The afternoon sunlight slanted across the windows, casting golden lines across the floor of the empty art room. Aira was the only one inside, standing in front of a blank canvas. Her fingers twitched around a pencil as if they were waiting for permission from her heart to begin drawing. Yet, all she could think about was the boy who had—somehow, impossibly—managed to sketch himself into her mind.
Rei Kazama.
His name echoed like a forbidden melody. Cold. Distant. Mysterious. And yet, she remembered the way he looked at her yesterday—just for a second—like he saw something in her that even she didn't see in herself.
She pressed the pencil to the canvas, drawing a shaky line.
"Aira?"
She turned, startled. It was him. Rei. Standing awkwardly at the door, hair slightly messy from the wind, eyes unreadable as always.
"I… forgot my notebook," he muttered, walking toward the back shelf.
"Right," Aira replied, heart thumping like a drumroll at a talent show.
He moved quietly, efficiently, but before he left, he glanced at her canvas.
"Drawing again?" he asked, voice low.
"Trying to," she replied, brushing her bangs behind her ear nervously. "But it's hard to focus. My mind keeps wandering."
"To where?"
She froze. Then, before she could stop herself, she smiled playfully. "To someone who keeps stealing my attention without permission."
His eyebrow twitched. "Sounds annoying."
"It is," she said, tilting her head. "But maybe I don't want him to stop."
Silence.
Rei looked at her, his expression unreadable. But then… something shifted. Something subtle. The faintest twitch at the corner of his lips.
"I don't remember asking for permission either," he replied, and walked away, leaving behind nothing but his scent—and the burning red of Aira's cheeks.
She turned back to her canvas, heart doing cartwheels.
Suddenly, it was easy to draw.
Because now she remembered the way his eyes softened—not when he looked at her—but the second after, when he thought she wasn't looking.
Maybe love really did begin in stolen glances… and hearts borrowed when no one was watching. Siap bro. Lanjutin langsung dari Chapter 32: Stolen Glance, Borrowed Heart ya, vibes-nya tetap romcom panjang, awkward, dan makin intens antara Rei Kazama × Aira Vellione.
: Aira's Experiment in Love
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chaos of lunch break—trays clattering, students chatting in every corner, and the occasional shout from the back tables where the baseball club dominated the space like warlords.
But Rei Kazama wasn't paying attention to any of that.
He was staring at the girl sitting across from him—Aira Vellione, spooning her curry rice with terrifying focus, as if it were part of some top-secret operation.
Her brows were slightly furrowed. She didn't talk. She didn't glance up. She was completely... still.
"...Why do I feel like I'm about to get interrogated," Rei mumbled under his breath.
Aira finally looked up, eyes narrowing.
"I'm conducting an experiment," she said, completely serious.
Rei blinked. "On... the curry?"
"No. On you."
"...What."
She dropped her spoon. "I'm testing something. Hypothesis: If I stare at you long enough while eating something spicy, you'll get flustered and spill your water."
"What kind of twisted logic is that?!"
Aira shrugged, a smug little grin spreading on her lips. "Psychological warfare, Rei. This is how I win the girlfriend game."
"I didn't know there was a girlfriend game."
"There is now."
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking onto his. Rei tried—tried—to stay composed, but her sudden burst of boldness sent a ripple through his chest. Aira's eyes sparkled like she was having way too much fun. Her cheeks were still dusted pink from the heat of the curry. Or maybe from something else.
Rei gulped. "Okay, fine. What if I start the counter-experiment?"
"Hah?"
"Hypothesis: If I lean just a little closer and say something cheesy, you'll break first."
"Try me," she said, challenging.
Rei leaned in, just enough for their shoulders to almost touch. His voice dropped a little, smooth but hesitant.
"You're hotter than the curry."
Aira froze.
Then choked.
"Ack—! W-What the heck was that?!" She grabbed her water and nearly spilled it as predicted, coughing while laughing.
"Victory," Rei whispered, sipping his tea like a smug villain.
Aira glared at him between coughs, her face red now for multiple reasons. "I underestimated you... You've upgraded your charm stats."
"Correction: I unlocked them. They were hidden in a secret menu."
They both laughed now, loud enough to turn heads. And for a brief moment, the world around them blurred into background noise. It felt easy. Light. Uncomplicated.
But that moment ended when another voice chimed in.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the golden couple of Class 2-A."
They both turned. Standing beside their table was Narumi—a tall girl with sleek black hair, Aira's classmate and self-proclaimed 'observer of lovebirds.'
Narumi smiled innocently. "Mind if I sit?"
"No," Aira said.
"Yes," Rei said.
They looked at each other. Then back at Narumi.
"I'll stand," she said with a grin, arms crossed. "I just wanted to witness the chemistry. You guys are like a live drama."
Rei sighed. "Please don't narrate."
Narumi ignored him. "Oh, by the way, Aira—our class needs volunteers for the school festival booth. Wanna team up?"
Before Aira could respond, Narumi added:
"You and Rei. Together. As the couple rep."
"WHAT," they both said in perfect sync.
Narumi smirked. "Think about it. It's the perfect marketing strategy. A love-themed booth, run by an actual couple? Instant popularity."
"But we're not—" Rei started, but stopped.
He glanced at Aira.
She glanced back.
Aira cleared her throat. "I mean... it could be fun...?"
"Are you seriously considering it?!" Rei looked baffled.
Aira giggled. "What? It's not like we're not a couple."
Rei paused. "Wait. That was a double negative. So we are?"
Aira tilted her head. "Aren't we?"
Rei blinked. "...I thought we were... still figuring it out."
Aira smiled softly. "Then maybe this booth will help us experiment more."
Rei blushed. Narumi fist-pumped.
"Okay, it's settled!" she said. "You two, couple booth. Start brainstorming. I expect fireworks. And maybe a kiss cam."
"Kiss what—?!" Rei nearly dropped his tray.
Aira just laughed.
As Narumi walked off, Rei leaned closer again, this time quieter. "Are we really doing this?"
Aira nodded, eyes glinting with mischief. "Love is a science, Rei. And I'm ready to test every theory with you."
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