(Monday — Lunch Break | Kiyomi's POV)
I stood up from my seat.
The chair scraped loudly against the classroom floor, but I didn't care.
My chest was still tight from everything that had happened that morning — the whispers, the pointing fingers, the empty seat where Minato should have been.
There was only one thing left to do.
Get answers.
I stepped away from my desk, heading toward the ringleader of gossip in my class.
Sakura.
But just as I took a few steps, Hinata appeared beside me.
Hinata: Where are you going?
Kiyomi: I want to get to the bottom of this. I want to know how it got out. I'm going to meet Sakura.
Hinata didn't hesitate.
Hinata: I'm coming with you.
I turned to her.
Kiyomi: Are you sure?
Hinata nodded firmly.
Hinata: They'd likely be in the cafeteria.
I nodded slowly.
Kiyomi: Let's go there.
The cafeteria was loud as always.
Students filled nearly every table, talking, eating, laughing.
But the moment Hinata and I stepped inside, the noise dimmed slightly.
Eyes turned.
Whispers followed.
But I ignored them.
I scanned the room until I saw them.
Sakura and her gang.
Sitting together at their usual table.
Hinata and I walked straight toward them.
Sakura noticed us immediately.
A sly smile spread across her face.
Sakura: Look who it is… Kiyomi.
She leaned back in her chair casually.
Sakura: What brings you here?
I stood in front of the table.
Kiyomi: Nothing much. I just want to know who gave you the tip about the stuff about Minato and I.
Sakura burst into laughter.
Her friends followed.
Sakura: And why should I tell you?
I folded my arms.
Kiyomi: I know how the gossip system works, Sakura. If you tell me who it is, it'd cause conflict… and give you guys more news to spread and gossip about.
Sakura's smile faltered slightly.
Hinata stepped forward beside me.
Hinata: And I know you want to take down the Gossip Queen.
Sakura raised an eyebrow.
Hinata continued calmly.
Hinata: And this is the perfect opportunity to become that by getting the news before anyone else.
Sakura leaned forward.
Her eyes gleamed with interest.
Sakura: Hmmm…
She glanced at her gang.
Sakura: Give us a moment to talk about it.
Hinata and I stepped back slightly.
The girls huddled together, whispering.
Glancing at us occasionally.
Minutes passed.
Then finally, they turned back toward us.
Sakura smiled.
Sakura: Nice game you played there, Hinata… and Kiyomi.
Hinata flashed me a small smirk of victory.
Sakura: Fine. We'll tell you.
My heart began pounding harder. Tension built inside my chest.
Sakura: It was…
She paused dramatically.
Sakura: It was… Akio.
It felt like the world stopped.
My vision blurred.
Hinata gasped softly beside me.
Hinata: Akio?
My voice came out weak.
Kiyomi: It's… it's a lie.
I shook my head slowly.
Kiyomi: You're lying.
Sakura shrugged.
Sakura: Akio gave me the news.
Kiyomi: You're lying!
My voice cracked in disbelief.
One of Sakura's friends — Miko — leaned forward.
Miko: She's not lying. We gossipers don't lie or say fake things because our news aren't fake.
She smirked.
Miko: We're true to our words. And so are our news.
My chest tightened painfully.
Kiyomi: Akio…
The name left my lips like a broken whisper.
Before I realized it… tears were already rolling down my cheeks.
Hinata gently held my hand.
Hinata: Let's go, Kiyomi.
Her voice was soft.
Hinata: We might draw attention if we stay here any longer.
She slowly guided me out of the cafeteria into the hallway.
The hallway felt even louder now.
Students stared as we walked past.
But I barely noticed them.
Sakura's words kept echoing in my head.
"Akio gave me the news."
My vision blurred again as more tears rolled down my cheeks.
Why would Akio do such?
The question repeated in my mind over and over.
Hinata and I walked back toward the classroom.
I didn't want to eat in the cafeteria anymore.
So we decided to have lunch in class. And Hinata insisted on staying with me.
But the whispers followed us everywhere.
Students watched us as we walked.
"Look, it's Kiyomi."
"Kiyomi? The girl who hates love?"
"Yes. She's crying."
"What? I think she regrets rejecting Minato."
Giggles spread through the hallway.
More whispers joined.
"Could it be she rejected Minato because she hates love?"
"Maybe. But I'm sure she's regretting it now."
Girls began forming circles.
Pointing.
Whispering.
Laughing.
Then suddenly I heard another voice ahead.
"No way."
"You wouldn't do that", another girl laughed.
"Watch me", she stepped forward.
Pulled out her phone.
And took a selfie with me clearly visible behind her.
My body froze.
Her fingers moved quickly across the screen.
As she typed, she read the words out loud for everyone to hear.
Chika: Teenage girl who claims to hate love is seen crying after she rejects the confession of her very close male friend.
Students gasped. Whispers exploded again.
She smiled proudly.
Chika: And…
She tapped her screen.
Chika: Post.
More laughter spread through the hallway.
I could feel Hinata's anger radiating beside me. But we kept walking.
Just as we passed her—she stretched her leg out, blocking my path.
I stopped.
Chika: Poor thing.
