Yukio was walking home after his club activity, bag slung over his shoulder, the sun dipping low in the sky. The streets were quiet, lined with golden light and the occasional breeze brushing past.
"Yukio!"
He stopped mid-step and turned his head. From a distance, Makoto came sprinting toward him, breakers and flushed.
Panting, Makoto bent forward, hands on his knees. "I finally caught you," he huffed. "You left so suddenly. I've been looking for you everywhere."
Yukio gave a sheepish chuckle. "Ah... sorry about that."
Makoto straightened up with a grin. "No worries."
"What's up?" Yukio asked.
"If you're planning to study," Makoto said, "let's do it together—at my place."
Yukio raised a brow, smirking slightly. "Why?"
Makoto groaned dramatically. "Because if I don't pass the next exam, my mom's gonna kill me!"
Yukio snorted. "Fine."
Makoto's face lit up. As they walked side by side, the mood was light. But just as they passed by a small park, Makoto suddenly veered off and jogged toward the swings.
Yukio blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Let's sit for a bit," Makoto called back.
"I thought we were heading to your house to study."
"We will. Just... maybe later."
Yukio sighed, resigned. "Seriously," he muttered, walking over and taking the swing next to Makoto.
A quiet breeze rustled the leaves around them.
"It's peaceful," Makoto said, his voice soft.
"... Yeah." Yukio nodded.
"I wish it could always be like this," Makoto murmured with a gentle smile. "Just the two of us, like this."
Yukio glanced at him, then snorted. "I'd rather be doing something useful than sitting around and failing."
"Hey! I didn't mean it like that," Makoto protested. "You really should learn to relax, you know. Don't you get tired of studying all the time?"
Yukio replied calmly, "Not really. Studying's the only thing I'm actually good at."
The conversation became quiet for a second.
Then, Makoto spoke again, breaking the silence. "That's not true."
Yukio looked at him, a bit surprised.
Makoto smiled. "Unlike me, you can cook. And you're good at encouraging people. You might not notice it, but you've helped more people than you think... Like Asano and Yutaka."
"Those two always get a low score. But you helped them to start focusing on their study."
Yukio's eyes widened slightly. Embarrassment flickered across his face.
"And besides, you're the reason I started taking school seriously," Makoto continued. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be in the basketball team right now. You told me to follow what I want... and I did."
Yukio looked away. "B-But that's because you put in the effort. It wasn't all because of me."
"Still." Makoto reached out and held Yukio by the shoulder, gently turning him until their eyes met. "Stop thinking you're not good enough. You're you, Yukio—and that's more than enough. I know you'll get into a great university and succeed. I believe in you."
He smiled. "You're more amazing than you think you are. And I'm really grateful it was you who inspired me to be who I am now. So... thank you, Yukio."
Yukio stared, stunned. Those weren't words he ever expected from Makoto—but they felt real. Honest. Like they came straight from the heart.
A warm, genuine smile slowly formed on Yukio's lips. "I see... You're right."
His expression softened, his smile reaching all the way to his eyes. For once, the wall he always kept up had gently fallen.
Makoto blinked, caught off guard. His cheeks turned a soft pink. He hadn't expected Yukio to smile like that—not so openly, not so beautifully.
It made his heart skip a beat.
A soft breeze drifted through the quiet playground, rustling the leaves above them. The metal chains of the swings clicked softly, swaying with the wind. For a brief moment, everything around them stilled—like the world decided to give them this quiet bubble.
Makoto looked down at his shoes, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.
"You should smile like that more often," he said quietly.
Just as the air between them began to still in that tender warmth—a voice came.
"Makoto!"
The moment shattered like glass.
Makoto turned his head, eyes widening slightly. "Ah... you...!"
Yukio leaned forward on the swing, his brows drawing together. The sight of that familiar figure approaching—the person from their present—was like a cold breeze down his spine. The genuine smile he wore moments ago began to falter, trembling ever so slightly at the edges.
Makoto stood up from the swing, looking torn between surprise and confusion.
Yukio, still sitting, silently stared at the scene. The wind picked up slightly. The creak of the swing chains sounded louder now, hollow.
The dream, like smoke, bagen to blur.
