The classroom was bathed in warm orange as the sun dipped below the windows. Students had mostly gone home, leaving behind a hush of stillness. As usual, Ren stayed seated at his desk, quiet, unnoticed.
That is, until a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Hey, Ren-kun. Going home alone again?"
Ren looked up, mildly startled. Standing in front of him was Airi, her school bag slung casually over one shoulder, a soft smile on her lips.
He turned his gaze away and mumbled, "Yeah. I prefer being alone, I guess."
Airi didn't leave. Instead, she sat down on the desk in front of him, facing him.
"Do you really think that, or are you just trying not to be seen?"
Ren hesitated. His hand froze on the corner of his notebook, and he looked away again.
"Why do you care?" he asked quietly. "Someone like you… talking to someone like me? People are going to talk."
She chuckled softly. "They already are. Everyone's confused about why the popular girl keeps bothering the quiet guy."
Ren frowned slightly. "Exactly. You should stop."
"But I don't want to."
There was a moment of silence between them. The air felt warm, but not uncomfortable. Airi leaned in a little closer, resting her chin on her hand.
"I saw your test paper," she said with a teasing smile.
Ren stiffened. "What about it?"
"You got every question right at first. Then suddenly... three random mistakes? You totally did that on purpose."
Ren looked at her, surprised. No one had ever noticed. No one was ever supposed to.
"I didn't think anyone would catch that," he admitted.
"I did," she said, proud of herself. "And I liked it."
"…You liked that I lied on a test?"
"No," she giggled. "I liked that I could tell you were hiding something. It's like… we share a secret now."
That strange warmth bloomed in Ren's chest again — unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.
"You're weird," he said, almost smiling.
"And you're too good at hiding," she replied. "But not from me."
Airi stood up, brushing off her skirt and slinging her bag over both shoulders this time.
"Wanna walk home together?"
Ren blinked. "But… what if someone sees us?"
"Then they see us."
"They'll talk. Again."
"I don't care. Let them talk."
She reached out her hand to him, her smile daring.
"Unless you're too shy?"
He paused, then reached out and took her hand.
As they stepped out of the classroom, there were still a few students lingering in the hallway. Whispers began immediately.
"Wait, is that… Airi-chan?"
"Who's that guy with her? I've never even noticed him before."
"He's kinda tall. Were they holding hands?"
Ren heard them all. Every word. His shoulders tensed, but Airi's grip didn't loosen.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "Just keep walking."
Her warmth next to him, the way her hair shimmered in the hallway light, and the ease with which she ignored everyone — it stunned him.
"You really don't care what they think, huh?"
"Nope," she said, grinning. "Because I see something they don't."
He turned his face slightly away, hiding a blush.
The two of them walked side by side into the slowly fading light of day. For the first time in a long while, Ren didn't feel like disappearing.
It was the beginning of something he never thought he'd have.
Something bright.
Something real.
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