"Miyano, you're spaced out! What's the matter? Do you find business strategies boring now?" the teacher called out, snapping Miyano out of his thoughts.
Startled, Miyano stammered, "N-no, sir, I—"
"He's not well, sir," Kiyoto suddenly interrupted.
The class fell silent, eyes widening in surprise. Kiyoto, known for his quiet demeanor, had never spoken up like this before. Even the teacher raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback.
Not only others kiyoto was himself surprised of his sudden words.
Miyano glanced at Kiyoto, his heart skipping a beat. Did he speak up for him?
"You are not well, Miyano?" the teacher asked, looking skeptical.
Miyano hesitated, then nodded slightly,
"Take some rest; you don't look well. If you're not feeling better, you can skip the lecture after lunch," Kiyoto suggested
"Alright," Miyano replied quietly, a hint of exhaustion in his voice.
As the lunch break began, everyone headed to the cafeteria, but Kiyoto remained seated. Noticing this, Miyano approached him.
"Why aren't you going for lunch, Kiyoto?" he asked.
Kiyoto turned to him, his voice calm but concerned. "What about you? You're not feeling well—you should eat."
"I'll eat later," Miyano said dismissively
"Come with me. Eat something now," Kiyoto insisted, avoiding eye contact. "Then you can rest in my room after."
Miyano blinked ,his expression softened. "Alright," he said warmly. "No problem for me."
After finishing their lunch in comfortable silence, the two walked side by side toward the dormitory. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the campus, but Miyano still looked pale.
Kiyoto glanced at him briefly, "You sure you're okay?"
Miyano chuckled softly, though his steps were slower than usual. "I'll survive. Don't worry so much."
Kiyoto let out a small sigh, his concern evident despite his attempt to sound casual. "I'm not worrying. I just don't want you collapsing on me."
Miyano smiled faintly. "You're kinder to me than you let on, Kiyoto."
Kiyoto cleared his throat, looking away as a faint blush crept up his cheeks. "My room's just ahead."
As they stepped into Room 206, Miyano's gaze swept over the space. It was tidy, almost unnaturally so, but something about it felt hollow, as empty.
"Where's your roommate?" Miyano asked, glancing around.
"He left a few months ago. He was a senior," Kiyoto replied casually, shutting the door behind them.
"Wear this slippers " he showed two slippers near the door.
"Is it yours " Miyano asked
"Ofcourse it's mine" kiyoto said while removing his shoes.
Miyano tilted his head slightly, his gaze softening. "Don't you feel lonely? I mean... as far as I know, you don't seem to have any close friends here, right?"
Kiyoto's lips parted, "No. Not really," he said, the words slipping out too quickly, almost defensively.
Miyano studied him quietly, his expression thoughtful, but chose not to press further.
"Now you should rest," Kiyoto said, breaking the silence and stepping forward. His hands moved to adjust the pillows on the bed "No one will disturb you here."
For a moment, Miyano watched him, sensing the care in his actions.
"Thank you," he said softly, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Miyano laid on the bed, his body sinking into the mattress as he closed his eyes. The room was quiet, but sleep evaded him. His mind churned, thoughts swirling like restless waves.
"It's so hot in here," Miyano muttered, his voice breaking the silence. He shifted uncomfortably, pushing the blanket aside.
Kiyoto glanced at him from where he stood, frowning slightly. "I'll open the window," he offered, moving toward it. The cool night breeze filtered in, rustling the curtains.
Miyano let out a small sigh of relief, his gaze flickering toward Kiyoto. "Thanks," he murmured, his tone softer now.
Kiyoto hesitated, his hand lingering on the window frame. "You okay? Do you need anything else?" he asked, his voice quieter than before, as if afraid to intrude.
Miyano shook his head, his lips curving into a faint smile. "No, this is fine... Thank you."
Miyano shook his head, his lips curving into a faint smile. "No, this is fine... Thank you."
A few minutes passed. Unable to rest, Miyano slowly opened his eyes. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. His gaze drifted to Kiyoto, seated at the study table, scribbling notes in his notebook.
He looks so handsome when he's focused, Miyano thought, his heart skipping unexpectedly. The way the light framed Kiyoto's face only made him more captivating.
As if feeling the gaze on him, Kiyoto suddenly looked up, catching Miyano staring.
Startled, Miyano quickly shut his eyes, pretending to sleep, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Kiyoto smirked faintly, leaning back in his chair. "What happened? Can't sleep?" he asked, his tone light but curious.
Kiyoto tilted his head slightly, his expression softening. "Just what?"
Miyano shifted slightly on the bed, propping himself up on his elbows. "I'm not sleepy anymore," he said softly, his gaze meeting Kiyoto's. "Let's talk... if you want to, that is. Otherwise, you can keep working."
Kiyoto paused, his pen hovering over the notebook. He glanced at Miyano, his expression unreadable for a moment before he closed the book with a quiet thud.
"I don't mind talking," he said, turning his chair to face Miyano. "What's on your mind?"
Miyano hesitated, unsure of where to start. "I don't know... just thought it might be nice to get to know each other better," he admitted with a small smile.
Kiyoto raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Okay, let's talk," he said simply.
Miyano straightened up, pushing the blanket aside as he sat upright. Kiyoto stood from his chair, walking over to the bed. Without hesitation, he sat down next to Miyano, their shoulders almost brushing.
The sudden proximity made Miyano's heart race, but he tried to hide it, focusing instead on the warm sunlight spilling into the room.
"So," Kiyoto began, his tone casual, "what do you want to know?"
Miyano turned to him, his eyes searching Kiyoto's face. "Anything, really. Like... why don't you talk much?"
Kiyoto blinked, caught off guard by the question. He looked away for a moment, his fingers fidgeting slightly on his lap. "I don't know," he said quietly. "I guess... I just don't see the point most of the time."
Miyano tilted his head, his expression softening. "What do you mean?"
Kiyoto sighed, his gaze fixed on the floor. "It's not like I dislike people or anything. I just... find it hard to connect, I guess. Talking feels tiring when you're not sure if the other person really cares about what you have to say."
Miyano nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Hmm, you might be right," he said softly. "Some people... even the ones close to you, can't always understand you. It's frustrating sometimes."
Kiyoto looked up at him, surprised by the empathy in Miyano's tone. "Yeah," he murmured. "It's like you're speaking a different language, and no one really tries to translate."
Miyano chuckled lightly, the sound bittersweet. "Exactly!"
There was a brief silence before Kiyoto spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "Do you know... I always thought you were arrogant, too. Because you're rich and beautiful."
"What? Arrogant?" He laughed out