Vol. 2 — Chapter 15: Whispers in the Hallway
The festival was over.
But its ripples hadn't stopped.
By Monday morning, Class 2-B was buzzing again — not with festival prep or café orders, but with gossip.
Yuto had barely stepped inside when he felt the stares.
"Morning," he muttered, heading for his desk.
"Morning, Yuto!" a girl from another group called out.
"Uh… morning," he said cautiously.
She giggled and whispered something to her friend, both of them glancing his way.
Okay… weird.
He slumped into his seat, hoping that was the end of it.
It wasn't.
Daiki plopped down on his desk with a grin. "Morning, Butler Boy."
"Don't call me that."
"Aw, come on. You were the star of the café! Didn't you see the line? Half the girls came back just to see you."
Yuto frowned. "That's… not true."
"It is," Souta chimed in from behind. "Also, rumor has it… you and Yuna were on a date."
Yuto choked on his own saliva. "WHAT?!"
Daiki's grin widened. "So it's true?"
"Of course it's not true!"
"Then what was that cotton candy thing, huh? Sharing bites like that? Kinda romantic, don't you think?"
Yuto buried his face in his hands. "Why are you like this?"
Before he could come up with a decent defense, Yuna walked in.
"Good morning!" she said brightly, taking her usual seat by the window.
"Morning, Yuna!" Daiki and Souta said in unison, suspiciously cheerful.
Yuto's panic doubled. Oh no. They're gonna drag her into this.
And sure enough—
"So, Yuna," Souta began innocently, "was that a date or what?"
Yuna blinked. "Huh?"
"The cotton candy thing," Daiki said, smirking. "You and Yuto. Sharing sweets at sunset. Sounds like a date to me."
Yuto nearly fell out of his chair. "Don't say it like that!"
Yuna tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… A date, huh?"
Yuto turned red. "I-It wasn't—"
She smiled. "Well… I didn't hate it."
Daiki and Souta erupted in laughter.
"See?!" Daiki said. "She didn't deny it!"
Yuto wanted to sink into the floor.
---
It didn't stop there.
By lunch, the whispers had spread beyond their class.
"Is it true? Yuto and Yuna are dating?"
"Well, they did look cute together at the café."
"Didn't they share cotton candy? That's, like, an indirect kiss."
Yuto felt like he was living in a nightmare.
He cornered Daiki and Souta by the vending machines. "You two started this, didn't you?!"
Daiki shrugged. "We just told the truth."
"Yeah," Souta added. "If you didn't want rumors, maybe don't act like a couple in public."
Yuto groaned. "We weren't acting like a—! Ugh. Forget it."
As if things couldn't get worse, Ren walked by with his usual deadpan look.
"Congratulations on the relationship," he said flatly.
"We're not—!"
Ren kept walking.
---
Yuto spent the rest of lunch sulking at his desk.
"Still alive?"
He looked up. Rika had appeared, sipping a carton of milk.
"Not for long," he muttered.
She glanced at the students still stealing looks at him. "So… the whole school thinks you and Yuna are dating now."
"Don't remind me."
Rika smirked. "You know, you could just make it official."
Yuto blinked. "Wh—What?"
"You like her. She clearly doesn't hate the idea. Seems easy enough."
"Easy?!" he whispered harshly. "There's nothing easy about that!"
"Then enjoy the rumors," she said casually, walking away.
Yuto dropped his head onto his desk. Why does she always sound like she's mocking me and giving good advice at the same time?
---
The final bell rang, but Yuto couldn't escape fast enough.
He was halfway to the shoe lockers when he spotted Yuna chatting with someone near the front doors.
At first, he thought nothing of it.
Until he saw who it was.
An upperclassman — tall, broad-shouldered, with messy brown hair. A third-year, judging by his uniform.
Yuto slowed his steps, keeping his distance.
"…you looked amazing in that maid outfit," the upperclassman was saying with a grin. "Didn't think I'd see someone pull it off that well."
Yuna laughed awkwardly. "Uh, thanks?"
Yuto felt his chest tighten.
The guy leaned casually against the wall. "You should join our class next time. We could use someone like you for our festival booth."
"Eh? I'm pretty sure that's against school rules."
"Rules are just suggestions," he said smoothly.
Yuto's fists clenched at his sides.
Who is this guy? Why is he talking to her like that?
He was about to storm over when Yuna glanced his way and waved.
"Yuto!" she called cheerfully. "Let's walk home together!"
The upperclassman looked over, sizing him up briefly before giving Yuna a little wave goodbye. "See you around, then."
And just like that, he walked off.
---
Yuto approached, trying to keep his voice steady. "…Who was that?"
"Oh, him?" Yuna said. "He's in Class 3-A. I think his name's… Kaito? Or Kai? Something like that."
Yuto frowned. "Do you know him?"
"Not really. I think he came to our café yesterday."
And now he's flirting with you, Yuto thought bitterly.
Yuna glanced at him. "You look grumpy. Jealous, maybe?"
"Wha—?! No! Why would I—?!"
She giggled. "You're so easy to read."
Yuto's face burned. "I'm not jealous!"
"Sure, sure," she said playfully, walking ahead. "Come on, let's go."
---
The walk home was quieter than usual.
Yuto kept replaying the scene in his head — the way that upperclassman casually complimented her, the way Yuna laughed it off, the way he just stood there, frozen.
"Don't wait too long," Rika's voice echoed in his head.
He bit his lip.
She was right.
If he kept waiting, someone else might take his chance.
---
When they reached the spot where they usually split paths, Yuna waved. "See you tomorrow, Yuto!"
Yuto hesitated. His throat tightened, words almost spilling out.
"Yuna, I—"
She turned back, curious. "Hmm?"
But the courage died in his chest.
"…Never mind. See you."
She smiled. "See you!"
And just like that, she walked away.
Yuto watched her go, frustration burning in his gut.
"Next time… I'll say it. I have to."
But for now, all he could do was clench his fists and hope next time came soon.
---
End of Chapter 15.