Miyano looked at him, his face unreadable for a moment. Then, a small smile tugged at his lips. "No, it's not my father's restaurant," he replied, though his eyes seemed to hold a secret. "But I do know a few people here."
Kiyoto's expression darkened, and he asked sharply, "Miyano, are you trying to make a fool of me?"
Miyano met his gaze, the smile fading slightly. "Kiyoto, I'm telling the truth. It's not my father's restaurant. Okay, don't overthink it. We needed a job, and we got it, right?"
Kiyoto paused for a moment, his mind racing, then sighed. "Okay, I'm trusting you, Miyano."
Miyano's grin returned, relieved. "Thanks. So, we'll work three days a week after class, including Sundays since it'll be crowded. Got it?"
"Only three days?" Kiyoto asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, Sunday. It'll be hectic, but it'll be worth it," Miyano said with a shrug.
Kiyoto hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you really need to do this, Miyano?"
Miyano tilted his head, his expression teasing. "You don't want me to work with you?"
"No, it's not like that. I'm just asking..." Kiyoto trailed off, unsure how to express his concern.
Miyano clapped him on the shoulder. "Alright then, after class, we'll go together. Okay?"
"Okay," Kiyoto said, finally nodding.
The next day, as soon as Kiyoto entered the classroom, he felt the weight of everyone's stares. Whispers filled the room, and before he could take another step, Aio and Kino rushed toward him.
"Are you alright?" Aio asked, her tone filled with concern.
"Without telling us, you disappeared for two days!" Kino added, his voice tinged with frustration.
Kiyoto scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry about that… I just had some things to take care of."
"Things to take care of? That's all you're giving us?" Kino pressed, folding his arms.
Aio nodded. "We were worried, you know!"
"I'm sorry, and thanks, guys, for worrying," Kiyoto said with a small smile.
Aio and Kino froze, their eyes wide in shock.
"Wait, what?" Kino blurted. "Did you just apologize and thank us? Who are you, and what have you done with Kiyoto?"
"You're a little more… reactive than before," Aio added, narrowing her eyes playfully. "Is this some kind of miracle, or did something happen while you were gone?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Kiyoto replied, shaking his head.
His eyes shifted toward Miyano's usual seat, but it was empty. A faint frown crossed his face as he wondered where Miyano was.
Suddenly, a miyano's voice came from behind him.
"Why are you guys standing here?" Miyano asked, his tone casual yet curious.
Kiyoto turned quickly to see Miyano strolling in with his usual confident demeanor. Aio and Kino stepped aside, their attention now on him.
"Miyano, you're late," Kino said, raising an eyebrow.
"Fashionably," Miyano replied with a grin. "Now, what's going on here? Did I miss something?"
"We were just welcoming Kiyoto back," Kino said with a teasing grin.
Miyano moved in front"Alright, alright, enough drama. Let's go sit down."
Without waiting for a reply, he gestured for Kiyoto to follow and walked toward their seats. Aio and Kino exchanged amused glances before trailing behind.
As Kiyoto sat down, he couldn't help but feel a little more at ease with Miyano's usual confidence grounding him.
After class, as they walked out of the university gates, the golden light of the setting sun cast long shadows across the path.
"So, I'll come to pick you up at five, okay?" he said, his voice steady yet kind.
Kiyoto paused for a moment, looking at Miyano with a mix of gratitude and hesitation. "Okay," he replied softly, his eyes meeting Miyano's. "Thanks, Miyano."
Miyano's lips curved into a warm, reassuring smile. "Don't mention it," he said with a light shrug, though the sincerity in his voice was unmistakable.
The evening air was crisp as Kiyoto stood outside, shifting nervously from foot to foot. His thoughts swirled with anticipation and a tinge of unease. Suddenly, the soft hum of an approaching car pulled him from his thoughts.
The sleek black vehicle came to a gentle stop in front of him. As the tinted window rolled down, Kiyoto's eyes immediately locked onto Miyano's face. The glow of the streetlights caught the subtle curve of his cheekbones and the spark in his eyes.
"Ready?" Miyano asked, his tone casual but accompanied by a playful smirk. "Then come on—get in. Let's go."
Kiyoto hesitated for a split second before nodding. He opened the door, slipping into the passenger seat. As the door clicked shut behind him, he felt the warmth of the car's interior, a stark contrast to the coolness outside.
Before he could reach for the seatbelt, Miyano leaned over, his movements slow and deliberate. Kiyoto's breath hitched as he froze in place, his senses overwhelmed by the closeness. Miyano's hand brushed lightly against Kiyoto's arm as he grabbed the seatbelt, his face mere inches away.
Time seemed to slow. Kiyoto could feel the faint warmth radiating from Miyano's body, and the soft scent of his cologne wrapped around him like a spell. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound deafening in his ears.
Miyano's fingers lingered for a moment as he clicked the seatbelt into place. His gaze shifted, locking with Kiyoto's for the briefest of moments, and the corner of his lips curled into a small, knowing smile.
All set," Miyano murmured, his voice low and velvety.
Kiyoto couldn't move, his face burning as he swallowed hard, trying to calm the chaotic storm inside him.
Miyano leaned back into his seat, sparing him a sidelong glance, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he teased, his tone light yet laced with mischief.
Kiyoto managed a small laugh, his heart pounding for reasons he couldn't quite place. "I'm fine," he muttered, avoiding Miyano's gaze.
As the car pulled away, Kiyoto stole a quick glance at Miyano, wondering how someone could seem so effortlessly confident, yet so genuinely kind.
"You think I'm so kind, right?" Miyano said suddenly, his tone light yet startlingly accurate.
"What!?" Kiyoto jolted, his heart skipping a beat. He turned to Miyano, eyes wide with surprise.
"I wasn't thinking like that!" he blurted out, a little too quickly, his face heating up as he looked away.
Miyano chuckled softly, the sound low and teasing. "Really? Because you're not very convincing," he said, glancing at Kiyoto with a smirk.
"I wasn't," Kiyoto insisted, his voice firmer, though his reddened cheeks betrayed him.
"Alright, alright," Miyano said, holding back another laugh. "If you say so."
Kiyoto crossed his arms, huffing quietly as he stared out the window. But deep down, he couldn't help wondering—how did Miyano always manage to get under his skin so easily?
I never had a best friend before.
Is this how friendship feels ?