I was trying to be invisible.
Really. That was the plan. Eat, play games, go home. Repeat. Nothing fancy. Nothing risky.
But apparently, that plan didn't matter anymore.
Nova kept glancing at me, pretending to write in her notebook. Jax laughed too loud. Too often. Whispered something to his friends. All eyes on me, like I'd done something to deserve it.
I didn't move. Didn't look. Didn't care.
Then I felt her again. Kira. Sitting across the hall. Calm. Focused. Observing. Not a glare, not a smile. Just… presence. Heavy, like gravity.
I ignored her. Tried not to. Pretended like I couldn't feel the tug.
A name floated in the hall as kids passed by: Team Arata. A small group, but already making noise about competitions. Even their leader's name—Takumi-senpai—was whispered with respect.
I didn't care.
And yet… I noticed. Not because I wanted to. Not because I cared. But because someone like her was watching me. Someone like Kira.
She smirked slightly when our eyes met. Not a full smile. Just enough to say: "I see you."
I sighed and turned back to my game. My world. My rules.
But the world around me was starting to break the pattern.
And I… I still didn't care.
For now.