---
The school hallways buzzed with chatter as Kaito walked with purpose, scanning the crowd. It didn't take long to spot Rika, surrounded by her usual clique, laughing at some joke one of them made.
Kaito strode up to her, cutting through the noise. "Rika, we need to talk. Now."
Rika turned, startled by his tone. Her friends exchanged amused glances, clearly intrigued.
"Wow, Kaito," Rika said, plastering on a coy smile. "Didn't know you were so eager to speak with me."
"This isn't a game," Kaito replied sharply. "Step outside with me."
Rika hesitated, her confident facade slipping slightly under his glare. "Fine," she said, waving off her friends.
Outside, in a quiet corner of the courtyard, Kaito crossed his arms and faced her. "Why did you lie to Maya?"
Rika feigned innocence. "Lie? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb," Kaito snapped. "You told her I said things about her that I didn't. You made her doubt me, and for what? A cheap shot at ruining our friendship?"
Rika's eyes narrowed. "Maybe I did," she admitted, her voice icy. "But can you blame me? You give all your attention to that weird girl while ignoring everyone else, including me."
Kaito frowned. "So that's what this is about? Your ego? You didn't just hurt Maya—you made her cry, Rika. Do you even care?"
Rika's expression faltered for a moment before hardening again. "She'll get over it. People like her always do."
Kaito took a step closer, his voice low but firm. "This is your first and only warning, Rika. Stay away from Maya, and don't pull something like this again. If you do, I'll make sure everyone knows what kind of person you really are."
Rika clenched her fists, her cheeks burning with anger and humiliation. "You'll regret this, Kaito," she hissed before storming off.
--
Later that day, Kaito found Maya in the library, her face buried in a book. He approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her.
"Hey," he said softly.
Maya looked up, her expression still wary. "Hi."
"I talked to Rika," Kaito said, sitting across from her. "She admitted to lying."
Maya's eyes widened. "She… she did?"
"Yeah," Kaito confirmed. "She was trying to cause trouble because I wasn't giving her attention. But don't worry—I made it clear she's not to bother you again."
Maya hesitated, then said, "Thank you, Kaito. For standing up for me."
He smiled. "Of course. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the tension between them easing.
"So," Kaito said, leaning back in his chair. "Are we still on for the art room tomorrow?"
Maya nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Yeah. Let's finish what we started."
---
The next day, Kaito and Maya met in the art room after school. It was quiet, save for the occasional sound of a pencil scratching against paper or a paintbrush swiping across the canvas.
As they worked, their conversation flowed naturally, covering everything from their favorite books to their dreams for the future.
"Kaito," Maya said suddenly, her voice thoughtful. "Why do you care so much?"
He glanced at her, confused. "Care about what?"
"About me," she clarified, her eyes fixed on the canvas in front of her. "I mean, most people don't even notice I exist. But you… you always go out of your way to talk to me, to help me."
Kaito paused, considering her question. "I guess… I just see something in you," he said finally. "You're not like other people, Maya. You're different—in a good way. And I like that."
Maya blushed, her heart fluttering at his words. "Thank you," she murmured, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.
They finished their project that evening, standing back to admire their work. The mural was a vibrant tapestry of emotions and stories, a testament to their growing bond.
"We did it," Maya said, smiling at Kaito.
"Yeah," he replied, grinning. "We make a pretty good team."
---
Unbeknownst to them, someone watched from the hallway. A figure stood in the shadows, their gaze fixed on the duo as they laughed and talked.
It was Rika.
Her nails dug into her palms as she glared at the pair. The sight of Kaito smiling so openly with Maya only fueled her anger.
He'll come around eventually, she thought, a wicked smirk forming on her lips. I just need to try harder.
But as Rika turned to leave, she noticed someone else watching her from the opposite end of the hallway—a tall boy with a piercing gaze.
"Rika," he called out, his voice cold and measured.
She stiffened, recognizing him immediately. "H-Hayato? What are you doing here?"
Hayato stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "I could ask you the same thing. What are you planning, Rika?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, brushing past him. "Stay out of it."
Hayato watched her go, his jaw tightening. He knew Rika's schemes all too well, and he wasn't about to let her hurt anyone else.
As he turned to leave, he made a mental note to keep an eye on her—and on Kaito and Maya.
The sun had started to set, casting a golden hue over the school grounds. Kaito leaned casually against the school gate, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket as he waited for Maya. He had decided that today, he wanted to know more about her — really know.
When he saw her walking toward him, he pushed off the gate and smiled, trying to make the situation feel more relaxed.
"Hey," he greeted her, his tone casual but warm. "You free?"
