Raichi waved goodbye to the Yamada sisters, putting on a wry smile. His heart was still warm from all the activities they did today. However, following his phone call, he felt a foreboding sense of dread droop over him. Hara's request to come over was echoing in his mind, and his concern grew by the second. Her voice was… flat, devoid of the cheer and hope it always had. This was not an unfamiliar sight, however. But something was evidently wrong, and his stomach tightened just thinking about it.

I just can't shake the feeling that… she needs me, badly.

The more he thought about it, the more worried he got. He slowly picked up his pace, eventually sprinting, determined to not let another second go to waste. Hara was always strong— but that was only what was on the surface. Raichi knew her long enough to recognize when she would be hurting. His heart was racing at the thought.

She—She must be waiting somewhere already! I need to get there, now! I think I might know exactly where she is…

He ran, ran, and ran. Finally turning the corner, and there she was, slowly coming into view. She was exactly where he thought she would be, right by the entrance to his street. Her figure was small, and she was slightly hunched over, the situation most likely weighing down on her shoulders. The pale glow of the sunset cast a shadow from above, her tears illuminating barely from where he was approaching.

''Hara-chan!'' He shouted, his voice cutting through the stillness, laced with concern.

Hara slowly lifted her head, their eyes meeting. Raichi's heart tightened, seeing Hara in such a sorry state. Her omnipresent happy energy was nowhere to be seen, replaced by an expression of gloom. The tears she didn't bother to wipe away slipped down her cheek, her eyes red.

Raichi immediately rushed to her, stopping in his tracks as he came up to her. Before he could tend to her, she spoke up.

''R–Raichi-kun…''

There was a brief pause, and Raichi took the initiative.

''Hara-chan…'' He said softly, putting his hand on her shoulder. ''What—What happened? Why would you wait here…?''

Hara sniffed. Sheepishly looking down on the ground, hugging her arms.

''I just… didn't know where else to go…''

Raichi moved his hand on her back, gently holding her as he signaled her towards his house. ''C–C'mon. We're going inside. Tell me everything.''

She obediently did as she was told, as Raichi guided her to the Sato household by the end of the street. Before they reached there, Hara had something to say.

''Wait— Wait a second!'' She put her hands up, telling Raichi to stop. ''I– I don't want a sweet lady such as Emiko-san to see me like this… please lead me to your room immediately after we enter inside…''

''If… If that is what you ask of me, then I suppose it's fine.'' Raichi nodded. ''Although… I want to know every detail once we are in my room, and that's an order, I hope you understand.''

''You got it…''

----------------------------------------

With Raichi taking the lead, he guided Hara to the path to the house. The household's front door creaked open to the welcoming warmth of home. Raichi couldn't help but glance at Hara occasionally, his heart still heavy with worry. She was hugging herself in a way that was meant to hold herself together, like a vase beginning to crack.

----------------------------------------

Inside, Emiko had been busy tidying up the shelves, a TV show turned on in the back for ambiance. Her eyes lit up as she saw the two take off their shoes. Raichi assumed his dad must be somewhere else, as he'd usually be the one in possession of the TV.

''Raichi dear! Hara-chan! What a pleasant surprise, you're back!'' Emiko put the items back in place and smiled cheerfully at them. ''Aren't you a little late from your trip, though? How did it go?''

Raichi flinched immediately. The realization hit that his mother was under the impression that the three-person outing with the two of them and Hiroshi was their reason for being so late.

He was thinking of how to respond, but before he could, he felt Hara's shoulders tighten and tense beside him. Her eyes darted to the floor, bamboozled. This ''trip together'' of theirs only added more fire to the strain on Hara's state. It was clear to Raichi that Hara hugged herself even tighter in response.

Raichi took immediate intervention. ''Um—Yeah, even if there were some changes, we'll be up in my room for a bit, is that okay Mom?''

Emiko blinked, taking notice of the tension's presence but not intending to push it any further. ''Of course, dear. I'll be here if you need anything.'' She said kindly, gazing slightly at Hara for a moment longer before quickly returning to whatever she was doing.

Raichi softly nudged Hara along the stairs. Her steps were slow and trembly, and her voice and breathing were slightly shaky. It was obvious she was rattled by the conversation that just took place.

As they entered inside, Hara took in the familiar surroundings of Raichi's room. Back in their old house, his room always had a faint, unique scent that reminded her of all the memories made inside. This was the first time she had entered Raichi's new room, or even new house for that matter. She recognized the furniture among other things. She stood there hesitantly momentarily, before quickly sitting down on the carpet, her knees pulled to her chest. Seeing Hara so… defeated, Raichi's chest tightened. He softly closed the door behind them, finding his place in front of her.

Hara stared at the floor, her thoughts clattered and distraught. Her voice managed to break free, however.

''Hey–Raichi-kun… that trip Emiko-san mentioned earlier… what did she mean by that? We were late… how?''

Raichi blinked, processing her question and realizing what she was saying. Hiroshi hadn't told Hara of their plan, or would-be plan, that is, and it slightly got on his nerves. To intentionally name-drop someone without even informing them seemed like something disingenuous, even if he never intended for Hara to find out.

Dang it, Hiroshi-kun! Breaking this news to her will just make her crumble even more…! What can I even do about this?

Raichi fumbled for what to say, eager to keep the pain minimal. His fingers clenched slightly, not only out of frustration but also guilt. He let out a small sigh. Coming to the decision that being candid and telling her the truth was the only acceptable and best path ahead despite being a little harsh.

''How—How do I say this…?'' He fidgeted with his fingers. ''Hara-chan… we kind of had this plan of ours… you, me, and Hiroshi-kun were supposed to go the mall today.''

Hara's eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. She silently kept her attention on him, letting him continue.

''But it seems… Hiroshi-kun didn't inform you, because… he had different plans. I couldn't really understand why myself…''

He fixated on the ground, unable to raise his head out of remorse. ''He wanted to… have me hang out with Yamada-san.''

Hara was left agape, her heartbreak only making Raichi's heart ache harder, the hurt flashing on her face. She tried to mask it, her success up to debate, the tension swirling further.

''Y-You… You're saying I–I wasn't part of the plan…?''

''N-No! Of course not!'' He rapidly shook his head in response. ''It wasn't like that… even to my knowledge, it wasn't. Hiroshi-kun set it all up as an act. By telling me that we'd be going to the mall, he got me to encounter Yamada-san and her sister. I'm… I'm sure you can tell what happened next…''

Hara hugged her knees even tighter, fighting her emotions, her gaze fixating back on the floor. A long silence settled in, a heavy, long silence. Raichi couldn't afford to look at her straight in the face, feeling concerned that he hurt her even further.

