The world beyond the gym door remained hushed for a moment.
Saito Kagami held his breath.
"I like you. I've liked you for a while."
Ryouta's words lingered like static in the air.
Saito couldn't see them—could only hear their conversation faintly through the thin door—but he imagined Riko standing there, her hair slightly tousled by the summer breeze, eyes wide, uncertain. The Riko he knew would fumble in situations like this. She was confident when teasing, lively when surrounded by friends… but serious, raw moments made her hesitate.
A few seconds passed, but they felt like eternities.
"…Ryouta," Riko finally spoke, her voice quiet. "You're… really important to me. You've always been."
Saito's shoulders shifted just slightly.
"But…" Riko continued, slower now, "I don't think I feel the same way."
There was a pause.
"I figured," Ryouta muttered. "It was worth trying."
"I'm sorry," Riko added quickly. "I really care about you. Just not like that."
A chuckle. Soft. Wounded. "I knew. I've known for a while. But… you're starting to like someone, aren't you?"
Saito blinked.
There was no response from Riko at first.
Then, almost in a whisper, "…Maybe."
The gym door was cool against his back as he leaned against it now, mind calculating and heart stuck.
He'd known Ryouta was interested in her. That much was obvious from subtle cues—the way he hovered around her, his short glances, his small gestures.
But hearing it out loud. Hearing Riko's response.
Hearing that 'maybe.'
It shouldn't have meant anything.
He stepped back from the door, exhaled slowly, and returned the broom to the supply closet. His shift was over.
The following day was overcast. Rainclouds loomed, and the air was thick with the weight of weather.
In class, nothing seemed changed on the surface. Riko was still laughing with Mari and Kana. Ryouta acted like normal, talking with Shun, cracking jokes. But there were nuances—subtleties in timing, glances, word choices—that Saito caught.
She hadn't told anyone about the confession. Ryouta hadn't either. They were preserving a balance.
But Saito knew.
And now, he couldn't unknow it.
During lunch, Riko walked up to his desk.
"Kagami."
He looked up.
"Wanna go buy bread? Mari got the last strawberry milk and I'm on a mission to find something better."
"…Alright."
They walked to the school shop together. It was slightly quieter than usual, the weather keeping most students indoors.
As they stood in line, Riko glanced sideways at him.
"You've been kinda quiet since the break ended."
"I haven't had anything noteworthy to say."
She frowned. "You always have something weird to say. Now you're just… normal. Are you sick?"
He blinked. "No."
"…Okay." She looked away, twirling a coin in her hand. "But you can talk to me, you know. If something's bothering you."
Saito looked at her then. Really looked.
Her expression was the same one she wore when she gave him that sparkler. Open. Gentle.
"…Thank you," he said at last.
Riko smiled and nudged him with her shoulder.
"Let's find something disgusting like melon-pan. Mari hates those."
He allowed himself a small smirk.
That evening, alone in his room, Saito sat at his desk with an open notebook. He was supposed to be reviewing notes for class, but instead he stared blankly at a diagram of chemical bonds.
She didn't say who.
He knew it wasn't his business. He knew it didn't change anything.
But still.
Still.
He found himself scribbling in the margin of the page: "Unknown Variable = X."
He circled it.
Then crossed it out.
Then flipped to a clean page.