The cafeteria buzzed with voices, laughter, and clattering trays — but at one table, everything had gone silent.
Saki sat there alone.
She didn't know what to think, what to say… or what to do.
Her chest felt hollow, her hands weak.
Everything she'd tried to hold together had already shattered.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, warm yet meaningless.
They didn't soothe the ache inside her heart — they only reminded her how helpless she was.
She reached for a napkin from the pile on the table. Her trembling fingers struggled to grasp it.
Wiping her eyes, she took a shaky breath, trying to calm herself down.
But the lump in her throat refused to go away.
The food in front of her had gone cold.
Each bite she'd taken earlier now tasted like ashes.
She couldn't eat anymore. Yet, she also didn't have the strength to leave.
Her mind kept looping the same thought.
What now? What am I supposed to do now?
It felt like everything she'd worked for, every small happiness she had, had slipped away between her fingers.
With a deep breath, she took out her phone, glancing at the screen.
Her hands trembled so much that even reading the time was difficult.
Ten minutes left until the bell rang.
"...Ten minutes," she whispered to herself.
Ten minutes before she'd have to face everyone again.
Hiroki. Yusuke. Miyuki.
All of them — the ones she could no longer face without guilt burning in her chest.
Her reflection on the black screen stared back at her, eyes swollen and empty.
And then, almost instinctively, she whispered the words she'd promised herself the night before.
"Saki… from now on, you'll stand tall. No matter how bad it gets… you'll stand up again."
Her voice trembled, but the words carried a quiet determination.
Slowly, she gathered her tray, her legs weak under her.
Her steps were small, hesitant, each one heavier than the last.
By the time she reached the tray return counter, her knees felt like they could give out.
She left the cafeteria without looking back.
The hallway felt colder than usual.
Her shoes clicked softly against the polished floor, echoing through the emptiness.
The walls were lined with faded club posters — but to Saki, they all blurred into meaningless color.
She walked toward her classroom, her stomach tightening with each step.
When she reached the door, her pulse quickened.
They'll all be there, she thought. And they'll all think I'm the one at fault…
Her hand hovered over the doorknob. For a moment, she wanted to turn back.
But instead, she closed her eyes, took a slow breath, and pushed the door open.
The door creaked quietly.
She braced herself for stares, whispers, maybe even cold glares.
But… nothing came.
No one even looked at her.
Hiroki and Miyuki were chatting quietly by the window.
Yusuke… was talking with Hana — something Saki had never seen before.
They were smiling, their voices low and natural.
The sight made something in her chest ache — but also, strangely, it eased her tension.
She walked to her seat, silent and invisible, and just as she sat down, the bell rang.
The teacher entered moments later, starting the lesson with her usual energy.
Saki tried to listen, tried to focus on the whiteboard, but her thoughts wouldn't stop spinning.
Her heart was still caught in the storm.
Tears welled up again, but she blinked them away quickly.
No more crying. Not here.
And then… she felt it.
A gaze.
She didn't have to look to know whose it was.
Still, she dared to glance sideways — and caught Hiroki looking directly at her.
But it wasn't hatred she saw in his eyes.
It was something else. Confusion. Conflict. A flicker of pain.
A look that seemed to say, I don't know what to think anymore.
When Hiroki noticed she'd caught him staring, he turned away immediately, pretending to focus on the lesson.
Saki's heart twisted.
Why? Why look at me like that?
Was it regret? Or just pity?
She bit her lip, lowering her head.
Maybe he still blamed her. Maybe he hated her for everything that happened.
Minutes passed — and then it happened again.
Another glance. Another quiet, fleeting moment where their eyes met.
This time, Hiroki's eyes looked… wet, as if he was holding something back.
And in that instant, Saki saw it — an unspoken apology.
He looked away again, leaving her stunned and wordless.
Her throat tightened. Her heart raced painfully.
She wanted to say something — anything — but no words came out.
When the bell rang for recess, the sound felt distant.
Saki sat frozen.
Should she leave? Or stay?
It didn't matter. Wherever she went, she was still alone.
Then… footsteps.
Familiar ones.
Hiroki stood up.
Saki's breath caught.
He was walking — straight toward her.
Her hands went cold.
Her thoughts scrambled.
What do I do? What do I say?
Every step he took made her pulse louder.
But then… he just walked past her.
Didn't even look her way.
Her heart dropped.
He stopped at his locker — the one just behind her desk — and opened it.
Saki turned her head away sharply, blinking fast.
Of course. Why would he come to me?
It was stupid to hope otherwise.
Her chest burned — a mix of anger, humiliation, and exhaustion.
She wanted to scream. To cry. To just disappear.
But all she could do was sit there, forcing herself to breathe.
Enough, she thought. Just… enough already.
There was no escape. Not until school ended.
So she rested her head on the desk, closing her eyes, silently praying for time to move faster.
The world around her slowly blurred.
Her exhaustion, both physical and emotional, finally took over.
And before she knew it, she'd fallen asleep.
For the first time that day, she looked peaceful.
Her breathing slowed, her expression soft.
Even her classmates didn't bother waking her — the teacher wasn't there anyway.
The room buzzed softly with distant chatter, but Saki was far away from it all.
For a while, she was free.
Free from the pain, the whispers, the guilt.
Until—
Something nudged her shoulder.
Once. Twice.
She didn't move.
Then again — a little harder.
Saki stirred, groaning softly, eyes half-open.
The light felt too bright. Her mind still foggy.
She rubbed her eyes slowly, trying to see who had woken her up.
And then… her heart skipped a beat.
Hiroki.
He was leaning close, smiling faintly — that same soft, teasing smile she'd once known so well.
Saki froze, completely caught off guard.
"Finally awake?" he whispered, his tone light, almost amused. Then, leaning a bit closer, he murmured,
"You look kinda cute when you're sleepy."
The words hit her like lightning.
Her mind blanked.
Her cheeks burned so suddenly it almost hurt.
Her heart — the one that had felt so heavy all day — now pounded wildly inside her chest.
Did he just… say that?
For a second, she thought she must be dreaming again.
But no dream could feel this vivid, this dangerously real.
Hiroki straightened up, still wearing that gentle smile.
He didn't explain. Didn't tease further.
He just looked at her one last time before walking back to his seat.
Saki stared after him, stunned, her heart racing uncontrollably.
She didn't understand. Why now? Why him? Why that smile?
But as confusion swirled inside her, a single thought surfaced — soft, yet persistent.
The date we never finished…
Her lips parted slightly.
For the first time that day… she smiled.