Haruto kept his head down as the teacher began roll call. He wasn't interested in the names or the buzz of conversation around him. All he wanted was to get through the day unnoticed—especially by Yuki Imane, who sat beside him.
She was quiet, focused on her notebook as the teacher spoke. She didn't look at him, which was fine by Haruto. He didn't know how to handle someone like her.
The lesson dragged on, and Haruto's mind wandered to the empty apartment waiting for him. The classroom, full of chattering students, felt stifling. He glanced at Imane from the corner of his eye—her perfect posture, her steady handwriting—but quickly looked away.
When the bell rang, Haruto grabbed his bag, ready to escape. Before he could leave, though, Kiyo caught up to him.
"Haruto!" Kiyo said, grinning as he fell into step beside him.
"Yeah?" Haruto asked, though he kept walking.
"Lunch?" Kiyo asked, nudging him with his elbow.
"I was going to eat alone," Haruto muttered.
"No way," Kiyo said with a laugh. "You'll just sit in some dark corner by yourself again. Come on, I'll even buy you a drink from the vending machine."
Haruto sighed. "Fine."
The courtyard was buzzing with groups of students eating and laughing together. Kiyo led them to a quieter corner under a tree, away from the noise.
"See?" Kiyo said, unwrapping a sandwich. "This isn't so bad, right?"
Haruto didn't respond, instead poking at his rice ball.
"So," Kiyo continued, "what do you think of our class?"
"It's fine," Haruto said without looking up.
"Anyone catch your eye?"
Haruto glanced at him, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kiyo smirked. "Oh, I don't know… maybe someone who sits next to you?"
Haruto stiffened. "Imane?"
"I mean, she's popular, smart, and way out of everyone's league," Kiyo said with a grin.
"She's just another classmate," Haruto said flatly, avoiding Kiyo's gaze.
"Sure, Haruto. Whatever you say."
Haruto rolled his eyes and stayed quiet for the rest of lunch. Kiyo could tease him all he wanted, but Haruto knew the truth: someone like Yuki Imane wasn't in his world, and he was okay with that.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Haruto stayed quiet in class, only speaking when the teacher called on him. Yuki didn't say a word to him, which was a relief.
But as he was leaving at the end of the day, a soft voice stopped him.
"Ito-kun?"
Haruto froze. Slowly, he turned to see Yuki standing behind him, holding a pen.
"Yes?" he said, his voice quieter than usual.
"You dropped this," Yuki said, holding out the pen.
Haruto blinked, realizing it must have fallen from his desk earlier. "Oh… thanks, Imane-san."
She nodded, a polite smile on her face. "You're welcome."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, blending into the crowd of students. Haruto stood there for a moment, staring at the pen in his hand.
It was a small, simple gesture, but it left him uneasy. He didn't like being noticed, not even for something as trivial as this.
This year already felt different. And Haruto wasn't sure how to feel about that.