Kanta tapped his smartphone screen, his fingers tense. Frustration churned inside him, questions swirling in his mind. The thought of Tanya drifting away twisted painfully in his chest. The evening chill brushed his face, the chatter of students fading into the background. He tightened his grip on the phone, trying to suppress the turmoil. He opened the LINE app and tapped on Kim's name, waiting as it rang. Kim picked up on the third ring. He was standing on the platform, waiting for the train. The noise of announcements, footsteps, and chatter filled the air around him.

"Hey, Kanta," Kim greeted, his voice polite as always. "What's up? I'm on my way to cram school."

"Forget cram school. I need to talk to you, right now!" Kanta yelled, his voice blunt and urgent. There was a desperation that undercut his usual confidence, something raw that even he couldn't fully disguise.

"Uh..." Kim's voice wavered, uncertainty creeping in. The train was approaching, its lights casting a glow on the platform. "Kanta, I really have to—"

"Kim," Kanta interrupted, his voice rising. "I can't really hear you—just meet me at the FamilyMart by the station. It'll take ten minutes." He didn't wait for Kim's response, the forcefulness in his tone making it clear that he wasn't taking no for an answer.

The train arrived with a loud screech, drowning out Kim's words. He paused, watching as people hurried to board, his gaze distant as he thought. The train doors chimed, signaling they were about to close, and just as they started to slide shut, Kim raised his voice over the noise, almost yelling. "Okay! I'll be there." He watched the train leave the station, his decision made.

Kanta hung up without another word, shoving his phone into his pocket. He left the school grounds, his strides long and hurried as he made his way to the FamilyMart. The sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the bustling streets as he walked.

When he reached the FamilyMart, Kim was already there, standing near the entrance with a slight frown on his face, his bag slung over his shoulder. He gave Kanta a polite nod as Kanta approached.

"I made it," Kim said, his voice gentle. "What's going on?"

Kanta didn't waste any time. He gestured for Kim to follow him inside. Kim hesitated, glancing around the busy store before nodding, still visibly confused. He took a deep breath and followed Kanta in. On their way in, Kanta grabbed a couple of snacks and drinks, paying quickly at the counter without saying a word. They found a table near the back, away from the noise and commotion of the counter. Kanta dropped into the seat across from Kim, his fingers tapping restlessly on the table. Kim watched Kanta's fingers drum on the table, then shifted his bag from his shoulder to the front before settling into his seat.

"Tanya just... she told me she doesn't want to hang out anymore," Kanta began, his voice tight. He kept his eyes on the table, his gaze hard. "She said it was 'better this way,' but I can't wrap my head around it. Did I mess up somewhere? Did I miss some sign that things were going wrong?"

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Kim blinked, his eyes widening slightly. "She... she said that?"

Kanta sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Honestly, I should have seen this coming," he admitted. "For a while now, she's been distant—avoiding me at school, barely making eye contact. Whenever I message her on LINE, she leaves me on read for hours and then sends these short, cold replies. It's like she's pushing me away, bit by bit, and I just don't get why."

Kim frowned, his brow furrowing in thought, his gaze shifting to meet Kanta's. "Maybe... maybe it's something personal, Kanta. Something she can't really talk about."

Kanta let out a frustrated sigh, his fingers clenching into a fist. "What could be so personal that she can't even tell me?" he thought. "She used to tell me everything—when she had a fight with her dad, when she was crushing on a girl. And now, suddenly, I'm out of the loop?"

Kim's lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something to comfort his friend, but the words wouldn't come. He was just as lost as Kanta, unsure of what to say or do.

"And Lada... she's been acting strange too. She's always whispering to Tanya, and they look so serious. I don't know what's going on, but it feels like it's about me, and it can't be anything good." Kanta trailed off, opening the LINE app and tapping on Lada's name to call her.

The call rang several times, but there was no answer. Kanta eventually ended it, his jaw tightening as he tossed his phone onto the table. "She's not picking up," he muttered, the edge in his voice betraying his growing impatience.

Kim's gaze shifted, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I don't know, Kanta. Sometimes people have things going on that they just... can't share. It might not be about you. It could be something she needs to figure out herself."

Kanta didn't seem convinced. He looked up at Kim, his gaze sharp. "Did you notice anything off about Lada and Tanya? Anything at all?"

Kim paused, his brow furrowed in thought. "Honestly, I didn't notice anything. But..." He sighed, his eyes flickering with a hint of unease. "You know how Tanya can be—she always has her own way of doing things. But, Kanta, maybe you're overthinking this."

Kanta shook his head, the determination in his eyes unwavering. "No, I can't just ignore this. I'm going to Lada's place right now."

Kim's eyes widened. "Wait, Kanta. I really don't think that's a good idea. Lada might not even be home, and showing up like this... it could backfire."

Kanta stood up abruptly, snatching his phone from the table, his chair scraping loudly on the floor. A few heads turned in their direction, startled by the sudden noise, and Kim could feel the tension in the air shift as people glanced over, curious and uneasy. Kim's eyes widened as he watched Kanta, concern and hesitation flickering across his face. "I need answers, and if Lada knows something, I'm going to find out."

Kim opened his mouth to respond, but Kanta's expression shifted before he could say anything. The frustration in his eyes flickered, revealing a brief flash of vulnerability—an uncertainty that rarely surfaced.

"And what if she has nothing to do with this?" Kim called out, his eyes locking on Kanta as he reached the door.

Kanta paused, his expression softening for just a moment as he considered Kim's words. He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing again, but with a calmer determination. "Then I'll make her help me figure it out."

Kim watched as Kanta turned and walked away. He sighed deeply, slumping back as his gaze fell to the convenience store snacks that Kanta had left behind. "This is going to end badly," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. He picked up a snack, more out of habit than appetite, his thoughts still on Kanta's reckless determination.