A soft golden light filled the room, streaking in through the half-closed curtains. He lay there unmoving while his heart beating just a little too fast for it to be a normal wake-up.
His mind lingered on it—that dream.
He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His body felt warm, but not comforted. More like... stirred.
"So... it was a dream," he mumbled.
His voice was quiet and dry. Like he was talking more to the feeling in his chest than to himself.
It had been so long since he'd dreamed of that version of Makoto. Their memories back in middle school.
A few minutes later, Yukio was in the student council room, quietly prepping some documents for the upcoming meeting. The room was quiet except for the occasional rustling of papers. Sunlight filtered softly through the tall windows, giving the room a serene glow.
Then, the door suddenly slid open.
"Yugen? You here?" A familiar voice called from the doorway.
Yukio paused, looking up from the papers in his hand.
Renjiro stood just outside, poking his head in with curious eyes. There was a strange sense of déjà vu—just like before Renjiro had barged in uninvited.
But this time, the air around him felt more hesitant than rushed.
Renjiro scanned the room and spotted him. "Oh! Hi, Yukio!"
Yukio flinched subtly. That was the first time someone aside from the few people he was close to had called him by his fist name so casually. It caught him off guard.
Renjiro stepped inside with his usual carefree energy, though something about his posture seemed a little unsure. "Sorry, did I come at a bad time?" He asked with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.
Yukio shook his head lightly. "Not really. I'm just sorting some files."
Renjiro nodded, rocking back slightly on his heels. "I was actually looking for Yugen... but I can see he's not here."
[??]
There was a pause. He seemed to hesitate, his eyes darting toward the side before finally speaking again.
"Actually... I was wondering if Yugen could help me with my studies."
Yukio tilted his head slightly. "You're still having trouble with your grade?"
Renjiro sighed in defeat. "Yeah. But he kept saying he can't. Always says he's busy. So I'm stuck... and Nakamura-sensei keeps scolding me nonstop until my ear bleeds!"
He exhaled more deeply this time and slumped dramatically onto the nearby table, arms sprawled as if all strength jad left him.
Yukio stood there silently, not saying a word.
The silence stretched for a few seconds until Renjiro suddenly perked up, his head lifting with a spark in bis eyes. "Ah!"
Yukio jolted slightly at the sudden outburst.
"That's it!" Renjiro exclaimed.
"... It?" Yukio blinked in confusion.
Renjiro turned to him with renewed energy, stepping closer with both fists clenched in excitement near his chest.
"How about you tutor me instead?"
"Huh?" Yukio stared at him, caught off guard by the sudden request.
"I heard you're at the top of your class!" Renjiro said brightly.
"Yeah, but—" Yukio started, uncertain.
"Pleaseeee~!" Renjiro leaned in, dragging the word out with exaggerated desperation, giving him big, pleading eyes.
Yukio looked visibly conflicted. A mix of hesitation and disbelief flickered across his face.
Yet despite himself—and perhaps because of Renjiro's relentless insistence, he eventually sighed in surrender.
"... Fine."
"Yesss!" Renjiro pumped a fist in victory.
Yukio let out a quiet sigh again, half-exasperated, half-amused.
Their first tutoring session had just begun, and Yukio was already learning a lot about Renjiro—not just about his struggles with math, but the kind of person he really was beneath all that confident charm.
The session took place outside, in the garden behind the school building. A classic looking pavilion stood nestled under the afternoon light, surrounded by a border of blooming hydrangeas and camellias.
The calm breeze swayed the nearby branches, carrying a fresh scent of nature. It was the perfect setting—quiet, private, and surprisingly peaceful.
Across the table, Renjiro was hunched slightly over his notebook, pencil in hand, eyes narrowed in fierce concentration as he scribbled down an answer. Yukio sat across from him, watching in quiet amusement.
For someone who clamied math was his worst subject, Renjiro wasn't hopeless.
Yukio had only explained the formula once, but Renjiro was already applying it with a surprising level of comprehension. It made Yukio wonder if his struggle was more about confidence than ability.
"You're actually fast at picking things up," Yukio said casually, leaning back against his chair. "I don't think you'd have this much trouble if you just reviewed the basics more often."
Renjiro huffed. "Yeah, well, that's what I've been trying to do. But I guess having someone explain it more clearly—makes it easier."
