The silence didn't last long.
It shattered the moment lunch break ended.
Whispers spread across the classroom like wildfire.
"Did you see that?"
"She sat next to him!"
"Why him of all people?"
I kept my head down, pretending not to hear anything. But their words pierced through the air, sharp and unavoidable.
This was exactly what I had feared.
Trouble.
Beside me, Aizawa Reina calmly finished her lunch, unfazed by the attention. Her expression remained gentle, as though she were used to being the center of whispers.
Meanwhile, I wished I could disappear.
"Hey."
Her soft voice broke through my thoughts.
I glanced at her. "Y-Yeah?"
She looked at me with curious eyes. "Does it bother you?"
"…What does?"
"The way they're talking about us."
I hesitated.
Of course it bothered me. My peaceful life was crumbling before my eyes. But looking into her calm gaze, I found myself unable to lie.
"A little," I admitted.
She smiled faintly. "You're honest. That's good."
Before I could respond, a sharp voice cut through the room.
"Well, well. Isn't this interesting?"
The classroom fell silent again.
Kurosaki Yuna stood near the door, her elegant posture commanding attention. Her long, jet-black hair shimmered under the afternoon sunlight, and her cold eyes locked onto me.
No—onto us.
"The invisible boy suddenly becomes popular," she said coolly. "How surprising."
A chill ran down my spine.
I wasn't popular.
I was a target.
Reina met her gaze without hesitation. "Do you need something, Kurosaki-san?"
Yuna's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. "Nothing at all. I'm simply curious."
Her eyes shifted to me.
For a moment, it felt like the entire world had frozen.
"…Take care," she said. "Attention can be dangerous for someone like you."
With that, she turned and left.
The tension she left behind lingered like a storm cloud.
"What was that about?" I whispered.
Reina closed her lunchbox gently. "Just ignore her."
Ignore her?
That was easier said than done.
After School
The final bell rang, signaling the end of the day.
Students flooded the corridors, laughing and chatting as they headed home. I packed my bag quickly, eager to escape the stares.
But as soon as I stepped into the hallway—
A notification buzzed on my phone.
Class Group Chat
Curious—and nervous—I opened it.
What I saw made my heart drop.
[Photo Attached]
It was a picture of Reina sitting beside me during lunch.
Unknown User:
Since when did Aizawa-san start hanging out with him?
Another Student:
Is this a joke?
Someone Else:
Maybe he's blackmailing her.
My grip tightened around my phone.
Blackmail?
Are they serious?
The messages kept coming.
"He's way out of her league."
"This is disgusting."
"Someone should put him in his place."
A cold knot formed in my stomach.
So this is how it starts.
Rumors.
Judgment.
Hatred.
"…Ignore them."
A familiar voice spoke from behind me.
I turned around.
Reina stood there, her expression calm yet resolute.
"You saw it too?" I asked quietly.
She nodded. "People fear what they don't understand."
Her eyes softened as she looked at me.
"I sat beside you because I wanted to."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Why?" I asked.
For a brief moment, her composure faltered.
Then she smiled—a gentle, genuine smile.
"Because you treated me like a normal person."
Before I could respond—
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
We both turned.
Kurosaki Yuna stood at the far end, watching us.
Her gaze was cold, calculating.
And dangerous.
"…This is going to be interesting," she murmured.
A shiver ran down my spine.
Something told me—
My quiet life wasn't just over.
It was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 2.