"Crap… where do I hide?"
Kumi's breath came out uneven as she slowed for just a second, one hand braced against the wall.
Her chest burned.
Her legs trembled.
Behind her—
Footsteps.
Loud.
Closing in.
"She won't get away with this!"
"I'll mess up her face, I swear—"
Kumi's blood ran cold.
Her fingers brushed her forehead, wiping away sweat as her eyes darted around the corridor.
Empty.
Too empty.
No classrooms open.
No teachers.
No one to help.
…
Then—
At the far end.
A sign.
Changing Room.
Her gaze locked onto it.
Is it even open…?
Classes are over—
What if it's locked?
What if—
Footsteps thundered down the stairs behind her.
Closer.
Too close.
Kumi didn't think anymore.
She ran.
Fast.
Straight toward the door.
Her hand shot out—
Gripped the knob—
Twisted—
Click.
It opened.
Relief hit instantly.
She slipped inside and shut the door behind her, pressing her back against it.
Safe.
For now.
…
Her hand fumbled for the lock.
It didn't move.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Her breathing quickened.
No—no, no—
Why isn't it locking?
Panic crept in, sharp and rising.
If they get in—
If they see her—
…
"Looking for something?"
A voice.
Behind her.
—
Kumi froze.
Every muscle locked.
Her breath caught halfway.
Slowly—
Too slowly—
She turned.
…
There—
Inside the dim changing room—
Someone stood.
Black hair.
Familiar.
Watching her.
...
Hisui exhaled quietly as she stepped into the changing room.
Finally.
The day had been long, and her uniform clung uncomfortably to her skin—damp with sweat.
She needed to change.
Quickly.
She reached for the lock out of habit.
It didn't budge.
Broken.
She paused for a second, then let it go.
Classes were over.
No one should be coming in anyway.
…
Without wasting time, she began changing.
Her uniform came off, replaced piece by piece.
She had just pulled on her gym pants—
When—
The door burst open.
—
Hisui froze.
Half-dressed.
Her shirt still missing, only her brassiere covering her upper body.
A girl stumbled inside, breathing hard, immediately turning to the door—
Fumbling with the lock.
Desperate.
Panicked.
…
Hisui blinked once.
Calm.
Composed.
"…Looking for something?"
—
The girl flinched.
Then turned.
Wide-eyed.
And stopped.
Completely.
Her gaze locked—
Not on Hisui's face—
But—
Lower.
…
There was a brief silence.
Strange.
Thick.
Hisui followed her gaze for a split second.
Then—
Ah.
Right.
She said evenly, "the lock is broken."
Her voice remained flat.
Unbothered.
As if she wasn't standing there half-dressed.
…
The girl didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Just stared.
As if she had forgotten how to function.
…
Hisui tilted her head slightly.
..
The voices outside snapped Kumi back to reality.
Her head turned sharply toward the door.
Footsteps.
Closer.
Too close.
Panic surged again.
Her eyes darted around the room—
Then landed on an open locker.
Big enough.
Barely.
That's it.
She moved instantly.
Then paused—
A split-second hesitation.
Do I leave her?
…
No time.
The footsteps were right outside.
Kumi grabbed the other girl's wrist.
Firm.
Unexpected.
Pulled her forward—
And pushed her inside the locker.
Then squeezed in after her, slamming the door shut.
Darkness.
Tight.
Too tight.
—
"What are you doing—"
The girl's voice was cut off.
Kumi's hand covered her mouth.
"Shh."
A whisper.
Urgent.
Breathless.
…
The changing room door opened.
Voices flooded in.
"Where is that bitch!?"
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Lockers rattled faintly as one of them kicked something nearby.
Kumi held her breath.
Every muscle locked.
Don't move.
Don't make a sound.
…
"Ugh. She's not here."
A pause.
Then—
"She can't run forever," another voice said coldly. "One day I'll catch her—and make sure she can't run again."
A chill ran down Kumi's spine.
…
Footsteps.
Fading.
The door shut.
Silence returned.
—
But inside the locker—
It wasn't silent.
Not at all.
…
Kumi stayed still, listening.
Making sure.
Waiting.
Safe.
Finally.
She exhaled.
Relief washed over her—
Until—
She felt it.
Heat.
Close.
Too close.
…
Her body stiffened.
Slowly—
She became aware.
