(Kiyomi's POV)
By Wednesday morning, the air in Class 2A had changed again.
Not the heavy kind of silence like before — but the restless kind.
The kind that buzzes under your skin because everyone is pretending nothing is wrong, when in truth, everything is shifting.
Morning
Sakura: Did you see them walking together again yesterday?
That was Sakura, whispering way too loudly from her seat near the back.
Miko: I swear, they're always together lately (She said, flipping her ponytail).
Rin, Yui, and Chiyo leaned closer, forming the gossip circle that had basically become Class 2A's background soundtrack.
Rin: I even saw her smile when he handed her his notebook! (She whispered dramatically).
Yui: It's always about Minato and Kiyomi these days. They've gone from punishment partners to… I don't even know.
I froze mid-step, holding my bag tighter.
They didn't realize I was right behind them.
Then Sakura, the ringleader with a mischievous smile, tilted her head and said.
Sakura: Maybe she's finally falling in love — even though she always said she didn't believe in it.
The class laughed softly.
I walked to my seat pretending not to hear, but the words clung to me like glue.
When Minato came in, the whispers doubled.
He just smiled faintly, pretending not to notice, but I could tell — he noticed everything.
He sat beside me.
Minato: Rough morning? (He asked quietly).
I forced a small smile.
Kiyomi: You heard them too, huh?
He shrugged.
Minato: Let them talk. It means they have nothing better to do.
I chuckled weakly.
Kiyomi: Still… I hate how loud it feels.
He turned to me, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
Minato: Then just listen to my voice instead.
It was such a Minato thing to say — simple, soft, and somehow disarming.
I hated how easily my heart melted every time he said things like that.
Midday
Across the room, Akio sat stiffly, watching everything in silence.
For the past few days, he'd been quiet — not angry quiet, but the kind that comes when you're trying to fix yourself and can't find the right tools.
Hinata had been keeping her distance too, sitting with Asahi during lunch, laughing softly whenever he teased her. It was obvious that Akio noticed — but he didn't say anything.
Until now.
After lunch, I saw him standing near the stairwell, waiting.
When Hinata passed by, he called her name.
Akio: Hinata.
She turned, cautious.
Hinata: What is it?
Akio: We need to talk.
Her eyes flickered between him and the hallway behind him — empty, quiet.
Hinata: I don't think that's a good idea (She muttered).
Akio's voice wavered, but he didn't back down.
Akio: Why are you avoiding me?
Hinata's reply came slow, almost breaking.
Hinata: Because every time we talk, it feels like you're angry at me for something I didn't do.
Akio: I'm not angry (He said quickly). I just— I don't like seeing you with Asahi all the time.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Hinata: And why does that bother you?
Akio hesitated, words caught somewhere between pride and pain.
Akio: Because… it just does, okay?
Hinata crossed her arms.
Hinata: Then figure out what that means before you talk to me again.
She turned and walked away, her ponytail swaying sharply with each step.
Akio stood there for a long time, his jaw clenched, his chest rising and falling like he was trying not to shout.
I saw the whole thing from the corner of the corridor.
It hurt to watch. It hurt more to understand both of them.
After School
The day dragged on like an unfinished song.
When the final bell rang, I packed my bag slowly.
Minato waited for me by the door, his usual calm presence soothing the noise around me.
As we walked out together, Sakura and her circle giggled again.
"Look at them, acting like a couple already," someone whispered.
I wanted to say something — to fight back — but Minato just reached over and gently tapped my hand.
Minato: Don't (He said quietly). You'll only give them more to talk about.
So instead, I smiled — the kind of small, rebellious smile that said we don't care.
We walked home side by side, the sun low and golden, our shadows overlapping across the street.
For a moment, everything was quiet again — not awkward, not tense — just quiet in the way that felt right.
But deep down, I knew that quiet never lasted long in our world.
Because in Class 2A, even silence could start another story.
Sometimes love isn't about what you say out loud.
It's about what you choose to stay silent about —
even when the whole world is watching.