The sound of my alarm buzzed like an insect beside my head. I groaned and rolled over, eyes barely open. Another day of pretending everything was normal. I sat up, stretched, and looked around my quiet room. The spirit floated silently near the window, just watching me like always.
"I'm heading out," I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
"Stay safe," the spirit replied gently.
I gave a small nod and stepped out the door.
The walk to school was uneventful. The air smelled fresh, the city quietly humming with life. But something inside me still felt uneasy after that nightmare. The image of crimson eyes and burning skies refused to leave me.
Once I reached the classroom and stepped inside, a boy with messy dark hair waved at me.
"You must be Kaito, right?" he said with a wide grin. "I'm Kento. Nice to meet you. You can call me Kent—that's what everyone calls me."
"Nice to meet you too," I replied, unsure how to react to his energy.
He leaned closer and said, "So... I've heard you got no abilities."
I nodded. "Yep."
"You know," he continued, "some people are like that. I've seen plenty back in my village. They called me a monster."
He laughed, but it didn't feel like a joke.
"Is that true?" I asked. "Maybe I belong with them."
Kento's eyes sparkled oddly. "You're different. I think you've got the potential to activate runes without using magic."
"What kind of runes?"
"Stones for summoning—o-"
Suddenly, the door slid open, and everything around us seemed to pause. Kohane entered the classroom, her long black hair swaying softly behind her. Light seemed to follow her. Every boy turned.
Kento whispered, "I wish I could be her boyfriend... but I never had the chance to talk to her. No one in class has."
He nudged me. "Hey... do you like her? Hm? Hehe."
I blinked. "Uhmm... not that much. But I do like her. She helped me yesterday, and she told me that the one—"
Kento's face changed. Rage boiled under the surface.
"WHAT?!" he yelled.
The class turned, startled by the sudden outburst.
Kento cleared his throat. "Ahem. Sorry, sorry. Just excited. How did you talk to her, though?"
"She just helped me, that's all," I said.
He muttered, "I wish I was you."
In my mind, I couldn't help but think: To be honest, I like her. Not just because she's beautiful... she's kind too.
Kento stood. "Hold on, I gotta go."
"Wait... um, Kento?"
"Yeah?"
"What's your ability?"
He smirked. "May I have your hand?"
"What the..." I hesitated.
"Just give it. If you want to know."
I slowly reached out, and the moment our hands touched—ZAP.
Pain surged through me. My whole body jolted.
Kento burst out laughing. "Okay, got to go. Bye!"
He left me twitching.
Later that day, I walked toward Kohane. My heart was pounding.
"Umm, excuse me," I said.
She turned to me. "Yes?"
She's even cute up close...! I panicked, but managed to speak. "Mind if I sit beside you?"
She smiled. "Sure, sure. No problem."
"Thanks." I sat and took a breath. "Thank you for the other day."
"No, it's nothing. Honestly."
She's so honest...
She looked at me. "Umm, Kaito?"
"Uh, ye?"
"Umm... never mind."
"KOHANEEEE!!" a voice suddenly shouted.
A girl with short hair ran toward her.
"Where did you put my umbrella?!"
Kohane chuckled. "It wasn't me."
The girl, Yono, flashed her phone. "Caught you hiding it!"
"That's Mila, not me."
Yono squinted. "Ack—"
Kohane laughed.
I can't resist her cuteness...
The teacher approached. "Kohane, could you deliver this paperwork to the AV room? Thank you."
She sighed, seeing the thick stack.
"Let me help you," I said.
"No, it's fine—"
"You shouldn't be carrying too much."
She blinked. "O-okay. Thanks."
We dropped the paperwork off, and as we walked back—
A baseball flew straight toward her.
"Kohane!" I yelled, shoving her away.
Pain exploded across my forehead.
"Kaito! Are you okay?!"
"Hehe... this is nothing."
"No, it's not. You're bleeding. Come here."
She placed her hand gently on my forehead.
A warm light spread through me. The pain faded. Her face was close... too close. My heart skipped.
She finished healing me and suddenly turned red.
"U-uh!" She ran.
I stood there, stunned.
She's very kind...
After class, it rained heavily.
"Why now..." I muttered, heading home soaked.
Meanwhile, Kohane lay on her bed, cheeks red.
"What is it, big sis?" her sister Ayla asked.
"Ah, it's nothing..."
She buried her face in her pillow.
Even though Kaito is powerless... he still saved me.
I lay in bed, drenched and tired. My mind swirled.
If I hadn't moved, she would've been hurt. I was about to collapse. But... she healed me.
She's like an angel...
In that moment, I whispered to myself:
"I think I really like her."
In her room, Kohane whispered the same words at the same time:
"I think I really like him."