Hara managed to raise her voice again, slightly raspy. ''So you're saying… you–you spent the day with them… while I—!''

Her words trailed off. To Raichi's dismay, he didn't know of any way to fix this. This wasn't one of Hara's usual cries for comfort, ones that Raichi was used to, as he always knew how to be her confidant where it was needed. He felt a pang of guilt for his incapability, he could only stand there in regret.

Th-That jerk! Why would you mention her name like this, Hiroshi-kun?! I-I… I suppose I can't blame him too much, considering he wouldn't know that I'd inform Mom of our outing. But still—!

But just then, Raichi raised his face to the frail sounds of Hara hiccuping and her shaking breathing, bewildered. Her eyes finally gave in to the pressure she had been suppressing, and her floodgates opened. Tears silently fell onto her knees, and the floor, and trailed down her face. Every other second, her breath hitched. Raichi could see her shoulders as the embrace of her knees turned even tighter. Her breathing grew more uneven with each passing second.

Raichi attempted to reach out, the slimmest chance at comforting her. Before he could, however, Hara spoke up in between her hiccups.

''You—You were out there in the—mall, while I—'' She tried to wipe her tears away, futile however it seemed. ''While I— had to see my boyfriend— dumping me in front of my eyes—!'' She choked out.

Seeing Hara like this was… daunting for Raichi. She spoke in such a raw tone, a clear mixture of indignance, sorrow, and heartbreak. Everything she had been holding back rushed up to the surface in an overwhelming outcry.

Her tears started to fall faster and harder, her entire body shaking. She couldn't hold it any longer. Hara immediately limped forward, landing softly on Raichi's lap.

She didn't make any effort to get back up, oppositely, she buried herself into his lap in a tight embrace, her continuous sobs blurred out by the fabric.

Raichi's heart pounded, he stood there, his hands helplessly up in the air. He fretted over the right words to say. Thinking that his inability to support her inadvertently led to this, he clutched his fists in disappointment.

Should I have just… not told her of what happened at all…? I— I guess it is too late for that now… Perhaps the best thing to do right now is to simply…

Raichi thought as he placed his hand on Hara's back, gently rubbing her as she kept sobbing, hoping to alleviate her pain.

''Hara-chan… I'm—I'm so sorry… I'll be here, so don't you worry, okay?'' He said solemnly.

He was clueless as to what else he could say. But just maybe, his presence was more adequate than mere words of comfort. Her trembling body shook not only Hara but Raichi, too. But she clung to him anyway. Raichi didn't want to let her down. It hurt him deeply to see his best friend so heartstruck. He didn't want any more of it to linger.

Raichi continued to comfort her, maintaining his gentle strokes on her back, as Hara's sobbing slightly lowered its volume, which was probably a good sign. But her looming sadness still pressed him, urging him to keep it up.

Minutes passed, yet it felt like hours. Raichi glanced at the window, looking at the world outside, swallowing hard. He sat there patiently waiting for the moment to rest, quietly.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Raichi was making his way down his neighborhood, alone this time. Leaves were being blown around, and other students were making their way to school around him. He actually had willingly let down Hiroshi's request to walk together on this occasion. Hara had personally opted to walk on her own today, perhaps to put her emotions back together. He still couldn't get over what happened yesterday, it all left a mark on him that he wouldn't be able to put off for a while. His steps were slightly slow and heavy, the memories from yesterday replaying in his mind, tightening his shoulders. In the distance, a certain flowy chestnut hair was watching Raichi walk by.

Even if Raichi hadn't taken notice of her watchful eye, Yaori was also walking to school, and couldn't help but have concerns for Raichi, who didn't have company with him this time. She stood by the street corner, finding it unusual for him to be by himself. She had witnessed their chatting first-hand. Even in the background, Raichi would be within the moment. But Yaori was able to recognize the difference in his demeanor by now, the past days nurturing their growing bond. His walk was subdued, slower, and weighed down.

He had told me about his friends before… Hiroshi-kun and… Hara-chan, I think? But where are they…? Yaori thought, furrowing restlessly. I can't help but assume something bad took place…

She stood there for a while longer, contemplating whether she should keep him company, barely noticing the strong wind pushing against her hair. Some part of her thought that she would be intruding on his alone time, considering his appreciation for alone time, but if that were to be the case, he wouldn't appear so tense and distant, she figured.

W-Would he be okay with me joining him?

In the end though, she couldn't ignore the small urge inside of her to check up on him, to make sure he was okay. She bit her lip, gathered enough courage and sped up towards him, walking a hefty distance behind him, slowly closing that gap until she was near enough to call out to him.

''S–Sato-kun?'' She called out in her usual soft tone.

Raichi slightly slowed down, glancing over his shoulder. His slightly bewildered expression subsided into something more gentle and welcoming.

''Y–Yamada-san…'' He said, blinking a few times, as if to confirm she was really there.

Yaori fell into step beside him. Their footsteps tapped in sync as they walked. She turned towards him, smiling petitely.

''Good morning…''

''M-Morning…'' He said, gazing the opposite way shyly, which didn't go unnoticed by Yaori.

''I see that… you aren't walking with your friends today, did– did something happen?'' She looked up at him in concern.

''U–Um, I guess you can say that… not today. Something came up.'' He responded vaguely, but Yaori didn't want to pry, so she didn't push for more details. She nodded. Judging from the days she had spent with him these past days, she was able to deduct that it was one of those days that he needed some space, but she couldn't exactly tell whether he'd say no to her company.

''If–If it is alright with you…'' She inquired, her gaze fixed ahead. ''May I join you?''

Raichi glanced at her, a little surprised. But he felt comforted by her reassurance.

''I–I'd like that. Thank you.''

They comfortably walked alongside for a little while, occasionally darting his eyes toward the other students across the street, sensing some sort of whispering among them. But at the very least, the comfortable silence that came with walking alongside Yaori gave him a sense of peace. The distant chatter of the students, however, was a familiar sight that he just couldn't shake off. He could tell their mindless murmurs had turned into staring. Raichi knew Yaori's familiarity with such sight, and he was, too. Almost too familiar. He'd been through this before. The thought hit him like a punch in the gut.

I'd expect nothing less from people who have nothing else going on in their lives… They're staring, of course.

Raichi hadn't realized it, but he had been inadvertently getting frustrated, and it visibly showed on his face. His steps faltered for a moment, their footsteps getting out of sync. His past was recalled back in his mind, reflecting like a broken mirror, playing like a broken disc, in fragmented flashes. The sting of rejection, ignorance, and ridicule still present in his mind. Every watchful pair of eyes felt like the reopening of a wound. But he told himself to be strong, to ignore it. The pinnacle of resilience lay right next to him, after all. The ''Acing Bookworm'', at the top of her class, never yielding under such curious gazes. To his knowledge, she dealt with this every day. But today, something about those so-called curious stares was a little off.

