CHAP 35 - 42

Chapter 35: A Different Game

Hiro was passing by the gym when the rhythmic sound of a basketball bouncing echoed through the empty space. He glanced inside and saw Yuna practicing alone, her movements sharp and focused. She dribbled, stepped back, and took a shot.

Swish.

The ball went in perfectly.

Hiro was about to leave when Yuna suddenly spotted him.

"Perfect! You, come here," she called out.

Hiro blinked. "Me?"

Before he could protest, she tossed him a ball.

"You're my training partner now," she declared.

Hiro sighed. "Do I have a choice?"

"Nope," Yuna smirked.

And just like that, he was dragged into an impromptu training session.


---

A Game of Words and Basketball

For the next few minutes, Hiro was basically Yuna’s assistant—retrieving balls, passing them, and standing still while she dribbled around him.

"This feels like forced labor," he muttered.

"Less complaining, more running," Yuna shot back.

Despite his grumbling, Hiro couldn't help but watch her closely. Every movement was precise, every shot well-calculated. She wasn’t just good—she was passionate.

"You really love basketball, huh?" Hiro asked, catching his breath.

Yuna didn't look at him as she grabbed the ball. "Yeah. It’s the only sport my mom played."

Hiro tilted his head. "A family thing?"

She hesitated. "Something like that."

There was a pause before Hiro chuckled. "You know, to be honest, I thought you were an a-hole when we first met."

Yuna stopped dribbling and raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And now?"

Hiro smirked. "Now I think you're just slightly less of one."

Yuna scoffed. "Wow, such high praise."

She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "I just... don't like boys."

Hiro blinked. "Oh… right."

There was something in her voice. Something heavy.

But instead of pushing, he smirked. "So you like girls?"

Yuna’s face immediately turned red. "No!!"

Hiro laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Hey, just checking."

He glanced at his phone and stretched. "Alright, playboy, I gotta go. I'm meeting Kyoya and Misaki upstairs."

Yuna frowned. "I SAID IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"

Hiro just waved as he left, laughing.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but think—maybe Yuna wasn’t as untouchable as she seemed.

Maybe, just like him, she had walls up.

And maybe, just maybe, breaking them down would be kind of fun.


CHAPTER END


Chapter 36: Sweet Surprises at Renji’s Bakeshop

Kyoya stretched as he walked down the street, his stomach grumbling. It had been a long day, and there was only one place in mind where he could get something good to eat—Renji’s bakeshop.

As he pushed open the door, the familiar aroma of freshly baked bread greeted him, warm and inviting. But what caught his attention even more was the sight behind the counter.

Renji, the usually cool and composed guy, was standing behind the register, while Amelia—wearing the same uniform—was arranging pastries in the display case.

Kyoya blinked. Wait… uniform?

He stepped inside, watching as Renji passed Amelia a tray of bread, their hands briefly touching. They didn’t seem to notice, but Kyoya did. The way Amelia lightly nudged Renji with her elbow when he made a joke. The way Renji smirked but didn’t move away.

They looked like…

Kyoya’s eyes narrowed.

"Oi, are you two dating?"

Renji, who was handing over a bag to a customer, barely glanced up. "Yeah."

Kyoya almost choked. "Huh? That’s it? Just 'yeah'?"

Renji looked at Amelia, who turned red and focused way too hard on fixing the bread display.

Kyoya grinned. This was too good.

"Man, you two are basically husband and wife already." He smirked. "I mean, at this rate, I should start thinking about what I want for a wedding gift—oh, and I wouldn’t mind having a cute little niece either."

Amelia nearly dropped the tray she was holding.

Renji, who was sipping a cup of coffee, coughed and set it down.

Both turned to stare at each other before quickly looking away, their faces tinged with red.

Kyoya burst out laughing. "Ohhh, that reaction! Priceless! You guys are really cute together, you know that?"

Amelia muttered, "Shut up, idiot," while Renji simply sighed.

After Kyoya finished his meal, he leaned back in his chair, watching the two bicker over something small—probably Amelia nagging Renji about wiping the counter properly.