Ten times easier, actually.
Yukio gave a faint nod. He glances at the pavilions entrance, the sunlight hitting the tiled floor in slants.
"Still, you could've waited for the President. I'm sure he's just out running some errand. He might've agreed to help you if you asked again."
Renjiro didn't look up from his paper. "Yeah, no," he muttered. "Even if he did come back, he'd just give me another excuse. 'Too busy.' Or worse—he'd throw me a textbook and tell me to figure it out myself."
Sorry, Yugen.
Yukio raised a brow. "But... aren't you two close? I thought you guys helped each other all the time."
Renjiro paused his writing. His grip on the pencil loosened slightly. "Not really," he said, tone a bit quieter.
"There are times when he keep things from me... doesn't ask for help, even I'm when I know he needs it."
Perhaps, that's why he make up excuses when Renjiro ask him for help. Especially when it comes to studies.
Yukio fell silent. He sensed there are more behind Renjiro's words than just tutoring.
"... Oh."
Then Renjiro looked up, locking eyes with him. There was something thoughtful in his gaze now.
"What about you, Yukio?"
"Huh?" Yukio blinked, puzzled by the sudden shift.
"Do you have someone you can go to when you need help?" Renjiro asked, tilting his head. "Like a childhood friend? Or... just someone close?"
The question lingered for a moment. Yukio didn't answer right away. He glanced down at the table, his fingers lightly grazing the edge of his notebook.
"I guess... I did. Back then."
Renjiro's brows lifted in curiosity. "Really?"
"Yeah," Yukio said with a faint smile, "but he was more like you, Koizumi-san. Energetic and impulsive."
"Talked more than he listened. I usually ended up helping him, not the other way around."
There was a warm glint in Yukio's eyes, tinged with just a hint of wistfulness.
"Oh?" Renjiro smirked and leaned forward, arms now resting on the table. "So you do have a childhood friend. That's interesting."
His grin widened playfully. "Do they go to this school, too?"
Yukio paused again, his lips curving slightly but saying nothing. His gaze drifted to the notebook between them.
"... Shouldn't you be focusing on this?" He said, pointing at the half-solved math problem.
Renjiro groaned dramatically. "What? C'mon, it's more fun if we're talking."
"No," Yukio answered flatly, but not unkindly. "It's distracting."
Renjiro chuckled, tilting his head. "Wow. You're low-key strict, huh, Yukio?"
Yukio blinked, then sighed. "Low-key?"
"Yeah..." Renjiro smiled, settling back into his seat. "But I think it's suits you."
Yukio looked away. His mouth twitched slightly upward. He wasn't sure whether that was insult or a compliment.
He also said the same thing to me back then...
As the wind gently rustled the leaves, the two of them returned to their study—but something had shifted. The space between them felt just a little smaller, the silence a little more comfortable.
For the next few days, Yukio and Renjiro continued meeting regularly at the same time and place—the quiet pavilion in the garden. It became an unspoken routine, a small world carved out from their otherwise chaotic school lives.
And surprisingly, Renjiro was improving.
Little by little, the numbers that once mocked him began to make sense. The formulas weren't as scary anymore. Today, after solving a math equation correctly on the first try, he grinned from ear to ear and proudly held up his notebook like it was a trophy.
"Finally! I got it right this time!" He exclaimed, laughter in his voice, his smile wide with genuine joy. "No mistakes! Check this out."
Yukio offered a soft chuckle and clapped lightly. "Good job," he said, smiling.
It was just a basic equation using addition and multiplication... but after all his errors and retries, I guess this small win means a lot to him, Yukio thought, amused.
Renjiro dropped back into his chair with renewed confidence. "Okay! I'm ready for another one. Bring it on!"
"You seem oddly excited this time, Koizumi-san," Yukio said, raising a brow as he prepared the next problem.
"Of course I am!" Renjiro beamed, tilting his head with almost theatrical pride. "I'm finally getting it!"
Yukio smiled a bit, entertained by his energy. "Alright, then. Let's try something harder."
"Hell yeah! Go for it!" Renjiro pumped his fist and immediately leaned forward, ready to tackle whatever Yukio gave him.
