No matter how many times Hana turned her bag upside down, she couldn't find her cell phone.

Her semester exams were approaching fast, and the young woman had got into the habit of staying at school to study in the library. The environment there was much more prone to studying, and she took advantage of the opportunity to catch up on her revisions. Skating practice took up most of her time, and the resulting fatigue every evening meant she couldn't find the strength to sit down at her desk and study. As a result, Hana found herself overwhelmed by her obligations and trapped in a constant state of stress, to the point where she became absent-minded and lost her things. A loud sigh escaped her.

—Where the hell is he? She cried aloud as she searched her bag for the third time. For God's sake...

—Looking for this?

A student stood shyly a few steps away from Hana, the young woman's cell phone held out in his direction. A sigh of relief passed through her, and she ceased her desperate search, now knowing they were veins, and broke the distance between them.

—You found it in the library, I presume? She asked, taking hold of her possession.

—You left it on a bookshelf, confirmed the boy, giving her a small smile. The librarian wanted to take it to the lost and found, but I offered to return it myself.

—Thank you, she retorted simply.

The boy gave her another smile, and on closer inspection, Hana realized she'd seen him somewhere before. She hadn't paid much attention earlier, too focused on her lost property, but now that she was finally looking into his eyes, the student's features were definitely familiar. However, the problem was that she couldn't remember where they had met. And as if he'd read her mind, the student chose this moment to tell her who he was.

—I'm Ejiro Igarashi, he introduced himself to the young woman's questioning gaze. We're in the same class, but I don't think you really noticed me, Hoshino.

The lights suddenly flowed in her mind, and Hana felt a little silly for not making the connection earlier. More importantly, she felt a little ashamed that she didn't know his name, whereas he'd obviously remembered hers. But now that he'd introduced himself, the ice skater remembered catching sight of him a few times in class, though never trying to find out who he was. Since the beginning of the year, she had managed to draw as little attention to herself as possible and, perhaps unwittingly, Hana had isolated herself from the others, not seeking to socialize with her many classmates. She barely knew them, if not at all. Her interactions were limited to Sora Amano and a few of the girl's friends, and it was only because Amano had decided so at the beginning of the school year.

—I'm sorry, the young woman apologized with a slight grimace.

—Oh that's all right, replied Igarashi, not at all offended by his ignorance. It's just that we don't see you very often, and we've never really had a chance to introduce ourselves properly.

Hana had only herself to blame for this. Since the beginning of the semester, she'd taken advantage of the slightest opportunity to isolate herself in the cul-de-sac behind the school building. She spent most of her breaks there, which hadn't helped her get to know the other students in her own class.

But having no desire to divulge this information, Hana improvised a reply credible enough to dispel any questions, as she had become so adept at doing over the years.

—A friend of mine often lends me his first-year notes, so I make sure I get them back to him as soon as possible, which often happens to be between classes.

It wasn't quite a lie, but it wasn't the truth. Shirai always lent her some of his notebooks, of course, but she didn't spend her breaks in his company. But that was something her comrade didn't need to know. It was theirlittle secret, after all.

—By the way, Hana continued as she lowered her gaze to the revision sheets in her arms, I'll have to give them back to him later, after his training session.

As if to back up her words, the young woman showed Igarashi the notebooks, and the latter's eyes suddenly lit up as he read "Kazuya Shirai" on the cover.

—Are you going to the baseball field? He guessed, before letting out a small laugh. That's good, because so am I! We can go there together, he exclaimed, before suddenly looking embarrassed by his words. Well, if you're fine with it...

A light crimson blush covered his cheekbones as he looked away, stammering out the end of his sentence with an increasingly uneasy air. Hana was amused by his reaction, but made no comment, appreciating the boy's spontaneity. He frankly seemed sincere, and her intuition told her that he hadn't approached her without bad intentions. So, perhaps because she felt a little guilty for having ignored his existence until now, she finally gave him a positive answer.

—Sure why not, agreed the young woman, offering him a slight smile in return.

A wave of relief passed through the young man, and he slowly regained his composure when he saw that she didn't seem disturbed by his proposal. He hadn't expected her to accept, let alone give him a smile, because he'd thought Hoshino would reject him out of hand. In class, he never saw her display the slightest emotion on her face, except boredom and dismay, and this smile appeared to him as confirmation that his presence wasn't bothering her the slightest.

—Let's go then, suggested Igarashi as he set off.

—I follow you.

─── ∗∙⋅❀⋅∙∗ ───

—Hey Captain, your girl friend's here!

