As Hinata pulled out her books from her bag, I tried to shake off the nervousness that had crept in the moment she stepped into my room. It wasn't the first time we'd been alone together, but the significance of it hit differently now that we are a couple…?
I tried to immerse myself in the math problems laid out in front of me, but every so often, my gaze would drift back to Hinata. I couldn't help it. There was something about the way she chewed on her pen cap when she was thinking, or how her brow furrowed in concentration, that made it hard to focus on anything else. My heart raced with every glance, a constant reminder that, despite everything, she was here with me—willingly.
I tapped my pencil against my notebook, breaking the silence. "Did you get this part?" I asked, pointing to a tricky equation.
I tried to keep my voice steady, but I couldn't hide the slight tension in my shoulders. This was still new to me—being close to her, trying to navigate whatever it was that we were becoming.
Hinata looked up, her eyes meeting mine briefly before she looked down at the problem.
"Yeah," she said, but her voice lacked the usual confidence she had when she was sure of something.
She paused for a moment, biting her lip. "Actually, no, I don't get it. Can you explain it again?" She pushed the notebook closer to me, and I couldn't help but smile at her honesty.
"Sure," I replied, leaning in to explain the steps once more.
As I talked, I could feel her shoulder brush against mine, a light, fleeting touch that sent a spark through me. I caught a faint scent of her shampoo, something floral and sweet, and for a moment, I forgot what I was supposed to be explaining.
I pulled myself back to the task at hand, guiding her through the problem step by step, my voice quieter now, softer. Her focus, the way she nodded along as if trying to soak up every word—it was moments like these that made me realize just how much I enjoyed being with her.
When we finally reached the solution, I looked up, catching the hint of a smile on her face. "You're a quick learner, Hinata," I said, a warmth spreading through my chest.
I wanted to tell her more—that I was proud of her, that she was doing great, but the words got caught somewhere in my throat.
"Only because you're a good teacher," she murmured, and our eyes locked. For a split second, the distance between us felt like nothing, as if we were sharing some secret that only we understood.
"Thanks, hahah." I laughed a little when she said that.
"Not just talented. Yukito also smart too." Hinata said to me.
Hinata's words caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks heat up a bit. Compliments from her were still something I wasn't quite used to, especially ones like this.
"Well, it's not that big of a deal," I mumbled, scratching the back of my head. "I just… I've had to study a lot, that's all."
Hinata chuckled softly, leaning back against her chair. "You're so modest. You know, it's okay to take a compliment every once in a while."
I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but inside, her words made my heart flutter. I glanced at her again, watching as she twirled her pen between her fingers. Her expression was relaxed, but there was a hint of something else nervousness, maybe? Or was it just me projecting?
"So, uh," I started, searching for something to say that didn't sound as awkward as I felt. "How's Yumi treating you? She didn't scare you off yet, did she?"
Hinata laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Yumi-chan? No way. She's actually really sweet. I think she's more excited about this than we are."
I smiled, relieved. "Yeah, she's… she's a handful, but she's got a good heart."
Hinata nodded, her smile fading slightly as she looked down at her notes. There was a moment of silence between us—one that wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy with unspoken thoughts. I could feel the weight of it, like we were both trying to figure out where this was going.
"Yukito," she said suddenly, her voice a little quieter. "About… us. Are we…? I mean, do you think we're really…?"
"Oh, is it that late already?" I said as I look at my phone check on the time. It says it's already 10 PM.
"Not that dummy…"
"What?"
"I'm ready if Yukito wants it." Hinata said as she trying to get a grip on herself.
I got her hint but, I need to hold it. I don't want to get caught by my family.
I move closer to Hinata and whispered to her that, "We can't do this tonight, but I promise that, someday we'll do it at the right time and the right place."
Hinata's gaze lifted, her eyes meeting mine. There was a vulnerability there that I hadn't seen before—a hint of the same uncertainty that I was feeling. She nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Me too."
After another hour of studying, the fatigue was starting to set in. Hinata yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she glanced at the clock on my desk.
"It's getting late," she noted, rubbing her eyes. "We should probably call it a night."
"Yeah," I agreed, closing my textbook with a thud. I hadn't realized how much time had passed; the hours seemed to fly by when we were together.
"Let's wrap up."
Hinata began packing her books back into her bag, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and nervousness. Studying with her had gone smoother than I'd expected, but now we were at that awkward stage where the day was ending and there was nothing left to distract us.
I stood up, trying to act casual as I stretched my arms. "You can head to Yumi's room. She's probably been waiting for you."
Hinata nodded, her movements slow as she finished packing.
"Yeah, she said she wanted to talk about something earlier. Probably more about us," she said with a small, amused smile.
"Good luck with that," I joked, rubbing the back of my neck. "She's full of questions."
Hinata chuckled softly. "I can handle her. Besides, I think it's sweet. She really cares about you, you know."
I nodded, feeling a warm sense of gratitude.
"Yeah, she's always been like that."
As Hinata slung her bag over her shoulder, she moved toward the door. But just before she reached it, she paused, her expression thoughtful. She turned back to me, her eyes soft and a little uncertain, as if she was debating something internally.
I tilted my head, curious. "Everything okay?"
Hinata hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer. Before I could react or even fully understand what was happening, she leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. The touch was gentle, brief, but it left a warm, lingering sensation that spread through my face and down to my chest.
I froze, my mind racing to catch up with what had just happened. Her lips were gone in an instant, but the warmth of her kiss stayed with me, making my heart skip a beat. I glanced at her, wide-eyed, trying to process the sudden shift in the air between us.
Hinata pulled back, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she looked at me with a shy smile. "Goodnight, Yukito," she whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of nerves and something else—something tender.
I opened my mouth, struggling to find the right words. "G-Goodnight, Hinata," I stammered, my own face heating up. The room felt charged, like the air was buzzing with a quiet electricity that neither of us knew how to address.
Hinata gave me one last look, her smile soft and knowing, before she turned and stepped out of the room. She didn't say anything more, and she didn't need to. The simple gesture spoke volumes, a quiet confirmation of whatever was growing between us.
As the door clicked shut behind her, I reached up and touched the spot where her lips had brushed against my cheek, still feeling the ghost of her kiss. I let out a breath, my heart still racing, a mixture of surprise and happiness swirling in my chest.
I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. It was small, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Whatever doubts or uncertainties lingered didn't seem as heavy anymore.
After a moment, I heard Yumi's door creak open down the hall and the sound of Hinata's voice greeting her. I took a deep breath, finally turning back to tidy up my room, but my mind was still stuck on that brief, unexpected kiss.