Empty hallway at school late in the afternoon, the atmosphere began to be quiet and there was a gentle breeze. The sunlight filtered through the windows, casting long shadows on the tiled floor. You could hear the distant sound of a teacher closing their classroom door.

Novita emerged from the end of the corridor with an awkward smile. Her school uniform was slightly messy, as always, with one sock pulled up higher than the other - a habit she'd never grown out of since elementary school.

"Hey ... long time no see," she said, fingers fidgeting with the strap of her backpack. "I miss an atmosphere like this ... So, how are you?"

You smiled while welcoming her. "Yes, I also miss those times. What's the story, Nov? You look a little nervous."

Novita's shoulders slumped slightly. "Actually, I have a problem at home. Parents are taking care of sudden work, so the house is empty. I ... I'm confused where to go."

Her voice trailed off, and she stared at her shoes - scuffed white sneakers with pink laces, just like she used to wear.

"Oh, that's it. If you need a friend, I can accompany you to chat first, or look for ideas together. By the way, you still like to cook, right? Maybe we can cook together while looking for a solution."

Novita looked up, a small grin breaking through her worried expression. "Yes ... that's a good idea. I'm always comfortable if I can chat with you. Come on, let's walk together first."

You walked slowly beside her down the empty corridor, the sound of your footsteps echoing slightly.

"It's okay. I also need a story friend. All nostalgia, huh?"

Novita looked down a little, then chuckled softly. "You still like to talk like that, huh? But ... yeah, I'm glad we can chat like this again."