Ten minutes earlier, baseball practice had come to an end. Almost all the club's members were changing in the locker room, and Kazuya Shirai was no exception. His hair still damp from his shower, the captain was busy carefully folding his sports clothes when one of his comrades came into the locker room to tell him the news.

—'ve already told you that Hana isn't my girlfriend, Kazuya corrected without even bothering to look up.

—And how come you thought of her straight away if she's not your chick? Asked another of his comrades, laughing.

—Because we were supposed to meet today, he replied in his eternally imperturbable tone.

But no matter how many times he repeated it, none of his teammates seemed to stop this nonsense. They were probably doing it on purpose, hoping to get him off his back, but unfortunately for them, Kazuya's calm personality always got the better of him, and he never raised his voice when correcting them about his relationship with his childhood friend. It would take a lot more to upset him, and at the moment, putting his things back in his bag was far more important to him than his team-mates' bullshit. Nothing - or almost nothing - they could say to him would distract him from his task.

And in the worst case, the fact that this bunch of clowns seemed convinced that Hana was his girlfriend would at least have the effect of saving the principal concerned from being approached.

—Hurry up before she goes back with that other guy, said his teammate in a singsong tone. They seem to get along well.

Kazuya frowned imperceptibly at these words. Hana wasn't alone? The idea that one of his teammates had decided to pester her while she waited crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed the possibility by thinking back to his warnings. He'd made that clear, and no one would be foolish enough to defy his authority.  The captain therefore concluded that his friend had probably come accompanied by a classmate of hers. He didn't comment aloud, however, knowing full well that his team-mates would use the slightest of his reactions to mock him until the end of time.

—I think it's Ejiro.

Even at the other end of the locker room, Naoki Igarashi's ears couldn't miss his comrades' conversation. The moment Keisuke arrived in the locker room after his eternal laps around the pitch as punishment for being late, his best friend had rushed to give him a summary of the situation. The dark-haired boy had listened without flinching, used to Igarashi doing the talking for two, but when his younger brother's name was mentioned, Akaashi couldn't help expressing his astonishment.

—Do they know each other? He exclaimed, buttoning up his uniform shirt.

—They've been in the same class since the beginning of the year, confirmed Igarashi in an amused voice. Didn't you know that?

—It's not like I really give a damn, grumbled the student, shrugging his shoulders.

At the same time, Shirai and his friends passed by on their way to the exit, and the two boys fell silent by tacit agreement. This earned them a highly suspicious glance from the captain, but neither of them bothered to pick up on it. It was only when the locker room door was fully closed, and they were alone that Igarashi spoke freely again.

—I knew my brother was into Hoshino, but I didn't think he'd dare talk to her any time soon.

Following his confession, Igarashi carefully analyzed his best friend's facial expressions in the hope of seeing an ounce of emotion for which he could annoy him, but nothing of the sort happened. Akaashi hardly seemed to be listening. His habitual phlegm was still evident, even with this girl. Yet deep down, Igarashi sensed that the information he'd just delivered didn't leave his friend as indifferent as he'd let it show. Perhaps he was just too stubborn to realize it. Or maybe he didn't realize it at all.

—I didn't think my little brother would be so brave, added Igarashi in an exaggeratedly theatrical tone.

This time, Keisuke rolled his eyes in exasperation. He wasn't stupid. He'd clearly understood that his best friend was trying to make him react. So, in order to shorten the ordeal, and perhaps also because his curiosity was beginning to be aroused, the dark-haired man decided to play along.

—Does Hana scare him that much? He asked incredulously.

A mischievous smile took place on Igarashi's lips and, without even noticing the use of the young woman's first name, he jumped at the chance to retort the phrase that had been burning his lips since the start of their conversation.

—He's not really afraid of her, confided Igarashi enigmatically. But rather of you.

—I beg your pardon?

—Ejiro knows there's something serious going on between you and Hoshino, so he didn't really dare take the plunge. And dude, don't ask me how he found out about you two, he added hastily in the face of Akaashi's glare. I swear I didn't say anything.

—There's nothing serious going on between me and anyone else, said the dark-haired man, as he closed his bag with a slightly sharper gesture than usual. And you're starting to get on my nerves with your innuendos.

—Don't take it like that, dude. You have to admit, it's a miracle a girl convinced you to go from one-night stands to a friend with benefits thing.

—How's your chick doing ? Akaashi suddenly asked.

—What chick? Igarashi asked naively, frowning. I don't have a girlfriend, what are you talking about?

—I know you don't, replied the dark-haired man mockingly, swinging the strap of his bag over his shoulder.

A moment passed before Igarashi realized that he'd been fooled once again.

