The two of them walked in together—though "together" was a loose term.
Yuki had his arms crossed, walking a little ahead, chin lifted in that flustered, proud way of his. Shin, hands in his pockets, trailed just behind with a soft grin tugging at his lips.
They entered the classroom side by side, exchanged a few glances—and then quietly took their seats.
Yuki pulled out his notebook, pretending not to notice Shin sitting beside him, one seat to his left.
But the moment he sat down, it hit him.
Their seats.
That seating.
Shin had the window spot. The "main character" spot. The kind of seat every handsome guy in every anime got—the one where the sunlight pours in and the wind gently ruffles your hair.
And Yuki… was seated right next to him.
Right next to the guy with the messy black hair and stupidly perfect eyelashes.
The "heroine seat."
His cheeks turned red.
Why is this like some romcom?! This is so stupid—ugh, I can't even—why am I thinking like this?
He quickly shook his head and bent over his desk like it owed him money.
But then—
"…Romcom vibes," Shin said.
Yuki stiffened. "W-What!?"
Shin smiled. "You know, cool guy in the window seat. Adorable tsundere sitting right beside him…"
"I'm not tsundere!"
"Sure you aren't."
"And I'm not adorable either!"
Shin tilted his head, clearly enjoying this.
Yuki turned away, hiding behind his bangs. "You're so full of yourself…"
But inside, his heart was melting into a puddle. Because… he'd thought the exact same thing. Because hearing Shin say it out loud made it worse.
Worse—and better.
Yuki bit his lip.
I really am hopeless…
Still, he dared to peek sideways. Shin was looking out the window now, chin resting on his hand, sunlight catching on his lashes. Like something out of a dream.
Yuki sighed, a little too loudly.
Shin looked over.
"Staring already?" he teased.
"Tch! Shut up! I was NOT!"
Before Shin could fire back with a smug grin, a voice from the front of the class chimed in sweetly.
"Akashi-kun!"
Yuki blinked.
Akashi…?
His eyes darted toward the speaker—Class Rep. Mei-chan. The girl with the soft braids, neat posture, and permanent clipboard glued to her hand. She was standing at the front row, looking back at Shin.
Akashi Shin.
That was his full name? Somehow, it hit Yuki weirdly. He didn't know why, but learning Shin's full name made his chest feel a little... tight.
And also—
She called him Akashi-kun…
Shin glanced toward her casually. "What, Mei-chan?"
Yuki flinched. C-chan!?
His fingers clenched around his pencil.
He's never called ME that! And this girl gets a "chan" like it's no big deal!?
Before his mind could spiral into dramatic jealousy, Mei-chan smiled. "Aiko-chan came to visit. I thought you'd wanna know."
Yuki's eyes twitched.
Aiko…?
And then—before he could ask who Aiko was—a cheerful, bright voice piped up from behind them.
"Taa-kun~!"
Yuki turned around.
And froze.
She was… stunning.
Not just cute. Not just pretty. Aiko was the kind of girl whose beauty could stop traffic. Soft, glossy brown hair tied into a playful ponytail, giant golden eyes sparkling with energy, the kind of smile that could melt snow off rooftops. Her uniform fit like it was made for her, and she carried the kind of bubbly confidence that turned heads without even trying.
And Shin… Shin stood up with the most casual smile in the world.
"Haa-chan~," he replied.
Yuki's heart did a triple flip in his chest.
W-WHAT!? NICKNAMES TOO!? WHAT IS THIS!?
She jogged toward Shin, all sparkly and sunshine, arms swinging, and then—
WHAM.
She punched him right in the stomach.
Everyone in class barely reacted.
Yuki, on the other hand, jumped.
"Ah—!" Shin staggered a bit, holding his gut with a wheeze. "You psycho!"
"Haha~ you're fine!" she chirped, grinning.
Then—
WHAM.
He punched her right back in the stomach.
"ARGH—TAA-KUN!" she laughed, stumbling a step back, gripping her side.
Yuki's mouth hung open.
What the actual hell is happening!?
They kept going. Punching each other softly in the gut like it was some kind of secret greeting ritual. Giggles and half-grunts mixing together as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"How was your holiday?" Shin asked between smacks.
