The sky, heavy with fading clouds, lingered in a deep charcoal hue, casting a muted gloom across the school grounds. Raindrops still clung stubbornly to the windows, tracing slow, meandering paths as they slid downward. The scent of wet earth and concrete hung in the air—clean, raw, and a little metallic.
Along the corridor, the air was sharp with a biting chill, as if the rain had dragged winter down from the clouds.
Sato's footsteps echoed hollowly on the damp tiles, and the once lively hallway stood hushed, blanketed in a quiet that felt almost sacred—sprinting his way to get back to the classroom.
The cold seeped in through the gaps in the windows, curling around ankles and slipping under collars. Even the fluorescent lights buzzed softer, dimmed by the dense gray light outside. The storm had passed, but it had left its shadow behind—settling over the school like a heavy sigh.
Sato's mind lingered back to what happened at the shed.
Why did I do that?! You stupid! Stupid!
He thought, cursing himself with every step. His breath came in shallow bursts, fogging slightly in the cold corridor air. His hands trembled, not just from the chill, but from the weight of what he had done.
The kiss—brief, desperate, unthinking—burned at the front of his mind like a brand.
He hadn't meant to. He couldn't have meant to. It just... happened.
One moment, he was staring at Ken's unconscious face in the dark, the soft sound of rain drumming against the tin roof of the shed, and the next—his body had moved on its own, closing the distance.
Maybe it was the quiet. The closeness. Or maybe it was the feelings he'd buried, kept locked so deep inside he thought they would stay there forever.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block it all out.
Miura-kun can't know. He can't know.
Because Sato didn't know what he would do if he ever saw that look on Ken's face—the look of someone who's disgusted, or worse, someone who no longer wanted him around.
Just the thought of it scared him.
For the longest time, he'd been content with just watching from afar. Ken, with hidden kindness and careless charm, was like sunlight that Sato didn't dare step into.
He didn't know much about him—just fragments, really. The way he chewed on his pencil thinking. The way his brows furrowed when he was focused, the way his smile broke suddenly, like it caught him off guard.
Those tiny things were enough. They had been enough.
But then Renjiro happened—his loud, meddling, well-meaning friend who had shoved him forward—thanks to him, Sato had gotten closer.
Close enough to learn that Ken liked melonpan. That reading books is his favorite hobby. And that he may look like aloof at first, but he learned that Ken is actually nice and caring.
All those small details Sato had treasured now felt like they were slipping through his fingers. Like one mistake, one stupid moment of weakness, had ruined everything—not just for him, but for the effort Renjiro had made, the friendship he'd barely begun to build.
He slowed near the classroom door, chest tightening.
What if Ken already knows? What if he already noticed?
The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through him.
Sato turned away, unable to face the door. The corridor stretched out before him—dim, cold, and empty. Just like the way he felt inside.
The hallway seemed to contract. Soft tapping sound from the window became distant as Sato walked off, seemingly out of focus.
His mind wondered off somewhere, like all thoughts belonged to another world.
Then, the silence was broken, like a shuttered glass as deliberate footsteps echoed the room.
"Hirota!" Renjiro yelled, calling out the boy from a mile away.
But Sato didn't bother to look. The voice got louder as Renjiro got closer and closer from behind.
When there was no any response from him, whatsoever, Renjiro tapped his shoulder lightly.
That was enough to get Sato's attention and quickly look back at Renjiro.
"K-Koizumi-san...!?"
He widened his doe brown eyes as if surprised to see Renjiro's face.
Renjiro let out a soft sigh. "Dude, what's wrong?" He asked, "Did something happen? You suddenly ran out of there."
Sato didn't speak too quickly. He felt the words caught in his throat. His gaze dropped to the ground, fingers twitching at his side.
"I just... I remember there's something I need to do," he murmured at last.
He looked up, eyes glossed with something he was trying to blink away. "I'm sorry, Koizumi-san. I didn't mean to worry you."
His lips twitched up a shy smile.
Renjiro stared at him for a second, like he was reading Sato's expression. And then, he brushed it off by slightly shrugging off his shoulder. "It's fine."
Renjiro took a step forward. "Ken was acting a bit weird, though." He said, tone drifting somewhere between casual and cautious.
Sato swallowed hard. His voice came out low. "Oh, m-maybe because of the bad weather...?"
Renjiro scratched the back of his neck, eyes flickering to the side as he said, "I don't think so. He's usually cold even with good weather. But today just seemed different."
[??]
"Maybe something did happen while I was gone."
A soft chill trailed down Sato's spine, but he tried to play it off with a shrug.
