The classroom was quieter than usual that afternoon. The golden glow of the setting sun spilled through the windows, making the dust motes dance in the air. Most students had already hurried off to clubs or home, but Chika was stuck.
He had been caught trying to swap the salt and sugar in the cafeteria, and as a result, he was on "errand duty."
"Nuronami!" his homeroom teacher called out, holding a stack of graded papers. "Take these to the library. Kuroyami is there doing inventory. Tell him these need to be filed in the student records cabinet immediately."
Chika groaned, his shoulders slumping. He let out a long, loud sigh and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.
"Ugh, why do I have to go there?" Chika complained, crossing his arms. "The library is filled with books and other boring stuff. It's like a graveyard for fun."
"Less talking, more walking," the teacher pointed toward the door.
Chika grumbled under his breath, snatched the papers, and headed down the quiet hallway. His heavy boots made a lonely thump-thump sound against the floor. When he reached the library, he pushed the heavy doors open. The room was silent and smelled like old paper.
He looked toward the back, near the windows. That was Ishi's usual spot.
"Ah, there you are," he said, loud enough for Ishi to hear.
As he walked closer, Chika realized something was wrong. Usually, Ishi was like a statue—back straight, eyes locked on a book. But today, Ishi was slumped over the smooth table.
Chika slowed down. He reached the table and opened his mouth to shout something loud and annoying, but the words just wouldn't come out.
Ishi was fast asleep.
His head was resting on his folded arms. His famous glasses had slipped down his nose, hanging off one ear. Without the sharp glare of the lenses, his face looked... different. Softer.
Chika pulled out the chair next to him, moving quietly for the first time in his life. He sat down, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his hand. He just stared.
He noticed how long Ishi's eyelashes were and how his dark hair fell over his forehead.
Ah, he looks kinda pretty without his glasses, Chika thought.
The thought hit him like a sudden jolt. He let out a tiny, quiet gasp, his eyes widening.
What did he just mean by those thoughts? Ishi wasn't even a girl, so why...?
His breath got caught and suddenly, the last few weeks made sense—the constant teasing, the need for a reaction, the way he always looked for Ishi in a crowd. How it felt like if he didn't glance over at Ishi's desk for even one second, he'd lose his mind.
It wasn't because he hated the guy. He just couldn't let him go.
His heart started thumping hard against his ribs with this sudden realization.
'Then, does this mean I like... Like Ishi?' He thought, his eyes shaking for a second before they fell on Ishi's lips—slightly parted and quiet.
Chika didn't know why but before he could stop himself, he leaned down. Slowly. Closer.
The distance closed until he could feel the warmth of Ishi's breath and then, his lips touched Ishi's.
It was a soft, quick press of lips but it was all the contact Ishi needed to snap his eyes open.
For a second, they just stared at each other. Then, reality hit. Ishi's eyes went wide.
Thud!
Ishi pushed back so hard his chair barked against the floor. He scrambled back, his hand flying to cover his mouth. His entire face turned bright, hot red.
"You—!" Ishi choked out, his voice finally losing its calm, robotic edge as they trembled. "What... what did you just do?!"
...
Just before, Ishi had heard Chika when he approached. Even his footsteps weren't that hard to tell. They were loud, careless, and always heading straight for him.
But Ishi was exhausted. He had stayed up late studying, and his eyes felt too heavy to open. He figured if he just kept resting and didn't answer, the delinquent would eventually get bored and go away.
That was the plan, but then, he felt it.
A soft, quick pressure on his lips.
Ishi's brain completely froze. When he forced his eyes open, he wasn't looking at his desk anymore. He was staring right into Chika's wide, shocked eyes.
Thud!
Ishi pushed back so hard his chair nearly flipped. He scrambled away, his hand flying to cover his mouth. His cheeks involuntarily flushed, a bright, hot red spreading across his face.
"You—!" Ishi choked out, his voice shaking. "What... what did you just do?!"
Chika looked just as speechless. He stood there like a statue, his mouth hanging open, looking at Ishi in horror. It was like he didn't even know why he had done it himself.
"Why?" Ishi demanded, his heart racing in a way that made his chest feel tight. "Why would you do that?"
He looked at Chika, waiting for an answer, but the delinquent just kept staring at him with that same confused, panicked expression.
Ishi had always been good at ignoring Chika. He was the master of 'no distractions'. But as he stood there with his lips still tingling and his face burning, he realized this was one distraction he couldn't just walk away from.