With a smug grin, he stood up and stretched. "Alright, lovebirds, I’ll get out of your way." He glanced at Renji and smirked. "But seriously, you two need to get a room. The sweetness is getting unbearable."

Amelia threw a towel at his head, and Renji just shook his head.

Laughing, Kyoya made his way out, thinking that this day had turned out far more entertaining than he expected.

CHAPTER END

Chapter 37: The Space Between Us

The night was calm as Kyoya and Misaki made their way home together. The sky was vast and dotted with stars, the air carrying the gentle chill of the evening. They walked side by side in a comfortable silence, the sounds of their surroundings filling the gaps between their words.

As they passed by a small park, Kyoya suddenly stopped and pointed toward the playground.

"Hey, want to go on the seesaw?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

Misaki raised an eyebrow. "A seesaw? What are we, kids?"

Kyoya chuckled. "Come on, it’ll be fun."

With a sigh, she gave in. "Fine."

Kyoya assisted Misaki onto the seesaw, making sure she was stable before taking his seat on the opposite side. Gently, he pushed off, causing Misaki to rise slightly into the air before coming back down.

"Wow, I forgot how fun this was," Kyoya said, laughing.

"Yeah, until someone jumps off suddenly and you hit the ground hard," Misaki teased.

Kyoya smirked. "You sound like you're speaking from experience."

Misaki sighed dramatically. "When I was little, I played on a seesaw with my cousin. She promised she wouldn’t let go… but she did. My tailbone still remembers the betrayal."

Kyoya burst out laughing. "Damn, that’s rough. But you know what? That reminds me of the time I got my head stuck in between the metal bars of a slide."

Misaki blinked. "Wait, what?"

Kyoya nodded. "Yup. Thought it’d be fun to stick my head in there. Turns out, getting it out wasn’t as easy. They had to call a teacher, and I was stuck for a whole fifteen minutes while all the other kids pointed and laughed."

Misaki covered her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter, but failed. She laughed so hard she had to hold onto the seesaw to keep her balance. "Oh my god, that’s so stupid!"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want," Kyoya grumbled, but he was grinning.

For a moment, it felt like they had gone back to being kids, free from worries and just enjoying the moment.

Then, Kyoya’s expression shifted as he leaned back slightly, gazing up at the night sky.

"You know, I want to sleep in a bed of flowers someday," he said out of nowhere.

Misaki tilted her head. "Why?"

Kyoya shrugged. "No reason. It just seems… peaceful."

Misaki studied him for a moment. There was something melancholic about the way he said it, as if he were thinking about something far away.

"You’re weird," she said, shaking her head. "But if that’s your dream, I hope you get to do it."

Kyoya chuckled. "What about you? What do you want?"

Misaki hesitated for a moment before answering. "I want to walk."

Kyoya’s playful expression faltered. His smile didn’t disappear completely, but there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

"Why do you look so sad?" Misaki teased. "Maybe if I can walk, I’ll chase after you."

Kyoya blinked, caught off guard by her words. Then, he laughed softly and reached over, gently patting her head.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Their eyes met.

The air shifted.

Neither of them moved, but at the same time, they both leaned in slightly. Their faces grew closer, so close that Misaki could see the way Kyoya’s breath hitched, and Kyoya could see the slight parting of Misaki’s lips.

Their lips were almost touching.

But then, as if suddenly realizing what they were doing, they both pulled back, their faces flushing red.

Misaki cleared her throat. "We should, um, go home."

Kyoya nodded quickly. "Yeah. Let’s go."

The walk home was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Just… different.


---

Later that night, Kyoya lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. The moment at the playground replayed in his mind, over and over.

"Damn it," he muttered, covering his face with his pillow. But no matter how hard he tried to push it away, his thoughts kept circling back to Misaki. The way she looked at him, the way she joked, the way her lips had been so close to his.

His face burned.

He groaned and smacked his pillow against his head. "What the hell is wrong with me?"


---

Meanwhile, in her own room, Misaki was doing the exact same thing.

Buried under her blankets, she squeezed her pillow tightly, her face flushed.

