Lunch finally rolled around, and I was just hoping to disappear. The chaos from this morning had left me drained, and the last thing I wanted was more attention. But as soon as I sat down at my desk, I realized I wouldn't get my wish.
It started with a few students glancing over, whispering to each other as they passed by. Then, one by one, more of them began to gather near my desk, their eyes wide with curiosity. I tried to ignore them, but that wasn't going to work.
"Hey, Yuki," one of the guys from the front row said, sliding into the seat across from me. "That thing you did this morning… are you into acting or something?"
I blinked, confused. "What?"
"You know, acting," he continued, leaning forward. "The way you handled that kid earlier—it was like you were in a movie. Totally calm, like you'd done this a million times before. Are you, like, a scriptwriter or something?"
A few others nodded in agreement, and I could hear whispers of "theater" and "performance" floating around. I just stared at them, not sure how to respond. They seriously thought it was all some kind of act?
"You really have that yakuza thing down," a girl chimed in, sitting on the edge of my desk. "You didn't even flinch when that guy went nuts. It was like you were… I don't know, playing the part."
"Yeah, and you look the part too," another guy said with a grin. "That whole cool, silent vibe? You've gotta be into writing or theater, right?"
I shook my head, not sure what to say. They were completely misreading everything. "I'm not… I don't write scripts or anything."
"Come on, man," the first guy said, chuckling. "You were practically performing this morning! You've got to join the drama club or something. I mean, you'd be perfect."
Before I could respond, a voice I hadn't heard in years cut through the noise.
"Yuki!" came a familiar shout, followed by a hard slap on my back that almost knocked me forward.
I turned around, more annoyed than surprised, only to be met with a wide grin and a pair of eyes gleaming with mischief. For a second, I didn't recognize her, but then it hit me. Akane.
"Who the hell—"
"Seriously? You don't remember me?" she teased, crossing her arms with mock offense. "It's me, Akane! Your old neighbor? We used to get into all kinds of trouble together."
My eyes widened as the memories clicked into place. Akane, the girl who used to drag me into every mess possible. She looked different now—taller, more confident—but the playful energy was the same.
"Oh… Akane," I muttered, scratching the back of my head. "Yeah, I remember now."
I was about to reply when she glanced across the room, her eyes landing on Taka, who was sitting quietly in the corner, trying to pretend he wasn't listening.
"Hey, Taka!" she called out, waving over to him. "Why didn't you tell me Yuki was back? And in your class, no less?"
Taka's expression was unreadable. He gave her a brief glance, his usual grin nowhere to be found, before turning his eyes back to his lunch. He didn't respond.
Akane didn't seem to mind. She just turned back to me, her playful grin still in place. "Unbelievable. You forget about me, and now you're out here, what? Writing yakuza scripts for school plays?"
I blinked. "What?"
"Yeah, everyone's talking about it," she said, her grin widening. "Apparently, you've got this whole yakuza act down. Honestly, I'm impressed. When did you get so cool?"
I didn't have time to respond before another voice chimed in—a soft but determined one.
"Excuse me, Yuki?" A girl with glasses and a clipboard stood at the edge of the growing crowd. She was dressed a little more formally than the other students, and she had an air of authority about her. "I'm the president of the drama and theater club, and I couldn't help but notice the way you handled yourself earlier. It was… well, incredible. We've been looking for someone with your kind of presence for our next production."
I stared at her, not sure what was happening. "Uh… what?"
She smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose. "We'd love for you to join the drama club. You've got a natural talent for this sort of thing—commanding attention, staying calm under pressure. I think you'd be perfect for the lead in our next play."
Lead? Drama club? I could feel my face heat up as more students started murmuring in agreement, some nodding along like it was already decided.
"I'm not… into acting," I said, trying to brush it off.
"Come on, Yuki," Akane jumped in, nudging my shoulder. "You've got everyone talking. You've got the look, the attitude, everything. Besides, if you don't want to write yakuza scripts, you might as well act in them."
The girl with the clipboard smiled warmly. "We'd really love to have you, Yuki. Just think about it."
I didn't know what to say. I wasn't used to this kind of attention—everyone thinking I was something I wasn't. But before I could give any sort of answer, Akane jumped in again, this time more seriously.
"So, Yuki," she said, her grin softening into something more genuine. "Where've you been all these years? You kind of disappeared."
The question hit harder than I expected. For a moment, I froze, trying to figure out how to answer. I couldn't tell her about the yakuza, the debts, the mess my life had become. Not here. Not now.
"Ah… you know," I said, my voice as casual as I could make it. "Family stuff. We had to move around a lot."
