Equations and Revelations

Hinata’s POV

I nodded as I walked towards the stairs, and suddenly…

“Hinata!” Haruto called out.

I stopped and turned to him, only to see his unusual face. Raising one eyebrow I asked, “Yes?”

“I…” then, he paused.

“What is it?” I asked him.

A smile slowly formed on his face as he said gently, “Thank you.”

I replied with a smile.

***

The cafeteria buzzed with the clamor of midday. Ren waved from our table, a spot by the window where the light pooled just right. Rei and Haruna were already there, immersed in an animated discussion about a group project. Looking at my tray on the table that went missing, I decided to order another one.

We walked toward our spot and the trays clattered lightly as Haruto and I set ours down, rejoining the circle.

"Look who I found," I announced, my voice tinted with triumph.

"Haruto, man, where'd you vanish to?" Ren asked, his eyebrows arching in mock severity.

"Just needed some fresh air," Haruto replied, his voice steady but low.

Rei smiled, passing him a carton of juice. "Well, you missed my brilliant idea about the science project. Guess I’ll have to dazzle you with it all over again."

As Rei launched into an enthusiastic explanation of her plans, involving far too many variables and possibly defying several laws of physics, I watched Haruto ease into the conversation. Laughter soon followed, bridging any gap his absence had created.

Lunch passed in a series of stories and shared jokes, our laughter mingling with the ambient sounds of the cafeteria. I felt a warm glow in my chest as I watched Haruto slowly integrate back into our group, his earlier isolation washed away by the simple act of belonging.

The bell’s ring was both a curse and a promise, slicing through our bubble. We gathered their trays and stood, the chairs screeching softly against the floor.

As we walked back to class, I leaned closer to Haruto. "Hey, you’re still up for our study session after school, right? In the library?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it."

"Good," I said, my voice firm but kind. "You better study harder for the next exam."

Haruto met my eyes, and something unspoken but immensely warm passed between us.

"I’ll be there," he promised. "Wouldn’t want to miss out on your insights on calculus."

I laughed. "See you there after school then."

As we entered the classroom, the afternoon sun threw patterns of light across the desks, and so the afternoon class started.

***

As the final bell of the day rang, Haruto and I gathered our books, a comfortable silence between us as we walked towards the library. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, a meandering stream of thoughts on the day’s math class.

“I still don’t get why we need to use imaginary numbers. When will we ever use them?” Haruto asked, a playful groan in his voice as we pushed through the library’s double doors.

I laughed, my eyes scanning for the perfect study spot. “Maybe in some complex calculations in the future. You know, big engineer stuff,” I teased, leading him to a secluded corner of the library. We settled into our seats, a table between us.

The quiet hum of the library was a blanket, soft and encompassing. I flipped open my textbook, pointing at a diagram. “See, if you think about it as just another tool in your toolbox, it starts to make more sense.”

"Could you show me how to solve this one?" He slid his notebook across the table, a problem circled in anxious pencil marks.

“Sure, let me come around.” I stood, my chair whispering against the carpet as I moved to sit beside him. Our shoulders brushed as I leaned over to point at his notebook, my voice a gentle guide. “So, first we isolate the variable here.”

As Hinata broke down the equation, Haruto found himself caught in a gentle orbit around her clarity. Each step she outlined made the numbers and symbols crystalize into solutions. He was surprised not only by his sudden grasp of the concept but also by the proximity to Hinata, her warmth a calming presence beside him.

Hinata, too, felt a new awareness of Haruto. She could smell his cologne, a clean, subtle scent that made her heart skip slightly. Teaching him felt different this close; there was an electric thrill to every shared discovery, every nod of understanding he gave.

“Does that make sense?” I asked after explaining a particularly tricky part.

“Yeah, it does. Thanks to you, I’m actually getting this,” he said, his smile genuine and wide. He was close enough that his gratitude was not just heard but felt.

My heart danced a little at that smile. “I’m glad. You’re not too bad at this, you know.”

For two hours, the world shrank to just our shared table, the scratch of our pens, and the whispered rustle of pages turning. Finally, packing up, Haruto suggested, “Hey, do you want to grab something from the café? I could use a coffee after all that.”

“That sounds perfect,” I agreed, my spirits lifted by the productive session.

***

The café was a short walk away, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. We ordered our drinks, and Haruto picked a small table by the window.

Sipping my coffee, I glanced out at the dusky sky. “You know, I’ve always liked how quiet it gets around this time,” I mused.

“Yeah, it’s peaceful,” Haruto agreed, following my gaze. “Makes you want to freeze the moment, doesn’t it?”

I nodded, my eyes meeting his. There was a silent acknowledgment, a shared wish to hold onto the simplicity of such evenings.

But as all good things do, our meeting came to an end. “I should get going. Thanks for the coffee,” I finally said, reluctance tingeing my tone.

“Yeah, me too. Thanks again for the help, Hinata.” Haruto added, his smile tinged with a shy gratitude.

“Anytime, Haruto,” I replied, standing. “Let’s do it again soon.”

We parted ways outside the café, the cool evening air sweeping around us as we went our separate paths. I walked home with a lightness in my steps, my mind replaying every moment of our study session, each smile and shared laughter echoing in my heart, promising more such evenings ahead.

He reminded me of little Haru.

I miss you, little Haru… where are you…

To be continued…