"Boring!" Punch. "You weren't there!" she pouted.
"Aw, did you miss me?" he smirked.
"Obviously, dumbass." Punch.
They both laughed.
Yuki's brain was flatlining.
WHAT IS THIS INTERACTION!? What are they even!? Dating!? Siblings!? Martial arts rivals!?
Then, as if to twist the knife, Aiko suddenly threw her arms around Shin and hugged him tightly.
Like, full-body, cheek-pressed hug.
Shin didn't even hesitate. He hugged her back with that soft, rare smile—the one that made Yuki's stomach twist.
CRACK!
Inside Yuki's head, imaginary glass shattered into microscopic dust. His jaw trembled.
That's it.
Steam practically rose from the top of his head.
"W-Who is she!?" Yuki finally blurted, turning his whole body toward Shin with flushed cheeks and narrowed eyes.
Shin looked down at him, blinked, and blinked again.
Then—
A sly grin.
"Oh? Jealous?"
"N-No! Just curious!" Yuki snapped, immediately looking away. "S-She's weird! I am mean... Both of you are weird!"
Behind Shin, Aiko was giving him an innocent smile and a playful wave.
Yuki turned back around, cheeks glowing like traffic lights.
That was not just weird. That was dangerously cute.
But then—something shifted.
Aiko's wide, sparkly eyes moved from Shin… to Yuki.
She blinked once.
Twice.
Then slowly, her entire face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"H-Huh…?" she gasped, glassy-eyed. Her hands came up to cup her mouth in dramatic wonder. "Ta-kun…"
Shin, now half turned toward her, raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"She's adorable!!" Aiko squeaked, barely containing her squeal. "I-is she… your girlfriend!?"
Aiko wasn't hoping that Yuki was his girlfriend and didn't wanted him to be.
Yuki's soul left his body.
"W-WHAT!?"
He stood up so fast his chair made a horrible scraping sound.
"I-I'M NOT A GIRL!"
Aiko flinched slightly.
"I'm DEFINITELY not his girlfriend!!"
Shin was already snickering behind a hand, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You sure? You do act like one…"
"SHUT UP!" Yuki shrieked, his ears practically steaming.
But—somewhere deep in the hurricane of his emotions—a small, traitorous breath of relief blew past his thoughts.
She's not his girlfriend…
Even if everything else about her screamed close. Dangerously close.
She felt like a rival. She radiated that kind of energy. The way she looked at Shin. The way he smiled at her. The casual comfort, the years of closeness that Yuki could feel just from the way they stood side-by-side.
It made his chest hurt. Just a little.
No—scratch that.
A lot.
Shin, still chuckling, was about to say something else, but Aiko suddenly placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Yuki watched—wide-eyed—as she pulled him a step back, turning her body so that her back now faced Yuki. The two of them were just out of earshot. Close. Their shoulders touched. Heads leaned in. Their movements almost synchronized.
Yuki stared at them, fists clenched at his sides, as if watching a private world he didn't belong in.
"…Hey," Aiko whispered, her voice barely above a hush. "Who is she?"
Shin tilted his head slightly.
"He," he corrected, smiling faintly. "That's Yuki."
Aiko blinked in surprise but didn't change her tone. "You were talking to him so casually. Teasing. Laughing."
She leaned a little closer, her lips nearly brushing Shin's ear.
"I've never seen you talk to anyone like that except me."
Shin's gaze flicked downward. For the first time since this entire morning began, he looked…
Flustered.
He rubbed the back of his neck, eyes avoiding hers.
"It's… different," he mumbled.
Aiko narrowed her eyes at him, pout forming. "Do you like him?"
Shin didn't answer immediately.
A faint blush spread across his cheeks.
Aiko stared. Hard.
"I knew it…" she muttered, pulling back.
He gave a small, helpless shrug. "I… don't really know."
Aiko puffed out her cheeks, clearly pouting now. "You've changed."
"I'm still me," he replied softly.
"Hmph."
With one final huff, she turned back toward Yuki with the brightest, most practiced smile imaginable.
Yuki, who had been pretending not to stare like his life depended on it, nearly jumped when their eyes met.