''S–Sato-kun? A–Are you okay?'' Yaori cut the silence in concern, giving him a sidelong glance. ''You seem a little… disappointed.''

Raichi's eyes widened slightly, suddenly pulled away from his thoughts. ''Oh– sorry, Yamada-san… I was just… lost in thought.''

Yaori quickly glanced around, before turning back towards him.

''Have you… noticed what I have, as well?''

''A–Are you… talking about the curious people around us?''

''Yeah, you've clearly realized it, too.''

Raichi swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest at the realization.

''Well, you are a lot more used to this, are you not?''

Yaori sighed, continuing with an understanding expression. ''Well, it just happens. Expectations bring with it attention. But…'' Her face turned slightly sour. ''Something is… wrong with them this time. I think that… they're not only staring at me, but you too, Sato-kun.''

Raichi's stomach dropped at Yaori's words. He had paid attention to the ramped-up stares, but the statement coming from Yaori's mouth pretty much confirmed his assumptions. They weren't just curious as to what Yaori was doing, but scrutinizing and suspicious, about who she was with.

Curses.

He fixated on the ground, clenching his fists, suddenly feeling self-conscious and doubtful. He tried to mutter under his breath,

''Of course they are… after all, a nobody transfer student like me hanging out with the ace beauty of the class, it'd be out of the ordinary if people didn't get… suspicious. It was… bound to happen.''

Yaori's eyes widened at Raichi's condescending words, in a serious frenzy, she said.

''D–Don't say that—! Sato-kun… you're not a nobody… people might be curious, but that doesn't decide whether you belong or not. I… appreciate your company way more than you think.''

Raichi felt like his throat tightened, he wanted to believe, but his biggest insecurity still gnawed at him, every whisper, murmur, and glance made him feel like he was being judged, praying on his downfall. He forced a chuckle, trying to shake it off.

''I guess so… but I'm still kind of a stranger to all of this…'' He hesitated, his gaze still fixated on the ground. ''People judging me… as if I was on trial… I've been through it before. It's never been good.''

The last part slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He didn't wish to bring Yaori into his mess, but the reality of it was that he was terrified, terrified of what could and was to come.

Yaori glanced at him, her concern for Raichi hidden under a softening expression. She didn't push for more, sensing the heavy fragility behind what he meant to say.

''I see…''

And with that, the weight of Raichi's history was hanging between them unspokenly. That same pressure kept them silent for until they were within sight of the school gates. A chilling sense of dread loomed over him, crawling up his spine. However, he wasn't so alone this time.

----------------------------------------

Raichi and Yaori entered the classroom, and both of them could already see the focus shifting to them. He realized they had only fed the gossip more by entering the class together, as if putting on a show of display for all the gossipmongers to see.

With his gaze straight ahead and his head slightly tilted, he sat down on his desk, and Yaori followed suit, as the class's attention moved back to whatever they were doing.

Raichi watched as Yaori began unpacking her books, putting each material down one by one. She brought out one of the books she had been reading. As she opened the page she was at, the bookmark she used to show what page she was at made a slight sound, falling onto the ground. It fell right by one of her classmates' feet, touching it before twirling in its place, plummeting onto the ground, facing upwards at the classmate, the text on it open wide.

Oh no…!

The classmate who had seen it fall by him curiously picked it up. His eyes lit up for a split second, but it was short-lived, as the ugly head of his smirk reared itself.

'' 'Sato-kun <3 Yamada-san'... huh. Didn't know the class ace and the transfer were so close!'' The boy said, his voice had way more volume than the morning chatter the rest of the class had, as most of the classmates nearby turned their heads towards him and the item on his hand.

It seemed like the center of attention had found itself. The sharp sounds of a few desks turning rang throughout the room, the atmosphere in the room had suddenly shifted.

W—Why… did it have to be now? I–I refuse to see this happen again!

Raichi's heart dropped, and he entered a sudden state of shock. Yaori had an obvious concern on her face, arm lifted towards where the classmate stood, unable to say anything.

''Guess it just shows the rumors were based on something after all…'' The boy teased with glee, as the classmates soon started to approach them instead of watching from the sidelines.

Y—Yamada-san! Is she—?

Raichi immediately turned towards Yaori, seeing her body so tense, her hand shaking as it gripped the seat tightly, her face drained of its color. The painful sting that came with seeing her suddenly trapped in a corner, was unbearable. It hurt him as much as it hurt her to see her this way.

Some of the classmates had snickered, as their unintelligible whispers filled the room, but some had resorted to confronting the duo head-on, asking questions like some sort of news reporter, as if a group of hungry animals had circled their prey. Some had different intentions, while some were just curious. However, probably the worst of all the voices clashing was… the ones filled with jealousy, and spite, coming from those who had failed to connect with the Acing Bookworm. Even so, the detriment that came from those who were suspiciously eager to learn and those with malevolent envy weren't that far off. After all, curious or spiteful, this was not intended info for the whole class to know.

''A–Are you two a thing now, Yamada-san?''

''They do say opposites attract each other… didn't know you bagged the transfer student so early on, too!''

''Hey! That's not fair… how'd someone like you break through her silence, anyway?!''

Raichi felt his body freeze at the words that he could somewhat make out from all the commotion. His entire body was racing, trying to get a grasp on the situation. This—This can't be happening! He tried to make believe, to convince himself this was all just a nightmare. But no, it was reality, and it was all caving in his chest. He struggled to breathe, pinching himself in an attempt to wake up, as futile as it was. His chest tightened, and the reality sank itself in. He was frustrated beyond relief. This type of occurrence had left in him familiar wounds, now scars serving as a memory of what once took place. He was somewhat used to this, and as he glanced over to Yaori, he saw her pale knuckles, shaking, her face getting redder and redder. It all got deeply under his skin, crystallizing his decision. He was not going to let the comments go on any further— not to Yaori. She'd done nothing to warrant this scrutiny. She just wanted to keep to herself, and while doing so, she succeeded in her classes, which drew senseless attention to her. If anyone was going to be under the influence of the questioning and take the fall, he'd bear it for her. Hara's helpless crying echoed in his mind, reminding him of what he had failed to do.

I couldn't see Hara-chan's struggle and help her out… I won't let Yamada-san fall under anything on my watch! Even if I have to face what has haunted me for years, I will not hesitate!

The questions and snide remarks closed around him. Some were overwhelming and relentless, some condescending and contemptuous, and some merely eager to learn. The way Yaori and him were reacting was a testament to the stress that was washing over them. Everything that led to this spurred him forward, as he sprung into action, out of his seat, his palms clenched.

