After the laughter and the easygoing chatter of lunch, the group dispersed, each heading off to their respective classes. Takuma and Miu walked together, their pace unhurried. There was a lingering warmth in the air from their lunchtime gathering, but the halls, now full of bustling students, made the energy feel more chaotic. Takuma caught a few curious glances from others as he walked with Miu, and he was reminded of just how much attention she naturally attracted.

As they entered their classroom, Takuma glanced around at his classmates settling back in for the second half of the day. He was used to observing things quietly, noticing the dynamics between people: friends catching up on weekend plans, the class jokers teasing each other, even the quiet students who sat near the windows, absorbed in their own worlds. This ordinary scene, though chaotic, was comforting in its familiarity.

The teacher walked in a moment later, and the class fell into silence as the afternoon lessons began. It was math—Takuma’s least favorite subject. He let out a small sigh as he opened his notebook, mentally preparing for what felt like an eternity of formulas and equations.

“Okay, let’s pick up where we left off last week,” Mr. Ito announced, scribbling an equation on the board with a determined look that made Takuma immediately nervous.

Miu, sitting beside him, gave him an encouraging nudge. “If you need help, just ask. I’m pretty good at math,” she whispered, flashing him a quick smile.

Takuma felt a surge of relief at her offer. "Thanks. I might take you up on that," he whispered back, trying to keep his voice low.

Class dragged on, and Takuma struggled to focus as Mr. Ito dove into complex problems. His gaze drifted over to Miu’s notebook, where her handwriting was neat and tidy, numbers and formulas organized perfectly across the page. She seemed completely absorbed, her pencil moving in rhythmic strokes, a small furrow forming on her brow as she concentrated.

Takuma felt a pang of envy. She made it look so easy.

"Takuma," Mr. Ito's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts, and he froze, his eyes snapping to the front of the room.

"Uh… yes?"

Mr. Ito raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Takuma's distracted expression. "Why don’t you try solving the next equation? Since you seem to be paying such close attention.”

A few students stifled laughs, and Takuma could feel the heat rise in his face. He hadn’t been paying attention at all. He glanced over at Miu’s notebook, desperately hoping to catch something useful, but the numbers blurred in his mind.

Miu leaned in, whispering under her breath, “Just isolate x first.”

He barely had time to process her words, but it was enough of a hint. Swallowing hard, he managed to put together a rough answer, scribbling it on the board. It wasn’t perfect, but Mr. Ito nodded, somewhat satisfied.

“Close enough. Pay attention next time,” he said, moving on to the next problem. Takuma exhaled in relief, slumping back into his seat.

"Thanks," he murmured to Miu, and she gave him a small smile, her eyes sparkling with barely hidden amusement.

“No problem. Though… maybe next time you should actually listen,” she teased quietly, her voice full of good-natured mischief.

Takuma chuckled softly, though the embarrassment lingered. “I’ll try. But no promises.”

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Takuma let out a sigh of relief. He leaned back, stretching his arms, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders.

But before he could fully relax, Aya approached, holding her notebook open. "Takuma," she said, with a grin, "need help with this?" She pointed at her notes, which were littered with the same complex equations they had been working on.

He glanced at her, then at the notes, and laughed, realizing she was teasing him. "No thanks, Aya. I’ll manage… somehow," he replied, rolling his eyes.

Kazuo joined them, nudging Takuma with a smirk. "Maybe you should just let Miu do your math homework from now on."

"Hey, I can learn," Takuma protested, though he couldn’t help but laugh along with them.

As they filed out of the classroom and headed toward their next lesson, Miu walked beside him, her expression thoughtful.

"You know, math’s just about practice," she said, glancing up at him. "If you want, we could go over some of it after school."

Takuma felt a mix of gratitude and surprise at the offer. Miu, ever patient and understanding, somehow always knew how to make him feel at ease. "Yeah… I’d like that. Thanks, Miu."

Their afternoon classes blurred together after that, a comfortable rhythm setting in as they worked through the last few hours of the school day. And as the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, Takuma felt an unexpected sense of contentment. It wasn’t just relief at the day being over—it was the thought of spending more time with Miu, of having friends he could laugh with, even if it meant enduring a little embarrassment along the way.

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As the final bell rang, a collective sigh of relief echoed through the classroom. Students began gathering their belongings, the usual chatter and clamor filling the air as they made plans for the evening or recounted the day’s events. Takuma stretched in his seat, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders after a long afternoon of classes.

Kazuo leaned over, tapping Takuma on the arm. “Hey, a few of us are going to grab some food. You and Miu coming?”

Takuma glanced over at Miu, who had just finished tidying up her desk and was slipping her notebook into her bag. He caught her eye, a question lingering in his gaze. She smiled and nodded, and Takuma turned back to Kazuo.

“Sure, why not?”

The group of them—Kazuo, Aya, Miu, and Takuma—headed toward the school gates, weaving through the bustling throngs of students also making their way home. The energy in the group was light and easygoing, the conversation flowing freely as they shared stories and joked with each other.

“So, where are we headed?” Aya asked, adjusting her bag on her shoulder as they stepped out onto the street.

“There’s that little ramen shop down the road,” Kazuo suggested, pointing. “Cheap, quick, and definitely filling.”