"Stupid," she whispered to herself. "Why did I almost…?"

Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. Kyoya’s face, his expression, the way his voice sounded when he spoke to her—it was all stuck in her mind.

She sighed, rolling over and burying her face into the pillow.

"I hate this."

But even as she said that, a small, hidden smile formed on her lips.

CHAPTER END

Chapter 38: The Gym Cleanup Battle

Hiro didn’t know how he ended up here, holding a mop like it was a sword, but one thing was certain—he had been tricked.

"Hey, why am I cleaning the gym again?" he asked, glaring at Yuna, who was casually stacking basketballs in the storage room.

"Because you’re here," she replied, not even looking at him.

"That’s not a valid reason!"

Yuna shrugged. "Too bad."

Hiro sighed dramatically but reluctantly started mopping the floor. The basketball team had finished practice, leaving behind sweat stains, dirt, and a few stray pieces of tape.

"Man, this floor is disgusting," Hiro grumbled, scrubbing harder.

Yuna glanced at him. "Maybe if you actually put effort into cleaning, it wouldn't be so hard."

Hiro scoffed. "I’m sorry, do I look like a janitor?"

Yuna smirked. "No, but you do look like someone who’s bad at mopping."

Hiro rolled his eyes. "You’re just mad because I look good doing it."

"Pfft—please," Yuna snorted.

A mischievous idea popped into Hiro’s head. He smirked and, without warning, flicked the wet mop toward Yuna, splashing water on her shoes.

"Oi!" she snapped, glaring at him.

"Oops," Hiro said innocently.

Yuna narrowed her eyes. "You wanna play dirty, huh?"

Before he could react, Yuna grabbed a spare towel, dipped it in water, and flung it at him. It smacked Hiro in the face.

"Gah—cold! Cold! Cold!" He staggered back, shaking off the dampness. "That was unnecessary!"

Yuna smirked. "Oops."

Hiro groaned. "Alright, that’s it!"

He grabbed another mop and lunged at her, aiming for her shoes again, but Yuna dodged, laughing.

The next few minutes turned into a ridiculous battle—Hiro chasing Yuna around with a mop, Yuna countering with sneak attacks using a damp towel. The gym echoed with their laughter and the squeak of wet sneakers on the polished floor.

At one point, Hiro almost tripped over a basketball.

"Whoa—!"

He windmilled his arms, trying to regain balance, but ended up crashing down, landing flat on his back.

Yuna burst out laughing, leaning on the mop handle for support.

"You idiot," she wheezed.

Hiro groaned. "I think I saw my life flash before my eyes."

"Yeah? Was it full of bad decisions?"

"Mostly just this one," he admitted, staring up at the ceiling.

Yuna offered a hand, still chuckling. "C’mon, drama queen, get up."

He grabbed her hand, but at the last second, an idea struck him.

Instead of standing, he yanked Yuna down.

"H-Hey—!"

With a surprised yelp, she tumbled forward, barely catching herself with her hands. She was now hovering just inches above Hiro, eyes wide.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Hiro’s heart did a weird flip.

Yuna blinked. "You… did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

Hiro gulped. "M-Maybe."

Yuna stared at him, then smirked.

"You're an idiot."

She flicked his forehead before standing up.

Hiro sat up, rubbing his forehead. "Rude."

She tossed him a towel. "Now help me finish cleaning, you menace."


---

After an hour of actual cleaning (and less messing around), the gym was spotless.

"Not bad, mop boy," Yuna teased, stretching her arms.

Hiro scoffed. "Glad to be of service, your highness."

Yuna opened her locker, and Hiro caught sight of another neatly folded love letter.

"Another one?!" he exclaimed.

Yuna sighed. "Yeah, yeah."

"Wow, you’re really breaking hearts out here."

"Shut up," she muttered, stuffing the letter into her bag.

Before Hiro could tease her further, he slipped on the newly polished floor.

"AGH—!"

He fell flat on his back again.

Yuna doubled over in laughter.

"Serves you right, idiot!"

CHAPTER END


Chapter 39: Is This a Date?!

Hiro never thought he'd experience this level of self-cringe.

