Kazuki couldn't sleep.
Not because he drank too much soda.
Not because Suguru was snoring in the next room like a dying walrus.
It was because of her.
That look in Aira's eyes before Suguru burst in.
That pause before she said whatever it was she wanted to say.
And Kazuki, cold Kazuki, the guy who always dodged this kind of thing... actually wanted to know.
"She was about to say something important," he muttered to himself under the sheets. "It wasn't just my imagination."
He turned over.
"Was it a confession…?"
His heart beat slightly faster.
No. That's impossible.
They were just childhood friends.
She was just being Aira—always impulsive, always kind, always unpredictable.
And yet… she did say:
"I wanted to be alone with you."
What normal friend says that?
Kazuki sighed and rolled again.
His phone buzzed.
[Aira]: Sorry about earlier. Suguru ruined the moment, huh? lol.
[Kazuki]: …What moment?
Typing…
Typing…
Typing…
Then she stopped.
No reply.
Kazuki stared at the screen. Something about that silence screamed louder than words.
He replied again.
[Kazuki]: If it was important, just say it next time. I'm not running away.
Send.
He regretted it instantly.
But he didn't delete it.
The Next Morning
Kazuki came to school early.
His mind was still a mess, but he pretended otherwise. He stared out the classroom window, headphones on, unreadable expression active.
Then Aira walked in.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
He nodded.
Neither of them said a word.
But something between them had changed.
And Suguru?
He waltzed in holding two rice balls and yelled, "Yo! Guess who got extra breakfast today!?"
Kazuki muttered, "The mood killer returns."