The bell rang, ending another school day. But Takeshi didn't move. He stared at the door Asami had just walked through. There was something strange in the air, a feeling he couldn't shake.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the fog in his head. Maybe it was the Drift. Maybe it was everything that had been happening lately. All he knew was that something felt off.
"Hey, Takeshi!"
Riku's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned to see his friend grinning at him, that usual carefree smile on his face. But today, Riku's smile didn't feel as light.
"What's up with you? You look like you're about to fall asleep," Riku said, crossing his arms.
Takeshi forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just tired."
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Sure, sure. You're not ditching for a secret date with Asami, are you?"
Takeshi froze. His heart skipped. "Asami?"
Riku shrugged. "Yeah, she's been asking about you. You two talk?"
Takeshi didn't know what to say. Riku was always joking, but this time, there was something serious in his words. He didn't want to deal with it, not now. Not with everything on his mind.
"I'll catch up later," Takeshi mumbled, walking quickly away from Riku. He needed to get to his locker and get out of here. Maybe a quiet walk would help him think.
As he opened his locker, he heard a sound behind him.
"Asami?" He turned around.
There she was. Standing just a few feet away. She was always so quiet, so unreadable. But today, her eyes seemed... different.
"You okay?" Asami asked, her voice soft but serious.
Takeshi didn't know how to answer. He didn't know what to say. He felt like he was losing control, like the Drift was taking more and more of him with each day. But he couldn't tell her that. Not yet.
"I'm fine," he said, though it didn't feel true.
Asami studied him for a moment. "You don't look fine."
Takeshi stayed silent. He didn't want to talk about it. Not to her. Not to anyone.
After a few seconds, Asami spoke again. "If you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Takeshi standing there, feeling more confused than before.
After school, Takeshi walked through the crowded streets, his thoughts racing. He barely noticed the people around him. His mind was still stuck on Asami and the strange feeling in his chest.
He pulled out his phone, hoping to distract himself. A message from Riku.
Riku: "Yo, you sure you're not interested in the new girl? I swear she's got her eyes on you."
Takeshi rolled his eyes. Not now, Riku.
He typed back a quick reply and put his phone away. Just as he was about to keep walking, something caught his eye.
Across the street, he saw Asami standing there. But she wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at someone else.
End of Chapter 8.