Mark walked slowly, his head down and his thoughts far away as he returned to the school building.
The lunch break had ended over thirty minutes ago, but Mark was doing something important as he lost track of time.
Mark naturaly didn't care as the student and teacher normally could care of the most unpopular student, and he knew nobody would notice him gone anyway.
But someone noticed.
"A-Are you okay?"
The voice was soft, gentle, and completely unexpected. Mark paused, blinking as he turned toward it.
Standing near the classroom door was a girl he barely recognized, though he'd seen her a hundred times in passing. Akiha Mamiya. She had a delicate presence—shoulder-length brown hair tucked neatly behind her ears, warm hazel eyes, and a kind expression that seemed out of place in the usual storm of high school drama.
Mark hesitated before responding, a little surprised anyone even noticed he was gone, much less cared.
"Yeah… I'm fine," he muttered, not quite meeting her gaze.
"You weren't here," she said, fidgeting slightly with the strap of her bag. "Since lunch ended, I mean. The teacher didn't say anything, but… you looked kind of out of it when you walked in."
Mark scratched the back of his neck. "Just lost track of time. That's all."
Akiha nodded slowly, not pushing further, but not walking away either.
"I… I know we've never talked before," she said, her voice more uncertain now, "but you looked really down."
Mark blinked again, still processing. He wasn't used to this. People usually left him alone, especially girls like Akiha—quiet, well-liked, kind. She had no reason to talk to him. Most people avoided him ever since rumors about his fight with a senior last semester started circulating. But here she was, genuinely asking if he was okay.
"I guess I was just dealing with some stuff," he said, his voice quieter now. "It's nothing serious."
She offered a small smile. "Even if it's not serious… sometimes talking helps."
He almost laughed—not at her, but at the idea that someone like her would offer that to someone like him. "You don't even know me."
Akiha's smile didn't fade. "Maybe. But I know what it's like to feel like no one notices when something's wrong."
Mark's eyes flicked up to meet hers, and for a second, he saw something in them—a flicker of understanding that went beyond simple kindness. Maybe she did know. Maybe there was more to her than he thought.
"Thanks," he said after a moment, his voice more sincere this time. "For asking."
She nodded again, looking relieved that he responded more openly. Then, with a polite bow of her head, she turned and walked toward her seat near the back of the classroom.
Mark watched her go, feeling a strange warmth stir in his chest. It wasn't romantic, not yet, but it was… something. Something small but good. A moment that didn't feel heavy.
He walked to his own seat and slumped into it, staring at the window beside him. The sky was cloudy, but some light still got through, painting the desk in a dull glow. The teacher droned on at the front of the class, reciting notes about modern literature, but Mark barely heard any of it.
Instead, he found his mind drifting back to Akiha's words. Even if it's not serious… sometimes talking helps.
Maybe she was right. Maybe bottling everything up wasn't the best plan. Miwa might've shut him out, but not everyone would.
He glanced toward the back of the room where Akiha sat, quietly taking notes, her focus steady. She didn't look back at him, didn't try to keep the conversation going. She just gave him space. And strangely, that made him feel seen more than any long conversation ever could.
For the first time that day, Mark actually talk to a girl without making a move.
The bell rang, and the class began to pack up. Mark moved slowly, still feeling the weight of the day, but lighter than before. He wasn't sure if Akiha would talk to him again tomorrow or if today had just been a passing moment of kindness.
But it mattered.
And for now, that was enough.