He rose up to face the crowd, the crowd that was badmouthing him right in front of him. He didn't bother to gather his thoughts, willing to say whatever was on his mind.

''Think whatever you want,'' he lowered his voice, his eyes piercing through the gathering, unwavering. He suddenly stopped the tension in the room, as everyone turned toward him in disbelief. ''If this is all you're interested in, fine. But leave Yamada-san out of it. I don't have a thing to say to whatever rumors you have in mind— I don't care. I was the one that suggested getting the bookmarks.''

The room was stilled, and his remark echoed throughout the room. But, to his dismay, it didn't work as intended. Some of them slightly shook in place, but the looks of envy and scorn now turned his way, as the ones who were just curious about the circumstance had been silenced by his standing.

''Oh? Bookmarks, you say? So you have matching little trinkets?''

That line especially hit him like a square punch to the gut. Every little thing about the bookmark had turned into contemptuous and outright insulting words, which now mainly targeted him. Being a closed-off transfer student with little to no familiars in the classroom made things even worse for him, as all the remarks were judging a book by its cover.

''So you're calling the shots, aren't you Sato-kun?'' One of them sneered. ''Pretty bold of you, the 'new guy', to claim on Yamada-san in such a manner.''

His stomach churned even further with each passing joke, banter, and conceit. He was now getting even more isolated, their once-twisted tones of jealousy were now biting down on him as insults. At this point, he just couldn't take it, he had become dismissive to the comments around him, his vision was blurring, the voices were getting muffled, losing his sense of self, as eigengrau was seeping through his vision, looking like he was about to collapse right where he stood. He had only amplified the tension, aiming it at himself. Yaori was looking at him like she was about to break down, seeing his sorry state, her hands in front of her mouth. Tears were leaking through, but she too was helpless, all she could do was watch. Each jab struck him hard, his upright tone now crushed into silence as if he was food being played on, the world narrowing around him. His legs felt weak beneath him. He held his hands up his head, trying to hold himself in one piece. He was slowly drowning in the endless red sea of gossip.

This—This room… is—is about to swallow me whole— Im—! I'm so sorry, Yamada-san!

Raichi thought, standing there hopelessly, about to give in to the last bit of understanding he had.

Just then— a familiar voice cut through the haze. His glimmering blonde hair swirled as he entered inside.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

''Oi! What's all this commotion about?!'' He yelled. His usual laid-back self was seemingly absent, looking a lot more serious.

Another familiar blue gradient subsequently entered the room right after him. It was Hiroshi and Hara. As soon as his eyes landed on the sight of Raichi and the circling murder of classmates, his eyes widened, and his heart sank. But he quickly brushed it off, putting himself back together.

''Hey now. That's enough, don't you think, Makoto?''

''Oh? Didn't expect to see you here, Hiroshi.'' Makoto quipped back at him. ''You know this guy?''

At Makoto's words, Hiroshi felt a frustration creeping up behind him, and he almost broke his calm smile, subtly gritting his teeth, before getting back to normal. Hiroshi vented his frustration by clenching his fists behind him.

''Whether I know Sato-kun or not… it is not okay to gang up on someone like this. Let this go, and give Yamada-san her bookmark back.'' He demanded, edging his frustration again. ''Now.''

Right next to him, Hara, had drifted her gaze towards Raichi and Yaori. Her eyes widened to the horror of a Raichi who was shaking, pale, and his hands on his head, looking like something straight out of a nightmare. Yaori was also standing there, helpless and pale, still holding her hands together, her eyes evidently soggy.

The whole class froze, bewildered. Most had settled down. However, Makoto and his group of friends seemed like they wouldn't back down. Hiroshi felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead, staring down at Makoto and his buddies, now furrowing. Makoto's hand, which had held Yaori's bookmark, clenched.

''You know it's not for you to play around with. Let the two breathe, would you?''

''Oh, don't be playing the hero now, Hiroshi. You can't blame us for being curious!'' Makoto said, but it clearly fell on deaf ears.

''Being nefarious would be more like it.'' His voice was steady, and firm.

''Uhh—!'' Makoto blinked, caught off guard by Hiroshi's direct approach. ''But—But you've gotta admit they're hiding something!''

''I agree. We're not kids, we know what we saw.''

''Yeah. There is no way they're just reading buddies.''

''See?'' Makoto added to his friends' argument, looking slightly nervous.''I mean… it's just obvious, is it not?''

Suddenly, another voice cut through the crowd from the door, irking them out.

''Obvious to whom?'' Haruki shouted from where he stood, narrowing his eyes. ''Why are you projecting things, anyway?''

Silence stilled the classroom, as Haruki fully approached where the classmates were, his footsteps loud and clear as he stood by Hiroshi's side.

''What? Cat got your tongue? Don't be acting all scorn to Sato-kun for no reason. That's not being curious, that's approaching the guy with the ill intention of interrogating him.'' Haruki pointed at him,

directly calling Makoto out for his irony. ''And don't even get me started on you not even considering how Yamada-san feels about you ganging up on someone close to her. You think she likes watching this right now?''

Makoto looked over at Yaori, who was busy holding her tears back, apprehensively avoiding eye contact. He reluctantly walked over to her, handing out the bookmark, guiltily looking down as he did.

Yaori slowly raised her head, using one hand to wipe away her tears, and another to anxiously grab the bookmark back from Makoto, her body shaking. She held the bookmark close to her chest.

Makoto's friends gradually sat back down in their seats along with him, and the tension distilled, almost entirely dissipated. If it wasn't for Haruki's commanding presence, the situation was likely gonna go south.

As the class went back to however it was supposed to be, Raichi sensed his vision returning to him, finally putting his arms down, and taking a deep, shaky sigh of relief. He sat down, almost limp, finally able to cool his head.

What—What… just happened…? He aimlessly looked into the distance.

Yaori glanced towards Raichi, quickly getting up from her seat, and offering Raichi a hand. She uneasily looked down at him, still shaken.

''L–Let's get outta here, Sato-kun…''

''She's right, buddy.'' Hiroshi put his hand on his shoulder, signaling him to take a breather. ''C'mon. You need to rest after all that, and ain't no way are you gonna do that here right now.''

Raichi looked back at him, still in a daze. He nodded weakly.

''You're… right.'' Raichi said, grabbing Yaori by the hand. The two followed Hiroshi's lead out of the classroom. He kept looking at the hand he was holding as he pursued them outside.

----------------------------------------

The three of them left the classroom, and Haruki and Hara followed. As they left, Raichi could feel his emotions building up. He felt… grateful, exhausted, and relieved. It was finally over. By the time they reached the hallway, Raichi couldn't bottle it up anymore.

