1. The Theme DecisionAfter the storage room incident, the committee had to finalize the official festival theme.
The room felt strangely tense whenever Kaito and Hina stood near each other.
Students kept watching them like a live drama series.
Kaito stood up with his tablet.
"I propose a theme focused on cultural excellence and academic achievement."
Hina immediately stood up too.
"I propose a theme called 'Heartbeat Festival.'"
The room froze.
Kaito blinked once.
"That is not academically structured."
"It's emotionally structured!" Hina argued.
Students whispered:
"They're flirting again."
"No, they're fighting."
"That's how they flirt."
Hina slammed a large paper onto the table.
"I already designed the main poster!"
• 2. The Poster RevealShe dramatically turned the paper around.
The entire room gasped.
The poster showed:
A sunset background.
Lanterns glowing.
A romantic stage in the center.
And two silhouettes standing back-to-back.
The silhouettes looked… suspiciously familiar.
One tall and calm.
One energetic with flowing hair.
The committee stared.
One student whispered loudly:
"Is that… them?"
Hina froze.
Kaito adjusted his glasses slowly.
"This is inappropriate."
"It's symbolic!" she defended.
"Symbolic of what?"
"Of two opposites creating harmony!"
The entire room went silent.
Even Kaito did not immediately respond.
• 3. The Misunderstanding ExplosionSuddenly—
A second-year student took a picture of the poster.
Within minutes—
It spread across the school group chat.
Caption:
"Official Festival Poster Leaked – Leaders Confirmed Couple?"
Chaos erupted.
Students flooded the hallway outside the committee room.
Some clapped.
Some whistled.
One student shouted, "Public confession arc coming soon!"
Hina covered her face.
"This is a disaster!"
Kaito looked at the poster carefully.
The silhouettes.
The balance.
The emotional contrast.
For a brief second—
He didn't hate it.
That realization disturbed him.
• 4. The Private ConfrontationAfter everyone left—
Only Kaito and Hina remained again.
"You should have consulted the committee before finalizing artwork," Kaito said calmly.
"You should try feeling something once in your life," she replied.
Silence.
He looked at the poster again.
"Why did you draw those silhouettes like that?"
She hesitated.
"…Because that's how I see us."
The air shifted.
"Opposites," she continued softly.
"But balanced."
He felt that strange tightness in his chest again.
"That interpretation is subjective."
She stepped closer.
"Then why are you staring at it like that?"
He turned away.
"I am evaluating composition."
She smiled slightly.
"You're lying."
For the first time—
He did not deny it immediately.
• 5. The Accidental ComplimentKaito finally spoke.
"The color gradient… is well executed."
Hina blinked.
"…That's a compliment."
"It is an observation."
"You like it."
"I did not state that."
"You didn't need to."
She smiled brightly.
For some reason—
That smile felt more dangerous than her shouting.
Because it was softer.
Real.
• 6. The Jealous SparkJust then—
A tall senior student entered the room.
Ryo Tanaka.
Popular. Confident. Athletic.
He leaned against the doorframe.
"Hina, I saw the poster. It's amazing."
Hina beamed.
"Really?!"
Ryo walked closer.
"You have talent. Maybe you should join my art club instead of babysitting Ice Boy."
The room went quiet.
Hina laughed awkwardly.
Kaito remained silent.
But something felt different.
Uncomfortable.
Annoying.
Ryo smirked.
"Anyway, if you ever get tired of arguing with him, let me know."
He left.
Silence.
Hina crossed her arms.
"He's dramatic."
Kaito spoke flatly.
"You should focus on the committee."
She blinked.
"Are you… jealous?"
"I am not affected by irrelevant variables."
"That sounds like jealousy."
"It is not."
But his pen snapped slightly in his hand.
And he did not understand why.
• 7. The Internal ConflictThat night—
Kaito stared at the poster file on his laptop.
He zoomed into the silhouettes.
Balanced.
Opposites.
Harmony.
He closed the laptop abruptly.
"This is illogical."
Yet—
Why did he dislike the idea of someone else standing next to her?
Why did it feel wrong?
Meanwhile—
Hina lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Why did I care if he liked the poster?"
She hugged her pillow.
"He's just my co-leader."
But her heart disagreed.
• 8. Chapter Ending – The Theme Is ApprovedThe next day—
The student council officially approved the festival theme:
"Heartbeat Harmony."
The poster was printed and hung across campus.
Students cheered.
And underneath the poster—
Small handwritten graffiti appeared:
"Kaito + Hina = Real?"
They both stood in front of it.
Silent.
Then—
Hina spoke softly.
"Do you still think love is useless?"
He looked at the poster again.
Then at her.
"…I am reconsidering the hypothesis."
Her eyes widened.
"That's the most romantic thing you've ever said."
"It was not romantic."
She laughed.
But inside—
Both of them felt it.
The rumor was growing.
The tension was rising.
And the space between logic and love…
Was becoming dangerously small.
✨ End of Chapter 4 ✨