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Chapter 13 - Glass Hearts

I always thought silence was my favorite sound.

It used to mean peace.

Now, it just feels… empty.

It's been two weeks since the accident at the festival, and today marks the last day of punishment.

For most people, that would mean freedom.

But for me—it means the end of something that started to feel like more than just cleaning duty.

Morning...

Class 2A felt strange lately.

Akio sat by the window, pretending to read, but his eyes never once looked my way.

Hinata tried to act normal—laughing at Ayaka's jokes, joining Nao for lunch—but even her laughter sounded forced.

And Minato... well, he looked healthier these days. He didn't cough, his face wasn't as pale, and his voice didn't sound like he was running out of breath every time he spoke.

I liked to think I had something to do with that.

Maybe the fresh air during cleaning helped.

Or maybe… it was the quiet conversations we shared, when no one else was watching.

I caught myself smiling once, just watching him talk to Asahi across the room.

Then Akio's chair scraped against the floor—sharp, loud—and the smile immediately faded.

He didn't even say anything.

He didn't have to. His silence said enough.

After Class

The final bell rang, and everyone rushed out in excitement.

No more punishment. No more brooms. No more gossip.

But as the classroom emptied, I found myself walking to the same old corner, like my feet already knew where to go.

Minato was there, cleaning the window one last time, sunlight spilling across his hair.

And for some reason, I felt my heart race faster than usual.

Kiyomi:(Excited) Minato!

He turned. His eyes—soft and calm as always—met mine. But there was something off about them today.

Not tired… just distant.

Minato:(Quietly) What are you doing here?

Kiyomi: I saw you didn't cough today…

Minato:(Gloomy) You know, Kiyomi. You don't have to hang out with me anymore. The punishment is already over.

Kiyomi: So what? I'm not here because I have to be.

Minato: Then why are you here?

I hesitated. Because I didn't know how to answer.

Every time I was with him, my walls—the ones I built since I was a child—felt weaker.

And I didn't know if that was good or dangerous.

Kiyomi:(Softly) Because I want to be.

Minato blinked, like the words surprised him. Then he smiled—a small, almost shy smile.

Minato: You shouldn't say things like that so easily.

Kiyomi: Why not?

Minato: Because… words like that break glass hearts.

I frowned.

Kiyomi:(Confused) What does that mean?

He just shook his head, still smiling faintly.

Minato: You'll understand one day.

We cleaned the last part of the classroom together, quietly.

But something about the way he looked at me felt… final.

Like he was already saying goodbye to something neither of us could name.

The Next Day

For the first time in weeks, I didn't have to stay behind.

No cleaning, no late dismissals, no whispered rumors following me down the hall.

Just… normal life.

At least, that's what I thought I wanted.

So, I decided to hang out with Akio and Hinata again.

To "go back to normal."

But as soon as we sat together at the courtyard bench, I realized that normal doesn't exist anymore.

Akio barely spoke. When he did, it was short and cold.

Hinata smiled like she was trying to patch a broken wall with tape.

I laughed at her jokes—awkward, hollow laughter—but the air still felt thick, like something invisible was pressing on all of us.

Hinata: So… no more punishment, huh? You must be happy.

Kiyomi: Yeah. I guess.

Akio: Guess?

His tone was sharp, but quiet.

Kiyomi: It's just… weird not staying after school anymore.

Akio: You mean weird not staying with him.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Hinata looked down, pretending to scroll through her phone.

And I—stupidly—looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

Kiyomi: Akio, please don't start–

Akio:(Interrupting) Forget it. I shouldn't care anyway.

He stood up and walked off, hands buried in his pockets.

The sound of his footsteps fading felt like someone had just slammed a door inside my chest.

Hinata:(Sighs) He'll come around. Just… give him time.

Kiyomi: Yeah. Time fixes everything, right?

Hinata: Sometimes it does. Sometimes it breaks things more.

I watched the clouds drift across the sky, slow and gray.

And for the first time in a while, I realized that I didn't know what tomorrow would bring.

Not with Akio.

Not with Minato.

Not even with myself.

That Evening

When I got home, Ayumi was already setting the table for dinner.

She asked how school was. I said...

Kiyomi:(Trying to smile) Fine.

She smiled, like she believed me. I smiled back, like I believed it too.

But that night, as I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, I thought about Minato's words again.

"Words like that break glass hearts."

I finally understood what he meant.

It wasn't just about love—it was about fragility.

About how easily people can shatter, even when they pretend to be fine.

About how easily I could shatter if I wasn't careful.

And as I drifted to sleep, one thought wouldn't leave my mind:

"If I keep getting closer to him…

will I be the one to break,

or will he?"

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