Hello.

Hey, Kohane!

Welcome, Kohane.

What can I get for you today?

Umm... Oh, can I have what I tried the other day? A cafe au lait with honey and cinnamon powder on top?

Coming right up.

Kohane, come sit with us!

Are you sure? Then, if you don't mind...

So, are you guys not practicing today?

No, we are in a little bit.

But I decided to take a quick break since I had some time on my hands.

Oh, okay!

Hey, your school already had its opening ceremony, right?

Yeah, just the other day.

Then, you're officially a second-year now!

Have you noticed any changes? You're starting a new year with a new class and stuff, right?

Aside from those two things...

Oh, the first-years. I have juniors now.

Oh, right! They'll be looking up to you as their role model!

Yeah, but I'm not sure how much I'll be talking to them since I'm not in any clubs...

But that's still really cool!

Do you think they're gonna call you by your last name or your first?

Oh...

Hehe. I'm not sure.

During junior high school, I always felt a little anxious whenever my juniors called my name...

Really? But you're such a nice person, Kohane! I bet everyone's going to love you!

You think so? That'd be nice.

Can you tell us more about your school?!

I wanna know more too!

What else has changed for you?

What else?

Uhh...

Settle down, you two.

I know you're happy to see her again, but you shouldn't badger her like that.

We know!

Do you...?

Anyway, Kohane, here's your cafe au lait.

Thank you very much.

Phew...

Your coffee always has this way of putting my mind at ease, MEIKO.

Hehe. I'm glad to hear that.

Well?

Did you think of anything else that's changed now that you're a second-year?

Anything works!

For example, stuff that's different now compared to before!

Exactly!

You just mentioned what happened when you were in junior high! Tell us more about that!

Now compared to back then...?

Come to think of it, I wasn't so afraid of walking into my new classroom...

Your new classroom?

Yeah, I always used to get really nervous whenever I was about to enter a new classroom for the first time...

Mostly because everyone looks at you for a second after you open the door...

I was afraid I wouldn't know what to say and worried I wouldn't be able to greet someone back if they tried to talk to me...

I see...

But this time, I didn't feel worried or afraid at all.

I always hesitated before, but I was able to say, “Good morning,” to everyone pretty naturally.

Hey, that means you've grown a lot!

In particular, your courage and confidence.

Otherwise, I doubt you would've been able to put on such a stellar performance as the opening act for your event.

Yeah! We're so proud of you, Kohane!

Hehe.

(I have started having a little more confidence in myself lately.)

(But it's nice to hear others say that I've actually grown.)

So, can you tell us more?!

Yeah, what else has happened?!

Oh, sure.

Anything in particular?