Whispers and wounds (I)

---

The day of the project presentation dawned bright and chilly, with sunlight streaking through the classroom windows. Kaito leaned back in his chair, yawning, while Maya sat beside him, nervously flipping through the pages of their final project.

"Kaito," she whispered. "Are you sure you've got everything memorized?"

He smirked. "Relax. I don't need to memorize it. I lived it, remember?"

Maya rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. She wasn't used to his brand of confidence, but somehow, it was reassuring.

As students took turns presenting their projects, the classroom buzzed with mild interest. Some students clearly struggled through their explanations, while others droned on, earning scattered applause.

Finally, their teacher called, "Next up: Kaito Arata and Maya Takaba."

Maya froze for a moment, clutching her notebook. Kaito stood first, nudging her gently. "Come on. Don't let them scare you."

The duo walked to the front of the class. Maya's hands trembled slightly as she set up their display, but Kaito stepped forward, exuding an easy confidence that immediately drew attention.

"Our project is about the intersection of art and emotion," Kaito began, his voice calm but engaging. "We wanted to show how creativity can reflect inner struggles and triumphs."

Maya picked up from there, her voice quieter but steady. She explained the artwork they had created together—a detailed mural full of symbolic imagery. "Each element represents a specific feeling," she said, gesturing to the painted piece. "The stormy skies for confusion, the blooming flowers for hope…"

As she spoke, the class leaned forward, captivated by the depth of her explanation. Kaito chimed in occasionally, adding humor or anecdotes that made the class laugh.

When they finished, there was a moment of silence before the room erupted into applause.

"Excellent work," their teacher said with a smile. "It's clear you both put a lot of thought and effort into this. Well done."

As they returned to their seats, Kaito whispered to Maya, "See? I told you we'd crush it."

Maya couldn't help but smile. "Yeah… we did."

But in the back of the classroom, a pair of sharp eyes watched them with a simmering mix of envy and disdain.

---

Rika Sakamoto tapped her manicured nails against her desk, a fake smile plastered on her face. Her project had been decent—she had used her usual flair for presentation to mask the lack of depth—but it paled in comparison to Maya and Kaito's work.

As the bell rang, Rika approached Maya, her polished shoes clicking against the floor. "Hey, Maya," she said sweetly.

Maya looked up, startled. "Oh… hi, Rika."

"I just wanted to say congrats on the project," Rika said, her tone saccharine. "I mean, I'm honestly surprised you managed to pull it off."

"Uh… thanks?" Maya replied, unsure of Rika's intent.

Rika leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "It's just… well, I heard Kaito talking to his friends earlier. He said it was a nightmare working with you. Something about you being too quiet and hard to deal with."

Maya's eyes widened. "What? He… he said that?"

Rika shrugged, feigning sympathy. "Don't take it too hard. I'm sure he didn't mean it that way. Maybe he just feels sorry for you or something."

With that, Rika gave a pitying smile and walked away, leaving Maya frozen in place.

---

Maya walked home in a daze, Rika's words replaying in her mind.

He said it was a nightmare working with me.

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she forced them back. "Why did I think he was different?" she whispered to herself. "I should've known better."

At home, Maya curled up on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She thought about all the moments she had let herself trust Kaito—his jokes, his kindness, his encouragement. It all felt like a cruel trick now.

As night fell, her resolve hardened. She decided to avoid Kaito at all costs. It was better to be alone than to let someone hurt her again.

---

The next morning, Kaito arrived at school in his usual laid-back manner. He noticed Maya slipping into her seat without looking his way.

"Morning," he said casually.

She didn't respond.

Kaito frowned, watching her out of the corner of his eye throughout the day. She avoided him during breaks, and when he tried to catch her after class, she hurried away without a word.

"What's her deal?" Kaito muttered to himself.

During lunch, Rika sauntered over to his table. "Hey, Kaito," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Actually, yeah, I do," he replied bluntly, not even looking up from his food.

Rika's smile faltered. "Oh… well, I just thought—"

"Look," Kaito interrupted, "I'm not interested in whatever you're selling, okay?"

Rika's face turned red with anger, but she forced a tight smile and walked away.

Later that afternoon, Kaito decided he'd had enough. He cornered Maya in the art room after class.

"Maya," he said, blocking the door.

She froze. "Kaito… I need to go."

"Not until you tell me what's going on," he said firmly. "Why are you avoiding me?"

Maya looked down, biting her lip. "I don't… I can't…"

Kaito softened his tone. "Maya, whatever it is, just tell me. I won't judge, I promise."

After a long pause, she finally blurted out, "Rika told me you said it was a nightmare working with me. That I'm hard to deal with. Is that true?"

Kaito's eyes widened in shock. "What? Maya, I never said that!"

"Then why would she—"

"Because she's jealous!" Kaito said, his frustration evident. "She's been trying to get my attention for weeks, and when that didn't work, she decided to mess with you."

Maya looked at him, her expression wavering. "You really didn't say those things?"

"Never," Kaito said firmly. "And I never would."

Maya felt a weight lift off her chest. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should've trusted you."

Kaito smiled. "It's okay. Next time, just come to me, alright?"

"Alright," she said, a small smile forming.

As they left the art room together, Kaito made a mental note to have a word with Rika.

---