The rooftop incident spread through the school like wildfire.
"Yamabuki was alone with the goddess!"
"They were talking secretly!"
"Are they dating?!"
Yamabuki held his head.
Why does my life feel like a public broadcast…
Beside him, Takumi leaned in with a serious face.
"…So."
"No." Yamabuki replied instantly.
"You didn't even let me ask!" Takumi protested.
"I already know what you're going to say."
Takumi crossed his arms.
"…Are you dating her?"
"SEE?!" Yamabuki snapped.
During The Class
Yamabuki tried to focus on the lesson.
Tried.
But his eyes kept drifting toward the window.
Toward her.
Naya sat quietly, looking outside.
Calm.
Untouchable.
Like she didn't belong in the same world.
Why did she say that…?
"My secret"…
Yamabuki clenched his pen.
Something about her voice back then…
It wasn't fake.
After School
Yamabuki was walking home alone.
The sky was turning orange.
Everything felt… strangely quiet.
"Yamabuki."
He froze.
That voice again.
He slowly turned around.
Naya was standing behind him.
No crowd.
No whispers.
Just the two of them.
"W-What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I was waiting," she replied simply.
"For me?!"
Naya nodded.
Then walked closer.
Step by step.
Yamabuki felt his heartbeat rising again.
"About earlier…" Naya said softly.
"…Forget what I said."
Yamabuki blinked.
"Huh?"
"It was nothing."
"That didn't sound like nothing!" he snapped.
For a moment… Naya looked conflicted.
Like she wanted to say something.
But stopped herself.
Then suddenly—
She grabbed his sleeve.
Yamabuki froze.
"I…"
She hesitated.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…I just didn't want you to misunderstand me."
Yamabuki's brain went blank.
This is bad.
This is really bad.
She was too close.
Way too close.
Then—
Naya looked up at him.
And for the first time…
Her expression wasn't perfect.
It was nervous.
"…You won't tell anyone, right?"
Yamabuki swallowed.
"Tell what?! You haven't told me anything!"
Naya froze.
Then…
She let go of his sleeve.
"…Right."
A small, awkward silence fell between them.
Then she turned around.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
And just like that…
She walked away.
Leaving Yamabuki standing there alone.
Confused.
Frustrated.
And somehow…
unable to stop thinking about her.