"I-I don't think so. Nothing really happened while we were there."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed, not unkindly, but like he wasn't buying it. "That's weird. The janitor told me he two got stuck inside the storage earlier."
He's way too quick to catch on!
Sato thought that there was nothing that could escape Renjiro—especially, when it came to unrequited love.
He exhaled sharply, and the air around them had softened. His eyes turned to Renjiro whilst his lips curved into a hesitant but quick smile.
Renjiro grinned. He didn't seem that eager to know what actually happened. Rather, he'd likely want his friend to talk about it with him first—that way it wouldn't look as if he already had a clue.
Does he know something? More or less.
Soon, Sato returned to his dorm. Unlocking the door with the keys, a familiar face appeared right in front of him as soon as he walked in.
It was his roommate—both present and absent in most days.
They looked at each other in an awkward way. The boy's eyes flickered around before he could even open his mouth to greet Sato.
"Hey," he said, voice calm, but not casual. It sounded more like a formality than a greeting.
Sato nodded, eyes briefly meeting his before darting to his own bed. "H-Hello," he echoed, quieter.
[...]
The room was dim, one curtain drawn halfway as if the daylight had been intentionally shut out. His roommate, Fujita, sat on the edge of his bed, half-lacing his shoes—then pausing like he'd forgotten what he was doing.
After some time, Fujita went out of the room, making Sato finally breathe some air.
The atmosphere was too much to bear. It was certainly awkward that even looking at Fujita's face was enough to make Sato cower in the corner. He felt shy even striking up a conversation with his roommate.
They never ever actually interacted for long before. Just quick greetings, small talk, and bowing slightly to each other out of respect.
Maybe he's just socially awkward.
Nevertheless, Sato inhaled deeply and gently exhaled. The cold air touched his lips and tickled his nostrils.
He sat on the bed, then quickly lay his body down. The warmth and softness of the mattress felt comforting and familiar, like the only place in the world where he could let his guard down—even if just for a moment.
He exhaled again, slower this time, letting the quiet settle like dust.
But even here, in the quiet, his thoughts wouldn't settle. Ken's face—surprised, maybe hurt—flashed through his mind. Then Renjiro's knowing eyes.
Sato turned his body to face the wall and pulled the blanket up to his chin. Like that could protect him from whatever he was trying not to feel.
Perhaps immediate guilt, shame, regret, or a mix of longing and self-loathing.
Whatever feeling it was... Sato could not fully believe what he just did. It felt surreal or out of his character—like he lost control of himself in that short moment.
He crossed a line, misread everything, and possibly hurt the person he cares about the most.
That should've never happened. I took advantage of his vulnerable moment.
"I'm such an idiot." Sato mumbled above a whisper.
A silence followed—but not an empty one.
"I see, so that's what happened." Came a familiar voice behind him.
Sato's breath hitched. He slowly turned—and nearly jumped.
"Eek...!."
Renjiro was leaning over the side of his bed, his arms resting near Sato's pillow, and their faces were so close, and only an inch of space was left.
If either of them moved forward even slightly, their lips would meet.
Sato froze.
Renjiro's eyes, calm and unreadable, searched his.
"You weren't exactly subtle when you ran out earlier," Renjiro said quietly, almost gently. "But I didn't think it was because of that."
Sato's throat tightened. He wanted to look away, but Renjiro's presence anchored him.
"K-Koizumi-san...!" Sato murmured, voice shaking. "How l-long have you been here?"
Renjiro didn't move away. His voice remained soft. "You kissed him, didn't you?"
[!!]
"H-how'd you know?!"
"Oh, it was just a guess." Renjiro smiled.
That was a guess?! No way. You sounded like you knew right from the beginning.
Sato shut his eyes. "W-Well... I didn't mean to do it. I was just... lost in the moment."
The silence that followed didn't feel judgemental. It felt... sad. Quietly heavy.
Then, Sato opened his mouth again, "He looked scared, though. He must really hate me now." He said, voice low.
Renjiro sighed and finally leaned back, giving Sato space again.
"Maybe he was just confused. But not to a point he'd hate you for it."
Sato blinked, "Eh?"
"Ken may be a cold snobber, but definitely not a hateful guy. I'm sure you know it too, better than me, right?"
Sato nodded slowly, unable to speak. His eyes burned. "I... I do."
Renjiro offered a small, crooked smile. "Then you owe it to him to talk. When you're ready, you go tell him. That guy deserves some explanation for what happened."
I feel kinda bad for him. He's probably so lost right now.
Sato blinked at him again. "You're not mad?"
Renjiro shrugged. "I'm not Ken."
