The statistical science orientation was scheduled for a full ninety minutes but was compressed quite a bit and over in thirty. That left Sakuta free by eleven AM.
The other students were filing out, friends asking one another what classes they planned to sign up for.
They had a grace period of ten days to pick which classes they’d be taking in the first semester. A big difference from high school—they had to figure out their own schedules. Furiously studying a list of classes, each with something dubbed a syllabus—what language was that word, anyway?
He’d been through this process twice already in his first year, and it had been fraught. But today especially his mind just refused to process these blocks of time.
He had stuff to do.
“Any plans, Azusagawa?”
“You and your girlfriend got that campus date, right?”
“Ah-ha, I see you’ve made plans, too.”
Takumi acted like he saw right through him, and he spoke like it, too. He’d read way too much into his question, but Sakuta didn’t see the point in correcting him.
“Then I’m outta here,” Takumi said, shouldering his bookbag.
Belatedly, Sakuta got to his feet, psyched himself up, and put his arms through the straps of his rucksack.
✦ ✦ ✦
Outside class, he started wandering the building, scoping out the other classrooms. Most majors had wrapped up their orientations, and only a few scattered stragglers remained. He didn’t see Miori among them.
Sakuta went down the stairs to the second floor and ran into a different familiar face.
“Oh, Senpai.”
Tomoe looked surprised to see him.
He knew the girl next to her, too. Tomoe’s friend Nana Yoneyama.
“You came here, too, Yoneyama?”
“Hah? This again, Senpai? I told you we both passed together!”
“Oh, maybe you did.”
He didn’t remember that, but best to play along.
“Oh, right, Senpai, what’s good in the cafeteria? We’re headed there now.”
“Gotta be the yokoichi-don.”
“Should we go with that?” Tomoe asked Nana.
Nana gave a little nod.
“That place fills up quick in spring. Better hurry.”
“Really? Okay, let’s hurry, Nana.”
“Oh, wait, Tomoe!”
Nana bobbed her head at Sakuta and raced off down the stairs after her friend.
They were soon out of earshot.
“Koga really is at this school,” he muttered.
He clearly remembered her getting a referral to an all-girls school in the city…but the facts as he knew them and the reality before him did not match up.
“Is this all Mitou’s fault?”
“Is what all my fault?”
A voice from right behind him.
He flinched despite himself.
And slowly swung around.
The girl he’d been looking for.
“Mitou, can we talk?”
“Can you make it short?”
“I’d rather make it long.”
“I’m up for anything nonromantic.”
They were interrupted by a growling stomach. Miori’s stomach.
“I’m hungry, so should we chat while we eat?” Sakuta offered.
“The cafeteria’s packed. Let’s just grab something and eat in the garden,” Miori said, not batting an eye.
She was already on the move.