Between the Silence

I rubbed my eyes as I walked down the stairs, the faint chill of the morning air still clinging to the house. The wooden steps creaked under my weight, and as I reached the bottom, I saw Shinobu sitting at the dining table, resting her chin on her palm. She looked up at me with an impatient expression.

"Finally," she sighed dramatically. "I was starting to think you'd never wake up."

I blinked at her, still half-asleep. "Why are you just sitting there?" I asked, noticing the empty table.

She gave me a deadpan look. "Waiting for you to make breakfast."

I frowned. "You're older than me. Shouldn't you be the one cooking?"

Shinobu scoffed. "Excuse me? Who was the one who burned rice last time? Oh, right. Me."

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "You're hopeless."

"And you're my only hope," she grinned, pushing herself up from her chair. "Now, be a good little brother and feed your dear sister."

Shaking my head, I walked toward the kitchen. This was normal—Shinobu always found a way to make me cook for her, using her terrible kitchen skills as an excuse. But strangely, I never really minded.

I opened the fridge and started pulling out ingredients when I felt her eyes on me. Leaning against the counter, she watched me with amusement.

"So," she started, "what's the special of the day, chef?"

"Whatever takes the least effort," I muttered, cracking an egg into a pan.

She chuckled. "Sounds about right."

The soft sizzle of eggs filled the air, mixing with the quiet hum of the morning. It was moments like this that made everything feel… normal.

After plating the food, I placed it on the table, and Shinobu clapped her hands together. "Itadakimasu!" she said cheerfully before digging in.

I sat across from her, taking a bite of my own food.

"By the way," she said between bites, "Kane's outside. Been waiting for you all morning."

I paused mid-chew. "Again?"

"Again."

I sighed, finishing my food quickly. "Guess I should see what she wants."

Shinobu smirked. "Go on, then. But next time, I'm charging you for my company."

Rolling my eyes, I pushed back my chair and stood up. Even though I wouldn't admit it, I felt a small smile tug at my lips.

With that, I headed to the door where Kane was, as always, waiting.

I opened the door, and there she was—Kane, standing outside like always. The spring air was cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers. She had her hands tucked into her jacket pockets, eyes shifting toward me the moment I stepped out.

"If you were waiting for me, why didn't you just come inside?" I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

She hesitated for a second, then shrugged. "Well… you've never invited me inside. That's why, I guess?"

I frowned. That was true. She had always waited outside, but it wasn't like I ever told her she couldn't come in.

"That's kinda dumb," I muttered.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you calling me dumb or yourself?"

"Both."

She let out a small chuckle, but there was something about her expression—like she was thinking too much about something. Maybe about last night.

I opened the door wider and stepped aside. "Well… come in."

For a second, she didn't move. Then, with a quiet "…Okay," she walked past me into the house.

I shut the door behind us, and suddenly, the air inside felt different.

Kane stood near the entrance, glancing around as if she wasn't sure what to do. I wasn't used to seeing her like this—usually, she was the one teasing me. But now? She seemed… off.

"You can sit," I said, walking toward the kitchen.

"Yeah," she mumbled, but she didn't move right away.

I glanced over my shoulder at her. She was shifting on her feet, eyes avoiding mine. Right. The hug. I wasn't going to bring it up, but clearly, it was on her mind.

I sighed. "You're being weird."

Her gaze snapped to me. "I am not being weird," she said, a little too fast.

I smirked. "Oh, so you always act like a lost cat when you step into someone's house?"

She scowled. "Shut up."

I chuckled, turning toward the kitchen. "Shinobu's probably finishing up breakfast. You want something to eat?"

Kane hesitated again before sighing. "Yeah… sure."

She followed behind me, and though she was acting normal again, I could still feel it—the awkwardness lingering between us.

I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.

Shinobu raised an eyebrow as we walked in. She leaned back in her chair, chewing the last bite of her breakfast as her gaze flicked between me and Kane.

"Oh?" she said, dragging out the word. "Finally decided to let her in, huh?"

I rolled my eyes and pulled out a chair. Kane just sighed and sat down across from me, resting her elbows on the table.

"You make it sound like I was locked outside," she muttered.

"Weren't you?" Shinobu smirked.

Kane shot me a glance, and I could already tell she regretted stepping inside. Not that I could blame her—Shinobu was never one to let things slide.