"But," Sato continued, "because of me, all your plans may go to waste. You did so much for me so I could get along with Miura-kun... and I just..."
"It's all fine, Hirota. You have nothing to worry about."
Besides, it all worked out well anyway.
A beat passed.
"But for what it's worth..." Renjiro looked at him, more serious now. "You should start being honest with him and to yourself, too. By now, I think he already caught on a bit about your feelings."
Sato stared, throat tight. He gave a small, tearful laugh.
"... Yeah, I guess you're right."
Silence hung in air.
Sato tilted his head as if wondering about something. Then, he pursed his lips and spoke, "By the way, Koizumi-san," he said smoothly, changing the subject.
"Hm?" Renjiro responded with a glance.
"How did you get in here?" Sato asked curiously, looking at Renjiro.
"Oh!" Renjiro perked up and beamed at him as he said, "The door was actually unlocked, so I thought I'd come in."
"Eh?! Isn't that like trespassing?"
"I know." Renjiro innocently gazed at Sato as if it's totally not a big deal. "I did knocked, though." He added.
Sato blinked about himself. "I guess I just didn't hear, then."
"Yeah."
The rain had finally let up, but the clouds still loomed, heavy and slow-moving. Outside the window, droplets clung to the glass, catching light from the hallway lamps behind them.
Renjiro and Sato stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the window. They didn't speak for a while. The silence wasn't awkward—it was restful.
After the weight of everything, it felt good to just be.
A smile tugged at Sato's lips, quiet and unforced. He glanced sideways.
Renjiro was already smiling back.
"Wanna get dinner before you emotionally collapse again?" Renjiro said, nudging him lightly with his elbow.
Sato let out a small, tired laugh. He shook his head, still smiling, "Yeah, okay. Let's go."
They walked together through the quiet corridors. The sound of their shoes tapping against the floor was soft and rhythmic, a contrast to the buzz that greeted them when they entered the dining hall.
Inside, it was warm and lively. Trays clattered, students laughed, and conversations overlapped in a messy but comforting hum.
The scent of soy sauce, fried tofu, and freshly steamed rice filled the air.
Sato hesitated near the line, scanning the trays.
Renjiro leaned closer, whispering like a co-conspirator, "No pressure, but if you grab just miso soup, I'm reporting you to campus health."
"I wasn't planning to—" Sato paused, then grinned faintly. "I'm sorry..."
"Unbelievable," Renjiro muttered, tossing an extra croquette onto Sato's tray. "There. Saved your life."
They sat near the windows, where the glass fogged slightly from the contrast in temperature. Around them, some students were deep in noisy group chats.
While others scrolled their phones or quietly ate alone. The world, for once, wasn't demanding anything from Sato.
They both clasped their hands and said, "Thank you for the food."
As Sato took a bite, he realized he was actually... hungry.
He was glad to have come with Renjiro to dinner. If he ever stayed in his room, he'd probably missed the specialties tonight.
The next morning, inside a busy class, Sato sat quietly by the window. His mind was wandering off again during an important discussion.
Outside students were jogging around the field, and their laughter carried faintly through the room in golden shafts, dancing over textbooks and notebooks, but Sato's eye were distant.
But then, amongst the group of unfamiliar faces, only one stood out the most—it got Sato's attention as he veered his eyes to that person's direction.
Miura-kun.
Sato perked up as soon as he got a glimpsed of Ken walking toward the field. It's his turn to run some laps.
Sato heard soft squealing voices beside him.
"It's Miura," one girl said, yeeting down the window. "I didn't know that he was actually handsome."
"Of course, he always did." Another girl commented, "You were so busy believing all the rumors that you totally ignored his face!"
Sato blinked his eyes upon seeing the two girls fawning over Ken's appearance.
The girl turned her head to her friend with a knowing eyes. "So, are you gonna do it?"
[??]
"What do you mean?" Her friend asked.
She rolled her eyes, not buying her friend's act. "Stop acting dumb. Aren't you gonna confess to him?"
Sato's eyes widened.
His fingers tensed around the pencil in his hand, and the sunlight no longer felt warm—just glaring and sharp.
He dropped his gaze to his notebook, trying to tune out the rest of the girls' conversation.
But their voices still slipped through the cracks.
"What? Scared he'll reject you?"
The first girl teased, nudging her friend playfully.
The other girl laughed nervously, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Maybe. But... I really do like him."
"Then, go for it."
Sato swallowed hard.
The sentence echoed inside him louder than anything else in the room. I really do like him.
Then, Mr. Kuroda walked in all of sudden, interrupting the two girls' chatting sessions.
Sato didn't even notice the math teacher had already left.