The next morning, the sky was overcast, a dull gray casting a somber mood over the city. Takuma trudged through the school gates, his mind still replaying the events from the previous day. His suspension from the dojo weighed heavily on him, and though he knew Mr. Tanaka was right, he couldn’t help but feel frustrated. He had acted out of necessity, but now it seemed like he was paying the price.

As he made his way to class, Takuma noticed the stares from students lingering longer than usual. Whispers followed him through the hallways like a shadow. He wasn’t exactly the most popular guy before, but now? Now, he was the subject of rumors. People were talking about the fight with Daichi, and no doubt exaggerating what they had seen. He didn’t care much for the attention, but he felt the weight of it all the same.

When he entered the classroom, his eyes instinctively sought out Miu. She was already seated near the window, her head tilted slightly as she gazed outside, lost in thought. Her long, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the morning light softened her features, making her look almost serene despite everything that had happened. For a brief moment, Takuma hesitated, his breath catching in his chest.

As if sensing his presence, Miu turned her head, her eyes locking with his. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, small but genuine. It was the kind of smile that sent a strange warmth through his chest, a flicker of something he hadn’t expected.

"Hey, Takuma," she greeted softly as he approached. Her voice was calm, but there was something in her eyes—something softer than before.

"Hey," he responded, sliding into the seat beside her. His mind raced with everything he wanted to say, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He settled for the basics. "Did you… sleep okay?"

Miu chuckled lightly, a sound that somehow eased the tension between them. "Better than I thought I would, honestly. I guess I’m still processing everything that happened."

Takuma nodded, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He could see the faint shadows under her eyes, the signs of exhaustion that she was trying to hide. "If you need to talk about it… I’m here."

Miu’s expression softened, and she reached over, placing her hand gently on his arm. The touch was light, almost fleeting, but enough to send a ripple through him. "Thank you, Takuma," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "For everything. I know I’ve said it before, but I don’t think I can say it enough."

Takuma felt a heat rise to his cheeks, and he quickly looked away, trying to downplay the effect her touch had on him. "It’s nothing," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. "You don’t need to keep thanking me."

But Miu’s hand lingered on his arm for just a second longer than necessary, her fingers brushing against his skin in a way that made him wonder if she even realized what she was doing. When she finally pulled back, there was a quiet, almost awkward moment between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt… familiar. As if something unspoken was beginning to settle between them.

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"Well," Miu said, breaking the silence with a playful smile, "you might think it’s nothing, but it means a lot to me. And to Aya, too. I think she’s still in shock that Daichi actually backed off."

Takuma grunted, shifting in his seat as he thought about Daichi. The guy had gotten what he deserved, but Takuma knew it wasn’t over. He had humiliated Daichi in front of everyone, and people like him didn’t just let that slide. There would be consequences, and Takuma would have to be ready.

As the day wore on, Takuma noticed Miu glancing his way more often than usual. At lunch, she sat closer to him than she typically did, her laughter ringing a bit more freely whenever they talked. It wasn’t anything overt, just small, subtle changes in her behavior. But Takuma felt it—like a shift in the air between them.

Later that afternoon, as the sun finally broke through the clouds, casting golden rays across the courtyard, Miu approached Takuma after class. Her usual group of friends lingered nearby, but she seemed uninterested in their chatter, her focus solely on him.

"Hey," she said, her voice a little quieter, a little more personal than it had been earlier. "Do you want to… walk home together?"

Takuma blinked in surprise. It wasn’t unusual for them to walk together, but this time there was something different in her tone. Something softer. He wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but Miu’s cheeks looked slightly flushed, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag.

"Uh, yeah," he replied, trying to play it cool despite the way his heart had suddenly started racing. "Sure."

As they walked side by side down the quiet street, the city’s noise fading into the background, Takuma couldn’t help but steal glances at her. The way her hair caught the light, the way her lips curved up when she smiled—it was all beginning to feel different to him. More significant somehow.

"So," Miu began, her voice light, "what do you think will happen now? With Daichi, I mean."

Takuma frowned slightly, his thoughts returning to the tension that still hung over him like a storm cloud. "I don’t know. I doubt he’ll let this go."

Miu bit her lip, her expression thoughtful. "I’ve been thinking about that, too. I don’t want you to get into more trouble because of me, Takuma."

"Trouble’s nothing new to me," Takuma said with a half-smile, trying to downplay his concerns. "But I’ll be fine. I can handle whatever comes next."

Miu stopped walking suddenly, turning to face him with a serious expression. "But you shouldn’t have to handle it alone."

Takuma froze, the sincerity in her voice catching him off guard. There was something in her eyes—something raw and real that made his chest tighten. Before he could respond, Miu took a small step closer, her gaze never leaving his.

"You’ve always been there for me, Takuma," she continued softly, her voice barely above a whisper now. "And I want to be there for you, too."

For a moment, time seemed to stop. The world around them faded, and all Takuma could see, all he could feel, was her—standing there, so close, her presence both calming and electrifying at the same time.

Miu’s gaze lingered on his for a second longer before she smiled, the tension in her expression easing. "Anyway, just… know that I’m here if you need me. You don’t have to go through this alone."

Takuma swallowed hard, nodding as his heart hammered in his chest. "Thanks, Miu. That… means a lot."

As they resumed walking, the conversation turned to lighter topics, but Takuma couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed between them. The subtle closeness, the way Miu seemed to gravitate toward him—it was becoming impossible to ignore.

And though Takuma wasn’t sure what it all meant, one thing was certain: things between them were beginning to shift, and with every passing day, the line between friendship and something more was slowly starting to blur.