(Kiyomi's POV)
The sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, painting soft stripes of gold across the desks. The usual chatter filled the air, but today, the energy felt different—charged, like the calm before a storm.
I sat at my desk, absentmindedly scribbling in my notebook, though my mind wasn't really on the page.
Across the room, I could feel the weight of the stares. Whispers barely disguised by hushed tones, eyes flicking between Minato and I.
They hadn't even said anything yet, but the tension was palpable.
Minato was sitting by the window, his gaze focused on something outside, though he must have felt the looks, too. There was a subtle shift in his posture when our classmates' eyes lingered too long—an imperceptible stiffening of his shoulders, but nothing else gave it away.
And there it was again, the quiet space between us that made everything else seem louder. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.
The door opened with a squeak, and in walked Asahi, his usual calm, collected demeanor hiding something more. His eyes were sharp, scanning the room before settling on Hinata.
I caught the brief glance they exchanged—something unspoken flickered between them, and I couldn't help but wonder if Asahi's growing distance from Akio had something to do with the tension I felt. It wasn't just the gossip; it was deeper than that. I could see it in Asahi's eyes when he looked at Minato and I — the uncertainty, the reluctance to acknowledge what was happening.
Asahi: Class, may I have your attention?
His voice cut through my thoughts, his tone unusually firm. He cleared his throat, causing the class to hush immediately.
Asahi: I have some exciting news for everyone. In two weeks, we'll be going on a school excursion to the aquarium.
A ripple of excitement spread through the class, and I could hear a chorus of whispers and gasps as my classmates turned to each other, exchanging excited looks.
The aquarium. I hadn't been there in years. It was a place I'd always enjoyed—calm, soothing, a place to escape into a world of wonders. But this time, it felt different.
Asahi gave us a moment to absorb the news before continuing, his gaze briefly landing on Minato and I, before sweeping across the room.
Asahi: We'll be leaving on Friday afternoon. So, I expect everyone to be prepared.
He added, his tone softer now, but I noticed how his voice cracked, just barely.
The bell rang before anyone could say anything else, and the room slowly came to life as we packed our bags, ready to head to our next class.
(Akio's POV)
I leaned back in my chair, pretending to focus on the teacher's instructions, but I couldn't stop looking over at the corner of the room where Kiyomi and Minato sat.
I tried to convince myself that it was just the usual envy—nothing more, nothing less. But the truth was more complicated.
I hated the way Minato's easy smile made Kiyomi's face light up. I hated that no matter how hard I tried to ignore it, the two of them together made my insides churn.
I could feel it—the way the distance between Kiyomi and I had only grown, how the space between us had stretched so far that it seemed impossible to bridge. Every time I tried to talk to her, it felt like I was talking to someone else. Someone I didn't know anymore.
I clenched my fists under the desk, my mind a whirlwind. I should have never started this mess. The rumors, the gossip, everything. If only I hadn't given in to that petty jealousy, maybe they wouldn't have gotten here.
But now, it was too late.
And I hated myself for it.
(Hinata's POV)
I sat at my desk, my mind racing. The announcement of the aquarium trip should have been a happy moment, but all I could think about was how awkward everything had become.
The tension between Akio and Kiyomi… the strange glances that passed between Asahi and I when no one was looking.
I didn't know what was happening anymore.
I had tried to ignore the feelings that had started to grow between Asahi and I, but now it was impossible.
Every time we exchanged a word, every time our hands brushed, it was like the world shifted just a little bit closer.
I didn't want to be the one to admit it, but maybe it was the time. Maybe the truth was that I liked Asahi in a way I didn't quite understand—something deeper than friendship, but not quite love either.
And yet, when he looked at me, there was something in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. He hadn't spoken much about himself, but sometimes I caught the briefest glimpses of his vulnerabilities—the cracks in his calm exterior.
I noticed the way he was starting to avoid Akio too. Maybe he felt the same strain Kiyomi had felt for so long. Maybe they all did.
(Minato's POV)
I watched Kiyomi out of the corner of my eye, my heart warm but heavy with all the things left unsaid.
After school, I had a plan. I had something special for her—a surprise I'd been working on all week, something that would show her how much I appreciated her, how much I understood her.
But it wasn't just about the surprise. It was about us—about the two of us against the world.
I had learned that no matter how loud the world got, no matter how much gossip or judgment they threw my way, the only thing that mattered was what was real between us. And with Kiyomi, I knew what we had was real.
And I wasn't going to let anything—anything—tear that apart.
(Kiyomi's POV)
Later that afternoon, I stood by my locker, my fingers tracing the edges of my textbook. My thoughts were a mess, still spinning around what had happened earlier in class—the sudden announcement about the aquarium trip, the way Akio avoided me after the rumors had started.
I had a feeling he was the one who spread them. I couldn't shake the suspicion. He had been so angry, so distant since everything had changed. He wasn't the Akio I used to know anymore.
And it hurt.
I tried to shake the feeling away, but it lingered—like an invisible weight on my chest.
I closed my locker with a soft sigh. As I stepped into the hallway, I looked up, my eyes catching Minato's.
He smiled at me from across the corridor, his presence grounding me, easing some of the tightness in my chest.
I walked toward him, and as I approached, he reached for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine gently.
Minato: Hey, you okay? (He asked softly, his voice low and comforting).
I smiled, my heart fluttering in my chest.
Kiyomi: Yeah. Just… thinking a lot.
He squeezed my hand, a simple gesture that sent warmth flooding through me.
Minato: I've got something for you after school. Wait for me.
My heart skipped a beat.
Kiyomi: You've been full of surprises lately.
Minato grinned, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Minato: You'll like this one. Trust me.
And for the first time in days, I felt a spark of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, we could weather this storm together.