—Not cool to remind me, he whimpered in a desperate voice.

But sensing that his best friend's mood had darkened considerably, Igarashi didn't push his boundaries any further and stopped bothering him. What's more, Keisuke had finally finished packing all his belongings and was already heading, without waiting for him, for the exit door.

She was there.

A dozen meters away, she was there, but with him. Shirai. They were discussing a subject that seemed captivating, judging by the look she was giving him. Or maybe that's how she looked at people she cared about. Nothing and no one but Shirai seemed to matter to her at the moment; not once did Hana meet his gaze, obsessed by what his stupid captain had to say.

And for some reason, Keisuke was deeply annoyed by the mere sight of this. Okay, they had decided that their relationship should remain a secret. Certainly, they had agreed not to speak to each other in public. And of course, they never exchanged more than discreet glances as they passed each other in the corridors. But right now, the fact that she didn't even notice his presence was highly disturbing.

Disturbing because the person responsible for her ignoring him was none other than Kazuya Shirai, a person with whom cordiality was an ordeal. And seeing them together like this annoyed him. Not that he wanted to be in Shirai's shoes, far from it. Keisuke had no reason to envy their relationship, and above all, he wouldn't want Hana just as a friend. Besides, part of him dreamed of joining them and telling Shirai the whole truth. To tell him what they were doing behind his back. To enjoy, just for the fun of it, the look on his face when he realized that he, Keisuke Akaashi, had corrupted his childhood best friend. And that, to top it all off, she was asking for some more every time.

But of course, Keisuke did none of this, and all his thoughts disappeared as quickly as they had appeared when a pat on his back took his breath away. He winced. His tobacco-damaged lungs ached as they filled up again with air.

—Don't make that face, dude, Igarashi whispered, a mocking smile on his lips. I thought you didn't give a damn about her relationships.

This remark earned him a dark look.

—I don't care, confirmed Keisuke, absent-mindedly massaging his ribs. But I really can't stand the sight of Shirai. That's it.

At the same time, Shirai and Hana turned on their heels and began to walk away. But just before they disappeared around the corner, the young woman glanced back, and their eyes met. Charcoal eyes against metallic blue, both marked by the glow of a secret known only by them. A glow that lasted only a fraction of a second....

Not long enough for anyone to notice, but too long for it to be pure chance. 

Because at the end of the day, when the sun kneeled before the moon, it's in each other's arms that their lost souls took refuge and, for a few hours, forgot their sorrows.

─── ∗∙⋅❀⋅∙∗ ───

As agreed, Kazuya accompanied Hana to her skating practice. The two chatted, catching up on the time they hadn't been able to spend together. The topics of conversation revolved mainly around school life, including impending exams and the future. Unlike Hana, Kazuya had always had a very clear idea of what he would do next. For a long time now, he had been planning to enter the world of finance, and every time they talked about it, the figure skater could only observe his friend's undeniable ambition.

His life was perfectly ordered, with no crookedness or detours. As well as being unrivalled in his politeness and kindness, he was among – if not the one -  the best students in his year, took good care of his family, did most of the housework himself and, to top it all off, had an impeccable lifestyle.

With such a resplendent track record, Hana didn't find it surprising that her dear grandmother liked him so much.  According to her speech, he had all the qualities of the perfect son-in-law. And in a way, Hana could only agree with her. There was no doubt that Kazuya would take good care of the person who would share his life. It was in his blood. He'd go far.

After all, not everyone was a lost cause like her.

—And is Madame Aksakova always so strict with you? Kazuya inquired as the ice rink loomed in the distance.

—She's doubled my training hours even though my exams approach, Hana retorted with a sigh. And her new diet restrictions border with the unbearable. The Russians really don't joke about discipline.

Hana still remembered that when she took part in figure skating competitions, the most threatening opponents were always from the country of Madame Oksana Aksakova. The harshness of their competitive lifestyle was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. It was clearly not for the faint-hearted, and if Hana already thought her coach was pushing too far, she didn't dare imagine the torment endured by skaters living in Russia.

But at least, if we ignore that it was at the limit of acceptability, the results of this relentlessness were not long in coming.

Hana had once been beaten by one of these over-trained skaters. A blond girl with long, crown-braided hair, wearing a dress as blue as her icy eyes. Both were just under ten years old, but the gap between them was impressive. The girl skated as if she'd been born on ice, executing intricate figs as if they were a simple pirouette. Hana had still won the silver medal hands down, but losing to the Russian had been a bitter experience for the Hoshino family. Just thinking about it made her stomach tighten with apprehension.

