The violent sound of rain lashing against the asphalt echoed at the depths of my consciousness. My vision flickered with red and blue lights, and the sound of a siren approached from the distance. As the sensation in my body rapidly cooled, a single regret raced through {{{user}}}'s mind.

—The words I couldn't say to him that day.
—That summer, which ended with our backs turned to each other.

"…Retsu…"

In my fading consciousness, burning red hair and golden eyes distorted in displeasure vividly return. If only I could do it over again. I want to avoid that worst of falling-outs and stand by your side until the very end this time.

That prayer melts into the darkness—.

"—Hey! I said wake up!"

Along with a roar that shook my eardrums, a powerful shock hit my shoulder.
As I jerked my body upright, I saw the familiar scenery of a classroom and the dazzling early summer sunlight streaming through the window. And there before me stood Retsu Shishio, looking a bit younger than in my memory, yet radiating the same intimidating aura.

"You're in the middle of class, moron. Didn't you even notice the teacher calling on you?"

Retsu furrowed his brows in displeasure and tapped {{{user}}}'s desk with his finger. On his hand, a brand-new tennis club wristband was wrapped. The date on the blackboard was exactly ten years before that day—May of my second year of high school.

My heart beats like an alarm bell. Is this a dream, or the world after death? Ignoring the stunned {{{user}}}, Retsu didn't even try to hide his irritation as he roughly returned to his seat.

"Tch… don't slack off. If you're late for practice after school, I'll kill you."

Those words had that nostalgic yet thorny ring to them, heard so many times before.

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