Yukio handed over the new problem and watched silently as Renjiro focused. It was oddly satisfying—watching someone so earnest, trying so hard. His messy scribbles gradually turned into a process. He was learning.
But just as the quiet moment settled in, a voice echoed from outside the pavilion.
"... Yukio?"
Yukio flinched. That voice.
He turned sharply. Standing a few steps away was none other than Makoto Yano, walking slowly toward them, a look of quiet confusion in his eyes.
"It really was you," Makoto said, glancing between Yukio and Renjiro. "What are you doing here?"
".... Makoto," Yukio murmured, barely audible.
Renjiro, still bent over his notebook, looked up at the sound of the unfamiliar voice. When his eyes landed on Makoto, recognition sparked immediately.
"Ah! Wait, aren't you—!"
"Hm?"
"Yano! From Class A-4, right?" Renjiro stood and pointed excitedly.
Makoto tilted his head, surprised. "Uh... yes?"
"I saw the game! You were amazing out there. Seriously—killing it!" Renjiro said, stepping closer, completely abandoning his math paper.
Makoto blushed a little, scratching his cheek. "Thanks..."
"I mean, you totally beat Yugen's ass. There was no way that guy could keep up with a real athlete like you."
Makoto blinked, a bit flustered. "Oh... You mean President Kaito? I don't think he was that bad."
"Nah, he was. You don't have to sugarcoat it," Renjiro chuckled.
Makoto smiled politely but looked past Renjiro toward Yukio. "So... what are you guys doing here?"
Renjiro shrugged. "Oh, Yukio's tutoring me in math. I've been failing, so I practically begged him to help me out."
Makoto's smile faded ever so slightly.
"I... see."
His eyes locked with Yukio's, but Yukio quickly looked away, turning his gaze to the open book in front of him as if Makoto wasn't even there.
Makoto hesitated. His shoulders lowered. He understood what Yukio's avoidance meant.
"... Sorry for disturbing you two," Makoto said with a quiet smile. "I'll get going."
Renjiro blinked. "Eh? Already?"
But Makoto was already turning around, his footsteps soft against the stone path as he walked away.
An awkward silence followed.
Yukio flipped a page in the notebook, as though nothing happened. "We should continue," he said, his tone calm but noticeably flatter.
Renjiro slowly sat back down, but his attention was elsewhere. He glanced in the direction Makoto had gone, then looked at Yukio.
Yukio avoided him. That wasn't nothing, he thought.
He didn't ask, of course. He wasn't the type to intrude on someone's emotional privacy. But he wasn't blind either.
Still, when you're surrounded by complicated feelings, it's hard not to get involved.
And Renjiro was no ordinary bystander.
He smirked quietly to himself as he picked up his pencil again. Matchmaking is practically a gift of mine, anyway. Cupid Koizumi strike again.
Yeah, yeah... maybe I'm delusional, hemused, grinning to himself. But hey, if I can help a guy get with his crush, why not?
He scribbled something random on the paper.
Yukio blinked, glancing down at what Renjiro wrote. "... That's not even related to the formula I explained."
Renjiro laughed awkwardly. "Ahaha... right. Sorry. Got a little... distracted."
The next day, Renjiro found himself doing something he didn't even plan—following Yukio.
He didn't realize it at first. One moment he was walking to class, and the next, he was ducking behind a pillar near the student council room, eyes darting after the quiet boy like some overexcited cat on a mission.
Not that I planned to do this... he reasoned.
I mean, it's not really matchmaking if I don't even have a match yet, right?
But something about Yukio's reaction to Makoto yesterday kept bothering him. That look in his eyes—like he wanted to say something but didn't. Like he wanted to run and stay at the same time.
It didn't sit well with Renjiro.
Still, despite his efforts to tail Yukio as subtly as possible, there was nothing new.
Yukio only went to three places all day: the student council room, his classroom, and the dorms.
Not even a single hint of interaction with Makoto.
Unlike Sato, who he once caught suspiciously following Ken's every movement, like hiding in the bushes to spy from a low budget drama, Yukio was settled.
Too settled. As if nothing was happening at all or sometimes treating Makoto like he didn't exist.
It was like the two had never been connected in the first place.
But Renjiro knew better.
Thanks to his strong source—a.k.a. Yugen—he had dug up some real background info.