The others agreed, and they set off toward the shop, the streets starting to glow under the early evening lights. Takuma walked beside Miu, occasionally sneaking glances her way. She looked relaxed, her expression soft as she laughed along with Aya and Kazuo, who were bantering back and forth about who could finish a bowl of ramen the fastest.

As they reached the ramen shop, the comforting scent of broth and freshly cooked noodles wafted over them. They slipped into a booth near the back, squeezing in with Aya and Kazuo on one side and Takuma and Miu on the other. They placed their orders, and soon, steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of them.

Aya picked up her chopsticks, holding them high with dramatic flair. “Alright, Kazuo. You think you can beat me?”

Kazuo smirked, picking up his own chopsticks with a mock-serious expression. “I know I can.”

“On three,” Miu said, laughing as she counted them down. “One… two… three!”

Aya and Kazuo both dove into their bowls, the rest of them watching with amused smiles as they slurped and chewed with impressive speed. Takuma found himself laughing, the atmosphere infectious. Beside him, Miu was laughing too, her eyes crinkling with joy, and Takuma couldn’t help but think she looked… peaceful. Happy.

“Maybe we should’ve just ordered two bowls for them,” Takuma joked, earning a grin from Miu.

“Honestly,” she replied, shaking her head as she watched Aya and Kazuo go head-to-head.

The laughter and energy of their group filled the little ramen shop, a bubble of warmth and friendship that Takuma hadn’t expected but found himself deeply grateful for. As the evening wore on, they finished their food, lingering in their seats as they continued to chat.

Eventually, Aya stretched her arms, letting out a satisfied sigh. “Alright, I’m calling it. Kazuo, you win this time. But next time, it’s on.”

Kazuo grinned in victory. “I’ll be waiting, Aya.”

They left the shop, the cool evening air a sharp contrast to the warmth inside. Miu walked close to Takuma, the two of them quietly trailing behind Aya and Kazuo, who were still debating some trivial point about the ramen.

“Thanks for coming along,” Miu said softly as they walked. “I know this isn’t really your thing, but… I had fun.”

Takuma smiled, glancing down at her. “Yeah, me too. It’s nice being out like this… with friends.”

There was a pause, a comfortable silence stretching between them. Takuma glanced at Miu out of the corner of his eye, feeling an odd sense of peace just walking beside her. For a moment, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be.

Finally, as they reached a point where they would part ways, Kazuo and Aya waved goodbye, heading in one direction. Takuma and Miu exchanged a brief look, lingering in the quiet of the evening.

“Well, see you tomorrow?” Miu asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Yeah,” Takuma replied, feeling a warmth in his chest. “Tomorrow.”

With a last smile, Miu turned and walked away, her figure slowly disappearing down the street. Takuma stood there for a moment, watching until she was out of sight before turning to head home, the night air cool against his skin.

As he walked, he thought back on the evening, a small smile lingering on his face. It was simple, ordinary even—but it felt like something more. And that, he thought, was enough.

As Takuma entered the house, the familiar warmth of home washed over him. He slipped off his shoes and set down his bag, feeling the comfortable shift from the quiet streets outside to the inviting hum of his family’s home. Without much thought, he walked straight into the kitchen, drawn by the comforting aroma of something cooking.

“Takuma!” A voice rang out in excitement, and he barely had time to react before his sister, Hina, bounded into view, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. She was his age, but her energy made her feel years younger—and she wore it like a badge of honor.

“Back from the day’s adventures already, huh?” she teased, putting a hand on her hip and giving him an exaggerated wink. “Surprised you didn’t get stuck in one of those endless study sessions or dramatic love confessions in the hallway.”

Takuma sighed, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You watch too many shows, Hina. Real life isn’t like that, you know.”

“Oh, I beg to differ!” She stepped closer, poking his shoulder with a playful grin. “And if it is, you’re just too oblivious to notice. Right? Admit it!”

Takuma rolled his eyes, a hint of amusement breaking through his calm exterior. “Right… because everyone’s just waiting around in the hallways with flowers and love letters.”

She clapped her hands together as if he’d confirmed her point. “See! You get it now! So, any love letters today?”

He scoffed, but Hina just kept grinning, clearly having way too much fun.

“Fine, fine,” she conceded with a dramatic sigh, leaning against the counter as she stirred a pot on the stove. “Guess I’ll have to be content knowing my dear brother is living in a romanceless world.”

“Thank you,” Takuma replied dryly, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the wall. But his sister's infectious energy softened him up.

“Oh!” She turned to him, eyes wide with excitement. “You’ve got to taste this!” She handed him a spoonful of her cooking with a bright grin, as if daring him to be unimpressed.

Takuma raised an eyebrow but obliged, leaning forward to taste the spoonful. The flavor hit him all at once—warm, spicy, with a hint of sweetness. “Wow,” he admitted. “It’s… actually good.”

Hina clasped her hands together, looking dramatically proud. “Actually good, he says. Only the highest praise from my culinary-impaired brother.” She gave a mock bow, then laughed, her whole face lighting up.

For a moment, the two of them stood there, exchanging familiar smiles in the kitchen, the kind of moment that felt like home.