[Morning — Classroom]
Yuuto had returned to school.
But it didn't feel like he had come back.
He sat in his seat quietly, eyes glued to the textbook that he wasn't really reading. Hikari stared at him from her desk, biting her lip.
He hadn't looked at her once.
Not even by accident.
Yesterday, she had waited outside his apartment for fifteen minutes. She heard his footsteps inside. But the door never opened.
Today, he was pretending nothing had happened.
But the pain was sitting there — between them — like a third person in the room.
[Break Time — Hallway]
Hikari caught him by the lockers.
"Yuuto."
He paused, slowly turned to her.
"Yeah?"
"…That's it?" she whispered. "Just 'yeah'?"
He looked away. "What else should I say?"
She stepped closer, voice trembling. "I just wanted you to hear me. To know I was there. To feel like maybe you still cared."
"I did care," he said softly. "That's why I didn't open the door."
Her brows furrowed. "That makes no sense."
He finally looked at her. His eyes were tired. Hollow. Like someone who had stopped sleeping well.
"It makes sense to someone who's used to being alone."
Hikari froze.
He continued, voice low, like he wasn't just talking to her, but to himself.
"If I opened that door… if I saw you standing there, I would've let you in. Not just into my apartment… but into me. And what happens when you leave someday?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"You shine too bright, Hikari," he whispered. "And I… I don't want to get used to your warmth only to lose it."
[Lunch — Back Garden Bench]
Yuuto sat alone, a half-eaten sandwich on his lap.
His eyes weren't on his food. They were on the clouds — soft and distant, just like how people always felt to him.
He heard footsteps.
Hikari sat beside him quietly.
They didn't speak for a while.
Then—
"You're not the only one who's scared," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't respond.
"I know I'm loud, and I act all bright. But I've been lonely too, Yuuto. I just… got better at hiding it."
He looked down at his hands.
"I don't want to just be someone you're afraid to lose," she continued. "I want to be someone you trust not to leave."
Still, he didn't reply.
But when he stood up to leave, she caught his sleeve gently.
"Don't run away from people who choose you."
He paused.
But said nothing, and walked away.
[Evening — Rooftop Sunset]
The sky was glowing orange.
Yuuto stood by the edge, staring at the horizon like he wanted to disappear into it.
He heard the rooftop door open behind him.
He didn't turn.
"I thought you might be here," Hikari said.
He closed his eyes.
"You always come here when you're trying to be alone, but not too alone."
Still, no response.
She walked up slowly, stood beside him.
"I don't get it," she said softly. "Why do you keep pushing me away… when I've already seen the real you and didn't walk away?"
"Because I don't believe it'll last," he replied.
She looked at him.
He didn't meet her eyes.
"…I used to eat lunch alone. Walk home alone. Talk to no one. And I was okay with it. But then you happened. You made me laugh. You made me feel like I belonged somewhere. And now…"
He took a shaky breath.
"Now I'm terrified. Because if I lose this… I go back to nothing. Back to silence. And this time, it'll hurt."
Hikari stepped in front of him, tears in her eyes.
"Then don't lose it."
He finally looked at her.
And she said it — softly, but with every ounce of emotion she had:
"Yuuto… I love you."
His eyes widened.
Silence.
The sun dipped below the horizon.
Her words echoed in his ears, over and over, like a prayer he never thought he'd hear.
To be continued...