Kiyomi's POV
Night came too quickly.
Or maybe the day had simply drained every ounce of strength out of me.
The house was quiet after dinner. Too quiet. The kind of quiet that made every thought louder.
My sister had tried to talk to me earlier.
Ayumi: Is everything okay at school? (She asked gently while we ate).
I just nodded.
It was easier that way. Explaining everything felt impossible.
After dinner, I went straight to my room and closed the door behind me. The familiar click of the lock echoed softly, and suddenly the world felt smaller.
Safer.
But heavier.
I sat on my bed and stared at my phone.
The screen reflected my face—eyes swollen, cheeks still faintly red.
A notification appeared.
Hinata calling…
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
The screen lit up, revealing Hinata's face.
Her expression softened immediately.
Hinata: Kiyomi…
Just hearing my name from her mouth made something in my chest tighten.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I sighed.
Kiyomi: Today was horrible.
Hinata leaned closer to her screen.
Hinata: I know (I said quietly). I saw everything.
I rubbed my eyes.
Kiyomi: No… you saw the end of it.
The words spilled out before I could stop them.
Kiyomi: The whispers… the staring… Sakura… Chika…. (I let out a shaky laugh). It felt like the whole school suddenly knew my life.
Hinata stayed silent, letting me talk.
And I kept talking.
Kiyomi: I trusted Akio (I whispered). Out of everyone… I trusted him.
My voice cracked.
Kiyomi: He knew how much I hate attention like that. He knew how private everything was… and he still told Sakura.
Hinata's jaw tightened.
Hinata: I still can't believe he did that.
I shook my head slowly.
Kiyomi: I keep replaying it in my head. The aquarium… Minato… everything.
Minato's name lingered in the air between us.
My chest tightened again.
Kiyomi: And Minato didn't even come to school today (I said softly).
Hinata nodded.
Hinata: Yeah. I heard.
I looked down at my hands.
Kiyomi: Do you think he knows?
Hinata: What?
Kiyomi: That everyone knows about the confession.
Hinata paused.
Hinata: …He probably does.
Silence fell again.
Then I whispered the question that had been haunting me all day.
Kiyomi: Do you think he hates me now?
Hinata shook her head immediately.
Hinata: No. Minato isn't like that.
Her voice was firm.
Kiyomi: But… things are complicated now.
I gave a small, bitter smile.
Kiyomi: Complicated is an understatement.
For a moment we just stared at each other through the screen.
Then Hinata spoke again.
Hinata: …Kiyomi?
Kiyomi: Yeah?
Hinata: Would it be okay if I invited Asahi to the call?
I blinked.
Kiyomi: Asahi?
Hinata: Yeah (She said). He was worried about you today too.
I thought about it.
Asahi had always been calm. Rational. The type who looked at situations without making them worse.
Maybe… another voice wouldn't hurt.
Kiyomi: …Okay.
Hinata smiled slightly.
Hinata: Give me a second.
Her screen shifted as she tapped something.
A moment later, another window appeared.
Asahi joined the call.
His face appeared on the screen.
He looked a little surprised when he saw me.
Asahi: Kiyomi.
Kiyomi: Hi (I said quietly).
He leaned back slightly.
Asahi: I heard today was rough.
I laughed weakly.
Kiyomi: That's one way to say it.
Hinata crossed her arms.
Hinata: Rough is an understatement.
Asahi nodded.
Asahi: I heard the rumors spread through almost every class.
I groaned.
Kiyomi: Great.
He looked thoughtful.
Asahi: Rumors move fast when they involve two well-known students.
I frowned.
Kiyomi: Minato isn't 'well-known.
Hinata raised an eyebrow.
Hinata: Kiyomi… the entire second year knows who Minato is.
Kiyomi: …What?
Hinata sighed.
Minato: He's quiet, but he's been top of the class for two years. People notice.
I blinked.
I had never really thought about it that way. To me, Minato was just… Minato.
The boy who walked beside me after school.
The boy who took random photos of the sky.
The boy who—
I quickly stopped that thought.
Asahi spoke again.
Asahi: So the real problem isn't just the rumor (He said). It's the betrayal.
I nodded slowly.
Kiyomi: Yes.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
Kiyomi: Akio knew how much I trusted him.
Hinata looked angry again.
Hinata: I still want to punch him.
Asahi sighed.
Asahi: Violence probably won't help.
Hinata rolled her eyes.
Hinata: You always say that.
I let out a small laugh.
For the first time all day, the weight on my chest eased… just a little.
But the pain was still there.
Kiyomi: Everything feels broken (I admitted quietly).
Hinata leaned closer to the screen.
Hinata: It won't stay that way.
I looked at her.
Kiyomi: You sound confident.
She smirked.
Hinata: That's because I have a plan.
Asahi groaned slightly.
Asahi: That sentence always leads to trouble.
Hinata ignored him.
She looked straight at me.
Hinata: Kiyomi… this whole mess started because of misunderstandings.
I frowned.
Kiyomi: What do you mean?
Hinata: You and Minato never actually talked after the aquarium.
My chest tightened again.
Kiyomi: …No.
Hinata: And now rumors are filling the silence.
Asahi nodded.
Asahi: That's usually how chaos starts.
Hinata pointed at the screen dramatically.
Hinata: Exactly!
Then she looked back at me.
Hinata: So we fix it.
Kiyomi: How?
Her smile widened slightly.
Hinata: By getting the truth out.
I stared at her.
Kiyomi: You make it sound easy.
Hinata: It won't be easy (She admitted). But it's possible.
Asahi crossed his arms.
Kiyomi: …What exactly is your plan, Hinata?
Hinata leaned back in her chair. Her eyes sparkled with determination.
Hinata: Step one (She said). We find Minato.
The words made my heart skip.
Hinata looked at me gently.
Hinata: And step two… We fix what should never have been broken.
The call continued late into the night.
And for the first time since the aquarium trip…
I felt like maybe—
Just maybe—
Things weren't completely hopeless.