Kanta brushed chalk dust from his hands, squinting at the faint white streaks on his hair. "I swear, we have computers in our pockets, but schools still use chalkboards. This one's extra dusty too. My hair's going gray already," he said, faking a dramatic cough, throwing a glance at Tanya.

Tanya giggled, sitting on the edge of a desk, the broom resting loosely between her hands. They were alone in the classroom—Tanya had cleaning duty, and Kanta stayed behind, more to keep her company than anything else.

"Speaking of gray," Kanta continued, looking at Tanya, "yours is kind of cool. Like something out of a movie."

Tanya's smile faded, her eyes drifting away. The room grew quiet. Kanta noticed immediately and set down the eraser, searching for a way to bring back the lightness.

"So, uh, got plans after this? Cram school? Clubs?" He tried to sound casual, his voice soft.

Tanya shook her head. "No."

Kanta frowned slightly, sensing the heaviness in her response. After a moment, his face brightened as an idea came to him. "Hey, how about ice cream? My treat."

Tanya looked up, her eyes meeting his. A smile returned, hesitant but genuine. "Sure."

Kanta grabbed his bag, and they left the classroom together. The late afternoon buzzed with the sounds of the street—cars, chatter, the faint rumble of distant trains. Kanta kept sneaking glances at Tanya, her gaze fixed on the pavement, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

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The ice cream parlor was quiet, the air cool compared to the warmth outside. Kanta sat across from Tanya, watching her dig into her sundae, her expression softening as she took the first bite.

"You know," Kanta said, breaking the silence, "I always thought you'd be tough to talk to."

Tanya glanced up. "Really?"

Kanta shrugged, smiling a bit. "You just seemed... distant, like you were in your own world."

Tanya let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "That's funny. I thought you were a delinquent."

Kanta blinked, then burst out laughing. "Wait, seriously? You knew who I was? I thought I flew under the radar."

"You were always skipping class, but acing exams. People noticed," Tanya replied, smiling.

Kanta grinned. "Man, I must've seemed like the worst kind of student."

Tanya's eyes met his, her voice softer. "Yeah, but you're a lot nicer than people think."

She looked down at her sundae, stirring it slowly. "Must be nice, though. Being able to do what you want, like no one is watching. I wonder what that feels like."

Kanta's expression softened. "If you ever want to try it—being carefree—I'll be there. Even if it's just for a day."

Tanya's lips curved into a small smile. "Maybe, someday."

They fell into a comfortable silence, Tanya's spoon scraping gently against the glass. She hesitated, then spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You asked about my hair earlier."

Kanta nodded. "Yeah?"

"It's natural," she said, her eyes focused on the table. "My mom had it too. I guess it just makes me feel... different. People used to call me 'granny' when I was little."

Kanta shook his head, his tone sincere. "No way. It makes you look... cool. Like an anime protagonist. Honestly, you look beautiful."

Tanya's cheeks flushed faintly, her gaze shifting away, her lips curling into a shy smile. "You're just saying that... but thanks." Her voice carried a mix of embarrassment and warmth.

Kanta watched her for a moment, his own smile softening. He leaned back, letting the silence settle between them, feeling like, maybe, he'd said the right thing this time.