"Are you gonna eat or just sit there?" I asked, changing the subject before my sister could push it further.

Kane hummed in thought. "What do you have?"

"Eggs, rice, miso soup. Take your pick."

She rested her chin on her hand. "Sounds good. Make me a plate."

I scoffed. "What, am I your servant now?"

Shinobu snorted. "Welcome to my world."

I sighed, standing up anyway. "Fine, but only because I don't want to hear you complain."

Kane smiled smugly as I grabbed a plate and started serving. I could feel Shinobu watching us with interest, but thankfully, she didn't say anything. Yet.

I set the plate in front of Kane, and she clapped her hands together. "Itadakimasu," she said before taking a bite.

A comfortable silence settled over the room, broken only by the clinking of chopsticks against plates.

After a few minutes, Shinobu stretched her arms above her head. "So, Kane," she started, a teasing lilt in her voice. "Did you enjoy the festival last night?"

I stiffened slightly, but Kane just kept eating, as if she was expecting the question.

"Yeah," she said casually. "It was fun."

Shinobu's eyes flicked to me for a second before she grinned. "Must've been, considering how late you two got back."

I shot her a warning look, but she ignored me. Kane, on the other hand, just kept chewing, though I could see the way her grip on the chopsticks tightened slightly.

"It was late," she admitted. "But I don't regret it."

I swallowed, glancing away. The memory of last night—the warmth of her arms around me, the way she held on for just a second longer than necessary—flashed through my mind.

Shinobu raised an eyebrow at me. "Huh. Interesting."

I groaned. "Would you stop?"

She laughed, leaning back. "What? I'm just curious."

Kane finally looked up from her food, her expression unreadable. "There's nothing to be curious about," she said, voice even.

Shinobu hummed but didn't push further.

I exhaled, relieved the conversation had ended there.

As soon as Kane finished eating, she set her chopsticks down and stood up. "Alright, let's go," she said, looking at me.

I blinked. "Huh?"

"You always make me wait. It's about time you're the one being rushed," she smirked.

I rolled my eyes, but I grabbed my bag anyway. "Fine, fine."

As I moved toward the door, Shinobu called out, "Have fun, lovebirds!"

Kane and I froze.

I turned back with a glare. "We're not—"

But Shinobu had already disappeared into the kitchen, laughing to herself.

Kane cleared her throat. "Let's just go."

I nodded, stepping outside

The cool spring air hit my face as I stepped outside, the warmth of the house quickly replaced by the crisp breeze. Kane followed behind me, her hands tucked into her jacket pockets. The awkwardness from earlier still lingered between us, but neither of us brought it up.

We started walking down the familiar path, the sound of our footsteps filling the quiet morning. The streets were still mostly empty, aside from a few early risers opening their shops or heading off to work.

"So," I finally spoke, glancing at her. "You're in a hurry today?"

Kane tilted her head, pretending to think. "Not really. Just figured I'd change things up for once."

I scoffed. "By rushing me?"

She smirked. "It's only fair. You always make me wait."

I sighed, stuffing my hands into my pockets. "Still. It's weird seeing you this eager."

Kane didn't respond immediately. She kept walking, her gaze fixed ahead, as if she was debating something in her head.

Then, she spoke, her voice quieter than before. "Last night… was nice."

I felt my shoulders tense slightly. "Yeah," I muttered. "It was."

She let out a small breath, almost like she was relieved I agreed. "I thought about it a lot after I got home."

I hesitated. "About what?"

She slowed her pace slightly, her fingers tightening around the straps of her bag. "About us."

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn't sure why, but hearing her say that made me nervous.

"You don't have to make it a big deal," she said quickly, sensing my silence. "I just… I don't want things to be weird between us."

I exhaled. "Yeah. Me neither."

She nodded, seeming satisfied with that answer. The tension between us loosened slightly, though the weight of unspoken thoughts still hung in the air.

We walked in silence for a few more minutes before Kane suddenly groaned.

"Ugh, why does it feel like spring makes everything more dramatic?"

I blinked at her, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What?"

She gestured vaguely around us. "I dunno. The weather's nice, flowers are blooming, and people start acting sentimental. It's annoying."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're the one who brought up last night."

Kane turned away, muttering, "Forget I said anything."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're such an idiot."