It hit him like a truck—a sudden realization that made him stop mid-sentence, eyes wide with horror.

"Oh no... I'm turning into Kyoya."

The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.


---

It all started at the supermarket.

Hiro had been sent on a mission—his mom’s grocery list in one hand, determination in the other. He was casually scanning the snack aisle when—

BAM!

He walked straight into someone.

"Ah—!"

A bag of chips nearly fell from his grip as he stumbled back.

"Watch where you’re going, idiot."

He looked up.

"Oh, Yuna?"

"Hiro?"

They blinked at each other.

"What are you doing here?" Hiro asked.

"What do you think? Buying food, obviously," she deadpanned, holding a basket full of energy drinks and instant ramen.

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "That... doesn’t seem like a healthy diet."

"Mind your own business, grocery police."

He smirked. "I guess I have no choice. I can't let a friend starve on unhealthy food. Let's eat something proper after this."

Yuna shrugged. "Sure, whatever."

And that was how they ended up at a ramen shop.


---

Between slurping noodles and arguing about who should pay, Hiro and Yuna spent the rest of the day together.

They went to the arcade, where Yuna destroyed Hiro in every game.

"How are you this good?!" Hiro cried after getting obliterated in a racing game.

"Skill issue," Yuna smirked.

Hiro groaned.

Then they stopped by a bookstore, where Hiro tried (and failed) to convince Yuna to read romance novels.

"C’mon, just try one."

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don’t do sappy love stories."

"But you are in one," Hiro muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Finally, they decided to watch a movie.

A horror film was playing, and Hiro confidently claimed he wasn’t scared of anything. Yuna, unimpressed, just nodded.

Halfway through the movie, Hiro visibly flinched at a jump scare.

Yuna smirked. "Not scared, huh?"

"That was just surprising!"

Then, out of nowhere, Yuna let out a small yelp when a ghost suddenly appeared on the screen.

Hiro burst out laughing. "Look who’s scared now!"

"Shut up!" Yuna whispered, glaring.

The person in front of them turned and shushed them.

Hiro held back his laughter, whispering, "Looks like someone else is scarier than the ghost."

Yuna smacked his arm.

After the movie, as they walked outside, Hiro stretched. "Man, that was fun."

"Yeah," Yuna admitted.

Then silence.

Hiro glanced at her. Yuna looked... unusually shy.

"Anyway, I gotta go," she said, quickly turning away.

"I’ll walk you home."

"Tch. Do whatever you want."

But when they reached her house, instead of saying goodbye normally, Yuna suddenly wall slammed Hiro against the gate.

His heart jumped.

Yuna, still flustered from earlier, gritted her teeth. "It’s. Not. Like. That. Okay?"

Hiro stared at her, suddenly aware of how close she was.

"R-Right."

A beat passed.

Yuna blinked. Then realized how close she was.

Her face turned red.

Without another word, she ran inside, slamming the door shut behind her.

Hiro just stood there, holding his chest.

"What... was that?"

His heart was still beating fast.

Was it because of fear?

Or... something else?

CHAPTER END

Chapter 40: Not a Date!

Hiro sat with Kyoya and Misaki, eating lunch in their usual spot.

Kyoya leaned forward, a playful smirk on his face. "So, where were you the other day, Hiro?"

Hiro, mid-bite, nearly choked. He quickly swallowed and waved a hand dismissively. "Just ran some errands for my mom. Nothing special."

Misaki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That’s it?"

Hiro sighed. "Fine. I also bumped into Yuna, and we just… hung out. We ate ramen, played at the arcade, watched a movie—"

Before he could finish, Kyoya slammed the table with excitement.

"MISAKI! OUR BOY WENT ON A DATE!"

Misaki gasped in mock surprise. "Oh my, Hiro, you've become a man! I feel like a proud parent!"

"It wasn’t a date!" Hiro exclaimed, his face heating up.

Kyoya ignored him, grinning wildly. "Wait, wait, so you even watched a movie together? Did she get scared and cling to you? Did you—"

"SHUT UP!" Hiro buried his face in his arms.


