Sweet Dream of Yours

The next morning, I got up from my bed and headed to the bathroom. Yumi was standing in front of the mirror, brushing her teeth. I walked up beside her, picked up my toothbrush, and joined in.

"You still have bedhead, Yumi," I teased.

"I don't want to hear that from you, Nii-san," she retorted.

After brushing our teeth, Yumi remained in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection with a serious expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sensing something was on her mind.

"Brush my hair," she murmured softly.

Well, Yumi is Yumi. She's my little sister, after all. I grabbed the hairbrush and began brushing her hair gently.

"Your hair's getting long. Don't you think it's time for a trim?" I asked, trying to make light conversation.

"...I like my hair as it is," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. Then, she glanced at my reflection in the mirror, her eyes filled with concern. "Nii-san..."

"What is it?" I prompted.

"Are you sure you're not going to talk to Hinata-san?" she asked hesitantly.

I paused, thinking carefully. "...No, I don't think it's the right time," I finally said.

"But—" she began, her voice tinged with worry.

I gently cut her off. "Yumi, please. Let's not talk about it, okay?"

Yumi nodded, though I could see the lingering concern in her eyes. Once I finished brushing her hair, she left the bathroom quietly.

After she left, I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away my thoughts. Once I was done, I dressed and headed downstairs.

"Good morning, Yukito," my mother greeted as I entered the kitchen.

"Morning, Mom," I replied.

"Here's your lunchbox," she said, handing it to me with a smile.

"Thanks, Mom," I said, taking it from her and getting ready to leave.

The walk to school felt strange. Normally, I would be walking with Hinata, sometimes joined by Shuuta and Makoto. But today, I was alone. The solitude felt heavy, an unwelcome reminder of the recent tensions.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice someone approaching until I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I was surprised to see Kurohime-senpai.

"Good morning, Yukito-kun," she greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning, Senpai," I replied, attempting a smile.

"Didn't get enough sleep?" she asked, noticing the tiredness in my eyes.

Despite her teasing, Kurohime-senpai had a way of lifting the mood. Her cheerful demeanor was infectious, and I found myself smiling back. "No, I'm fine," I assured her.

"There's the Yukito-kun I know," she said with a grin.

"Thanks, Senpai," I murmured, genuinely appreciating her effort to cheer me up.

"Don't mention it," she replied, her usual lively self.

We walked together toward the school, her light-hearted conversation helping to ease my mind.

"I wonder why we even have to come to school after finishing our finals," she mused aloud.

"Isn't that something you should be explaining to me, Senpai? You're the third-year here," I teased back.

"Hehe," she chuckled, her laughter light and carefree.

"Don't laugh at me," I muttered, though her laughter was more comforting than annoying.

As we reached the school gates, we parted ways, each heading to our respective classes. With a sigh, I prepared myself for the day ahead. Entering my classroom, I glanced around. Hinata wasn't there yet. I made my way to my desk and sat down, resting my head on the cool surface, closing my eyes for a moment of peace.

...

When I opened my eyes, the classroom was still quiet, but Hinata had arrived. She was sitting at her desk beside me, her presence palpable. Our eyes met briefly before she averted her gaze, focusing on anything but me.

Damn it...

The silence between us was suffocating, filled with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I wanted to say something, anything, but the weight of our past interactions held me back.

The day dragged on, each moment heavy with the tension between us. Classes came and went, but my mind remained fixated on Hinata. The memory of our last conversation replayed in my head, a constant reminder of the growing distance between us.

During lunch, I sat with Shuuta and Makoto on the rooftop, trying to distract myself from my thoughts. The warm sun and gentle breeze did little to ease my turmoil.

"You seem out of it, Yukito," Shuuta observed, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, you've been awfully quiet," Makoto added, her usual teasing tone absent.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

They exchanged glances but didn't press further. I appreciated their understanding, even if I couldn't bring myself to share what was really bothering me.

Here's the revised scene with Hinata and Yukito's moment interrupted by the arrival of Ohtani and the other gyaru:

The final bell had long since rung, but I found myself lingering in the school corridors, unwilling to face the walk home alone. The afternoon light filtered through the windows, bathing the hallway in a warm, golden glow.

As I turned a corner near the entrance, I spotted Hinata seated on a bench. Her posture was relaxed, but her expression was distant, as though she was lost in her own thoughts. It was rare to see her so subdued, a stark contrast to her usual lively demeanor.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should approach her. But something in the way she sat there, alone and contemplative, compelled me to walk toward her.

"Hey," I called softly as I drew nearer.

Hinata looked up, her eyes meeting mine with a hint of surprise. "Hey," she replied quietly.

"You waiting for Suzune and the others?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah," she said with a nod, glancing at her phone. "They're running a little late."

An awkward silence settled between us, the unspoken tension of past misunderstandings hanging heavily in the air. I shifted uncomfortably, searching for the right words.

But before I could say another word, the sound of laughter echoed down the hallway.

"Ohtani!" one of the gyaru called, her voice bright and cheerful.

Hinata turned her head just as Ohtani, Suzune, and the other gyaru rounded the corner, their presence shattering the fragile moment we had been sharing. Their chatter filled the air as they approached, oblivious to the conversation they had just interrupted.

"Hey, Hinata! Sorry we're late!" Ohtani greeted, her eyes darting between us with a smirk.

Hinata stood from the bench, a subtle sigh escaping her lips. "It's fine. I was just waiting for you guys."

I took a step back, suddenly feeling out of place. Hinata glanced at me, a mixture of apology and regret flickering in her eyes.

"Yukito," she said softly, "Goodbye…"

"Bye…"

As Hinata joined her friends, the moment we had almost shared dissolved into the buzz of their lively conversation. I watched her walk away, the sense of unfinished business lingering in the air.

She was walking with Ohtani… and the others…

What happened to you, Hinata…? Why won't you talk to me?