When Nagi walked into school the next day, all eyes were on him.
He didn't even make it past the school gate before the whispers started.
"Really? This is the guy they picked?"
"No way. He doesn't look special at all."
"They should've done a better background check."
"I swear I'm probably better than him in everything."
"Shh! Keep your voice down! He'll hear you!"
Every word felt like a tiny needle. Every whisper dug into his skin. He tried to ignore it, but it wasn't easy.
He kept his eyes on the floor as he walked down the hallway. The sound of his own footsteps echoed in his ears, louder than the voices—but not enough to drown them out.
Damn… this is such a pain in the ass, he thought.
He didn't even want this. He didn't ask to be chosen. He just wanted to go to school like normal, sit in his seat, and disappear into the background.
Now, he was the center of attention—and not the good kind.
When he entered the classroom, the atmosphere was just as heavy. His classmates all looked up like they had been waiting for him. But there was no excitement in their eyes. No welcome. Just cold stares. Judgment. Jealousy.
He walked slowly to his seat, feeling like he was being watched from every direction. It was like walking through a field of sharp glass with no shoes.
Every step felt loud.
Too loud.
He finally reached his seat and sat down.
Then, he felt an elbow nudge his arm.
It was Rui Nanako—his classmate, and probably the only friend he had in the entire school.
"Look who's the famous guy now," she said with a smirk.
Nagi sighed. "Not you too, Rui…"
"What? I'm just saying. You're all over the school news. It's like the entire school is obsessed with you now."
"Yeah, obsessed in a bad way," he mumbled.
"They all think I don't deserve it."
Rui pushed up her glasses and leaned in a little. "Well, to be fair… you don't really stand out, you know?"
Nagi gave her a flat look.
"Gee, thanks. That helps."
Rui chuckled. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant… maybe they're all just surprised. You're like… the underdog, I guess."
"More like the lucky nobody who got picked by mistake."
"They're staring at you like they want to beat you up or something," Rui said, half-laughing. "You should've seen how they looked when your name showed up in that announcement."
"I don't even want to be here anymore…" Nagi muttered, pulling his hoodie up over his head.
"Drama queen," Rui teased.
Before he could reply, their homeroom teacher walked in and clapped her hands.
"Alright everyone, settle down. Let's begin the class!"
Nagi breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
The day went by painfully slow. Nagi kept his hoodie up the whole time, trying to hide his face. He barely spoke during class, only raising his head when called on. Even then, he kept his answers short.
Every time he felt a stare, he looked away. Every time someone whispered, he tried not to listen. But it was hard.
Really hard.
After the final bell rang, Nagi rushed out of the classroom. He didn't stop until he was outside the school gate. There, he bent over and panted like he had just finished running a marathon.
"Phew!" Rui said as she walked up beside him. "You got away from the mob."
"I guess so…" Nagi replied, dropping onto the ground and leaning against the fence. "I feel like a wanted criminal or something."
Rui laughed. "That bad, huh?"
"Worse."
The two of them walked home together, like they always did.
It was one of the only normal things left in his life.
But today… something felt different.
The silence between them was heavier than usual. More awkward.
Rui was usually talkative, or at least humming some song. But today, she was quiet. Too quiet.
Nagi noticed, of course.
"Hey, Rui."
"Yeah?"
"So… I guess I'm really going to that famous school now, huh?"
She didn't answer right away.
"…Yeah. Looks like it."
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Nagi raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You seem… I dunno. Kinda off."
"I'm not off! I'm totally normal!"
He gave her a look.
Rui puffed her cheeks and looked away. "I just didn't expect my only friend to suddenly get picked to study overseas. That's all."
Nagi smiled a little. "Aw, are you sad your gaming buddy is leaving you behind?"
"I-It's not like that!" she said, turning red. "I just… I mean… who else am I going to watch anime with now?!"
"Guess you'll have to make new friends," Nagi teased.
"That's impossible. You're the only one who I always talk to."
"Lucky you," he grinned.
Then, without thinking much, Nagi reached over and took off Rui's glasses.
"Hey!" she shouted. "Give those back!"
He looked at her face carefully.
"I don't get it," he said. "Why hide behind these all the time? You actually look kinda cute without them."
"C-C-Cute?!"
Her whole face turned red. She took a step back and covered her cheeks.
"W-What are you even saying all of a sudden?!"
Nagi blinked. "Did I say something wrong?"
He tilted his head, genuinely confused.
This guy… is dense as hell!
He had no idea what his words did to her.
None.
"W-Whatever! I'm leaving!"
She turned around quickly, trying to calm down.
Nagi followed her. "Hey, wait! Why are you mad now?"
"I'm not mad!" she huffed.
But her face was still red.
She kept walking, not looking back.
Nagi scratched his head, still lost.
Why's she acting weird? All I said was the truth.
Rui kept that warm, confusing feeling deep inside her heart.
She couldn't tell him.
Not yet.
Because even if he was leaving…
She didn't want to lose the only person who ever really saw her.
Her best friend.