The group is lounging in the school courtyard, enjoying the rare calm after the excitement of the cultural festival. The mood is light and carefree as they talk about their favorite moments from the event.
Kaito, grinning, "I told you we'd pull it off! I even surprised myself with how good we were up there."
Aoi, teasing, "You barely lifted a finger during rehearsal, Kaito. I'm surprised you even remembered your lines."
Kaito shrugs, clearly unbothered by the jab. He's lounging on the grass, his hands behind his head, acting like he doesn't have a care in the world. But as the conversation flows around him, his mind starts to drift, his usual grin faltering for just a moment.
Misaki, sitting nearby, watches Kaito out of the corner of her eye. She notices the slight shift in his expression—a flicker of something deeper, something she's never seen from him before. It's subtle, but it makes her pause.
Misaki, thinking, "Is something bothering him?"
Later that evening, after the group has parted ways, Kaito walks alone through the quiet streets. The sun has set, and the city is bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Normally, Kaito would be texting or hanging out with friends, but tonight, he's lost in thought.
Kaito, thinking, "Everyone thinks I've got it all figured out. The lazy genius, right? But it's not as easy as they think."
He shoves his hands into his pockets, feeling the weight of something he can't quite articulate. Kaito's always been the laid-back, carefree one—the one who makes everything look easy. But lately, he's felt the pressure building, a growing awareness that his nonchalant attitude is hiding something deeper. Something he's not ready to confront.
Kaito, thinking, "What if they knew? That I don't have it all together like they think I do."
His mind flashes to Misaki, to the way she had looked at him earlier, as if she could see through his usual facade. The thought unsettles him.
At the same time, Misaki sits in her room, sketching idly in her notebook. She's still thinking about Kaito, about the strange moment in the courtyard when he seemed... different. Misaki has always admired Kaito's easygoing nature, the way he can make people laugh without trying. But now, she wonders if there's more to him than he lets on.
Misaki, thinking in her head, "Kaito never shows what's really going on in his head. I wonder what he's hiding."
Her pencil pauses over the page, and she frowns slightly. There's something about the way Kaito had looked at her earlier, something that felt... unspoken.
Suddenly, Misaki's phone buzzes with a text from Yuki.
Yuki's Message: "Hey, Misaki. Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about something."
Misaki replies quickly, agreeing to meet Yuki at their usual spot by the school fountain.
At the school fountain, Yuki waits nervously, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. When Misaki arrives, Yuki's face is flushed, her eyes wide with anxiety. Misaki sits beside her, sensing that something important is on Yuki's mind.
Misaki, gently speaks to her, "What's up, Yuki? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Yuki bites her lip, clearly struggling to find the right words.
Yuki, hesitated, "I... I think I'm starting to have feelings for someone in the group. But I don't know what to do about it."
Misaki's eyes widen in surprise. Yuki, usually so shy and reserved, rarely talks about her feelings—especially romantic ones. Misaki's heart goes out to her, knowing how hard it must have been for Yuki to even bring this up.
"It's okay, Yuki. You can tell me. Who is it?"
"I think... I think I like Haruto."
Misaki blinks, taken aback by the confession. Haruto, the group's reliable and strong-willed leader, has always been close to Yuki, but Misaki hadn't realized there was something deeper between them.
Misaki, softly, "Haruto, huh? I had no idea. Have you told him how you feel?"
Yuki shakes her head quickly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Yuki, being nervous, "No, I... I don't know how. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"
Misaki reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on Yuki's shoulder.
Misaki, kindly tells her, "You won't know unless you talk to him, Yuki. And even if he doesn't feel the same, that doesn't mean you've lost anything. Haruto cares about you a lot. Whatever happens, he'll still be your friend."
Yuki nods, though the fear in her eyes remains. She's not sure if she's ready to confess her feelings yet, but knowing that Misaki is there to support her gives her some comfort.
The next day, Kaito meets Misaki at the art room, having asked to see her after school. He fidgets with the edge of the desk, his usual easygoing demeanor noticeably absent. Misaki notices the shift and sits across from him, sensing that something's been weighing on him.
Mizuki, concerned for Kaito, "You've been off lately, Kaito. Is everything okay?"
Kaito hesitates, the words caught in his throat. He's never been good at opening up—not about real things, anyway. But there's something about Misaki's steady gaze that makes him want to try.
Kaito, quietly, "You ever feel like... everyone expects you to be something you're not?"
Misaki tilts her head, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice.
Misaki, confirmed, "Sometimes, yeah. Why?"
Kaito looks away, his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap.
"I'm always the one who jokes around, who doesn't care about anything. But the truth is... I do care. A lot. I just don't know how to show it. And I don't want people to see me as weak."
Misaki's heart softens as she listens to him. She's always known there was more to Kaito than the carefree facade, but hearing him admit his fears so openly catches her off guard.
"Kaito, caring doesn't make you weak. It makes you human."
Kaito, in his usual carefree attitude, "Yeah, well... sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't have it all figured out."
Misaki smiles, a small laugh escaping her.
"Trust me, none of us have it all figured out."
For a moment, there's a quiet understanding between them—a shared vulnerability that neither of them had expected. And in that moment, Mizuki feels something shift between them. It's subtle, but it's there—a deepening of their connection, something unspoken but undeniably present.
As the day draws to a close, the group meets up in their usual spot in the courtyard. The atmosphere is light, filled with laughter and teasing, but beneath the surface, each of them carries the weight of unspoken emotions. Yuki steals glances at Haruto, wondering if she'll ever find the courage to tell him how she feels. Misaki watches Kaito, sensing the change in him but unsure of what it means. Aoi, realised that something is wrong with Yuki. And Kaito, though outwardly relaxed, can't shake the feeling that something important is slipping through his fingers.
To be continued...