---

Meanwhile, at the front row, Yuna was casually chatting with another classmate when she heard everything.

She froze.

"Me...?"

Her cheeks began to turn pink.

"It's not a date... Right?"

Her classmate noticed. "Yuna? Are you okay? You’re kind of red."

Yuna quickly shook her head. "I-I'm fine! It’s just a little warm in here!"

But before she could fully compose herself, the teacher walked in, immediately noticing her flushed face.

"Yuna, are you feeling unwell?" the teacher asked, looking concerned.

"I said I’m fine!"

But her classmate, ever so helpful, added, "Sensei, I think Yuna has a fever."

The teacher sighed. "Go to the infirmary and have the nurse check on you."

"Tch." Yuna clicked her tongue.

"Does anyone want to assist her?" the teacher asked.

Before Yuna could refuse—

"I volunteer!" Kyoya shot up.

Hiro snapped his head toward Kyoya, glaring. "The hell do you mean, you volunteer?"

Kyoya grinned like a mischievous child. "Just kidding! Our lover boy Hiro here will take care of her."

Misaki joined in. "Yes, yes, Hiro, be a gentleman and help your not-date to the clinic."

"You guys—!" Hiro groaned, but the teacher took it seriously.

"Alright, Hiro, please escort Yuna to the infirmary."

Hiro sighed, rubbing his temples.

As he stood up to go with Yuna, Kyoya whispered, "Go get ‘em, Romeo."

Misaki added, "Don’t let her fall for someone else on the way there."

Hiro glared at them both before following Yuna out of the room.

As they walked, Hiro sighed.

"They’re so damn annoying."

Yuna, still blushing, muttered, "Tell me about it."

CHAPTER END



Chapter 41: Shadows of the Past

The hallway was quieter than usual as Hiro and Yuna walked side by side. The faint chatter of other students drifted from classrooms, but in their little space, it felt as if they were in their own world.

"I swear, Kyoya is getting worse," Hiro grumbled, rubbing his face. "Every time I breathe, he finds something to tease me about."

Yuna smirked, arms crossed. "It’s fun watching you suffer, though."

Hiro sighed heavily. "Of course, you’d say that."

As they reached the stairs, Hiro instinctively slowed his pace. "But seriously, are you okay? You did look kinda out of it earlier."

Yuna hesitated, then shrugged. "I’m fine. It’s just… hearing what you guys were saying earlier threw me off."

Hiro blinked. "Wait, don’t tell me you actually thought it was a date?"

Yuna’s face turned slightly red. "Shut up!" she snapped, lightly elbowing his side.

Hiro grinned. "Oho, so you did!"

"I did not! It’s just—" Yuna huffed, her words fumbling. "I just never really thought about stuff like that before."

Hiro tilted his head. "Like what? Dates?"

Yuna nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.

"Why not?" Hiro asked curiously.

For a moment, Yuna was silent. She kept walking, her hands buried in her pockets. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter than before.

"Because I don’t trust guys."

Hiro’s playful smirk faded. His steps slowed, but he didn’t interrupt.

Yuna kept her eyes ahead as she continued, "When I was ten, my dad left us. He just… walked out one day."

Hiro felt a weight settle in his chest.

"He said he didn’t want to take care of us anymore. That he wasn’t happy. That we were a hassle." Yuna let out a small, dry chuckle. "And then he left. Just like that."

Hiro remained quiet, processing her words.

Yuna exhaled sharply. "I think, after that, I just stopped letting guys get too close. It’s easier that way."

There was another long pause before Hiro muttered, "So that’s why you wiped the floor with me when we first met."

Yuna finally turned to look at him, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Yeah. Had to put you in your place."

Hiro placed a dramatic hand over his chest. "I feel honored. You completely destroyed me out of spite."

Yuna couldn’t help but laugh at his exaggerated expression.

They reached the infirmary, where the school nurse barely glanced at Yuna before shaking her head. "You’re fine. Go back to class."

Yuna rolled her eyes. "See? Told you I wasn’t sick."

Hiro grinned. "Still, I got to hear a cool battle origin story. Totally worth it."