''H–Hiroshi-kun—!'' He yelped out, his voice cracking. And before he knew it, he had thrown his arm around Hiroshi in an embrace, choosing Hiroshi as his outlet.''I… I was this close to—! This close to—''

''There there…'' Hiroshi returned the hug as he patted him on the back, momentarily surprised by the gesture. ''It's okay… I've got your back.''

''Th-Thank you… thank you so much, Hiroshi-kun…''

Raichi didn't let go. The words were stuck in his throat. He had too much to say. But for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't have to face all the scrutiny alone. Hiroshi and Haruki stepping in had saved him from being crushed under the weight of the contempt some classmates seemed to hold towards him. Yaori's heart was swelling with relief and gratitude as she watched the two friends hugging. She was still concerned for Raichi's well-being, however. She tried to say her thoughts, as Haruki came back from observing inside of the class. He had his arms crossed, satisfied.

''Take it easy for a bit. No need to rush back in there, okay?''

''You got it.''

Haruki entered back inside. As Yaori bowed her head in front of Hiroshi.

''Thank you so much, Kimura-kun.'' She said, grateful for their rescue.

''It was the least I could do, Yamada-san.''

Yaori smiled back at him, nodding. But she quickly turned her attention to Raichi, who just let go of Hiroshi's embrace. Her brow furrowed in concern.

''Hey, S–Sato-kun… I thought you were about to collapse back there…!'' Yaori said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She was fidgeting nervously. ''You–You looked like you were going mad… struggling just to stand. The way you stood there… I couldn't hold back my tears anymore…''

Raichi's lips twitched into a weak smile. His exhaustion and fear were palpable in his demeanor as he looked back at her.

''Truth is… I almost did—!''

Yaori's breath caught, her eyes immediately widened, and she closed her mouth in shock.

''My vision… it was— it was fading…'' Raichi continued, his voice low and shaky. He couldn't hold it in anymore, as tears started swelling up on his face. At the same time, once she heard Raichi's words, Yaori did the same thing. Her eyes slowly made way for more tears.

Without thinking, she rushed up to him, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him, pulling him tightly into a hug. She had seen him mention his weakness when it came to facing people, but to hear how close he was to fainting then and there… was too much for even her to bear.

'''I'm—I'm so sorry, Sato-kun—!'' Her voice wavered, her tears falling onto his shoulder, soaking. She kept speaking in between sobs. ''I–I should have joined in— Just maybe—maybe— it wouldn't have been so bad for you—!''

Raichi hesitated before putting his hand on her back. He mulled over what to say, sobbing just like her, trying to be careful of what to say.

''Y–Yamada-san… It's not—not your fault! You were going through it, too…''

''But—But still—!'' She tightened her grip, afraid to let go. ''I–I would have never—never… wanted to see you hurt like that…!''

Their throats tightened. They both held each other tightly, as their sobs grew louder, and tears dropped on their clothing, on the ground. They stood like that for a little while longer, at least until their crying had stopped. At that moment, Raichi felt that he was cared for, despite being the outsider he told himself to be. Hiroshi and Hara watched the two in silence, looking away in sorrow.

''Well— at last… it's over, Yamada-san…''

''Y–Yes– it's… it's over.''

----------------------------------------

Knowing they couldn't stand in the hallway for too long, when the bell rang, the four friends entered back inside. The classroom had already settled back into its usual rhythm. Despite the incident being done and over with, Yaori could sense some disturbance within Raichi. She could sense just how much the morning still weighed on him, his shoulders tensing every time a glance had come his way. His exhaustion and frayed eyes made his concealment fairly obvious, his eyes downcast in his desk. She had been paying attention to it covertly.

She nodded to herself, her determination flickering in her chest.

Sato-kun… I–I want to help him, even if a little.

Glancing down at her empty desk, she remembered the day Raichi had given her the book that had been her favorite for who knows how long, with a sign from the author. His expression was similar to that of that day: distant and slightly out of bounds. It felt… strange to see him like this again. She gathered her courage and turned towards him.

''S–Sato-kun… I think I… forgot my book today.''

Raichi blinked back at her, curiously tilting his head, slightly surprised. ''You–You… forgot?''

Yaori softly nodded, her cheeks getting dusted with a rosy shade, but she kept her gaze, smiling gently.

''I–I did… I don't really want to fall behind…'' She said, fidgeting with the edge of her seat as she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. ''C–Could I– sit with you this period?''

Raichi stared at her for a solid second before the realization hit him, processing her words, his heart skipping a beat or two. Raichi was familiar with Yaori by now, knowing her smile. But this time, it was like she had given him a different kind of smile. A steady, shy, and one reserved for him. There was a hint of confidence to it.

''O–Okay… go ahead, Yamada-san.''

He said as he helped Yaori move her seat, merging the two and making a double-sized desk. She had no hesitation settling in.

As the small gap between them closed, their shoulders were brushing. And despite putting on a brave, adorable smile, on the inside, she was extremely stirred. Looking down at Raichi's workbook, she tried to distract herself, only to meet Raichi's quick gaze.

She immediately turned away, but Raichi was able to catch the faint pink on her cheeks. When he understood what Yaori's intentions might be, he blushed lightly, looking down at his desk with an appreciative smile. His thoughts were interrupted.

''Th-Thank you,'' Yaori mumbled, smiling at him again. The same smile that seemed to be unfiltered just this time, unreserved, unlike the imitated smile she wore around others. As if, her usual carefully constructed mask was… shed, just for this moment. He gave her a genuine smile, his cheeks slightly warming up.

"No, um– thank you, Yamada-san."

And with that, the class had started. The entire period, Yaori had been unusually close. Their shoulders were touching the entire time, the balance between them felt like fragile glass, able to snap at any moment. But it never did. The murmurs in the class faded into the background, as Raichi finally felt the calm breeze for the first time today. His shoulders had relaxed, and his anxiety was now put to ease. He felt tethered by the warmth of her presence. He had gotten so comfortable, that he yawned, realizing his drowsiness, likely caused by the incident earlier this morning. He usually rested to spend time and let the class end. But this time, he truly wanted to rest a little.

He glanced at her, who immediately met his gaze. Before he said his mind, he looked away bashfully. Yaori, sensing that Raichi had something to say, murmured,

''Sato-kun… do you… have something on your mind?''

''Uhh—'' Raichi looked back at her, his eyes darting around. ''I-I'm going to rest for a little while… if that is okay with you…''

Yaori nodded understandingly, happy to see him willing to go to sleep as he always does.

''Sure– go ahead Sato-kun, I'll be right here.''

Raichi slowly put his arms together, leaning towards his desk and burying his head in his crossed arms, immediately getting comfortable. He could feel Yaori's eyes on him, but he didn't mind. If he was to be honest… it was one of the few eyes he wasn't against being on him. With Yaori watching over him, he let himself fall asleep.