They were pressed together.
Chest to chest.
Barely any space between them.
The other girl—
Still half-dressed.
Warm.
Real.
Right there.
…
Kumi swallowed.
Her gaze lifted.
And met—
Dark green eyes.
Clear.
Sharp.
Watching her.
…
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Kumi could hear her own heartbeat.
Fast.
Loud.
But—
That wasn't all.
Another rhythm.
Close.
Matching.
Not just hers.
…
Hisui didn't move.
Couldn't.
Because something else had taken over her senses.
Scent.
Soft.
Powdery.
Faint—but distinct.
It hit her all at once.
And stayed.
Her mind reacted instantly—
A strange pull.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Overwhelming.
It settled deep—
As if marking something.
Someone.
…
She couldn't look away.
Not from the girl in front of her.
Not from that feeling.
…
Kumi's breath grew uneven.
Confused.
Unsteady.
What is this…?
Her fingers twitched slightly, still hovering where she had covered Hisui's mouth.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
But something—
Was happening.
Something neither of them understood.
…
Hisui was the first to break.
"…Let me go."
Her voice was calm.
But quieter than before.
…
Kumi blinked.
Then suddenly—
Realized everything.
Her hand.
The distance.
The position.
"Oh—"
She pulled back immediately.
As much as the cramped space allowed.
Awkward.
Flustered.
…
They exited the locker one after the other.
Fresh air.
Space.
Distance.
…
Kumi turned slightly away, unable to meet her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I dragged you into this—"
Her voice steadied.
"I'll go now."
She took a step toward the door—
—
"Wait."
Kumi stopped.
Behind her—
Fabric shifted as Hisui finished putting on her shirt.
"Stay."
A pause.
"We'll check together if they're still outside."
…
Kumi hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Okay."
...
After changing, they stepped out of the locker room.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Hisui pushed the door open just enough to peek outside.
Empty.
Silent.
No footsteps.
No voices.
…
"I think they're gone," she said.
Kumi let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm really sorry. For everything."
She bowed her head slightly.
"And… thank you."
Her voice was sincere.
But her body—
Still tense.
Still unsettled.
…
Without waiting for a response, Kumi turned.
Ready to leave.
To escape.
To put distance between them.
—
Her wrist was caught.
Firm.
Warm.
"Not so fast."
Kumi froze.
Her breath hitched.
That same sensation—
Sharp.
Tingling.
Spreading from where Hisui held her.
Warm.
Confusing.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
…
"Tell me your name."
Hisui's voice was calm.
But there was something in it—
Intent.
Focused.
Unwavering.
…
Kumi swallowed.
"…Komukura Kumi."
She answered.
Quietly.
…
Hisui frowned.
Just slightly.
"…How come I've never met you before?"
—
Kumi blinked.
Confused.
"What…?"
"I remember everyone I meet," Hisui continued, her grip still steady. "Faces. Names."
A pause.
"But I don't remember you."
…
Kumi stared at her.
Unsure how to respond.
"…I just transferred this school year."
Her voice carried hesitation.
Like she wasn't sure if that was the right answer.
…
Hisui didn't let go.
Her eyes remained fixed on Kumi.
Still searching.
Still trying to place something that wasn't there.
…
"But that's strange," she murmured.
More to herself than to Kumi.
…
Kumi let out a small, awkward laugh.
"…Well, we just met today."
That should explain it.
Right?
…
But Hisui's expression didn't fully change.
That was the unsettling part.
…
Kumi shifted slightly.
"I really need to go now."
Her voice was polite—
But rushed.
"Sorry."
She gently pulled her wrist free this time.
And stepped back.
Creating distance.
…
Hisui didn't stop her again.
She simply watched.
As Kumi turned—
And walked away.
Faster than before.
—
What was that?
Kumi's thoughts spiraled as she moved down the corridor.
Her hand hovered over her wrist.
Still warm.
Still tingling.
"That girl…"
Her brows furrowed.
"…What was she even saying?"
A frown.
Then—
A sudden flush crept up her face.
"Was that a pick-up line or something?!"
She shook her head quickly.
"No—no way."
But her heart—
Still hadn't settled.
Still beating strangely.
Unfamiliar.
Unstable.
"That's… seriously weird…"
She muttered under her breath.
And walked faster.
As if she could outrun the feeling.