"Shut up, Yuki," she grumbled, kicking a stray pebble down the road.

The awkwardness faded as we kept walking, slipping back into something more familiar. Even if things felt different now, at least we were still… us.

And for now, that was enough.

The classroom was already filling up by the time I arrived. I slid into my seat near the window, resting my chin on my palm as I stared outside. A few students were still loitering in the courtyard, some greeting friends, others dragging their feet as if stepping into the building would physically drain them.

I tapped my fingers against the desk absentmindedly. I wasn't usually the type to get stuck on things like this, but the conversation with Kane lingered in my mind more than I wanted it to.

I thought about it a lot after I got home.

About us.

What was that supposed to mean, exactly?

Before I could get too lost in my thoughts, the classroom door slid open, and a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Yuki."

I barely had time to react before someone dropped into the seat in front of me.

"Why do you look like someone just told you your life's a lie?" Haru asked, grinning.

I sighed. "I just got here, and you're already annoying."

Haru smirked. "It's a gift." He leaned forward, resting his arms on my desk. "So… how did it go with you guys?"

I frowned. "What?"

"You and Kane," he said, eyes glinting with amusement. "Something's different today. Spill it."

I clicked my tongue. "Nothing happened."

Haru scoffed. "You think I can't tell? You're lost in thought, and Kane looked kinda awkward when she walked in earlier. If I didn't know better, I'd say something did happen."

I turned my gaze toward the window. "You're reading into things too much."

"Am I?" He leaned in closer. "Or are you just avoiding the topic?"

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Why do you even care?"

"Because this is the most interesting thing happening in class," he said matter-of-factly. "And because you never act like this unless something's actually on your mind."

I stayed silent. Haru was irritating, but he wasn't dumb. He knew me well enough to tell when something was off.

After a pause, he grinned again. "So? Gonna tell me, or do I have to guess?"

"You could just mind your own business," I muttered.

He gasped dramatically. "Impossible."

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "You're impossible."

Before Haru could say anything else, the teacher walked in, and class began.

I glanced at Kane. She didn't look at me, but I could tell she knew I was watching.

Haru wasn't wrong. Something was different.

I just wasn't sure what it meant yet.

The morning classes dragged on, but my mind wasn't really on the lessons. I took notes, nodded when needed, but my focus kept drifting back to Kane's words from earlier.

I thought about it a lot after I got home.

About us.

I stole another glance in her direction. She was scribbling in her notebook, resting her chin on her hand. From the outside, she looked like her usual self—calm, a little bored. But I knew better.

There was something off about today.

The bell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. As the teacher dismissed us for lunch, the usual noise filled the room—desks scraping, students chatting, some heading outside while others stayed in.

Haru stretched beside me, letting out an exaggerated groan. "Finally. I thought that class would never end."

I absentmindedly nodded, closing my notebook.

"You're still zoning out," he pointed out.

I shot him a look. "And you're still nosy."

Haru only smirked. "It's called being a good friend."

Before I could respond, I noticed Kane getting up. She grabbed her lunch and started walking toward the door. She didn't look in my direction, but I had a feeling she was expecting me to follow.

Haru must have caught my expression because he nudged me. "There she goes. What, are you just gonna sit here?"

I exhaled, debating whether I should go after her.

"Look at you," Haru teased. "Thinking so hard about something so simple."

I gave him a deadpan look. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

"More than I should," he admitted with a grin. "Now, go. Before she thinks you're avoiding her."

I sighed and stood up, grabbing my lunch. "Try not to be too smug about this."

"No promises," Haru called after me as I left the classroom.

I stepped into the hallway, scanning the crowd until I spotted her. Kane was already heading toward the stairs, taking her time.

I picked up my pace and caught up with her just as she reached the rooftop entrance. She glanced at me, but instead of her usual teasing smirk, she just gave a small nod before pushing the door open.

The rooftop was quiet, only a few students scattered around. Kane walked toward the railing, resting her arms on it as she looked out over the school grounds.

I leaned against the railing beside her.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

The spring breeze carried the scent of flowers, the sky was clear, and the distant sounds of students talking and laughing filled the air.

Finally, I broke the silence. "So… what was that about earlier?"

She didn't look at me. "What do you mean?"

I gave her a look. "You know what I mean."

