The next day felt… different.
Yamabuki couldn't explain it.
Nothing had changed.
The same classroom.
The same noise.
The same people.
And yet…
His eyes kept drifting toward one person.
Naya Yamada.
She was sitting by the window again,
quietly looking outside like always.
Perfect.
Untouchable.
But now… Yamabuki knew that wasn't the whole truth.
"…I'm not the person everyone thinks I am."
Her words echoed in his mind.
"Oi."
Takumi suddenly poked his side.
"You've been staring for five minutes straight."
"I have NOT!" Yamabuki snapped.
Takumi smirked.
"Relax. I won't tell your 'goddess girlfriend.'"
"She's NOT my girlfriend!!"
After School
Yamabuki packed his bag quickly.
He didn't want to think.
Didn't want to get involved.
Didn't want more trouble.
So today…
He decided to go home early.
But fate clearly hated him.
"Yamabuki."
He froze.
No way…
Slowly turning around—
Of course.
It was her.
Naya stood near the door, holding her bag.
"…Are you free?" she asked quietly.
Yamabuki hesitated.
Every instinct told him to say no.
To run.
To avoid whatever this was becoming.
"…Yeah," he said anyway.
Idiot.
The Walk
They walked side by side in silence.
No crowd.
No whispers.
Just the sound of their footsteps.
Yamabuki scratched his head.
"Why do you keep coming to me?"
Naya didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she looked ahead, her expression unreadable.
"…Because you're different."
"Huh?"
"You don't look at me like the others do."
Yamabuki frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
Naya stopped walking.
Yamabuki stopped too.
Then she turned toward him.
This time… her eyes weren't calm.
They were… conflicted.
"…When people look at me," she said softly,
"…they only see what they want to see."
Yamabuki stayed silent.
"…But you—"
She stepped closer.
"—you look confused."
"HEY—!"
"That's why I trust you a little."
Yamabuki froze.
Trust…?
The Moment
A sudden gust of wind blew past them.
Naya's hair moved gently.
For a second…
Everything felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Then—
She grabbed his hand.
Yamabuki's brain completely shut down.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Naya didn't let go.
Her grip was soft…
…but firm.
"…Just for a moment," she whispered.
Yamabuki's heart started racing.
This is bad.
This is REALLY bad.
"People are watching!" he whispered urgently.
"Let them."
"THAT'S WORSE!"
But Naya didn't move.
Instead… she looked down slightly.
"…I don't want to pretend right now."
Those words hit differently.
Not like a "goddess."
But like… a normal person.
A lonely one.
Yamabuki swallowed.
"…Naya."
She slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
Closer than ever.
Then—
Naya suddenly stepped back.
Like she realized something.
Her hand slipped away.
"…Sorry."
Yamabuki blinked.
"…For what?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she forced a small smile.
"I forgot… who I'm supposed to be."
Yamabuki felt something twist in his chest.
"Hey—wait—"
But Naya had already turned around.
Walking away.
Again.
Leaving him with nothing but
confusion.
And a feeling he couldn't explain.
Ending Line
Yamabuki looked at his hand.
The warmth was still there.
"…What the hell is happening to me…"