The morning sun filtered through my window, casting a warm glow over my room. My alarm had already gone off, but I hadn't moved yet, lying there with my arm draped over my eyes.
I hadn't slept much.
Not because I was restless, not because I was particularly anxious—just because my thoughts had refused to settle.
Kane's words from last night still lingered. "When you do figure it out… let me know."
I exhaled, finally forcing myself to sit up. Dwelling on it wouldn't get me anywhere.
After a quick shower and a half-hearted attempt at fixing my hair, I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. The familiar scent of breakfast greeted me, along with the sight of my older sister, Shinobu, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in hand.
She looked up as I entered the kitchen. "You look like you spent the whole night questioning your life choices."
I grunted, grabbing a slice of toast. "Morning to you too."
Shinobu smirked, sipping her coffee. "What is it this time? School? Kane?"
I froze for half a second before forcing myself to keep moving. "Why do you assume it's about her?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Because I'm not blind?"
I sighed, taking a bite of my toast. "It's nothing."
Shinobu didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. Instead, she grabbed her bag from the table and headed toward the door.
"You walking with Kane today?" she asked over her shoulder.
I hesitated. "…Maybe."
Shinobu chuckled. "Try not to be awkward."
With that, she was gone.
I let out a breath and finished my toast.
I was halfway down the street when I heard familiar footsteps behind me.
"Morning," Kane's voice called out.
I glanced over my shoulder. She had her hands tucked into her pockets, her bag slung over one shoulder. Her usual confident smirk was missing, replaced by something softer.
"Hey," I greeted, slowing my pace so she could catch up.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. We just walked, side by side, letting the morning fill the silence.
Then, Kane spoke.
"You look like you overthought things again."
I sighed. "You really need to stop doing that mind-reading thing."
She smirked. "Not my fault you're easy to read."
I rolled my eyes but didn't argue.
Another quiet pause. Then, Kane nudged my arm lightly with her elbow.
"Relax, Yuki," she said. "It's a new day."
I looked at her.
Yeah.
It was.
And maybe that was enough.
The school gates loomed ahead, students milling about in clusters, chatting and laughing as they waited for the first bell. Kane and I walked through the entrance without a word, slipping into the familiar rhythm of morning routine.
Just as we stepped into the hallway, a voice called out.
"Yuki!"
I turned, spotting Sayoko making her way toward us. She wasn't in a hurry, her posture relaxed, but there was a sharp glint in her eyes—the kind that usually meant she had something to say.
Kane glanced at me. "She's looking at you like she's got a question you don't wanna answer."
I sighed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
Sayoko stopped in front of us, crossing her arms. "So?"
I frowned. "So… what?"
She rolled her eyes. "You're really going to make me say it?"
Kane raised an eyebrow. "He's been doing that a lot lately."
Sayoko smirked. "Figures." Then, she leaned in slightly. "Did you figure it out yet?"
I stiffened.
Kane looked between us, amused. "You told her?"
"No," I muttered.
"She figured it out," Kane guessed.
I exhaled. "She always figures it out."
Sayoko hummed. "It's not that hard when you look like a walking existential crisis."
Before I could protest, the warning bell rang, signaling we had five minutes before class started.
"Don't let your brain melt, Yuki," Sayoko said with a teasing grin. Then, she turned and walked off.
Kane let out a quiet laugh. "She enjoys messing with you."
I sighed. "I know."
Just as we reached the classroom door, Haru appeared out of nowhere, draping an arm around my shoulder.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't our favorite overthinker."
I groaned. "Haru—"
"So? How's the romance saga progressing?" he interrupted, ignoring my protest.
Kane sighed. "You know, for someone who's not involved, you sure are invested."
"Someone's gotta document this," Haru said dramatically. "Future generations will thank me."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can we not do this right now?"
Haru grinned. "Oh, I live for doing this right now."
Before I could push him away, Komaru approached, looking as calm and composed as ever.
She glanced between us before focusing on Kane. "Is he still being difficult?"
Kane smirked. "Oh, absolutely."
Komaru gave me a small, knowing smile. "That's what I thought."
Haru clapped his hands together. "Ah, so it's not just me! Yuki, you're outnumbered."
I sighed, defeated. "Why am I friends with any of you?"
Kane patted my shoulder. "Because you have no choice."
Haru grinned. "And because deep down, you love us."
The second bell rang, signaling the start of class. Kane and I took our seats, while Haru gave me one last mischievous look before heading to his desk.
I let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through my hair.
And, as expected…
It wasn't going to be a quiet one.
The morning classes dragged on, the usual lectures blurring into background noise as my mind wandered. I tapped my pen against my notebook, glancing at the empty margin.
"Did you figure it out yet?"
Sayoko's words from this morning lingered in my mind.
I wasn't sure what she expected me to realize.
Or maybe I was just avoiding the answer.
By the time lunch rolled around, I was grateful for the break. Kane stretched her arms as we walked out of the classroom, her expression unreadable.
"You gonna keep thinking yourself into oblivion, or are you actually gonna eat today?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
Kane sighed. "Never mind."
Just as we stepped into the cafeteria, Haru appeared—because of course he did.
"Alright, lovebirds, where are we sitting today?"
I groaned. "Haru, I swear—"
"Ah-ah, don't fight it, Yuki," he interrupted, waving a finger. "Acceptance is the first step."
Kane smirked. "Should we get him a therapy session?"
"I am the therapy session," Haru declared.
