The next few days passed in a blur of classwork and awkward silences, but there was something different about them now. Riku couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but it was like the atmosphere between him and Yumi had shifted ever so slightly. They had been paired together for the project, and while their interactions were still minimal, they were no longer strangers in the same class—they were something more, even if it was just by a thread.
Each morning, Yumi would sit down at her desk with the same quiet grace, her long black-blue hair cascading over her shoulders as she flipped open her notebook. Riku would glance at her from the corner of his eye, his heart fluttering slightly every time she caught him doing it. But it was different now. Instead of feeling like an intruder in her space, he felt... oddly comfortable.
It was during one particular morning, as the bell rang and students began settling into their seats, that the quiet between them was broken.
"Riku," Yumi said, her voice cool but with a hint of amusement. "Did you finish the part of the project we were supposed to do last night?"
Riku's heart skipped. He hadn't expected her to talk to him first thing, and certainly not about the project. He glanced up at her, his face flushing a little. "Uh… not yet," he admitted. "I was thinking I'd finish it after school."
Yumi raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smirk. "Procrastination, huh? You're lucky I'm here to keep you in check. I'm not going to carry you, you know."
Riku's face reddened further. He wasn't used to this teasing tone, especially not from someone like Yumi. "I'll get it done, I swear."
She leaned back in her chair, looking relaxed as she glanced over at him. "I don't mind doing most of it. It's not like you have to be the one in charge anyway. Just don't fall asleep while I'm talking."
Riku blinked. "I-I don't fall asleep!"
Yumi chuckled lightly. "Oh, you do. You just do it very sneakily."
The teasing was light, not meant to hurt, but it made Riku's stomach twist with a nervous excitement. She wasn't being mean; it was playful, but to him, it felt like she was taking a part of their relationship to the next level. They were talking more, and there was something strangely thrilling about it.
"Fine," Riku muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, but his voice came out quieter than he intended. "I'll prove you wrong then."
Yumi's smirk widened as she leaned closer to him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Good. Because if you do fall asleep, I'll make sure the whole class knows you snore."
Riku's eyes widened in shock. "I don't—! I don't snore!" he protested, his face burning now.
Yumi shrugged, as if the matter was settled. "I guess we'll see."
Riku wasn't sure if he was more embarrassed by the fact that she had just casually teased him about something so personal or by how... normal it felt. It wasn't like he hated it. Actually, he sort of liked it—he found himself anticipating the next time she would say something like that.
Later that day, during lunch, Riku found himself staring out the window, thinking about the project. He was sitting alone, his lunch untouched in front of him, when suddenly he heard a voice.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?"
Riku turned his head to see Yumi standing there, her expression calm as always. Without thinking, he gestured to the seat across from him. "Uh, sure."
Yumi sat down gracefully, unwrapping her lunch. "You don't mind if I eat while we work, right?"
Riku blinked, a little thrown off by the fact that she was sitting with him, but he quickly nodded. "No, of course not."
She smiled at him, the kind of smile that made Riku's heart do a little skip. "You're awfully quiet. Is that your thing?"
Riku looked up at her, his face feeling warm again. "I—I don't know what you mean."
Yumi raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat as she ate a bite of her lunch. "You know, you don't have to be so shy all the time. You're not that bad to talk to."
Riku's stomach did a strange flip. "Really?"
"Yeah." Yumi took another bite, casually glancing at him. "You're just... different. In a good way. It's kind of refreshing, actually."
Riku was stunned. Yumi—who was usually the center of attention—was saying something nice to him? It didn't make sense. He fumbled for a response but found himself at a loss for words.
"Is it so hard to believe?" Yumi asked, looking at him now with genuine curiosity.
Riku finally managed to shake his head. "No, I just... didn't expect that from you."
She grinned, flashing him a playful smile. "Well, get used to it. I don't bite"
"Most of the time." she continued, after a short pause.
Riku laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll try to remember that."
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, and for the first time since they'd been paired together, Riku felt like he wasn't just another face in the classroom. He wasn't sure what this feeling was—nervousness or excitement—but it was starting to make their interactions feel less like awkward encounters and more like a connection.
"Hey, do you have any plans for after school?" Yumi suddenly asked, her voice casual as she finished her lunch.
Riku looked up at her, blinking. "Uh, no, not really."
She tilted her head. "Do you want to go over the project together at my place? It'll probably be easier to finish it quickly."
Riku froze. Yumi was asking him to go to her place? Just the two of them? alone? Together? In a room?
His mouth went dry, and he could feel his cheeks flushing red again. "I—I'm not sure…"
She laughed softly, the sound gentle but teasing. "Come on, don't tell me you're scared of hanging out with me. You won't get eaten alive, I promise."
Riku stammered but finally nodded, even though his heart was pounding in his chest. "o-okay."
"Great. It's settled then." Yumi smiled, standing up with the ease of someone who was used to taking charge. "I'll text you the details later. Don't keep me waiting!"
As she walked off, Riku sat there, a mix of emotions swirling inside him. It was still hard to believe that someone like Yumi—so confident and outgoing—wanted to spend time with someone like him. But as she turned back for a brief moment, offering him a wink, Riku couldn't help his face burning up again.
Maybe things weren't so bad after all?