The midterms were looming, a cloud of anxiety hanging over the entire school. I could feel the pressure too, even though I generally felt confident about my studies. But something else was distracting me, a certain clumsy, kind, and surprisingly creative boy named Cid.
I'd noticed he seemed particularly stressed lately. He'd been quiet in class, his usual playful banter replaced by a furrowed brow and a distracted air. I'd even seen him struggling with a math problem in the hallway, muttering to himself and running a hand through his hair in frustration.
I knew Cid wasn't the strongest in math. He was brilliant when it came to literature and history, but numbers seemed to be his nemesis. And lately, I'd been wanting to find more excuses to talk to him, to spend time with him. So, when I saw him later in the library, looking utterly lost amidst a pile of textbooks, I knew I had to offer.
"Hi, Cid," I said, trying to keep my voice casual. Inside, my heart was doing a little flip.
He looked up, his eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and relief. "Hi, Kiyomi," he mumbled, his voice a little strained. "What are you working on?"
"Just some review for the midterms," I replied, gesturing to the books around me.
"Math," he groaned, his voice filled with despair. "I'm completely lost."
I chuckled, trying to hide my amusement. "Math can be tricky," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "Do you need some help?"
His eyes lit up. "Would you?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.
I nodded, trying to suppress a smile. "Sure," I said. "Let's take a look."
He pulled up a chair, the scent of his cologne, something warm and subtly spicy, drifting towards me. He showed me the problems he was struggling with. As I explained the concepts, breaking down the equations step by step, I
couldn't help but notice how intently he was listening, his brow furrowed in concentration. He was so earnest, so genuinely trying to understand. It was endearing. And the way he bit his lip when he was concentrating…it was strangely captivating.
We worked together for a couple of hours. At one point, my hand brushed against his as we both reached for the same textbook. A jolt of electricity, like a stray spark, shot through me. I pulled my hand away quickly, my cheeks warming. He didn't seem to notice, thank goodness, and continued explaining a particularly difficult equation. His voice, close to my ear, sent shivers down my spine.
"So, you see," he said, his finger tracing a line on the page, "we just need to isolate the variable."
His finger lingered on the page, close to mine. The air between us crackled with unspoken energy. I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and sweet. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm that echoed in the quiet library. Focus, Kiyomi, I told myself. It's just math.
He finally grasped the concepts, the relief on his face was palpable. "Thank you, Kiyomi," he said sincerely. "You're a lifesaver."
I smiled, my heart still racing. "You're welcome, Cid," I said. "I'm glad I could help."
As we packed up our books, a comfortable silence settled between us. I was suddenly aware of how close we were sitting, the warmth of his arm brushing against mine. My heart started beating a little faster.
"Want to grab some ramen?" he asked impulsively.
My eyes lit up. "I'd love to," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
We walked to our favourite ramen shop, the conversation flowing easily. We talked about everything and nothing, sharing our dreams, our favorite books, our mutual love for cheesy action movies. He was funny, and kind, and so easy to talk to.
As we ate, I realized that my feelings for Cid were growing stronger. He wasn't just a classmate, or someone I helped with math. He was becoming someone important to me, someone I genuinely cared about. And as I looked at him across the table, slurping his noodles with such enthusiasm, I knew I wanted to spend more time with him, to get to know him even better.
Suddenly, he choked. A rogue noodle had apparently staged a daring escape and was now lodged firmly in his throat. His face turned a rather alarming shade of red, and he started coughing, his eyes watering.
I instinctively reached across the table, patting him on the back. "Are you okay?" I asked, trying to suppress a giggle.
He nodded, still coughing, and managed to give me a thumbs-up. I continued to pat his back until he finally dislodged the offending noodle.
"Thanks," he croaked, his voice a little hoarse. "That was… close."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You okay there, Hayashi-kun?" I teased.
He grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, just a little… noodle-ous situation."
His pun was so bad it was good, and I laughed again, a genuine, unrestrained laugh that felt good to let out. He was so goofy, so endearingly awkward. It was moments like this that made my heart flutter.
After we finished eating, we walked back towards the library to return our books. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the campus. As we walked, our hands brushed against each other. It was a fleeting touch, but it sent a jolt of electricity through me. I quickly pulled my hand away, my cheeks flushing slightly. I glanced at Cid, but he didn't seem to notice. He was too busy telling me a funny story about his disastrous attempt to bake a cake for his mom's birthday.
We reached the library, and as we were returning our books, I noticed a small, brightly colored origami crane tucked inside one of the shelves. It was a little crumpled, but it was clearly handmade. I picked it up, curious.
"Look what I found," I said, showing it to Cid.
He took the crane from my hand, his eyes widening slightly. "Oh," he said, his voice a little higher than usual. "That's… that's mine."
"You made this?" I asked, surprised.
He nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah, I… I was trying to learn how to make them. It's harder than it looks."
I smiled. "It's cute," I said, admiring the crane. "Did you make it for someone special?" I asked, immediately regretting the question.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked at me, his eyes searching mine. "Actually," he said, his voice a low murmur. "I was thinking of giving it to you."
My breath caught in my throat. He… he made it for me? I looked at the crane, the delicate folds and vibrant colors suddenly seeming to hold a deeper meaning. He's so sweet, I thought. A warm feeling spread through me, a mix of happiness and… something more.
"It's beautiful, Cid," I said softly, my voice barely a whisper. I took the crane from him, careful not to crush it. "Thank you."
He smiled, a genuine, shy smile that made my heart skip a beat. "You're welcome," he said.
We stood there for a moment, the silence between us comfortable and charged with unspoken emotions. The library, usually bustling with students, was quiet now, almost deserted. It felt like we were the only two people in the world.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the stillness. "Kiyomi! Cid!"
We turned to see Aiko hurrying towards us, a bright smile on her face. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "I was looking all over for you. Guess what? They just announced it! The class trip to the hot springs is officially happening next weekend!"
My eyes widened in surprise and excitement. I'd almost forgotten about the trip! It was something everyone had been looking forward to for weeks. A chance to relax, to get away from the stress of midterms, to spend some time with friends. And now, it was finally happening.
I glanced at Cid, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Looks like we're going on a trip," I said, a playful smile tugging at my lips.
Cid grinned. "Sounds like fun," he replied, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. A hot springs trip…with Kiyomi, he thought. This is going to be interesting.