According to Yugen, Makoto and Yukio used to be super close. Back in the middle school, they were basically glued at the hip—sitting together, walking together, always eating lunch side by side. You couldn't spot one without the other.
They were inseparable.
But one day, that changed.
Makoto started hanging out with other people, joining the basketball team, and Yukio... he just quietly drifted into the background and became alone.
"Maybe they fought or something," Yugen had said casually, brushing it off. "You know how guys are. Things wet weird, and no one wants to talk about it."
But Renjiro didn't believe that. Not for a second.
It wasn't a fight. Something deeper was buried there. And Renjiro was determined to dig it up.
So, there he was again, wandering the library, eyes darting from aisle to aisle, scanning for a familiar figure.
He spends time here on Thursdays, Renjiro reminded himself. He might be—
"Koizumi?"
Renjiro nearly jumped out of his skin.
He turned slowly, a stiff smile pasted on his face as he met unimpressed stare of none other than Yukio himself.
"H-Hey there, Yukio!" Renjiro laughed awkwardly, hands raised as if caught in the act. Which... he was.
Yukio gave him a flat look. "What are you doing here?"
Renjiro rubbed the back of his neck.
"W-Whaaat? Me? I just... love the library. You know, books and... uh... silence.
Yukio squinted at him, clearly unconvinced.
Then his eyes sharpened. "Wait... have you been following me, Koizumi-san?"
Renjiro gasped—dramatically, of course.
"What?! No! Absolutely not! That's—pfft—ridiculous!" He waved his hands wildly, his eyes betraying him by shifting to the side.
"I was just, uh, here to read books!"
Yukio exhaled softly, clearly not buying it. "If you have a question about our study sessions, I can answer it for you."
"Eh?!" Renjiro perked up. "No, it's not about that!"
Yukio turned fully toward him, arms loosely crossed. "Then... what is it?"
Renjiro paused.
He couldn't just blurt out: "I was following you to confirm if you're still in love with Makoto and maybe planning to reconnect you both because I think you're meant to be!"
Nope. He'd sound like a lunatic. Or worse—a creepy stalker with delusions of matchmaking grandeur.
His mouth opened, but only incoherent sounds came out.
"I—um—well, you see—I mean..."
His arms gestured vaguely, like he was conducting an invisible orchestra of excuses.
Yukio blinked, clearly confused. "... Are you okay?"
Renjiro's hands dropped. "Yeah," he muttered, defeated.
There was an awkward pause between them.
Renjiro looked away and scratched his cheek. "I guess I just... wanted to check on you."
"Check on me?" Yukio tilted his head slightly.
"You just... looked kinda down yesterday. After Makoto left."
Yukio's expression subtly shifted—but only for a split second. It was a flicker of something soft, something regretful, before his usual calm demeanor took over again.
"I wasn't," he said simply.
Renjiro didn't press further. He could see that wall going up in real time.
"... Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, you know..." Renjiro offered with a sheepish grin. "I'm great at keeping secrets. And even better at solving love puzzles."
Yukio raised an eyebrow. "Love puzzles?"
"Yup!" Renjiro winked. "I'm basically Cupid in sneakers."
Yukio didn't laugh, but he smiled. Just a little. "I'll keep that in mind."
Meanwhile, Makoto walked past the hallway, his footsteps echoing faintly as he clutched the small folded paper in his hand.
He was sent by Sasaki-sensei to pass along a message: several students had failed to return the report book. The teacher wanted Yukio to retrieve a spare report book from the west wing archives.
And so, here Makoto was, standing in front of the student council room, staring at the door like it might bite him if he knocked
He raised his hand to knock but hesitated.
A part of him—the part that still clung to the past—wondered if Yukio would even want to see him.
He must still be mad at Mr because of that day, Makoto thought, exhaling deeply. I knew it. I never even got explain...
Just as he took a reluctant step back to leave, the door suddenly slid open.
"—Oh."
Standing behind it was none other than Yugen Kaito, the student council president.
The two boys blinked at each other in mutual surprise.
Makoto straightened and bowed slightly. "Hello, President Kaito."
Yugen smiled coolly, though his eyes held a flicker of curiosity.
"Yano, right? Please—drop the formalities. We're the same age, aren't we?"
"Ah, yes... but still."
