H-3 before the one-month mark
The next day, the atmosphere at school completely changed.
Since morning, Karu's name was being talked about everywhere.
"They said he got expelled immediately…"
"His followers too, seriously scary."
"Crazy… turns out he was like that…"
Nao walked into the classroom with slow steps.
Usually, she would go straight to her seat and open her book, acting cold like an ice wall.
But today—before she could even put her bag down—several of her classmates approached her.
"Nao… are you okay?"
"We heard what happened…"
"Sorry… we were the ones who pushed you closer to Karu back then…"
Nao fell silent.
Her hand clenched slightly at her side.
She wasn't angry—more confused. She had never really blamed them, but hearing their apology made her chest feel tight.
"…I'm okay," she answered softly.
"And… thank you."
Some of them looked relieved.
One patted her shoulder, another smiled awkwardly.
Nao sat down.
Her eyes unconsciously searched for one person.
Ayano.
And there he was.
Ayano stood near the classroom window—surrounded by several girls.
"Ayano, you were amazing yesterday…"
"Do your injuries still hurt?"
"They said you fought them all by yourself…"
Ayano looked uncomfortable.
His expression clearly showed it.
"It wasn't a big deal," he said shortly.
"I just happened to pass by."
Nao stared at that scene without blinking.
Her chest felt… hot.
Why?
She didn't know.
She knew Ayano didn't like attention. She knew he wasn't interested. But seeing how close they stood—seeing the small smiles of those girls—for some reason made her hands tremble.
And before her thoughts could catch up—
Nao stood up.
Her steps were fast, firm.
The whole class turned to look.
She walked straight toward Ayano, then without warning—
Nao wrapped her arms around Ayano's arm.
Right in front of everyone.
"Ayano," she said calmly, but her voice was clear.
"Don't get too close to them."
Ayano froze.
"…Na—Nao?"
Nao turned to the girls, her gaze cold but her face slightly red.
"Because Ayano is my fiancé."
Silence.
The next second—
"WHAT?!"
The whole class exploded.
"Fiancé?!"
"Since when?!"
"You guys are joking, right?!"
Ayano stared at Nao with wide eyes, his face turning red all the way to his ears.
"Na—Nao, wait—"
Nao looked at him, then… smiled softly.
A smile she rarely showed at school.
"Why?" she asked innocently.
"We live together, don't we?"
Ayano looked like he'd been struck by lightning.
"LIVE TOGETHER?!"
"WAIT, WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN—"
The class got even louder.
"Are you serious?!"
"Living together means what we think it means?!"
"How far has your relationship gone—"
Then—
someone—no one knew who—threw out the most dangerous question jokingly.
"…Don't tell me you've already done it?"
Nao's face turned completely red.
Ayano shouted reflexively—
"NEVER!!"
Too loud.
The class fell silent for a second…
then burst into even louder laughter.
"WHY DID YOU ANSWER SO FAST?!"
"SO YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT?!"
"THIS IS BAD—"
Ayano covered his face with one hand.
Nao looked down, but the corner of her lips lifted slightly.
Inside her chest, that feeling became clearer.
👉 She didn't like the idea of Ayano being taken by someone else.
👉 She didn't like the distance between them.
And for the first time—
Nao realized.
Ayano wasn't just someone important.
He was someone she didn't want to lose.
Meanwhile, Ayano…
was still standing there, face red, heart racing, completely unaware—
that his feelings for Nao had already changed long ago.
And that one month…
only had three days left.
H-2 before the one-month mark
That day, the classroom was lively as usual.
But one thing was clearly different.
Nao Karuizawa was no longer keeping her distance.
During break time, while some students were chatting, Ayano sat at his desk reading—as usual.
But only a few seconds after he opened his book—
Nao came over.
Without saying anything, she sat beside him, very close.
Then naturally, she hooked her arm around his.
Ayano flinched.
"N-Nao…?"
Nao turned to him. Her gaze was soft, but her smile… clearly mischievous.
"What?"
"We're engaged, remember?"
Several students immediately turned to look.
"THERE THEY GO AGAIN—"
"FIRST THING IN THE MORNING—"
"AYANO'S FACE IS SO RED!"
Ayano wanted to disappear.
His face was hot, his hands stiff, his brain stopped working.
"Nao… we're in class…"
Nao leaned closer.
Her voice lowered, but enough to make Ayano panic more.
"Why?"
"Are you embarrassed?"
Ayano quickly closed his book.
"I… I didn't say that…"
Nao chuckled softly.
Since that day—
every break, Nao stayed by Ayano's side.
Sometimes she rested her head on his shoulder.
Sometimes she played with the sleeve of his uniform.
Sometimes she deliberately leaned in when he was drinking, making him choke from nervousness.
"NAO—"
"That's dangerous…"
Nao only smiled.
"Cute."
At home — the distance disappears
If at school Ayano could still excuse it with "there are people around,"
at home… he had nowhere to escape.
At night, while they sat on the sofa watching TV—
Nao came with drinks, then sat very close.
No.
Closer than close.
She wrapped her arms around his arm, and a few minutes later—
her head was already resting on his shoulder.
Ayano froze.
"N-Nao…"
"Hm?"
"You're… close…"
Nao shifted slightly—
only to get even closer.
"Warm."
Ayano could feel his own heartbeat.
Nao closed her eyes.
Her breathing was steady.
Her hand lightly held onto his arm, as if afraid he would leave.
And in her heart, Nao thought:
I don't want to make that mistake again.
I don't want to distance myself from the most important person to me.
H-1 before the one-month mark
The final day before the decision.
Nao woke up with a strange feeling—
a mix of nervousness and determination.
At the dining table, she sat closer than usual.
Ayano noticed.
"You… why are you so quiet today?"
Nao looked at him. For a long time.
Then said softly:
"I'm scared."
Ayano fell silent.
"Scared… of losing you," Nao continued honestly.
"So… today I'm going to be selfish."
Ayano didn't get the chance to ask what she meant.
Because at school—
Nao had absolutely no restraint.
She sat on Ayano's desk during break.
She fed him candy.
She called his name without honorifics.
"Ayano."
"Ayano, look here."
"Ayano, let's go home together."
The whole class gave up.
"FINE, YOU WIN."
"THIS IS A REAL ENGAGEMENT."
Ayano could only look down, face red, but…
somehow—
he didn't reject it.
He didn't pull away.
And when school ended—
Nao held Ayano's hand.
Right in front of the school gate.
Ayano was surprised, but didn't let go.
"Ayano…"
Nao spoke softly, almost whispering.
"If later… I choose you…"
Ayano turned to her.
"…will you stay by my side?"
That question hit him harder than anything.
Ayano opened his mouth—
but no words came out.
Nao smiled softly.
"It's okay if you answer… tomorrow."
That night, at home—
Nao rested her head on Ayano's shoulder again.
But this time, Ayano wasn't stiff.
He turned slightly.
And for the first time—
he realized something.
I don't want this to end.
I don't want Nao to leave.
I… love her.
And that one month…
would end tomorrow.