A Fresh Morning
The sun had just risen, and the morning light streamed through the window. Standing in front of the mirror, Hiro adjusted his school uniform. After being absent due to illness, he could finally return to school. He felt both excited and a little nervous.
Sitting on the bed, Zero Two watched him with a slight smile. “Darling, you look especially energetic today.”
“Because I’m really looking forward to it,” Hiro chuckled and turned to her. “Let’s go.”
Zero Two nodded, and the two headed out toward their familiar school.
Reunion at School
As soon as Hiro and Zero Two stepped into the classroom, the room fell silent for a moment before erupting in cheers.
“Hiro! You’re finally back!”
Kenta was the first to rush over, giving Hiro a strong pat on the shoulder. “If you had stayed away any longer, I would’ve completely forgotten how to do math!”
Misaki crossed her arms and sighed. “Oh, come on, Kenta. You weren’t paying attention in class anyway.”
“Hey, hey, that’s not the point!” Kenta laughed, then leaned closer to Hiro. “How are you feeling? All good now?”
“Yeah, no problem at all,” Hiro responded with a smile.
Just then, Yamato and Maki approached. Yamato gave Hiro a pat on the arm. “It’s good to have you back. We’ve all been waiting for you.”
“While you were gone, the teacher kept all the lecture notes. I took the liberty of organizing some key points for you.” Maki handed him a stack of neatly written notes, her expression filled with concern.
Hiro was surprised as he took the notes. “Thank you, Maki!”
“It’s nothing. Just a small favor,” Maki said with a gentle smile.
“Alright, alright, enough of this sentimental stuff. Hiro, hurry up and take your seat. Class is about to start!” Kenta urged.
Exchanging a smile with Zero Two, Hiro made his way to his desk.
Effort in Class
The first class was math. As the teacher walked in, he glanced at Hiro and nodded. “Welcome back, Hiro.”
“Thank you, sir,” Hiro replied respectfully.
The teacher began explaining a new topic, and Hiro listened attentively, trying his best to keep up. While some parts were a bit challenging due to his absence, Maki’s notes proved extremely helpful, allowing him to quickly grasp the key points.
Occasionally, Zero Two would glance sideways at him, making sure he wasn’t overexerting himself. Hiro, in turn, reassured her with a smile.
When it was time for a quiz, Hiro took a deep breath as he received his test paper and started answering. He quickly solved a portion of the questions, but a few were tricky due to the missed lessons. He frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Noticing his hesitation, Zero Two stole a quick glance at him and whispered softly, “Darling, do your best.”
Hearing her words of encouragement, Hiro regained his focus. Recalling the teacher’s explanations, he continued working through the problems.
After class, Kenta leaned over. “So, how’d it go?”
“Not bad,” Hiro smiled. “There were a few tricky ones, though.”
Misaki held up her notebook. “We can check our answers together later if you want.”
“That sounds great!” Hiro agreed, feeling a warm sense of belonging. His friends had been waiting for his return, making him feel truly welcomed.
Lunchtime and After School
During lunch, Hiro, Zero Two, Misaki, and Kenta sat together in the schoolyard, eating and chatting.
“So, how have you guys been?” Hiro asked.
Kenta sighed dramatically. “Ugh, school has been so boring without you and Zero Two around.”
“Exactly,” Misaki agreed. “But now things are back to normal, and we can study together again.”
Zero Two, nibbling on her chopsticks, smiled. “But Darling has to work hard now.”
Hiro chuckled helplessly. “I know, I know.”
After school, as everyone packed their bags, Misaki and Kenta reminded Hiro, “Don’t forget to bring your homework tomorrow!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Hiro assured them with a grin, waving goodbye as he and Zero Two headed home.
A Quiet Night Together
After returning home, they had a simple dinner, packed their school bags, and sat together in the living room, enjoying the peaceful evening.
Zero Two leaned against Hiro’s shoulder and spoke softly. “Tired?”
“Not really,” Hiro replied in a low voice, gently holding her hand. “It was a bit overwhelming, but everyone was really supportive, so I felt at ease.”
“Hmm…” Zero Two closed her eyes briefly as if lost in thought. After a moment, she murmured, “Now that you’re back at school, I feel a little excited.”
“Excited about what?” Hiro turned to look at her.
A soft smile appeared on Zero Two’s lips. “Seeing you take one step after another, moving forward. And… us welcoming our future together.”
Listening to her words, Hiro felt warmth spread through his heart. He gently nodded. “Yeah. Let’s work hard for the days ahead.”
The moonlight shone through the window, casting a soft glow over them. In the quiet of the night, their hearts beat in sync, filling the room with warmth and comfort.
To be continued…
