"Ughhh, if one more person forgets to bring back the permission slips, I'm going to combust," Nanami-san grumbles, arms crossed dramatically as we walk down the hallway.
I blink at her, only half-listening. "Isn't that just every day for you as class president?"
"Well, yes, but it's extra today," she adds dramatically. "You're not even listening, are you?"
I offer her a weak smile as I pull my shoes out of the locker. "Sorry… just distracted."
Nanami-san catches the hint of tension in my tone, her eyes narrowing for just a second before she grins knowingly. "Aha! I knew it. It's about him, isn't it?"
I freeze, heart skipping a beat.
"Who?" I ask, playing it cool even though my stomach is doing flips.
She doesn't buy it. "Kaito-kun, of course! You're looking like you just saw a ghost."
I sigh, looking down. "Why does he keep teasing me? First it's the stupid 'Ayu-nyan' nickname, then he actually shows up after class with lunch, and—" I throw my hands up in exasperation. "He's like a never-ending storm of chaos!"
Nanami-san's face breaks into an amused grin. "Sounds like a Kaito thing to do. But honestly, I think he's more than just trouble. If he wasn't into you, he wouldn't bother with all of this." She nudges me with her elbow. "You know I'm right, right?"
I cross my arms, feeling the warmth rise to my cheeks. "Stop it. It's not like that."
Nanami-san lets out a soft laugh, slinging her arm around me like it's the most natural thing. "You're the worst liar, Ayu-chan. Totally into him."
Before I can retort, a voice rings out behind us, cutting through the chatter and hallway bustle.
"Neko-chan~!"
My heart stops.
Kaito leans casually against the lockers, eyes twinkling mischievously as he watches me freeze. His hair's a bit messy, and his usual grin is plastered across his face.
"Did you just—" My face burns. "Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Because I'm the Kaito Hideaki, and I call things as I see them," he says, winking.
I roll my eyes, trying to hide my embarrassment. "You're impossible."
Nanami-san, ever the instigator, bumps me with her shoulder. "Who's the cat now, huh?"
I glare at her, but the smirk doesn't leave her face. "Still you," I mutter, glaring at Kaito. "You're the one with the memory of a cat. Always showing up uninvited and acting like you own the place."
Kaito shrugs nonchalantly. "Well, what can I say? I like making an impression."
He then tosses me a bundle wrapped in a cloth, which I catch without thinking. The familiar pattern of the cloth is his, and my heart skips a little. "Lunch. Extra pickled plum, just like you like it. You looked pretty frazzled this morning."
I blink at the lunch in my hands. "How did you know I was—"
"Doesn't matter. Here. Now you won't have to suffer through it." He flashes a playful grin, then turns to walk away, his footsteps echoing through the hallway.
I'm left standing there, staring at the lunch in my hands. Nanami-san's grin widens beside me.
"You're definitely so doomed," she says, eyes sparkling. "Admit it. He likes you. And you like him."
I huff, trying to ignore the way my heart is beating a little faster than usual. "He's a headache."
"Tell me again when you're not daydreaming about him later." She chuckles, tugging me forward toward the classroom.
As we walk, the rest of the school day looms before me—sports festival preparations, committee work, the usual. But even with all that swirling around, my thoughts keep drifting back to Kaito. He might just be the biggest chaos in my life right now, but somehow... it feels like something I can't walk away from.
After school, while the rest of the class is buzzing around, preparing for the upcoming sports festival, Nanami-san and I find ourselves on the roof. The wind is cool, the clouds lazily drifting by.
"So, what's your plan for the festival?" Nanami-san asks, plopping down on the edge of the roof with a swing of her legs.
I join her, trying to calm the flurry of thoughts spinning in my head. "I guess… just help out? I'm not really the sporty type."
She tilts her head. "And you're totally fine with that?"
"Yeah. I mean... yeah."
But the truth is, I don't know. I keep picturing Kaito's smile, how he always seems to be in motion, always active and fun, while I'm just... me. Quiet. Reserved. And yet, when he looks at me like that—like Ayu-nyan is some kind of secret language—it makes me wonder if he sees something more.
Suddenly, footsteps approach behind us. A shadow looms, blocking out the late afternoon sun.
"Is this a party without me?" Kaito's voice rings out, playful as ever.
I roll my eyes. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a class to ruin or something?"
He leans against the railing, hands in his pockets, that grin of his never fading. "Nah. Just thought I'd check in on you two. You look like you're having fun."
Nanami-san flashes a mischievous grin. "Oh, we're having plenty of fun. Especially now that you're here."
Kaito shrugs, then his gaze flicks to me. "What about you, Ayu-chan? You look kinda... lost."
I bite my lip, looking away. "I'm fine."
"Sure you are." He chuckles, his gaze softening for just a second. "Just don't forget to smile. You might get used to it, but it's nice to see every now and then."
I swallow hard. "You just... keep showing up, don't you?"
His smile widens. "What can I say? I'm hard to get rid of."