Maya looked up at him, surprised. "Oh, hey! Yeah, I'm free. What's up?"
"I was thinking we could go grab something at the store. I need a few things, and I thought maybe you could use a little break too," Kaito said, grinning.
Maya's eyes softened at the offer. "That sounds nice. Let's go."
As they walked together, the streets were relatively quiet, the evening breeze carrying the scent of nearby food stalls and the last few voices of students heading home. Kaito glanced over at her, wondering if now was the right time to ask the question that had been lingering in his mind.
Maya, in her own world, didn't notice Kaito's contemplative expression until he spoke.
"Maya…" Kaito started, his voice gentler than usual. "Can I ask you something? I've been meaning to for a while."
She turned to him, surprised. "Sure, what's on your mind?"
Kaito hesitated, his usual laid-back nature shifting into something a bit more serious. "Why do people treat you the way they do? I mean, they act like you're… different. They ignore you, or make fun of you. It's hard to watch."
Maya's expression faltered. She wasn't expecting him to ask, but at the same time, she realized it was probably the right moment. She had never told anyone the full truth — not even Kaito, her closest friend now. But for some reason, she felt like she could trust him.
She took a deep breath before she began speaking, her voice quiet and steady. "It's because I have leukemia."
Kaito stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with surprise. He had known she was different, but this… this was more than he had imagined.
"I was diagnosed when I was younger," she continued, her voice shaking slightly. "It's a blood cancer. It's not contagious, but… people still acted like it was. They thought I could infect them or something, and… they started to avoid me."
Maya wiped her eyes, trying to keep her composure. "They didn't want to be around me, and I couldn't understand why."
Her steps slowed, and Kaito caught up with her, walking beside her in silence for a moment, letting her words sink in.
"I guess I gave up after a while," Maya continued, her voice softer now. "I stopped trying to get close to anyone because I knew they would just leave, or they'd look at me like I was some kind of… burden."
Kaito didn't know what to say. He was shocked, but his heart hurt for her. She had been living with that loneliness for so long, and all this time, he had no idea.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Kaito finally asked, his voice low.
Maya gave him a small smile, though it was bittersweet. "I don't like to talk about it. It's hard, and I didn't want to burden you with my problems. But I guess I trust you now.
Kaito stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression serious. "Maya, I don't see you as sick. I see you as… you..
Maya felt a lump form in her throat. No one had ever said something like that to her before, and it was hard to hold back the tears that had been building for so long.
"You don't have to hide from me," Kaito continued. "You're my friend, Maya. And I'm not going anywhere."
They stood there for a moment, the quiet evening settling around them, and Maya could finally breathe again. She had shared the deepest part of herself, and Kaito had accepted it without hesitation.
"Thank you," Maya whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Kaito smiled gently. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just telling you the truth.
After a moment, Kaito lightly nudged her. "Come on, let's get to the store before it closes. We can talk more if you want, but right now, I think we both deserve a break."
Maya nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, you're right."
As they continued their walk to the store, Maya felt a sense of relief wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone in the world. Kaito had listened to her, understood her, and didn't judge her.
---
As they walked toward the store, Kaito couldn't help but glance at Maya every now and then, his thoughts lingering on the confession they had just shared. She had opened up to him in a way that no one else ever had, revealing the weight she had carried for so long. But what struck him the most wasn't just the fact that she was brave enough to speak her truth — it was how she carried herself.
She didn't look like someone who had been through hell. She didn't seem sick.
Maya was… beautiful. And not in some fleeting, superficial way. Her beauty was the kind that left an impression, the kind you couldn't forget even if you tried. She wasn't the sort of person you'd find posing in magazines or making grand gestures to be noticed. No, she had a quiet, effortless charm.
Her hair, dark and slightly tousled from the breeze, framed her face perfectly, the strands catching the last rays of the sun. Her eyes, those soft brown eyes, always so thoughtful, held a depth Kaito couldn't quite place, but they drew him in every time. The way her lips curved into a smile, the small movements of her hand as she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way she carried herself — it was all so... natural. So genuine.
Kaito noticed the way she walked, graceful but not in a forced way. She moved like someone who had learned to live in her own skin, despite the pain, despite the years of being misunderstood. He found himself lost in the rhythm of her presence, in the way she seemed so unbothered by the world around her. Maya was, in every sense, perfect.
For a moment, Kaito felt a flutter in his chest. He quickly brushed it off, chalking it up to the conversation they had just had.
And as much as he tried to ignore it, the thought lingered — there was something in the way he saw her, something different now, that made his heart race just a little faster.
---