As he drifted off to sleep, his breathing grew soft, but uneven. His fingers slightly trembling as they clenched, unbeknownst to him. In his dreams, he spun to find himself inside an eerie, hollow hallway. It was somewhere completely unknown to his imagination. Although, its cold, frigid atmosphere was somewhat familiar to him. The walls, floor, heck… every part of the ''hallway'', was made out of thick, see-through, slightly reflective glass, with seemingly no reflection of himself on the walls, despite being polished. The world beyond was… unsettling. It looked like the hallway was encased, and deep underwater, with a vast dark blue shade and gradient all around, except for the out-of-reach ocean surface up above. The light was beaming through the surface onto the hallway. Even being underwater, he was not safe from being observed, the fish around creepily looking at him, and passing along. There was a profound, nearly suffocating silence. He instinctively tried to get a sense of the walls, touching the slippery and cool glass surrounding him. As he started to walk through the hallway, he heard his footsteps echoing back to him. He was able to see beyond the endless maze of the glass hallway, seeing it go on for miles and miles. He kept walking, and walking, and walking.

''Wh—Where am I?!'' He yelled into the infinity of blue nothingness, stopping for a second. ''I-I gotta get out of here…''

He took another step forward, meeting a sudden, terrifying feeling of absence on his feet, as he fell right through the floor into the boundless ocean, slowly being swallowed whole. He let out a frit gasp before falling.

He was spiraling downwards, petrified. He moved his hands up and down, flailing his legs like a drowning mammal. The blue darkened around him as he tried to scream, his cry for help muffled by the water flooding in. He sank further and further.

''H—Hel-p me—!''

His desperate attempts at swimming failed. Soon, he let go of his legs, miserably raising one of his arms, trying to reach for the light that was slowly fading out of sight. He struggled against the sharp pain in his chest, the muted yet distinct sounds of his air bubbles coming out of his nose and mouth. But then— he was awoken with a sharp–frantic inhale and exhale, finding himself back in the classroom.

He slightly flinched as he woke up, vividly shaking the combined seat. Still out of breath, he raised his head from his arms, looking down at his desk as he processed the closure of his nightmare. It seemed like they were on a break. He blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the disorientation. He turned his head, seeing Yaori standing close by, looking down at him in deep concern.

''S–Sato-kun, thank goodness… I was so worried…'' Yaori said softly, looking slightly afraid as she pointed at his hands. ''Your— your fists… they were clinched so tightly in your sleep… you kept jumping for a while, too…''

Raichi blinked in confusion, barely feeling any pain anywhere Yaori mentioned. But as he lowered his gaze down to his hands, he saw the deep, pale creases that had been left on his knuckles by his stiff clenching. His fingers uncurled slowly, and as he did, he felt… a slight warmth resting lightly on one of his hands— Yaori's. Her bare, snug hand had held his in hers. His hand must have been left quite bloodless, as her hand's heat was immeasurable compared to his. His pulse quickened as he dissected over his hands, he couldn't help but do the same with Yaori's, seeing her dainty, tiny nails. The touch anchored him where he was, especially after the unsettling, traumatizing… vision, or whatever it was.

Yaori, sensing his gaze, gave him a reassuring smile as she pulled her hand back. However, the heat of her touch lingered, leaving a sense of absence in its wake.

Raichi stared at his whitened knuckles, a pang of distress and embarrassment tugging at his face, his eyes slightly shaking as he kept looking at them. He was still slightly tense from what happened in his head earlier, how unnerving it was. That helpless feeling of sinking, reaching out only to grab absolutely nothing.

''S–Sato-kun… I–I think you should stay awake for a while—!'' Yaori muttered firmly as if she was making a forceful suggestion. ''I would— I would be worried sick if you slept again…''

H–Huh?

He thought, his defenses down for the unexpected statement of consideration. He glanced up to see her immediately turn away, her cheeks blushing slightly. It was likely that she realized the implication of what she just said, her face softened in embarrassment. He saw her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Her growing concern for him, and her tender gaze and voice when talking to him had him flustered, but also indebted for the unexpected support. He smiled softly.

''Th–Thank you, Yamada-san… you're—you're right. I should start taking some class notes right about now, anyway…''

''I–I was just… watching out for you, y'know…'' Yaori turned back around, her hands touching each other in a stuck-up fidget as she gazed at him. ''I couldn't see how hurt you were this morning… I felt like I needed to make up for that…''

He got even more flustered at the sight of a bashful Yaori. He thought that he was the one who was supposed to watch out for the other, that feeling of owing something more than just mere items or symbols to somebody special. Turning away, he mumbled under his cute pout,

''D–Don't say stuff like that with—with such a face…'' Raichi said, still turned away towards the wall, red as a tomato. ''It's— making me get all flustered…''

''O-Oh! I'm–I'm sorry!'' She yelped out in a whisper, immediately diverting the other way, her face getting redder and redder.

Once the fluttering feeling had been laid to rest, she smiled to herself, absolutely elated. Elated, to have Raichi on the ropes, blushing as much as he did when talking to her. It made her feel special to be the only one to unveil the true Raichi behind the stoic, uncaring mask. He was a gentle, sweet boy, caring and brave enough to face his biggest fear and insecurity for someone he held dear. He was valiant enough to let himself crumble beneath what he feared most so the valuable person wouldn't have to bear it. To have gained the uttermost trust of Raichi, and to be able to give that same trust back.

----------------------------------------

As the entire class was eagerly awaiting for the lunch bell to ring, anticipation began to set in Yaori's head. She had been waiting for this moment ever since they parted ways this weekend after the mall trip. A one-on-one, private lunch with Raichi. She brightly turned towards him, trying to see from his face whether the rushing feeling was mutual. Raichi noticed her gaze, bashfully, he looked away, confused. And that was when the bell rang.

The majority of the class immediately rushed towards the door with the teacher's dismissal, reminding the class to do their homework before taking her leave. Yaori blinked in merry uncertainty as she put Raichi under her adorable scrutiny. Raichi had never struggled this much against Yaori's charms till now, but something within her just suddenly made her so appealing today. Perhaps it was her welcoming consolation that came with today's events, he didn't have a clue why though. She had particularly given Raichi a lot of attention on this occasion.

Yaori slowly leaned over, taking a small breath of courage before speaking up.

''Sato-kun… I assume you haven't forgotten, have you?''

Raichi blinked in surprise, thrown off momentarily. But he quickly caught on. The promise that they had made to each other before. They were supposed to have lunch together today. He couldn't lie, he was really looking forward to it. He had never thought he'd see himself taking something as little as a simple lunch so seriously. Although, today's stress was likely so overwhelming that he had to remind himself of it.