She walked up, hands behind her back, and bowed slightly with a mischievous sparkle.
"I'm Aiko! Tanaka Aiko~! Nice to meet you."
Her smile was sweet. Her voice melodic. But her aura screamed enemy spotted.
Yuki gulped, fighting the trembling in his chest.
"Hikari Yuki," he replied, forcing a smile.
His voice cracked slightly. "N-Nice to meet you too…"
Aiko tilted her head, eyes narrowing just a hair.
"You're really cute, Yuki-chan~"
"Don't call me that!" Yuki shot back automatically, but his voice came out high-pitched and squeaky.
From behind them, Shin leaned his head into his hand, watching with amused eyes.
If this was a war, then battle lines had just been drawn.
And Yuki… was in for the fight of his life.
Yuki stood there, arms crossed, lips ever so slightly puffed out in the cutest pout imaginable. His brows were furrowed, clearly annoyed but in the way a kitten might glare at a toy that dared to squeak.
Shin watched him.
Then, slowly—without a word—he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, aimed, and—
Click!
"Wha—!?" Yuki jumped, eyes wide. "Did you just take a picture of me!?"
Shin didn't even try to hide the grin stretching across his face.
"Yup."
"WHY!?" Yuki half-yelled, cheeks now scarlet.
Shin turned the phone around, examining the picture like it was fine art. "Mmm, the lighting's good… That pout is deadly. You're lucky I'm merciful."
"Delete it!" Yuki demanded, trying to grab the phone.
"Nope." Shin pulled it just out of reach, holding it high above Yuki's head with ease.
"Why would you even take that!?"
Shin's eyes sparkled. "My little sister asked for it."
Yuki froze mid-lunge. "…Your sister?"
"Yeah," Shin said casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I told her there's this cute boy in my class now."
Yuki's brain completely stopped working.
"C-Cute…?"
Shin blinked, then smirked like he absolutely knew what he was doing. "Yeah. I said cute."
Yuki's face burst into color, practically steaming now.
Aiko, who had been quietly watching the whole thing unfold, narrowed her eyes slightly.
Oh…?
She caught it.
The way Yuki's entire body language shifted at the word cute.
And the way Shin said it—not jokingly, not dismissively, but like he meant it.
Aiko smiled sweetly.
But inside, alarms were ringing.
Mutual.
It's mutual…
He's not just being nice. He actually likes him. And he—he reacted to it. That blush wasn't nothing.
For a moment, she looked down at her own hands.
Then back at them.
Shin—still smirking.
Yuki—still flustered.
Their little world—dangerously close.
Not yet.
I won't lose that easily.
If they were going to have a battle of affection, then it was time for her secret weapon.
Without changing her tone, she looked at Yuki and said it. Casually. Lightly. As if she were just making conversation.
"Oh! Did you know? I'm Shin's first kiss."
Silence.
Yuki blinked.
His brain, already short-circuiting from the cute comment, now exploded.
"W-Wha—!?"
Even Shin did a double-take. "Huh—Hey, don't just—!"
Aiko turned her head, smiling so innocently that it bordered on angelic.
"It was just a little accident, you know?" she said sweetly. "We were kids. But still…"
She tilted her head, leaning against Shin's shoulder a little.
"I was his first."
Yuki stood there, frozen. Expression blank. Jaw open.
Glass cracked again. Somewhere. Emotionally.
First kiss…? First… kiss…!?
He turned slowly, eyes glassy. "Y-You…?"
"Yup," Aiko said, giving a light giggle.
"And you're still close?"
"Oh~ very."
"...You hug him too?"
"Mm-hmm~"
"Playfully punch him?"
"All the time!"
"…He punches you back!?"
She nodded proudly. "Equal rights~!"
Yuki looked at Shin, who had his hand over his face now, sighing.
"This is getting out of hand…"
"Y-You two are insane!" Yuki finally blurted out, face flushed with so many emotions he couldn't even pick one to land on. "A-And stop flirting in front of me!!"
Aiko grinned.
Victory? Maybe.
But Yuki wasn't going down without a fight either.
And neither was she.
Not when Shin was involved.
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END OF CHAPTER : 13 : AT SCHOOL, AIKO!
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