The following week…
The campus was alive again — the energy was infectious. Posters lined the hallway walls, bright with doodles and messy handwriting:
🎉 "Annual Cultural Festival: 3 Weeks Away!" 🎉
Our class finally decided on a theme after hours of debate, arguments, and Hinata bribing half the class with snacks:
A Café and Exhibit Hybrid — "Starlight Stories."
It was half planetarium (Minato's idea), half café (Hinata's dream), and somehow... it worked.
During homeroom…
Asahi stood before the class with his clipboard, his usual composed tone now filled with energy.
Asahi:As class rep, I'll oversee the budget and supplies. Hinata's in charge of the café team, Akio's on decorations, and Minato and Kiyomi are handling lighting and technical setup for the exhibit.
Hinata winked at me.
Hinata:(Teasing) See, I told you being near Akio was destiny.
Akio grinned.
Akio:Hey, I didn't choose teams.
I rolled my eyes.
Kiyomi:Sure, fate definitely has something to do with it.
The class laughed. Ayaka, however, wasn't laughing — her gaze flickered briefly toward Akio, then me, then away.
Something about it made me uneasy.
After school...
The gym smelled like paint and sawdust as students decorated for different events. Hinata was up on a ladder hanging blue drapes while Asahi steadied it below.
Hinata:Higher?
Asahi:(Concerned) If it gets any higher, you'll be hanging from the ceiling.
Hinata giggled.
Hinata:Then catch me if I fall, hero.
He blushed so hard that even Akio noticed.
Akio whispered to me, smirking.
Akio:(Whispers) They're so obvious.
I chuckled softly, setting down a box of lights.
Kiyomi:Yeah… they really are.
Meanwhile, Minato sat quietly at a table, adjusting the wiring of small LED projectors. His red hair caught a glint of light under the gym lamps, and I noticed how careful he was — gentle, focused, like the world outside his task didn't exist.
I walked over and asked.
Kiyomi:Need help?
He didn't look up.
Minato:If you can hold the cord steady, sure.
As I held it, our hands brushed slightly. I pretended not to notice, but my heart gave a small, surprising skip.
Kiyomi:You're really good at this.
Minato:When you're quiet, you can get a lot done.
Kiyomi:Is that your secret to peace?
Minato smiled faintly.
Minato:And to survival.
I didn't understand what he meant by that — not yet.
Two days later...
Festival prep was in full swing. Rumors started spreading again — whispers that Akio and I were "definitely dating."
Every time we were seen together, someone would giggle or whisper.
Hinata teased me about it nonstop.
Hinata:Come on, Kiyomi. Admit it — you like him.
Kiyomi:(Annoyed) Hinata!
Hinata:You blushed!
Kiyomi:I'm just... allergic to nonsense.
Akio overheard and laughed, ruffling my hair. Akio:You're cute when you're allergic.
My cheeks turned crimson. Hinata's smirk could've lit up the entire gym.
After class that day...
Ayaka stopped me in the hallway.
Ayaka:So... you and Akio, huh?
Kiyomi:What are you talking about?
Ayaka:Everyone's talking. You two are inseparable lately. Don't think I don't notice.
Her tone wasn't hostile, but there was something sharp behind her words.
Kiyomi:We're just friends.
Ayaka crossed her arms.
Ayaka:Then maybe don't stand so close. People might misunderstand.
I forced a smile.
Kiyomi:Maybe they're misunderstanding you, Ayaka.
Her lips tightened.
Ayaka:(Annoyed) What's that supposed to mean?
Before I could reply, Minato appeared beside me, calm as ever.
Minato:She said you talk too much.
Ayaka blinked, flustered.
Ayaka:(Irritated) Excuse me?
Minato:You're excused.
I nearly choked trying not to laugh as Ayaka huffed and stormed off.
Kiyomi:You didn't have to do that.
Minato shrugged.
Minato:I just hate noise.
But when I looked at him again, there was a tiny smile tugging at his lips.
That evening…
Everyone was packing up to go home when Minato and I realized we hadn't tested the light setup yet.
Akio offered to stay back, but Asahi dragged him away to help Hinata carry props. So it was just the two of us in the dim classroom.
We switched off the main lights and turned on the projectors.
Tiny stars filled the ceiling — soft white dots glowing against the darkness.
Kiyomi:(Excited) Wow…
Minato:Not bad, huh?
Kiyomi:It's beautiful.
The lights reflected in his glasses, giving his eyes a faint green shimmer.
Minato:Maybe it'll make people feel calm. Like... they're under real stars.
Kiyomi:Do you like the stars?
He paused, then quietly said…
Minato:Yeah. Because they don't stay forever… but they still shine until the very end.
Something about that answer made my chest ache.
The next morning…
Rumors had changed again.
Apparently, now people were saying Minato and I were secretly dating after being seen working late together.
Hinata nearly fell off her chair laughing.
Hinata:(Laughing) Oh no, Kiyomi, you're collecting love interests like club badges!
Kiyomi:(Annoyed) It's not funny!
Akio didn't laugh. He just smiled a little too tightly.
I didn't know it then, but that was the moment something in him began to shift.