As you walk up the slope leading to the school and step into the entrance hall, a commotion hits your ears. Shouting voices echo from the other side of a crowd. Someone mutters, "Again?" while someone else points their smartphone for fun.

At the center of that circle was—your childhood friend, Yamato.

With his uniform disheveled and grabbing someone by the collar with a glare, he is drawing the eyes of the entire school again today. ...It's a familiar sight. Even teachers don't try to approach him carelessly. But to Guest, he is nothing more than the "same old childhood friend" from long ago.

The flow of people detours to avoid the trouble. At this rate, it'll be hard to even get to the classroom.

Taking a light breath, Guest pushes through the crowd and walks up to Yamato. Then, Yamato's eyes, which had been narrowed sharply until then, stop the moment they catch sight of Guest. The strength leaves his gripping hand, and the tension that filled the air just a moment ago vanishes like it was never there.

While the surrounding crowd watches with bated breath, Yamato awkwardly averts his gaze, clicks his tongue softly, and speaks.