After a restless night, Kiyato returned to campus, the halls filling with students. He hoped today might bring some clarity or maybe just more confusion.
When Kiyato entered the classroom, his eyes unconsciously flicked to Miyano's seat. There he was, surrounded by a small group of girls, their conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter. Kiyato's chest tightened as he quickly looked away and made his way to his own desk, the morning sun casting a warm glow through the window.
"Good morning, Kiyato," came a familiar voice from behind, catching him off guard.
He turned abruptly, meeting Miyano's bright eyes. "Oh, good morning," Kiyato managed, his pulse quickening.
"Can you help me with some notes?" Miyano's smile was disarming, soft but confident.
"Yeah, of course," Kiyato said, almost too quickly.
Miyano turned to the girls with an apologetic grin. "Ladies, excuse us for a moment."
They exchanged amused glances and moved away, their giggles fading as they retreated.
Kiyato hesitated, the air between them suddenly charged. "So… yesterday, you…" he began, voice trailing off.
Before he could continue, Miyano interrupted, eyes glimmering. "Congrats on the match, Kiyato. You did really well."
"Oh, thanks," Kiyato replied, surprised. He shifted in his seat, fingers fidgeting. "You… you came to watch?"
Miyano nodded, his smile widening just enough to send a flutter through Kiyato's chest. "Yeah, I heard you were playing, so I wanted to see."
Kiyato swallowed, questions storming in his mind but stuck on the tip of his tongue. Why did you come? Why did you leave without saying anything? But the words wouldn't come, tangled up in a mess of confusion and nerves.
"Kiyato? You okay?" Miyano's voice was softer now, almost concerned.
"Yeah, yeah… it's nothing." Kiyato's lips twitched into a strained smile. "Oh, um, thanks for watching."
Miyano's eyes softened, a small smile curving his lips. "You're welcome."
Before either of them could say more, a sudden burst of energy cut through the moment.
"Heyyy, good morning, guys!" Kino's voice boomed as he appeared in front of them, grinning from ear to ear. "You two seem pretty close all of a sudden, huh? Feels like you've known each other forever."
"Yeah, he's right," Aio chimed in, sidling up next to Kino. "I don't think I've ever seen Kiyato-kun talking so comfortably with anyone else."
Flustered, Kiyato looked down at the open notebook in front of him. "Here, the notes," he muttered, ignoring the knowing smiles. The laughter that followed felt teasing yet warm.
Class passed with a sense of slow anticipation. When it ended, Kiyato found himself lingering as he packed his bag, watching out of the corner of his eye as Miyano did the same. The others called their goodbyes and drifted away, leaving just the two of them in the now quiet room.
They walked out together. The cool breeze outside brushed against Kiyato's face, grounding him for a moment.
"Kiyato," Miyano said, breaking the silence, "do you want to ask me something? I could tell you were waiting."
Kiyato's heart thudded as he met Miyano's gaze, those clear eyes reading him too easily. The questions surfaced again, raw and jumbled: Why did you smile at me like that? Why did you disappear after the match? Why do you make me feel things no one else ever has?
"I… I don't know how to say it," Kiyato finally muttered, voice low.
Miyano chuckled, a light and genuine sound that eased some of the tension. "Why are you so serious? It's okay," he said, leaning in just enough for Kiyato to catch the warmth in his tone. "You can relax."
Kiyato's shoulders dropped a fraction, the tightness in his chest loosening. "Right. Sorry."
Miyano chuckled, the sound warm and light. "Why are you so flustered? It's okay," he said, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Calm down, Kiyato. I was just kidding."
Kiyoto suddenly felt a warmth that he never felt before.
Kiyoto asked himself " can I trust this feeling ?"