. Everyone's waiting."
"But..."
"No one will hurt Hayami-san anymore. I promise."
From outside the window, I could hear the voices of students returning from club activities.
The usual after-school scenery.
The day when Hayami-san's figure would return there was surely just around the corner.
"Satou-kun... thank you."
These tears were different.
Not fear, nor sadness.
Tears of liberation, and of hope.
"Shall we eat cake then?"
Hinata-chan's voice could be heard from downstairs.
"Big sister, the tea's getting cold!"
Hayami-san's lips curved slightly.
A small, but definite smile.
This was a new beginning.
Hayami-san's true day of liberation.
I quietly stood up and headed for the door.
"Satou-kun."
I turned around, and Hayami-san was smiling gently.
"See you... at school again."
"Yes, I'll be waiting."
Leaving Hayami's house, illuminated by the setting sun,
I vowed in my heart.
That I would continue to protect this smile.Â