A few days after their outing, Kazuki received a message from Shizuka inviting him over to her place after school. It wasn't unusual for them to study together, but today, her message seemed unusually enthusiastic, almost cryptic.
When school let out, Kazuki made his way to Shizuka's home. He'd been to her house a few times before, but every time, he was reminded just how different their lives were. Shizuka's family was wealthy—her home was like something out of a magazine, with its elegant architecture, sprawling gardens, and finely decorated interior. It was a stark contrast to Kazuki's modest home, and he always felt a little out of place here.
As he approached the front door, it swung open before he even had the chance to knock. Shizuka stood there, grinning widely, clearly excited to see him.
"Hey, Kazuki! Come on in!" she said, waving him inside. She seemed more energetic than usual, her silver hair gleaming in the late afternoon light.
"Alright, alright," he chuckled, stepping inside and slipping off his shoes. "You seem… unusually excited. What's up?"
Shizuka shrugged, a playful smile on her face as she led him down the hallway. "Well, I thought we could have a little… special study session today. I even prepared snacks and everything!"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, suspicious but amused. "Special study session, huh?"
She led him to her room, which he'd been in once or twice before. It was just as fancy as the rest of the house—her bed was oversized and covered in plush blankets and pillows, and her desk was neatly arranged with books and stationery.
He took a seat at her desk, and Shizuka plopped herself on the bed, watching him with a glint in her eye. She patted the spot next to her. "Actually… why don't you sit over here? It's more comfortable, and I can see what you're working on better."
Kazuki hesitated, feeling a bit self-conscious, but eventually, he gave in and joined her on the bed, opening his textbook as he tried to focus on the material.
Shizuka leaned in close, her face only inches away as she peeked at the page he was on. "You're always so serious about studying," she murmured, her voice soft. "It's kinda cute, you know?"
Kazuki cleared his throat, trying to ignore the way her breath tickled his ear. "Well, one of us has to be focused. If I let you handle it all alone, we'd never get anything done."
She giggled, her hand resting on his shoulder as she leaned in a little closer. "True, true. But you know, Kazuki… I don't need *just* help with studying…"
He glanced at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
She bit her lip, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she played with the hem of her skirt. "I mean… don't you ever think about… things outside of school? Like, other things you might want to do?"
Kazuki felt his face heat up as he caught onto her meaning. "Shizuka… are you teasing me?"
She laughed, leaning even closer until her head was almost on his shoulder. "Maybe a little. But it's only because I'm comfortable with you, Kazuki. And you know, sometimes I wonder what it'd be like if we were… a little more than just friends."
Kazuki's heart was pounding, caught off guard by her words and her boldness. He wasn't sure what to say—Shizuka had always been playful, but this felt different, more intense.
Seeing his flustered reaction, she gave a little smile, reaching up and lightly ruffling his hair. "You're too easy to tease, Kazuki," she whispered, though her expression softened, revealing the sincerity behind her playful words.
He managed a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "You really know how to keep me on my toes, Shizuka."
She chuckled, leaning back against her pile of pillows with a satisfied smile. "Good. I'd hate to be boring."
They spent the rest of the evening studying together, but there was a new tension in the air—a quiet, unspoken connection that lingered between them. As the sun set and Kazuki finally got ready to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them.
As he left her house and walked home under the stars, he found himself smiling. Shizuka might be a handful, but she'd always been someone he couldn't imagine his life without.