The afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of the high school classroom, casting golden streaks across the wooden desks. The school was unusually quiet, with most students having left for the day. Kazuki sat lazily by the window, flipping through a book, while Shizuka stood at the blackboard, attempting to solve a math problem.
"You know, staring at numbers won't make them magically solve themselves," Kazuki teased, glancing at her from his seat.
Shizuka turned, pouting. "And you think sitting there like a prince helps me? Come over here and teach me!"
Kazuki smirked. "Teach you? I thought the great Shizuka didn't need anyone's help."
"Don't push your luck," she retorted, throwing a chalk piece at him, which he easily dodged.
With a chuckle, Kazuki stood and walked over to her. Standing beside her, he picked up the chalk and examined the equation. "This one's not too hard. You just need to distribute here and simplify."
Shizuka stared at him, her focus drifting from the equation to the slight furrow of his brow as he explained. The way his fingers gripped the chalk and his calm voice filled the quiet room made her heart race.
"Are you even listening?" Kazuki asked, breaking her reverie.
"Huh? Oh, yeah!" she replied, her cheeks turning crimson.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then solve the next step."
Shizuka glanced at the board, realizing she hadn't absorbed a single word. "Uh… distribute again?"
Kazuki sighed, leaning closer. "You're hopeless."
He reached over to guide her hand, his fingers lightly brushing hers. The unexpected touch sent a jolt through her, and she froze.
Kazuki noticed her reaction, his smirk turning playful. "What's this? Is the fearless Shizuka flustered?"
"N-No!" she stammered, pulling her hand back. "You're imagining things."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Am I?"
Shizuka turned her head away, trying to hide her reddening face. "Focus on the math, genius."
Kazuki chuckled but complied, explaining the next steps while she attempted to regain her composure.
As they finished, the classroom grew quiet again. Shizuka sat on the teacher's desk, swinging her legs while Kazuki leaned against the blackboard.
"You've gotten better at math," he said, breaking the silence.
"Thanks to you," she admitted softly, her gaze dropping to the floor.
Kazuki tilted his head, curious. "What's with the sudden modesty?"
Shizuka shrugged, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "I guess I just… appreciate you helping me, that's all."
He walked closer, his tone light. "Careful, Shizuka. If you keep saying nice things, I might think you actually like me."
She looked up, meeting his teasing gaze. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them growing heavier.
Then, breaking the tension, Shizuka reached out and tugged at his tie, pulling him slightly closer. "And what if I do?"
Kazuki blinked, caught off guard by her boldness. But then, a slow smile spread across his face. "Then I guess I'm the luckiest guy in the room."
Shizuka laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"Impossible enough to do this?" he asked, leaning in.
Before she could respond, his lips brushed against hers, soft and warm. The kiss was brief but electrifying, leaving her stunned.
Kazuki pulled back slightly, gauging her reaction. "Too much?"
Shizuka stared at him, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. "You really don't hold back, do you?"
He smirked. "Why should I, when you're the one who started it?"
Shizuka rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "You're unbelievable."
"And yet, you're still here," he quipped, leaning against the desk beside her.
The two sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sun dipping lower and casting a warm glow across the room.
As the final bell rang in the distance, Shizuka hopped off the desk and grabbed her bag. "We should go before the janitor finds us here and gives us detention."
Kazuki followed her, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "If we get caught, I'll just say I was tutoring you."
Shizuka smirked. "You're such a goody-two-shoes."
"And you're a terrible liar," he shot back, holding the door open for her.
As they walked down the empty hallway, their laughter echoed, carrying with it the warmth of their stolen moment.