The Monday morning after the class trip dawned bright and crisp, but the atmosphere at school was anything but calm. A storm was brewing, a storm of whispers and giggles, all centered around Cid and Kiyomi.
Cid, usually oblivious to social dynamics, noticed the change immediately. As he walked through the school hallways, he felt eyes on him, heard whispers following him like shadows. He caught snippets of conversations: "...did you hear about Cid and Kiyomi...?" "...at the festival..." "...holding hands..." "...more than friends..."
His heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't realized their interactions at the festival were so noticeable. He glanced at Kiyomi, who was walking a few steps ahead, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink. She, too, seemed to be aware of the whispers, her gaze fixed on the floor.
By lunchtime, the rumour mill was in full swing. The whispers had escalated into full-blown gossip, with various embellishments and exaggerations added to the story. Cid and Kiyomi were now supposedly "a couple," having "shared a romantic moment under the fireworks."
Cid found himself the center of attention, much to his dismay. His friends bombarded him with questions, their eyes wide with curiosity and amusement.
"So, is it true?" Kai asked, a sly grin on his face. "Are you and Kiyomi an item now?"
Cid stammered, unsure how to respond. He hadn't officially asked Kiyomi out yet, but their interactions at the festival had definitely been… more than friendly.
"We… uh…" he mumbled, feeling his cheeks burn.
"Come on, Hayashi," another friend chimed in. "Don't leave us hanging. Spill the details!"
Cid, overwhelmed by the attention, mumbled something about needing to go to the library and quickly escaped the interrogation.
Meanwhile, Kiyomi was facing her own inquisition. Aiko, her eyes sparkling with mischief, had cornered her in the classroom.
"So," Aiko said, a teasing smile on her lips. "The rumour mill is working overtime today."
Kiyomi groaned. "I know," she said, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe everyone saw us."
"Well, you two weren't exactly being subtle," Aiko pointed out.
Kiyomi blushed, remembering the shared snacks, the stolen glances, the way Cid's hand had brushed against hers.
"It's not like that," she protested weakly.
"Oh really?" Aiko said, raising an eyebrow. "Then what was it like?"
Kiyomi hesitated, unsure how to explain the confusing mix of emotions she had felt during the festival.
"It was… nice," she finally said. "We had fun."
Aiko just laughed. "Nice? Fun? That's it?"
Kiyomi sighed. "I don't know, okay?" she said, feeling frustrated. "It's all so confusing."
Aiko's expression softened. "Look, Kiyomi," she said gently, "I know you're scared. But you can't let fear hold you back. If you like Cid, you should tell him."
Kiyomi nodded, her heart pounding. Aiko was right. She couldn't keep hiding her feelings. She had to be brave and tell Cid how she felt.
But how?
The answer came in the form of a note, slipped into her locker during afternoon break. It was from Cid, asking her to meet him at the park after school.
Kiyomi's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment of truth.
She bit her lip, a mix of anticipation and dread swirling within her. She had to go. She had to know.
The final bell rang, and Kiyomi practically flew out of the classroom. She reached the park, her heart pounding, and spotted Cid sitting on their usual bench, his back to her. He seemed deep in thought, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Cid?" she called softly.
He turned, his face breaking into a relieved smile. "Kiyomi, you came."
"Of course," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Cid opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, seemingly struggling to find the right words.
"Kiyomi," he finally began, his voice a low murmur, "I..."
He paused, his gaze locking with hers. Kiyomi felt her heart skip a beat. This was it. He was going to confess.
But before he could utter another word, a figure emerged from behind a nearby tree. "Well, well, well," a familiar voice purred. "What do we have here?"
Kiyomi's eyes widened in surprise. It was Hana, her older sister.
"Hana! What are you doing here?" Kiyomi exclaimed, her cheeks flushing.
Hana sauntered towards them, a playful smirk on her lips. "Just taking a stroll through the park," she said, her eyes twinkling. "And look what I found. My little sister, having a secret rendezvous with her… friend."
She emphasized the word "friend" with a knowing glance at Cid, who was now blushing furiously.
"We were just talking," Kiyomi mumbled, feeling flustered.
"Oh, I'm sure you were," Hana said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "Talking about the weather, perhaps? Or maybe… about those pesky rumours?"
Kiyomi groaned inwardly. She knew Hana was enjoying this.
Hana turned her attention to Cid, her smile widening. "You know, Cid," she said, leaning closer to him, "Kiyomi has been telling me all about you."
Cid's eyes widened, and he stammered, "R-really?"
Hana nodded, her gaze lingering on his face. "She says you're very… kind. And helpful. And…" she paused, her voice dropping to a husky whisper, "quite handsome."
Kiyomi felt a surge of jealousy. She knew Hana was just teasing, but it still stung.
Hana, sensing her sister's discomfort, winked at her. "Just kidding, Kiyomi," she said with a laugh. "Don't worry, I won't steal your man."
She patted Cid on the shoulder. "You two have fun," she said, then turned and walked away, leaving Cid and Kiyomi alone once more.
The silence that followed was heavy with awkwardness. Cid cleared his throat, his cheeks still flushed. "So," he said, trying to regain his composure. "Where were we?"
Kiyomi, still flustered by Hana's unexpected appearance and teasing, couldn't help but giggle. "I think," she said, "we were about to have a very important conversation."
Cid nodded, his eyes searching hers. He reached out and took her hand, his touch sending a familiar shiver down her spine. "Kiyomi," he began, his voice a low murmur, "I…"
He paused, his gaze intense. Kiyomi held her breath, her heart pounding in anticipation. She knew the confession was coming. This time, for sure.
But just then, Cid's phone rang, shattering the moment. He frowned, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "Sorry," he mumbled, glancing at the screen. "It's my mom. I have to take this."
He stepped away to answer the call, leaving Kiyomi once again hanging on the edge of anticipation.