His lips hinted at a smirk.

''Forgotten…'' he feigned ignorance. ''I would never forget something so… memorable.''

Yaori raised an eyebrow. She suppressed her chuckle with a gentle smile. ''Thank goodness… I'd hate to think you weren't as excited as I was…''

Their brand new connection, which had been flowing way better than it used to, and with such ease, suddenly turned rather baffled. Their minds were likely in sync at this moment, as the realization that they didn't have anywhere to go for said private lunch dawned on them. They looked at each other with a disappointed expression.

''Um– Sato-kun… we don't know where to eat lunch, don't we?''

''Ye-Yeah… I'm guessing you also had forgotten that…''

''I–I did…''

The looming awkward silence was imminent. And it was something both of them would rather avoid. Luckily for them though, a two-winged savior was watching their conversation, of course with the smuggiest of grins. This— challenge of finding a special spot was no struggle for the likes of a student council member, Hiroshi. As a model student, somehow, a model student, he had a lot of privileges as a member. Not only would this help his matchmaker-oriented goals of getting the two bookworms to interact and connect, but it would also help them out, two birds with one stone. Er- in this case, two worms with… one piece of apple…? Literally.

''Looking for a spot, eh?'' Hiroshi turned back towards them from his seat, hands in his pocket. ''I know just the place, y'know…''

''Hiroshi-kun… you do?'' Raichi blinked, turning his attention toward him. But slightly getting frustrated as he realized, ''Wait… that means you were eavesdropping on us!''

''Well— uhh— never mind that…!'' Hiroshi said, clearly enjoying Raichi's exasperation with a playful grin, as Yaori curiously listened to him. ''Yamada-san probably knows already… but I'll have you know I am in the student council… and the council room just so happens to be free during lunch.''

Raichi and Yaori looked back and forth at each other, Raichi's face stiffening with uncertainty as Yaori's eyes lit up with intrigue. Raichi was indecisive about the offer, as he knew what kind of shenanigans Hiroshi liked to get up to. He was conscious of Hiroshi's plans with the wingman's mantle, and his instinct told him to at least have some doubt in it.

''Y'know… that offer seems almost too generous… what do you have in mind, Hiroshi-kun?'' Raichi said, taking on a more neutral pout as he stared Hiroshi down.

''Hey, I am just trying to help a brother out…'' Hiroshi said, putting his arms together with a taunting scoff. ''If you really don't believe me, then I'll even come along.''

Yaori's face lit up even more at his words for whatever reason, and she spoke up avidly.

''That–That sounds perfect, Kimura-kun! We'll gladly take you on your offer…!''

''See? She gets it,'' Hiroshi raised his eyebrows up and down sarcastically, his smug expression still vivid. ''C'mon…''

''Fine, fine… ugh.'' Raichi accepted reluctantly.

''Hooray! You won't regret it…!''

Hiroshi said, his enthusiasm bubbling up as he led them out of the classroom into the bustling halls.

At first, everything seemed normal. Raichi and Yaori brightly followed closely after Hiroshi's carefree stride. Until… his fear of going back into those sharp-eyed corridors and unwanted memories quickly overshadowed and dimmed that fluttering of excitement. His gaze promptly drifted downwards, his expression slowly darkening. The halls weren't too crowded, and the group of students that were there didn't entirely stare at them either. But the random absence and reappearance of their glares is what really caused his insecurity and the paranoia that came with it, a never-ending, self-perpetuating cycle. It was something that he just couldn't shake off. In the past, those who had been engraved into his mind— would sometimes talk to him normally, which was very peculiar. The next moment, their tones would be that of… sarcasm, with an underlying dose of deprecation. They were friends on the surface, but sometimes— they would just be straight up cretin. He would either be invisible to those around him or put on a label fitting that of a distant, faraway weirdo. These new faces had been rather direct with their vicious ways of reference, which buried him back underground, into his own safe bubble.

Yaori could sense the shift in the atmosphere, and her own cheerful anticipation gradually turned into a silent sense of disquietude. She could make out Raichi's shoulders, which were tense again. His attempt at avoiding raising his gaze didn't go entirely unnoticed. She furrowed at him, and Raichi didn't even bother looking back. It couldn't be any less obvious. Hiroshi immediately caught Yaori's assuring glance, nodding back at her.

Oh, Sato-kun… hang in there… I don't know what is weighing you exactly… but I can make a sense of it.

And finally, they reached the doors of the student council room. Hiroshi slowly pushed it open, letting the two go through first. He kept up his casual demeanor, which was likely artificial. His expression had a seriousness to it.

Yaori glanced around the room, taking in its surroundings. There was a vibrant and simple couch and a practical dining table. A comfortable and small, old-fashioned kitchen was standing to the left of the door, with essential kitchen supplies present. Everything inside was placed accordingly in a specific way to face the window, which didn't draw any sunlight during this time of the day. It also had air conditioning. There were various portraits on the wall, which caught Yaori's attention. Children were posing, in a fitting, red and white themed sports clothing, holding a trophy in their hand. Another one had some students bowing down together on stage, likely a play organized by the student council. They were likely memorial heirlooms passed down from each group of student council members as the years went by.

Hiroshi looked at the room with a prideful smile, but briefly gazed at Yaori, nodding before Raichi saw him doing so.

''Well—I'll have to get food of my own, so… I'll go to the cafeteria to get some. You two can dig in without me, aight?'' He said, stepping aside and walking to the door, backward, grinning lightheartedly.

Yaori nodded back at him solemnly, understanding the gesture with the go-ahead.

''Y–You got it, Kimura-kun…''

''Enjoy your lunch.'' He said, before the double door clicked shut.

The click of the door made a gradual way to apprehensive silence, as neither didn't sit down right off the bat.

Just as Yaori was about to indicate for Raichi to take his seat on the couch, he walked toward it like a zombie and sat down. Her hand stood frozen in the air momentarily before she followed suit.

Yaori glanced at him. But to no avail, he kept his gaze focused on the table as he unpacked his bento. His movement was grounded, and even after he started eating, his appetite was slowly fading. She watched him thoughtfully as he was munching down with precise movement. There was no light in his eyes— as if he were biting down on his sanity. The Raichi she knew with a gentle spirit had been shut down in his place. Or perhaps he was simply fooled into doing so by his own mentally raptured head. He could hardly bring himself to eat.

He occasionally raised his head, his eyes widening for a second before bringing it down again. Every time he looked at her, his vision flickered back to the Yaori he had seen hours ago. The Yaori that had gotten pale, fear-stricken. Her frail, vulnerable image was gnawing at his mind, unable to unsee it, his body aching at the thought of seeing her in such a state again. Like some sort of film reel being played over and over. His breathing had grown shallow. They both had been backed into a corner,

He didn't even have a clue, but he was staring at her the entire time, visibly shaken.