Sayoko, who had been passing by, overheard and scoffed. "If Haru is your therapist, then you're doomed."
Kane hummed. "Fair point."
Haru clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me."
"Not enough," Sayoko muttered.
I sighed, shaking my head as we grabbed our lunches and found a table.
A few minutes later, Komaru approached our group. Her usual composed demeanor made her stand out in the noisy cafeteria. As she reached the table, her gaze landed on Sayoko, and she paused.
Sayoko, who had just taken a sip of her drink, arched a brow at Komaru's sudden stillness. "Something wrong?"
Komaru tilted her head slightly. "You're Sayoko, right?"
Sayoko smirked. "That depends. Who's asking?"
Haru made a dramatic ooh sound, which everyone ignored.
Komaru didn't miss a beat. "Komaru. Kane's sister."
Sayoko gave a slow nod, as if sizing her up. "Ah. The other sister."
I glanced at Kane, who merely continued eating like none of this was happening.
Komaru, on the other hand, remained unfazed. "I've heard about you."
Sayoko leaned forward slightly, an amused glint in her eyes. "Yeah? What'd you hear?"
Komaru studied her for a moment, then shrugged. "That you're loud."
Sayoko let out a single laugh. "And you seem like the quiet type. Must run in the family."
Kane, finally acknowledging the conversation, smirked. "It really doesn't."
Komaru sighed. "Unfortunately, what does run in the family is being annoying."
Sayoko raised an eyebrow, then grinned. "Oh? So you admit you're annoying too?"
Komaru took a sip of her drink before responding. "I never said I wasn't."
Sayoko leaned back in her chair, amused. "I think I like you."
Komaru gave a slow nod. "I'm still deciding about you."
Haru clapped his hands together. "Ah, the start of a beautiful friendship."
Sayoko rolled her eyes. "Sure. Let's call it that."
Haru leaned in, resting his chin on his hand. "You two should hang out more. I feel like this could be entertaining."
Komaru shot him a flat look. "I don't do entertainment."
Sayoko smirked. "Oh, you do. You just don't know it yet."
Komaru hummed, unimpressed, while Sayoko casually stole a fry from Kane's tray. Kane barely reacted, too used to Sayoko's antics to care.
I watched the exchange, mildly amused. It wasn't often someone could go toe-to-toe with Komaru and actually keep up. Sayoko, somehow, managed.
Haru, always looking for a chance to stir things up, grinned. "Alright, if we're all bonding here, let's get serious—truth or dare?"
Komaru didn't even look up. "No."
Sayoko shrugged. "I'm in."
Kane sighed. "Why do I still sit with you people?"
Haru ignored her and turned to me. "C'mon, Yuki. You in?"
I exhaled, already knowing where this was going. I should've said no, but at this point, resistance felt useless.
"Fine," I muttered.
Komaru shook her head. "Idiots."
Sayoko smirked at her. "You sure you don't want to play?"
Komaru met her gaze, then, very deliberately, picked up her book and flipped it open. "I'm already playing a game. It's called ignoring all of you."
Haru pouted. "Cold."
Sayoko chuckled. "I like her even more now."
I sighed, already regretting my decision.
Haru leaned back, tapping his fingers against the table. "Alright then, since Yuki's in, let's start with something simple. Yuki—truth or dare?"
I exhaled. "Truth."
Haru grinned. "Do you have a crush on anyone right now?"
Kane, who had been casually sipping her drink, suddenly paused. Komaru turned a page in her book without reacting. Sayoko, on the other hand, smirked, leaning forward as if this was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.
I gave Haru a blank stare. "Really?"
"What? It's a classic question," Haru said, shrugging. "C'mon, answer."
I lied. "No, I don't."
Haru studied me for a second before sighing dramatically. "Lame."
Sayoko tilted her head. "You're either telling the truth or very good at lying."
Kane finally spoke. "He's good at lying."
"Hey." I shot her a look. "You could've at least defended me a little."
She shrugged. "I could've."
Sayoko chuckled. "Yeah, I like her."
Komaru, who had been silent all this time, finally looked up, her sharp gaze meeting Sayoko's. "You keep saying that."
Sayoko smirked. "Because it's true."
There was a brief pause, a moment of unspoken understanding—or maybe just mutual annoyance—before Komaru went back to her book.
Haru, meanwhile, clapped his hands. "Alright, next person! Sayoko—truth or dare?"
"Dare."
A mischievous grin spread across his face. "I dare you to call someone in this group by a pet name."
Sayoko didn't even hesitate. She turned to Kane. "Alright, sweetheart, pass me another fry."
Kane froze mid-bite.
Komaru blinked.
I coughed to cover up my laugh.
Haru wheezed. "That was so fast."
Sayoko simply held out her hand, waiting.
Kane sighed, clearly choosing to ignore the entire situation, and wordlessly handed her a fry.
"Thanks, love," Sayoko said, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied grin.
Komaru closed her book with a quiet thump. "I've had enough of this."
She stood up, grabbing her tray. "You're all annoying."
Sayoko grinned. "It's fun watching you pretend like you don't enjoy it."
Komaru didn't dignify that with a response. She just walked away.
Haru sighed. "Well, there goes our best chance at chaos."
I shook my head. "This was a mistake."
Kane finally spoke, her voice deadpan. "You should've realized that before you agreed to play."
I exhaled, already regretting everything.
Sayoko, meanwhile, just smirked. "This is gonna be fun."
And somehow, I knew that meant trouble.