Friday afternoon. The final bell rang, and the air in Class 2-B was electric with excitement.
"Everyone!" Riku announced, standing on a chair like some kind of event host. "To celebrate surviving another week, we're having a class hangout! Games, snacks, and chaos — right here after school!"
A cheer rose from the students.
Aoi clapped enthusiastically. "Ooh, games! I'm in!"
Haruto, packing his bag, sighed. "Do I even get a choice?"
Riku grinned. "Nope. You're in too, lover boy."
Haruto groaned. "I told you to stop calling me that."
"Sure, sure," Riku said, clearly not planning to stop. "Alright, everyone! Circle up! Time for… Truth or Dare!"
---
The desks were pushed aside, and the students sat in a big circle on the classroom floor. Snacks, drinks, and laughter filled the room.
A bottle was placed in the center.
"Classic rules," Riku explained. "You spin, and whoever it points to answers a question truthfully… or faces a dare."
The bottle spun — and chaos began.
Laughter erupted as people were dared to sing, confess fake crushes, or do silly dances.
Even the usually serious class rep had to do a chicken impression.
When it was Aoi's turn to spin, Haruto braced himself.
The bottle twirled, slowed… and pointed directly at him.
Aoi's grin widened. "Well, well, Haruto-kun~"
He sighed. "Of course."
"Truth or dare?" she asked sweetly.
He hesitated. "Truth."
She leaned forward, mischief in her eyes. "Okay then… Is there someone you like right now?"
The class exploded.
"OHHH!"
"Good question!"
"Spill it, Haruto!"
Haruto froze, face heating. "That's— That's too direct!"
Aoi tilted her head, pretending to look innocent. "What? It's just a question."
He looked away, trying to hide his blush. "...Pass."
"Hey! You can't pass!" Riku shouted. "That's against the rules!"
"Fine," Haruto muttered. "Then… dare."
Aoi smirked. "Okay, then I dare you…" She paused dramatically. "...to say something nice about the person you like most in this room."
He stared at her. "That's basically the same question."
"Not exactly," she said, grinning. "You can make it sound platonic."
The class leaned in, eagerly waiting.
Haruto sighed, knowing resistance was futile. He took a deep breath and looked straight at Aoi.
"She's… annoying," he began. The class groaned, but he continued. "She's loud, always drags me into trouble, and never lets me have a quiet day."
Aoi's smile faltered for a second.
"But," Haruto said softly, "she also makes school more fun. She doesn't give up, even when things get messy. And somehow, when she's around…"
He trailed off, looking down at the floor, cheeks flushed. "...everything feels a little brighter."
The room went silent.
Aoi blinked, her cheeks pink now too. "Haruto-kun…"
Then Riku broke the tension with a loud whistle. "Well, if that's not a confession, I don't know what is!"
The class burst into laughter and teasing once again. Aoi giggled shyly, trying to hide her face behind her hands.
Haruto sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "I hate this game."
---
Later, as everyone was cleaning up, Aoi approached him by the window. The sunset painted the classroom in warm orange light.
"Hey," she said softly.
He turned to her. "What's up?"
She smiled — a gentle, sincere one this time. "That was really sweet of you."
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It wasn't supposed to be… dramatic or anything."
"I know," she said. "But still… thank you."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the world went quiet.
Then Riku's voice echoed from the hall: "Oi, lovebirds! We're locking up!"
They both jumped back, flustered.
Aoi giggled. "Come on, Haruto-kun. Let's go before he teases us to death."
He nodded, still red. "Yeah… let's."
As they left the classroom together, side by side, the last rays of sunset glowed behind them — warm, soft, and full of something that felt a lot like love beginning to bloom.