''S–Sato-kun… are– are you alright?'' She said, concerned about his well-being. ''I'm here…''

His repeating film came to a sudden stop as Raichi shook it off, her voice almost breaking him, shattering what little composure he had left. He looked back up, dropping his chopstick on the table as he gathered his thoughts. But the words just caught in his throat. All he could muster was subtle drops of tears. The memories he had fought to bury resurfaced like the undead, all because of his recklessness when talking to her, he thought. And now, he sadly brought himself down with her. Everything he had been bottling up came bursting through, the thorns of his guilt, the vines of his lack of self-understanding, and the root of it all… gossip. His biggest insecurity was now right in front of him. He couldn't take it anymore… despite saying it was over back in the hallway, it just couldn't be easier said than done. He tried to keep it in check, but Yaori's innocent look of consideration in her eyes made it hard to look at her again. It reminded him of their first meeting… the same look she had given to him when he entrusted her with Miyamoto-san's book. He tried to stay strong– for her. But in the end, he couldn't hold a candle to the untouchable and tenacious Yaori's resolve when it came to dealing with popularity. He had weaknesses. His old scars, had not even healed properly.

Raichi forced out a shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper.

''I—I'm not alright, Yamada-san… I'm far– far from that—!'' He wiped his tears, struggling to speak. ''It–It's happening again!''

Yaori shifted slightly, her concern deepening as she leaned in. Her eyes were a little teary.

''The–The stares and whispers I had tried to ignore for– for so long…'' Raichi choked out, his voice getting raspier. ''They never– never went away—! I used to tell myself– that strangers' opinions didn't matter to me…''

Yaori reached out, putting her hand on his shoulder. Her fingers tightened as she used her other hand to cover her mouth. Raichi kept bawling his eyes out, his crying had gotten even more intense as he kept talking in anguish.

''It is because of that– that I—! I got labeled… labeled without ever knowing who I was myself!''

''S-Sato-kun…''

He clenched his fists, forcing himself to finally face her, willing to drop the weight he had been carrying on his chest for so long.

''I–I tried to be more… I tried– to get along… I got tossed– given an identity I never asked for to begin with— And now, they're– they're turning their eyes on you too, Yamada-san…'' He put his clenched fists on his chest.

''S–Sato-kun, I'll… I'll be fine–'' Her words were cut off.

''I–I don't want you to go through what I did– Yamada-san! And all— and all because of me…''

His last words hung in the air, trembling Yaori, shivering her in place. His tears welled up even more, as most of it fell freely onto the couch. They both looked at each other in disbelief. But most importantly, as she moved closer, Yaori's eyes were brimming. Seeing Raichi in such sight— was painful, and gut-wrenching. She was finally able to conceive his pain, and the truth hurt deeply in a way she hadn't expected. His voice was filled with such raw doubt. She couldn't let it linger any further.

She dropped her hand from his shoulder as she cupped hers with his. Her sudden gentle grip gave Raichi a reason to pause.

''—Sato-kun. Don't— Don't say that!'' She scolded, her tone full of sorrow and pity, trembling at the edges. ''This is– no– This was never because of you…''

Raichi searched for her face, dumbfounded. He blinked, burrows furrowing as her fierce tone and gaze caught him off guard.

''It is just that… things– things just happen!'' She said as she wiped off the tears on her cheeks.'' People— will just have things to say— and we can't do much against it…''

She raised the hands she held cupped together, looking Raichi dead in the eye.

''But– That doesn't make it any more true—! And it– it doesn't mean you deserve it—''

Lowering her gaze, she gathered her thoughts, unable to put what she intended into words momentarily. She then stiffened her hold, adamantly looking back up at him.

''You're— You're not some label, Sato-kun!'' Her sobbing intensified. She stopped wiping the tears she was holding back. ''You're… kind– and the most genuine person I've– I've ever met! You care so much about me that… you would rather put yourself in the line of danger– all just to protect me!

Her voice cracked as she said those last few lines. She swallowed audibly.

''Back– Back when we first met– days ago. When you… gave me Miyamoto-san's very signed copy– it made me very… very happy! It must have been your most valued possession… and yet– you gave it to me… because you knew it would make me happy. That kindness– is why I wanted to be friends with you…''

''...Y-Yamada-san–''

''So– Please! Don't– Don't drop that smile of yours that I love to see… Don't– Don't blame that kindhearted nature of yours that was willing to see my safety through and through–! You're… You're not a burden!''

Silence took over the entire room. Raichi's heart was swelling, and he felt a feeling that he hadn't felt in such a long time. That warm– yet fuzzy feeling of being cared for by a friend. He was unable to really get through to his two friends about how he felt for so long. He had thought that the past was the past— that he truly didn't care about strangers' opinions anymore. But that was… a lie. His newly beloved relationship with Yaori was trivialized, and of course, it bothered him. It wouldn't be normal if it didn't. A private relationship that he held in such high value, was seen as a mere talkabout for everybody around. It was sickening, and it was like a dirk, headed right for his heart. People had no respect for his private life, and that broke him. To finally see someone there for him, he was forever grateful. But suddenly, without another word–

Yaori wrapped her arms around him, putting her head on his shoulder in front of him. She pulled him into her embrace. He could feel one of her hands gently resting on his back, and the other draped across his shoulder. He let out a shuddering breath in response, finally relieved as he let all the tears that he had locked away out, his sobbing was as intense as it could get, it was only downhill from here.

''Ya–Yamada-san…!'' He muttered in between his sobs, leaning into her embrace.

Her touch was… soft. The warm feeling he felt slowly eased his pain as he could turn on the valve for once. Yaori had managed to be the first person to ever seep through his defenses.

''I–I… don't know what to say, Yamada-san…''

''But– I know what I have to say, Sato-kun…'' Yaori muttered into his shoulder. ''That trust you have in me… I'm going to— going to give it to you ten times back. I want you to know… you're allowed to feel hurt, okay…?''

''O–Okay.''

''Because… it hurts me equally… to see you this way.''

Raichi simply nodded, both staying that way for a little while. They enjoyed the silence that remained, and the tears that had finally been let loose, alleviating the chip in Raichi's shoulder that had haunted him for years.

----------------------------------------

All the while… a certain gold hair was watching on the other side of the council doors… attentively listening to whatever just took place inside. Although now, all he could hear was the tinkering of chopsticks and the bright sounds of chatter. He was holding his hand on his face, rather exasperated.

''Oh— Raichi-kun… I've achieved my victory… but at what cost?'' He muttered, slightly disappointed, yet content. ''Why… why wouldn't you say anything, you idiot?''