Yet another memory Hana was trying to bury inside her.

—Even if you don't like her method, she didn't get all those coaching awards for nothing, the baseball captain tried to put things into perspective. You progress very quickly with her.

Shirai's words snapped Hana out of her thoughts. The young woman took a deep breath, realizing that her breath had unconsciously been caught as she plunged back into memories of the past.

—Progress is good, but I don't really see the point of it, she admitted. I'm not planning to compete again for at least one year.

Frankly, if she really had the choice, she'd never go back to it. But the brunette would never say that out loud.

Forcing herself to do what she didn't want, it had always been one of her specialties.

—I need... a little more time, the young woman finished in a breath. Besides, I clearly don't have the time with all the work I have to do for classes.

Classes. But also the parties, the hangovers, and him. But she wouldn't bring that up either.

—Hana, the boy called in a soft voice, giving her a sympathetic look. Don't forget to take care of yourself, too. It's very important.

—Don't worry, Kazuya, she reassured him. I'll be fine.

Neither of them believed her words, but neither of them took the lie down. And not wanting her to close up with her demons, the young man decided to change the subject, choosing a lighter theme.

—I saw you chatting with Ejiro Igarashi earlier, commented the captain, giving her a knowing look.

—You know him?

—His older brother's on the team, he told her. Naoki Igarashi. I think you must have seen him earlier.

"With Akaashi", she was about to say, but stopped herself short. For some time, Kazuya had suspected - much to his chagrin - that his teammate was interested in Hana. He'd heard that Akaashi had turned down Akane Midori's advances, and rumor had it that the reason for his refusal was that he had another girl in his sights. And to back up his words, more than once, he had caught the elder Igarashi uttering Hana's last name, then suddenly falling silent when he noticed her presence. All in the presence of Akaashi.

But today, seeing his childhood friend conversing with the younger Igarashi, Kazuya had come to the conclusion that perhaps Igarashi was talking about his little brother's situation. Nothing like he'd first imagined. What's more, he'd found his friend a little more expressive lately. Looking more alive. Perhaps his meeting with Ejiro Igarashi had something to do with it? It was good news. He wished her all the happiness she deserved.

Of course, Kazuya could have simply asked Hana for further explanation. But without concrete proof, he hadn't tried to dismantle the true from the false. Besides, he didn't like the idea of investigating behind his best friend's back. He found it unnecessarily intrusive.

Even if it was to protect her from the bad influence represented by Keisuke Akaashi.

—It's a small world, said the ice skater, who had finally digested the information.

—I agree, laughed the young man. Are you two the same class? He asked.

—That's right, confirmed the pretty brunette. And you're not going to believe this, but I've never noticed it before.

—I'm not even that surprised.

Speaking of new encounters, Kazuya's questions flared up again. Normally, he wouldn't have cared. But when it came to the one he considered as the little sister he'd never had, his speech was quite different.

—tell me, Hana...

—Yes?

He might have been fooling himself, but Kazuya preferred to brush aside his doubts.

—Did, by any chance, Akaashi try to approach you?

His question was harmless, but he was far more interested in the answer than he let on. At his side, Hana seemed to be rummaging through her memories.

—Well, I bump into him from time to time at the vending machines during breaks, admitted the figure skater.

—And... do you ever talk to him?

—No, never, she retorted.

As soon as she said these words, Hana immediately regretted them. She didn't want to lie to him, but she didn't want to worry him either. She knew he didn't like Akaashi the slightest, and she didn't want him to get into trouble because of it. Not that he was likely to go and stick his fist to his face. Kazuya was too polite and respectful to do that. On the other hand, the risk that their team cohesion would suffer, that was to be expected. When in doubt, she preferred not to mention certain details.

Kazuya's shoulders relaxed, and he heaved a sigh of relief.

—I know I may sound paranoid, but I just wanted to make sure, he explained, offering her a slight smile. He's a really bad guy.

Hana forced herself to smile back, hoping with all her heart that she hadn't made the wrong choice.

—If you have a problem with him, please let me know.

—I will, she assured him, her tone convincing.

They both stopped. They had just arrived at the rink's main entrance. So, without waiting, Kazuya handed his friend back the bag of skates he had offered to carry, and she thanked him with a slight smile.

—Thank you for accompanying me. And for carrying my bag.

—You're welcome, retorted his friend, before kissing her cheek tenderly, as usual. Have a good workout, he said, holding up one of the glass doors. Give my regards to your grandmother.

—I will, Hana promised, giving him a slight smile. See you soon! She greeted, before rushing into the rink.