Akane raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story, but she didn't push. "Family stuff, huh? Well, it's good to see you back." She gave me a small, playful smile. "And hey, even if you're not into writing, you're basically a star now. People are talking. You could totally join the drama club."
I laughed awkwardly, shaking my head. "Yeah… I don't think that's my thing."
"Well," the girl with the clipboard said, standing up straighter, "the offer stands. We'd love to have you."
As she walked away, the students around me started dispersing, still whispering and glancing in my direction. Akane stayed by my side, grinning like this whole thing was hilarious.
"You've really changed, Yuki," she said, her voice lighter now. "But in a good way. You should enjoy it."
I watched her for a moment, wondering how much she really understood. This wasn't the life I had wanted, and the last thing I needed was more attention. But now, thanks to everything that had happened, I was in the spotlight whether I liked it or not.
***
School was finally over, and I felt like I could finally breathe. The entire day had been a whirlwind of attention—people asking questions, making comments, and treating me like some kind of celebrity. By the time the final bell rang, I just wanted to get out of there. I wanted peace, to go back to my place and process everything in silence.
I grabbed my bag and headed straight for the door, eager to escape the classroom. But the second I stepped into the hallway, I saw him. The boy from this morning—the one who had burst into class, barking like a dog. He was waiting just outside, staring at me with those same desperate eyes.
I groaned inwardly, hoping to avoid another awkward encounter. Without acknowledging him, I quickened my pace, hoping to slip past unnoticed. But, of course, he immediately fell into step beside me.
"Boss," he said, his voice low but insistent. "What's gonna happen next?"
I ignored him, keeping my eyes forward and hoping he'd get the hint and back off. But he kept walking with me, relentless in his pursuit.
"Boss," he repeated, this time more urgently. "I know I made a scene earlier, but I—"
"Stop calling me that," I snapped, finally turning to face him. "I'm not your boss."
The kid blinked, thrown off for a second but quickly recovering. "But you said you'd take care of things," he continued. "You said you'd help. So… what now? What happens next?"
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. I was exhausted, mentally and physically. The last thing I needed was this kid clinging to me, asking for answers I didn't have.
"I don't know yet," I muttered, turning away and picking up the pace. "I'm still figuring it out."
But he wouldn't leave me alone. He followed me like a shadow, his footsteps barely a beat behind mine. "But you said—"
"Yeah, I said I'd help," I cut him off, my patience wearing thin. "But that doesn't mean I've got all the answers right now. So stop following me around, and stop calling me 'boss.' Got it?"
The boy flinched slightly but didn't back down. "But you will keep your promise, right?"
I stopped walking, spinning around to face him. "Look, I don't know what's going to happen, alright? But I'll figure something out. Until then, shut up and stay out of my way."
The boy stared at me, his face a mix of uncertainty and desperation. He didn't seem to know what to say. But before I could brush him off again, something caught my eye.
Out of the corner of my vision, I saw her—Haruna. She was leaving the school building, moving gracefully like she always did, but this time she wasn't alone. A man, similar to our age was walking beside her—tall, well-dressed, and with an air of authority. He looked like an escort or maybe even a bodyguard. His presence was enough to catch my attention.
The boy must've noticed me staring because he followed my gaze and spotted Haruna too. "Oh, her," he said casually. "That's Haruna. She's kind of famous around here."
"Famous?" I asked, my eyes still on her and the man beside her.
"Yeah," he nodded. "People say her dad's rich or something. She always has someone with her—like that guy. Bodyguard, I think. And, well, she's really beautiful, you know? But she's also blind." He said it like it was common knowledge, like it didn't mean much to him.
The boy kept talking, but his words faded into the background as I watched Haruna disappear into the distance. Something about seeing her like this gnawed at me, like there was a barrier I couldn't cross—something keeping her out of reach. I didn't know what it was, but it felt like a knot in my chest that I couldn't untangle.
The boy—still following me around—tried to get my attention again. "So, uh, what's the plan?"
I sighed, finally turning to face him. "I told you already. I don't know."
He blinked, clearly not expecting such a blunt response. "But—"
"Just give me some space, alright?" I muttered, starting to walk away again.
"Sorry," he mumbled, looking down at the ground. "I didn't mean to bother you."
I stopped, glancing back at him. There was something in his expression—a kind of desperation, like he needed something from me that I couldn't give. Not yet, anyway.
"Look," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'll figure things out, but I don't have the answers right now. So stop calling me 'boss,' and just… go home."
The boy nodded, but it was clear he wasn't satisfied with my answer. "My name's Subaru, by the way," he said, almost as an afterthought.
Without another word, I turned and headed down the street, my thoughts still lingering on Haruna. I didn't know what it was about her, I couldn't quite place it, but seeing her walk away with him stirred something in me, like a quiet unease I couldn't shake.