The classroom filled with the usual morning commotion — chairs creaking, gossip, and the occasional virus-like yawn. Homeroom hadn't begun yet, and most kids were too engaged in laughing and chatting.
Yuuto was seated in his place at the back, silently exchanging words with Ren. Or so Ren spoke, and Yuuto nodded accordingly.
Then came the sudden crash of the classroom door.
"Hikarriiii~!"
A voice called out loud, known to some, but not to Yuuto. Heads turn toward the door.
A tall, elegant girl stood waiting. Her long black hair was beautifully messy, and a serene but confident air surrounded her.
She smiled and waved to the blonde gyaru sitting in the window seat.
Hikari's eyes lit up immediately. "Rika!"
She leapt out of her seat, almost jogging across the room. The two girls converged in the middle of the room and hugged like they had not seen one another in years.
The classroom gossip began immediately.
"Holy crap."
"Whoa! Second goddess."
"I am so lucky to be in this class."
"One's a gyaru and the other's got that cool older-sister thing."
Ren leaned closer to Yuuto. "Who's that?"
Yuuto looked at the two girls. They were already giggling over something, their vitality glowing and known.
"…That has to be Fujimata-san," Yuuto grumbled.
Rika shifted a little at that moment, her gaze scanning the area. For a moment, they found Yuuto. A look. A hesitation. And she switched it off like nothing was amiss.
Yuuto blinked.
What was that?
Class began, but Yuuto couldn't concentrate. He could sense someone staring at him. Now and then, he'd turn a little and catch the corner of Rika's eye before she averted her glance.
Why is Fujimata-san staring at me? he wondered, becoming increasingly self-conscious.
Lunch break.
Yuuto went up to the roof, his secret haven. The wind was gentle today, stirring his bangs. He unscrewed his bento, easing into the silence.
Footsteps came.
"You're already here?" Hikari slid the door shut behind her.
Yuuto raised his eyes. "You came here again?"
She smiled, plopping down beside him. "Duh. This is our secret spot, right?"
His ears flushed red, but he didn't respond. She always speaks in that manner so readily, like it didn't amount to anything… and perhaps it didn't. Nevertheless, his heart always acted before his head could.
The rooftop door burst open.
Rika emerged.
Right on her heels, Ren walked slowly behind her, appearing defeated.
Hikari's eyes widened. "Rika?! And… Shimizu-kun?!"
Ren raised his hand. "She pushed me into telling her where you two were hiding."
Rika pouted, putting her hands on her hips. "You didn't tell me you were sneaking off for a secret lunch with Kurokawa-kun! I had to interrogate poor Shimizu-kun."
"I… I wasn't trying to keep it a secret," Hikari said hurriedly. "It just kinda became our thing."
Rika waved it aside. "No biggie. But now you owe me."
Hikari cocked head. "Owe me?"
"Yup. We're all getting together after school. No saying no."
Ren groaned. "Why do I have to come?"
"Shut up," Rika muttered, hitting him with her elbow.
Hikari blinked, looking between the two. "Wait… why are you two so familiar with each other?"
"Ah," Rika said casually. "He was in my middle school class."
Yuuto raised an eyebrow at Ren.
"Yeah," Ren confirmed. "Unfortunately."
Hikari looked stunned. "You two go way back?!"
"Okay, no more questions." Rika stamped her foot. "So, you're coming or not? If not, I'll never forgive you."
Hikari rolled her eyes dramatically. "Okay, okay. We'll go."
The school ended without any further conflict.
The four of them walk after school, standing outside a crowded arcade in the center of town. Neon lights flashed in the early evening, and the cacophony of claw machines and old-style rhythm games overflowed onto the sidewalk.
Just as they entered, Rika's phone rang.
"Ahh, shoot. I gotta go. Something came up," she said, slightly annoyed.
Before anyone could answer, she turned to Ren and kicked him gently in the leg.
"Right," he said, getting it. "I, uh, also forgot I had something. Really important. Yep."
And just like that, they both turned on their heels and walked away.
After a couple of steps, Ren leaned forward and whispered, "Why leave them alone? They were dating already. So they can have a date anytime they want. We can enjoy a little too."
"We can't."
"Can't what?" Ren asked innocently.
"What I said." Rika took another step.
"Huh?!"
"They're pretending. You're the only one I'm telling you, so keep your mouth closed."
Ren stared at her, confused. "But… why?"
"Because of me."
Ren blinked. "You lost me."
"I challenged Hikari to tell Yuuto the truth and pretend to date him. It was meant to be a joke — something crazy and silly. But then." She gazed forward, observing the two left behind.
"It was initially a stupid dare, but watching Hikari smile like that — so genuine, so joyful — made me wonder if it's more than a joke now."
Ren looked at her. "You think it's because of him?"
"I don't know. But I want to know," she said quietly. "I just want her to be happy, even if it means pushing her to do something she doesn't want. Maybe that's selfish, but I can't help it."
He playfully jabbed her with his elbow. "Aww~ you do have a heart."
She kicked him again.
"You haven't changed at all," she grumbled.
He laughed. "Neither have you."
And the two walked home, bantering and joking like nothing at all had changed.
Yuuto and Hikari stood stiffly by the arcade entrance when they got back.
"Guess it's just us now," Hikari mumbled, refusing to look at him.
Yuuto was suddenly filled with something new inside him. It wasn't the usual awkwardness. It wasn't fear of faking. It was something else, something. real.
Yuuto nodded. "Yeah."
"You cool with that?" she asked, looking at him.
He turned to her, then suddenly away.
"Yeah," he said in a low tone.
"I don't mind."
Yuuto felt something awaken within him for the first time. It wasn't the usual embarrassment. It wasn't the anxiety of lying. It was something else, something. genuine.
To be continued...