Chapter Twenty-Nine: Too Close to Ignore
We were still watching Calvin and Mira disappear down the hallway, both of us quiet, like we didn't want to break the moment.
"That was… brave of her," I said softly.
Xavier hummed in agreement. "Yeah. She trusted him."
I turned to look at him—really look at him—and suddenly realized how close we were standing. The hallway light flickered once, the air oddly still.
Before I could step back, Xavier moved.
Not rough. Not sudden.
He placed one hand on the wall just beside my head, the other resting lightly at my side—enough to trap me there, but gentle enough that I knew I could move away if I wanted to.
I didn't.
My heart started racing.
"X-Xavier?" I whispered.
He leaned in slightly, close enough that I could feel his breath, his voice dropping so only I could hear.
"You know," he said quietly, "if someone confessed like that to me…"
My breath caught.
"I think I'd already know how I feel."
My back pressed lightly against the wall, warmth spreading to my cheeks. "And how would that be?"
He leaned just a little closer, stopping before it became too much, his voice barely a whisper.
"You're cute, Hinata."
That was it.
Just four words.
But they hit harder than any confession ever could.
My face felt like it was on fire. "Y-You can't just say things like that."
A small smile tugged at his lips. "Why not?"
"Because—because—" I couldn't finish.
He chuckled softly, then stepped back, giving me space again like he hadn't just turned my world upside down.
"Goodnight, Hinata," he said calmly, like nothing had happened.
And then he walked away.
I stood there for a long moment, heart pounding, mind spinning.
Cute?
I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to calm myself.
This wasn't slow anymore.
This was dangerous.
And I had a feeling…
Xavier knew exactly what he was doing..