She let out a small sigh, her fingers tapping against the railing. "I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

Kane hesitated for a second before glancing at me. "Us."

There it was again. That same word.

I kept my expression neutral. "And?"

She looked back at the sky. "I don't know yet."

I studied her for a moment. "You're being weird today."

She let out a short laugh. "Yeah… maybe I am."

Another pause.

Then, Kane finally turned to face me fully.

"Yuki," she said, her voice quieter than usual. "Do you regret it?"

I frowned. "Regret what?"

She hesitated. "Last night."

The hug.

I thought about it for a second, then shook my head. "No. Do you?"

Kane looked at me, and for the first time in a long time, she seemed unsure. Then, finally, she shook her head.

"No," she admitted.

The breeze picked up slightly, ruffling our hair.

Neither of us spoke after that.

But somehow, the silence felt louder than anything else.

Kane sighed, crossing her arms over the railing. Her gaze was fixed on the school courtyard below, watching the students go about their lunch breaks like nothing had changed.

But something had changed.

Between us.

I could feel it in the way she hesitated before speaking, the way she kept stealing glances at me but never holding them for long.

"So…" I started, leaning slightly toward her. "What now?"

Kane exhaled sharply, like she had been holding her breath. "What do you mean?"

I gave her a look. "You don't bring something up like that and just leave it hanging, Kane."

She stayed silent for a moment before closing her eyes and tilting her head back, as if soaking in the sun. "I don't know," she admitted. "I just… wanted to know where you stood."

"Where I stood?" I raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're the one unsure."

She finally turned to look at me, a small smirk tugging at her lips, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Maybe."

I searched her expression, trying to figure out what she wasn't saying.

Kane wasn't the type to hesitate like this. She was bold, confident—she always spoke her mind, even if it meant teasing me to death. But now, she was holding back.

And if she was holding back, then maybe…

Maybe this mattered to her more than she wanted to admit.

I let out a breath. "Look… I don't regret last night. But I'm not gonna sit here and overthink it either."

Kane raised an eyebrow. "So, what? We just pretend nothing happened?"

"I didn't say that." I met her gaze. "I just think… we don't have to rush to figure everything out. Right now, I'm fine with how things are."

She stared at me for a long second, then shook her head with a soft chuckle. "You really are frustrating sometimes, Yuki."

I smirked. "Thanks."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue.

For a while, we just stood there, side by side, eating our lunch in comfortable silence.

It wasn't a perfect answer.

But for now, it was enough.

The rooftop was quiet, aside from the occasional breeze rustling our uniforms. I took a bite of my sandwich, chewing slowly as I watched Kane out of the corner of my eye.

She was eating too, though her movements felt more absentminded than usual—like she was still lost in thought.

I let the silence stretch between us for a while before finally speaking.

"You know, Haru was being annoying about this," I said casually, taking another bite.

Kane glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"

"You. Me. Last night."

Her chewing slowed. "What did he say?"

I shrugged. "Just the usual. Asking too many questions. Acting like he knows everything."

Kane snorted. "Sounds like him."

"Yeah." I leaned back slightly. "He asked how it went between us."

She stopped eating. "And what did you say?"

I thought for a second. "Told him to mind his own business."

That got a small laugh out of her. "Good answer."

I smirked. "Obviously."

Kane looked back out over the school grounds, but something in her posture seemed more relaxed now.

"...I guess it's weird, huh?" she said after a moment.

I raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"This." She motioned between us. "Talking about this stuff."

I considered that. It was different. Kane and I had always had an easy rhythm—sarcasm, teasing, the occasional deep conversation when we felt like it. But this? This was new.

Not bad, just… new.

"Yeah," I admitted. "A little."

She hummed, finishing the last of her food.

I stretched my arms over my head. "So, are we done being awkward now?"

Kane rolled her eyes. "I was never being awkward."

I shot her a look.

She ignored it, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Right. Of course not."

The bell rang before she could respond, signaling the end of lunch.

Kane pushed herself off the railing. "Guess we should head back."

"Guess so."

We gathered our things and started toward the door.

Just before we stepped inside, Kane slowed her pace and glanced at me.

"Hey, Yuki."

I looked at her. "Yeah?"

She hesitated for just a second before giving me a small smirk. "Thanks for not being a complete idiot about this."

I blinked. "That's the nicest thing you've ever