The first bell rang.
Mika stretched, arms high in the air, her navy hoodie lifting just enough to reveal a sliver of toned stomach beneath her white school blouse. She didn't care that half the hallway turned to look—she was used to it. Tall for a girl, with short ash-brown hair that curled naturally at the ends and sharp eyes that always seemed to be smiling, Mika had long stopped noticing how people stared.
Except for one pair of eyes. The ones that made her stomach flutter in ways she'd never admit out loud.
"Yui-chan!" she called, half-turning in the direction of the shoe lockers.
A petite girl in a pale yellow cardigan and neatly ironed pleated skirt froze mid-step. Her long black hair, tied up in a simple side ponytail, swayed slightly as she glanced up in panic—wide brown eyes blinking behind round glasses.
"M-Mika," she stuttered. "You're loud again…"
Mika grinned and strolled over, slinging an arm casually around her best friend's shoulders. Yui flinched like she'd been electrocuted.
"What? I was just saying hi!" Mika leaned in, voice teasing. "You're blushing already. Did I scare you that bad?"
"N-No," Yui mumbled, hugging her schoolbag tightly against her chest like a shield. "You're just… too close."
"Am I?" Mika tilted her head. "Oops."
She didn't move.
Yui's heart thudded so loud, she was sure Mika could hear it.
This was normal. This was always how they were. Mika being Mika—bold, playful, shameless. And Yui being Yui—awkward, soft-spoken, and always trying to survive the storm of butterflies that came whenever Mika smiled just a little too warmly.
"Come on," Mika finally said, stepping away with a laugh. "Let's go before you melt into the floor. Again."
---
Class 2-A was already filling up when they walked in.
Mika strolled straight to her seat by the window, tossing her bag onto the desk with lazy grace. The morning sun lit her up like a scene from a manga—light catching on her silver earrings and the subtle streak of blonde in her hair that their teacher always scolded her for.
Yui sat two rows ahead and one to the left. Close enough to sneak glances. Far enough to not be obvious. Her seat was neatly arranged—books stacked by size, pencil case precisely aligned, uniform spotless. She wore her navy blazer properly, unlike Mika who had hers tied around her waist like a delinquent from a drama series.
"Yui~," Mika whispered, propping her chin on one hand and leaning forward.
Yui turned halfway. "What?"
"You braided your hair today. Cute."
Yui flushed. "I-I always braid it…"
Mika winked. "Still cute."
Before Yui could respond, the teacher walked in, and she practically dived into her textbook to hide her burning cheeks.
---
Lunchtime came faster than expected. As usual, Mika dragged Yui to the rooftop.
The breeze was gentle, carrying the faint scent of sakura petals even though it was still early spring. Mika pulled her hoodie up again, the sleeves half-covering her hands as she unwrapped her convenience store sandwich.
Yui, on the other hand, had a homemade bento box wrapped in pastel cloth. She unwrapped it slowly, quietly—trying to keep the little rice pandas she'd made from being too obvious.
Mika, of course, noticed immediately.
"Are those panda onigiri?" she asked, mouth full. "You actually made those?"
Yui gave a small, embarrassed nod. "I-I like cute food."
"They're adorable," Mika said without hesitation. "Just like you."
Yui choked on her rice.
Mika snorted. "You okay there, princess?"
"I'm not—!" Yui protested weakly, but Mika just smiled and took another bite.
They sat together in easy silence for a while. Mika hummed an old pop song under her breath. Yui peeked at her from behind her thermos cup, wondering not for the first time how someone like Mika could look so effortlessly cool in everything she wore.
Even when she wore her uniform wrong. Even when her bangs were uneven from that time she'd tried trimming them herself. Even when she had mustard on the corner of her lip.
"…You've got a little something—" Yui whispered, pointing at her face.
Mika blinked, then leaned in again. "Where? Here?"
Yui reached out on instinct. Her thumb brushed the corner of Mika's mouth.
Time stopped.
"Oh," Yui said softly, realizing what she'd done.
Mika didn't move. Her eyes met Yui's—warm and unreadable.
Yui pulled back like she'd touched fire. "S-Sorry!"
Mika wiped her mouth and grinned. "You're brave today, huh?"
Yui covered her face with her hands.
---
By the time the final bell rang, Yui was exhausted from blushing so much. She stood in the hallway, waiting for Mika to finish talking with a classmate. The sky outside had turned orange, painting the world in soft gold.
Mika eventually walked over, slinging her bag over one shoulder. "Hey. Want to walk home together?"
Yui hesitated. They usually did. But today… today felt different.
"Okay," she said quietly.
They walked side by side, neither speaking for a long time. The sidewalk was lined with early blooming flowers and streetlights flickering to life one by one.
Yui glanced at Mika—hands in her hoodie pocket, posture relaxed, eyes turned up at the sky like she was thinking about something far away.
She looked… beautiful.
And Yui hated how much her heart ached just watching her.
---
When they reached the fork in the road, Mika turned with a smirk. "See you tomorrow, Yui."
Yui hesitated. Then, almost in a whisper, said:
"Mika…"
"Yeah?"
"…You're really unfair sometimes."
Mika blinked, surprised. "Unfair?"
Yui looked down, gripping the strap of her bag tightly.
"You act like… like you like me. But then you don't say anything. It's confusing."
The silence that followed felt like an eternity.
Then Mika said, softly, "Maybe I'm confused too."
Yui looked up.
Mika smiled. Not teasing. Not smug. Just… soft.
"Goodnight, Yui."
And then she walked away.
Leaving Yui standing in the orange glow of the streetlights, heart pounding, wondering what tomorrow would bring.