As Kaito and Hiro returned to the classroom after the break, they found their classmates already taking their seats, some still chatting animatedly.
Among them were Ayumi, an outgoing girl with long black hair, and Ren, an athletic guy with a captivating smile.
The room was filled with laughter and lively conversations, but the teacher had not yet arrived. Some students were flipping through their notebooks, while others exchanged jokes and gossip.
Kaito felt a chill run down his spine when he noticed some students pointing at him and laughing. He exchanged worried looks with Hiro, wondering about the reason for the sudden attention.
"What's going on?" Kaito whispered to Hiro, his tone laden with apprehension.
Hiro shrugged, sharing his friend's confusion. "No idea, man. Maybe it's best to ignore it and hope it's just some misunderstanding."
Kaito nodded, though he still felt uncomfortable about the situation. He focused on his books, trying to ward off the curious glances of the other students while waiting for the teacher to arrive.
Nanami entered the classroom, exuding confidence as she walked alongside her friends, Mina and Yuki.
Kaito and Hiro discreetly observed as the three girls approached, but their ears caught the conversation of the friends, sinking their hearts.
"Mina, did you hear about Kaito?" Yuki said in a whisper, barely containing her laughter.
"Yes! Nanami told me everything," Mina replied with a mischievous laugh. "Poor thing, he really thought he had a chance with her."
Nanami let out a soft laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Poor Kaito. I really didn't know he took that whole chocolate thing seriously. I guess he was looking for some kind of attention."
"A frog wanting to eat swan meat," Yuki added with a laugh, as the friends shared a moment of fun.
Kaito felt his face burn with shame as he heard Nanami's words. He wondered how she could be so cruel, revealing his confession to the entire classroom.
Hiro placed a comforting hand on Kaito's shoulder, noticing how uncomfortable he was with the situation. "Hey, don't worry about it, man. They're just trying to provoke you. Don't let it get to you."
With the teacher's entrance, the classroom instantly quieted down, the students turning their attention forward to their teacher.
Time Skip
Kaito bid Hiro a discreet farewell, grateful for his friend's constant presence throughout the day. With a sigh, he stood up from his chair and left the classroom, eager to escape the charged atmosphere of embarrassment.
As he walked through the empty school corridors, Kaito tried to ignore the cruel words still echoing in his mind. He knew he couldn't change what people thought of him, but he wouldn't let their words define him.
As Kaito walked out of the school gate, lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice someone watching him from the window.
×××××
Rias kept her gaze fixed through the window, watching Kaito leave the school with a thoughtful expression.
Akeno approached Rias, noticing her fixed gaze through the window. She followed Rias's gaze to see Kaito leaving the school. A look of curiosity crossed Akeno's face. "Is that the human who was having mana released?"
"Yes, that's him. I've been feeling a strange energy around him lately."
Akeno frowned, concerned about the situation. "And what are we going to do? When are we going to approach him?"
"We can't act rashly. We need to wait for the right moment. In the meantime, I've sent my familiar to keep an eye on him. We'll watch him closely and intervene when necessary."
Akeno nodded, confident in Rias's leadership.
Hyoudou Household
In the comfortable living room of the Hyoudou household, Gorou and Mirko sat in front of the fireplace, discussing in low voices while the light of the flames danced on their worried faces.
"Gorou, I know we've been putting off this conversation for a long time, but I think it's past time we tell Kaito the truth," Miki said, her voice laden with apprehension.
Gorou sighed, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. "I know, Miki, I know. But how are we going to explain to him that he's adopted? He's always believed he's our biological child."
Miki placed a comforting hand on Gorou's arm, seeking to convey calm amid their shared anguish. "He deserves to know the truth, Gorou. He's about to turn 16 next week. We can't keep hiding this from him forever."
Gorou nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility bear down on his shoulders. "You're right, Miki. We'll find the right moment to tell him. But we can't let this drag on any longer."
With a silent agreement between them, Gorou and Mirko remained together in the living room, united by their mutual desire to protect and guide their son, even if it meant facing the difficult truth that awaited them.
Outskirts of Kuoh City
Kaito walked through the streets of Kuoh, his gaze fixed on the ground while a cloud of turbulent thoughts swirled in his mind. He felt foolish for having shown his feelings to someone who only used him for convenience. Each step seemed heavy, as if carrying the weight of his own disappointment.
Ignoring the people around him, Kaito lost himself in his inner thoughts, reliving every embarrassing moment of the conversation with Nanami. He wondered how he could have been so naive, so blind to her true intentions.
Suddenly, a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts, causing him to stop in the middle of the street. He looked up, finding the kind eyes of a girl staring at him with compassion.
"Are you okay?" the girl asked, her voice soft and concerned, cutting through the silence around them.
Kaito blinked a few times, surprised by the unexpected encounter. He shook his head, trying to shake off the shadows of his thoughts as he tried to compose himself.
"I... I'm fine, thank you," he replied, his voice slightly hoarse from contained emotion.
"My name is Yuuma Amano," she said, her voice soft and warm. "I'm sorry for intruding, but I've been admiring you from a distance for a while."
"You... you have?" Kaito asked, his eyes meeting hers in search of confirmation.
Yuuma nodded, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Yes, I have. And today, I finally gathered the courage to ask you out. If you're interested, of course."
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