She looked down at me. I couldn't meet her gaze so I looked at the floor.
Then she turned to Hinata.
Chika: Tell me something.
She gestured toward me with a look of disgust.
Chika: What is someone like you doing with someone like her?
Hinata's voice was calm.
Hinata: It's not good to gossip about something when you don't know the full story.
She gently pulled my arm.
Hinata: Let's go, Kiyomi.
Chika slowly pulled her leg back.
We began walking again, but her voice followed us.
Chika: I only let you go because Hinata is my friend.
She laughed softly.
Chika: And I don't like fighting with friends.
Our steps paused.
Chika: But Hinata… you didn't answer my question.
Hinata stopped then calmly replied.
Hinata: You never told me to answer your question.
Hinata turned slightly.
Hinata: You told me to tell you something.
Then she continued walking.
Hinata: And I've told you what I wanted to tell you.
We walked away.
Behind us someone whispered,
"Chika, you really are badass."
Finally we reached our classroom.
Inside were Akio, Asahi… and Sakura and her minions.
But the moment my eyes entered the room… they landed on one person. Akio.
Hinata blinked in surprise.
Hinata: What? How did you get here suddenly?
Sakura leaned against a desk.
Sakura: We finished eating early.
She smirked.
Sakura: We could've passed the front hallway… but Chika and her gang were creating a scene.
She chuckled.
Sakura: And of course, we have to be everywhere to get news.
Suddenly Akio rushed toward us.
Akio: Hinata! Chika did this now, didn't she?
He raised his phone. On the screen was the picture. The selfie the girl at the hallway took of me. My tear-stained face clearly visible.
Akio's eyes burned with anger.
Akio: How dare she! I'll—
I cut him off softly.
Kiyomi:(Softly) Who was that, Hinata?
Both of them looked at me.
Kiyomi: The girl in the hallway.
Hinata sighed.
Hinata: She's class 2C's head of gossips.
She glanced toward Sakura briefly.
Hinata: And those girls surrounding her are her minions.
Yuki snapped.
Yuki: Hey! Watch your tongue!
Hinata ignored her.
Hinata: She's like Sakura… but worse.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
Hinata continued.
Hinata: She doesn't just spread gossip. She creates it.
My voice trembled.
Kiyomi: Then how does she know about the incident with Minato?
Hinata thought for a moment.
Hinata: Since other second year classes joined us in the aquarium trip, there could be a probability that she overheard your conversation with Minato.
I slowly shook my head. Tears filled my eyes again.
Kiyomi: But it didn't happen like that, did it?
The room fell silent. My gaze slowly moved toward Akio.
Kiyomi: Akio overheard our conversation.
His eyes widened slightly.
Kiyomi: And he sent it as a tip to Sakura by Sunday evening.
My voice trembled.
Kiyomi: And this morning… it had already spread.
I swallowed painfully.
Kiyomi: Chika must have heard it already, she was just waiting to strike.
The room felt heavy.
Kiyomi: It all makes sense now.
I looked directly at Akio.
Kiyomi: You saw and heard everything.
My voice cracked.
Kiyomi: And you came to the restroom… acting like my prince in shining armor.
Akio's face turned pale.
Kiyomi: You said Hinata told you where I was.
I glanced at Hinata.
Kiyomi: But when she got there, she was shocked to see you.
Silence.
Kiyomi: I should've known.
I raised my head. Fighting the tears.
Kiyomi: How could you, Akio?
My voice broke.
Kiyomi: How could you do this to me?
The tears fell.
Kiyomi: Answer me! (I snapped).
Akio looked down.
Kiyomi: I… I didn't think it would end up like this.
His voice shook.
Kiyomi: I only wanted his name dragged through the mud.
My heart sank.
Akio: I didn't know it would bring attention to you.
He clenched his fists.
Akio: I was angry he hurt you… and I lost control.
He whispered.
Akio: So I told Sakura.
I stared at him.
Kiyomi: Is that so?
My voice turned cold.
Kiyomi: Or did you do it because you were jealous?
Akio froze.
Kiyomi: You were jealous that he got all my attention.
Tears streamed down my face.
Kiyomi: So you used this opportunity as payback.
Hinata spoke quietly.
Hinata: Akio… is that true?
Akio stayed silent. His trembling hands said everything.
Kiyomi: I knew it.
My chest felt hollow.
Kiyomi: You never did any of this for me.
My voice cracked again.
Kiyomi: You did it for yourself.
Anger flooded my chest.
Kiyomi: You loved the way I looked at you in the restroom. The way I clung to your shirt. The way I held you like you were the only thing that mattered.
My fists tightened.
Kiyomi: You liked the attention.
I stepped closer.
Kiyomi: My attention.
My voice shook.
Kiyomi: You're so self-centered.
The room fell silent.
I turned away and walked to my seat. Hinata followed beside me.
She tried convincing me to eat lunch, but I couldn't. I just sat there, staring at my desk.
The rest of the school day passed like a blur.
Classes came and went.
Voices spoke.
Teachers taught.
But none of it reached me because my heart was already somewhere else.
Broken.
By the time school ended…
I quietly packed my bag.
And went home.
Heartbroken.