Yuna rolled her eyes again but found herself smiling.

As they walked back, Hiro suddenly tapped his chest. "Hey, if anything ever happens, you can just tell me, alright?"

Yuna raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly are you gonna do?"

Hiro puffed out his chest. "Obviously, I’ll fight them."

Yuna snorted. "You could barely beat me."

"Okay, fair point," Hiro admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "But still… just saying. I got your back."

For a brief moment, Yuna didn’t say anything. But when she looked at Hiro, there was a small, grateful smile on her lips.

"Idiot," she muttered, but there was no bite to her words.

And as they walked back to class, Hiro had a feeling that Yuna’s walls—just a little—were starting to crack.

CHAPTER END

Chapter 42: Almost, But Not Yet

It started with an argument.

"You're late," Misaki said, arms crossed as she stood outside the café where they had planned to meet.

Kyoya, out of breath from running, leaned forward dramatically. "You wouldn't believe the trials I had to endure to get here."

Misaki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Let me guess. You overslept, got distracted by something stupid, and then realized you were late?"

Kyoya gasped in mock offense. "How dare you? I—" He paused, then admitted, "—yeah, that’s exactly what happened."

Misaki sighed, shaking her head. "Why did I even agree to hang out with you?"

Kyoya grinned. "Because deep down, you find me incredibly charming."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue.

They entered the café and ordered drinks, Kyoya dramatically staring at the menu for five minutes before deciding on the most ridiculous-sounding drink he could find.

"One Caramel Macchiato with extra whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and a heart drawn on top, please."

Misaki stared at him. "You're a child."

"A sophisticated child," Kyoya corrected.

They found a table near the window, the streetlights outside just beginning to glow as the sun set. The café had a cozy atmosphere, and Misaki found herself relaxing despite Kyoya’s antics.

Halfway through their drinks, Kyoya leaned forward with a smirk. "So, tell me, Misaki, do you think I’d make a good boyfriend?"

Misaki nearly choked on her drink. "What?"

"Hypothetically," Kyoya said, resting his chin on his hand. "Would I?"

Misaki narrowed her eyes. "Why are you asking?"

"Just curious," he said, grinning. "Come on, be honest."

Misaki stared at him for a moment before smirking. "I think you’d be an absolute nightmare."

Kyoya clutched his chest. "Ouch. Right in the heart."

"You’d probably annoy your girlfriend 24/7."

"That’s called affection, Misaki."

"You'd steal her food."

"Sharing is caring."

"And you’d make terrible dad jokes."

Kyoya gasped. "My jokes are a gift to the world."

Misaki chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, you’d be a disaster."

"And yet," Kyoya said, grinning, "you still choose to hang out with me."

Misaki rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately."

After leaving the café, they wandered aimlessly around the city, stopping by a bookstore where Kyoya dramatically read excerpts from random romance novels in the most exaggerated voice possible.

"‘My love for you burns brighter than a thousand suns!’" he declared, earning glares from other customers.

"Kyoya, shut up."

They left after a staff member politely but firmly told Kyoya to lower his voice.

Eventually, they ended up at a small arcade. Kyoya challenged Misaki to several games, and to his horror, she absolutely destroyed him in every single one.

"How are you this good?" Kyoya groaned as Misaki won yet another match.

"Skill," she said smugly.

"Hacks," Kyoya muttered.

They played until closing time, laughing the entire time.

As they walked back toward their homes, Kyoya felt the moment creeping up on him again—that strange, nervous feeling that had been lingering in his chest for a while now.

She looked beautiful under the streetlights, her hair swaying slightly in the wind.

"Hey, Misaki..."

She turned to him. "Hmm?"

Kyoya opened his mouth... but hesitated.

Something stopped him.

Instead, he smirked and reached out, poking her forehead. "Never mind. Let’s go."

Misaki frowned. "What was that for?"

"Just making sure you’re real," Kyoya teased.

Misaki rolled her eyes but didn't push.

As they walked, Kyoya shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Almost. But not yet.

CHAPTER END

Chapter end