Vol. 2 — Chapter 9: That Weird Feeling I Can't Explain
It had been three days since the "melon bread walk" with Yuna, and people still hadn't stopped talking.
Every time Yuto walked into the classroom, someone would whisper his name.
When he went to the cafeteria, someone would say "Yuna-chan's boyfriend~" just loud enough for him to hear.
Of course, it was always followed by laughter.
Yuto had never been this "noticed" before.
And he wasn't sure if he liked it.
"Yutooo," Daiki said, sliding into the seat beside him during lunch break. "You look like you're carrying the weight of the world."
"I feel like it," Yuto mumbled.
Souta popped up from the side. "So what's the plan? Confess? Date? Melon bread date part 2?"
"I'm not dating her," Yuto whispered.
"Yet," Daiki added with a grin.
Yuto groaned and looked away. He peeked at Yuna, who was chatting happily with Rika at the far end of the room.
Rika still hadn't really spoken to him since that morning at the schoolyard.
She hadn't been rude—but distant. Not like before.
And that made Yuto feel… off.
Did I do something wrong?
Suddenly, the classroom door opened.
"Yuto!" a voice called.
He turned.
It was Yuna.
"Can you help me carry something?" she asked.
Yuto blinked. "Me?"
"Yes. You don't mind, right?" she smiled.
Everyone around them froze.
Daiki leaned over. "Bro. This is your anime moment."
Souta: "Main girl asking the quiet guy for help? Yup. This is it."
Yuto stood up, face slightly red. "O-Okay…"
They walked out of the classroom, Yuna carrying a box of papers, and Yuto beside her with another one.
They headed to the storage room at the end of the hall.
"Thanks for helping," Yuna said.
"It's fine," Yuto said softly. "But… why me?"
Yuna glanced at him. "I don't know. I just felt like asking you."
Yuto looked away. "I see…"
They reached the storage room, and Yuna opened the door. They placed the boxes on the shelf inside.
As she dusted her hands, Yuna looked up at Yuto.
"Hey…"
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay with people talking about us?" she asked.
Yuto blinked. "W-What?"
"I mean… people think we're close now. Like… really close."
He scratched his cheek. "It's a little embarrassing…"
Yuna smiled. "Yeah. But… I don't hate it."
Yuto looked at her.
"You're easy to talk to, Yuto. I feel like I can relax."
His chest felt warm.
"I… I feel that way too," he said.
Yuna's eyes lit up, but before she could reply, a loud crash echoed from down the hall.
BANG!
They rushed out to see what happened.
Turns out, a cleaning cart had tipped over. Rika stood there, kneeling down to pick up spilled rags and brooms.
"Rika!" Yuna called, running over.
Yuto followed.
"Are you okay?" Yuna asked, helping her pick things up.
"Yeah," Rika muttered. "Just a mess…"
Yuto knelt beside her. "Let me help."
Rika paused, then nodded silently.
As they picked up the last of the fallen items, Rika looked at Yuto.
Her eyes didn't have the usual spark.
"You've changed," she said quietly.
"Huh?"
"You look happier now," she added.
"I-I don't really know…"
Rika smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Anyway, thanks," she said and stood up.
Before Yuto could say more, she walked off.
Yuna looked at him. "Did something happen between you two?"
"I don't know," Yuto said honestly. "It's like she's… avoiding me."
Yuna nodded, thoughtful.
"Well," she said, "maybe give her a little space. But don't leave her alone forever, okay?"
Yuto blinked.
"You think she's lonely?"
"I think she's trying to figure something out," Yuna said, walking ahead.
Yuto stared after her.
Then followed.
---
Later that day, as he sat alone by the classroom window during cleaning time, Yuto looked outside at the orange sky.
There's something changing. I can feel it.
But he didn't know what it was yet.
End of Chapter 9.