Vol. 2 — Chapter 17: Sparks in the Air
The rumors didn't die down.
If anything, they grew worse.
By midweek, Yuto couldn't walk down the hallway without overhearing his name paired with Yuna's.
"Are they really dating?"
"I heard he confessed during the festival."
"No way. She could do better."
That last comment stung the most.
He gritted his teeth and kept walking, pretending it didn't bother him. But it did. It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
And it didn't help that Kaito kept showing up.
Every time Yuto saw Yuna in the hallway, Kaito seemed to be there too — leaning against a wall, cracking jokes, making her laugh.
Was it on purpose? Was Kaito doing this to mess with him?
The thought festered like a splinter.
---
By lunch break, Yuto was done pretending.
He spotted Yuna by the courtyard, chatting with Kaito under a cherry blossom tree.
Yuto's stomach churned, but his legs moved on their own.
"Yuna," he called out, louder than intended.
Both of them turned.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. Yuna blinked in surprise. "Yuto? What's up?"
Yuto walked up, trying to keep his voice steady. "Can we talk?"
Yuna tilted her head. "Sure. What about?"
He glanced at Kaito. "Alone."
For a moment, silence.
Then Kaito smirked. "Ooooh. Serious talk, huh? I'll leave you lovebirds to it."
Yuto's face burned. "We're not—!"
But Kaito was already walking away, waving casually. "See you later, Yuna."
Yuto glared at his back until he disappeared around the corner.
---
Yuna crossed her arms, studying Yuto. "You've been acting weird all week. What's wrong?"
Yuto hesitated, his throat tightening.
How could he even put this into words? That he hated the way Kaito talked to her? That every laugh she gave him felt like a knife?
That he was scared he'd lose her?
Instead, what came out was: "Why do you keep talking to him?"
Yuna blinked. "…What?"
"That guy. Kaito. You don't even know him."
Her expression hardened slightly. "So?"
"So why do you—" Yuto stopped himself.
He couldn't say Why do you laugh at his jokes? Why do you look so comfortable with him?
Instead, he muttered, "I just don't like him."
Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Are you jealous?"
Yuto flinched. "I—! No! It's just—"
"You are." Her voice was calm, but firm.
Yuto clenched his fists. "So what if I am?"
That made her pause.
For a moment, Yuto thought he'd gone too far.
But Yuna just sighed and shook her head. "You're impossible sometimes, you know that?"
---
The bell rang, saving them both from saying anything else.
"Come on," Yuna said, walking back toward the building. "We'll be late."
Yuto followed silently, his chest still tight.
---
After school, Daiki cornered him at his desk.
"Spill."
Yuto blinked. "What?"
"You and Yuna. Courtyard. Lunchtime. Whole class saw it."
Yuto groaned. "Great."
Souta leaned over. "You finally confess?"
"No."
Daiki frowned. "Then what was all that? You looked ready to fight someone."
Yuto buried his face in his arms. "I don't know. I just… snapped."
Souta whistled. "Careful, man. That third-year doesn't look like the forgiving type."
Yuto froze. "What do you mean?"
Daiki grinned. "Word is, Kaito's got a bit of a temper. And you basically challenged him in front of Yuna."
Yuto's stomach dropped.
---
He found out just how right they were after practice.
The hallway was quiet, most students already gone.
That's when he saw Kaito leaning against the shoe lockers, waiting.
Yuto stopped in his tracks.
"You," Kaito said casually, pushing off the wall.
Yuto tensed. "What do you want?"
Kaito walked up slowly, hands in his pockets, that same smug grin on his face.
"You don't like me talking to Yuna, huh?"
Yuto swallowed hard. "It's none of your business."
Kaito chuckled. "Oh, but it is. See, I like her. And I don't think she's yours to guard, kid."
Something in Yuto snapped.
"She's not yours either."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Then whose is she? Yours?"
Yuto opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Kaito leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Didn't think so."
Then he patted Yuto on the shoulder like it was nothing. "Good talk. See you around."
And just like that, he walked off.
Yuto stood there, fists trembling, heart pounding in his ears.
He hated him.
But more than that…
He hated how powerless he felt.
---
That night, staring at his ceiling, Yuto made a decision.
No more backing down.
Next time…
He wouldn't run away from what he felt.
Not from Kaito.
And definitely not from Yuna.
---
End of Chapter 17.