"It's fine. I want you to feel comfortable when talking to me, Yano," Yugen said as he stepped aside, motioning for Makoto to come in."
Makoto nodded. "Alright."
Yugen glanced at the note in Makoto's hand.
"Did you need something?"
Makoto explained the reason for his visit, relaying Sasaki-sensei's message.
"I see..." Yugen murmured, tapping a finger to his chin. "So it's about the report book. Hm. I'll try to see what I can do instead."
"Oh—alright. That's fine, I guess."
"... I just don't want to overwork Yukio," Yugen added. "He's got too much on his and already."
Makoto nodded, then hesitated before saying, "Right... he's also tutoring Koizumi from Class C-2, isn't he?"
Yugen's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
Makoto blinked. "You didn't know?"
Yugen exhaled through his nose with a half-laugh, half-sigh. "That little—"
Makoto grinned. "I'm guessing he's... difficult to handle?"
"He is—hm?" Yugen gave him a skeptical look.
Makoto tilted his head knowingly. "Oh, I just figured you and him knew each other well."
Yugen blinked, then softened. "Yeah... we do."
He leaned against the doorframe and smirked a little. "We've been childhood friends since kindergarten. Renjiro's always been like that—even in elementary."
If someone he usually relies on isn't around, Renjiro just finds the next victim.
Makoto chuckled quietly.
"He only dares to bother others when I'm not available. Seriously, he hasn't changed," Yugen added with a fond shake of his head.
Makoto smiled, but that smile slowly faded as the familiar ache crept back in—the ache of something lost.
It reminded him too much of himself and Yukio. The way they used to be. The closeness.
And then—how it all disappeared.
Yeah... I used to always ask Yukio for help too, he thought. Even when I knew he was busy.
And when he wasn't available, he'd bother someone else instead. Did he find that annoying too?
Yugen noticed the faraway look in Makoto's eyes.
He stepped forward gently. "Wanna grab lunch?" I was heading to the cafeteria anyways."
Makoto blinked, pulled from his thoughts. "Ah... sure."
They sat across from each other at a quieter corne, trays between them. Yugen casually stirred hisbiced tea before speaking again.
"So," he began, with a not-so-sublte glint in his eyes, "got any childhood friends?"
Makoto froze with a spoonful of rice halfway to his mouth.
He glanced at Yugen, who was clearly fishing—but not in a hostile way.
Makoto put his chopsticks down and sighed. "Yeah... I do."
Yugen didn't interrupt. He waited.
"We grew up together. Knew each other since we were kids."
"But," Makoto paused, "I messed it up."
Yugen tilted his head.
Makoto hesitated but continued anyway.
He slowly began to unfold the story.
Back in middle school, he remembered that Yukio always wanted to visit the museum he liked very much. But only if Makoto would join him to which the boy agreed.
He smiled faintly at the memory. "He was always quiet, but his face would light up whenever we talked about it."
Yugen listened quietly.
But then, Makoto broke his promise and ditched Yukio. When he ran back, Yukio was already not interested in letting him explain, disappointed.
Ever since then, something changed after that and Makoto couldn't tell what exactly. And it only got worse when rumors about them spread.
Because of their closeness, people led to think of that as more than just friends.
This confused Makoto. He wasn't sure of his feelings even though he was certain it was nothing but platonic.
At the heat of moment and suspicions, he opened his mouth, voice shaking. "I'm not into guys! How could I have feelings for my friend like that?!"
Yugen's expression didn't change—but his fingers paused mid-stir.
While Makoto clenched his fists under the table. His voice wavered a little. "I wish I never said anything. I regret it."
Makoto didn't mean it but when he turned to look at Yukio—the expression on his face was something that Makoto had never seen before. Pain.
He looked up at Yugen now, his eyes clouded with regret. "I've always wanted to apologize to him. But every time, he slip away before i could even say anything."
Silence settled between them.
Yugen finally said, voice calm but firm: "You should tell him."
Makoto looked away. "But I doubt he'll listen. He's been avoiding me ever since."
"Then, do you want this kind of thing between you two to continue?"
Makoto stared down at his half-finished food.
No matter how much time passed, Yukio's expression that day still haunted him.
And part of him... still wanted to see Yukio smile again.