The next morning, the classroom felt like a shaken soda can.
Everyone was buzzing not about math or history but about the field trip.
"Do you think there'll be bears?"
"Can I bring my curling iron?"
"I'm not sharing a tent with anyone who snores!"
Even the quiet kids were whispering. And over all the chatter, one sound was suspiciously missing:
Shinbou's voice.
Of course.
He sat beside me, silent as ever, eyes focused on a page he wasn't reading.
Was he excited? Nervous? Secretly planning to fake a cold and stay home?
I had no clue.
Hinata, on the other hand, was glowing.
"Okay," she said, "I'm going to casually learn everything about photography and impress Itsuki by being extremely helpful but also adorable."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It will be worth it."
She opened her bento with a dramatic sigh. "Also, we have to submit the final partner request forms today. No changes after lunch."
My stomach flipped.
The form.
Right.
The one I had erased Shinbou's name from yesterday.
I still hadn't written a second choice.
---
After lunch, the teacher called everyone up group by group.
I watched as classmates grinned at their best friends and groaned at their rivals. Some were excited. Some were clearly already regretting signing up.
Hinata marched up confidently.
When she returned, she slid into her seat and whispered, "I wrote your name. Obviously."
I smiled. "Thanks."
"You write mine?"
"Of course."
She nodded. "Did you write… you know."
My eyes flicked toward Shinbou. Still silent. Still untouchable.
"I… couldn't."
Hinata didn't press. Just gave me a pat on the back and whispered, "Whatever happens, you're not going through this trip alone."
---
Fifteen minutes later, the teacher made the announcement.
"We've finalized the tent pairings and activity groups! Please check the board."
Everyone rushed forward.
I stayed frozen in my chair.
Hinata dragged me by the sleeve. "Come on! I'll read yours if you're too scared."
We reached the list.
Hinata gasped dramatically.
"What?" I asked, heart pounding.
She turned slowly toward me, eyes wide. "You're not going to believe this."
"What?"
"You got assigned to Group A."
"Okay…?"
"WITH. SHINBOU. RYUSEI."
My soul left my body.
"And not just that…" she added, trying not to burst out laughing. "He's your cleaning partner, cooking assistant, hike buddy, and guess what?"
"No."
"YES. Your tentmate."
My mouth dropped open.
"No way! They're separating tents by gender!"
"Mixed-gender activity tents," she corrected. "Same big tent. Boys on one side, girls on the other. You'll be sleeping ten feet away from your mysterious emotionally-unavailable maybe-childhood-crush with memory issues!"
I stared at the list, horror and confusion battling in my chest.
"I didn't even put his name," I whispered.
"Maybe he put yours," Hinata said with a smirk.
At that moment, Shinbou walked past us.
I expected him to avoid eye contact.
Instead… he paused.
Just a moment.
Our eyes met.
Something unreadable flickered behind his.
And then, in his usual calm tone, he said, "Looks like we're in the same group."
I blinked. "Y-yeah."
He gave a tiny nod. "Don't fall behind."
Then walked off like nothing happened.
Hinata leaned in. "Did you hear that?! That was practically a love confession."
I slapped her arm. "HINATA."
We spent the rest of the day getting the field trip schedule, packing guidelines, and assigned camp roles.
I stared at my checklist, but all I could think about was how my name ended up next to his.
And how, for the first time…
He didn't act like I was invisible.