A Simple Yes

The walk home felt heavier than usual. Rin didn't know if it was the weight of Sakura's words or the fact that she had no idea how to process them. It wasn't as if she wanted to stay away from Anko—if anything, the past few days with her had been… warm. Different. A light touch of something she never really had. And now, just like that, she was being told to throw it away.

She sighed, kicking a stray pebble on the pavement. It skidded forward before stopping near a streetlamp. The sky was already darkening, the weekend creeping in, promising two days of quiet. But was it really quiet? Her mind wouldn't stop spinning.

As she reached her house, she hesitated at the door before stepping inside. Her mother greeted her absentmindedly from the kitchen, but Rin just mumbled a response and went straight to her room. She let her bag drop to the floor, collapsing onto the bed. Her phone vibrated. She didn't even have to check to know it wasn't Anko—she didn't have her number, after all.

And for some reason, that realization made her chest feel oddly hollow.

---

It was Monday.

The school felt different in the morning. Not because anything had changed—just because Rin had. Or maybe, it was the weight of the weekend pressing down on her, making everything feel heavier.

She arrived earlier than usual, too early. The halls were quiet, empty except for the occasional teacher passing by. She didn't know why she came this early—maybe to avoid seeing people. Maybe to avoid her.

As she slid open the classroom door, she froze.

She wasn't alone.

Anko sat in her usual seat, leaning back with her arms crossed, staring out the window. The sunlight hit her just right, making her look almost unreal. Rin instinctively took a step back, but before she could decide whether to enter or leave—

"Yo."

Anko turned her head, her eyes locking onto Rin's.

Rin swallowed.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, her footsteps unnaturally loud in the quiet room. She made her way to her seat, feeling the weight of Anko's gaze the entire time. It was just the two of them. No one else had arrived yet.

The silence stretched.

Anko exhaled through her nose, tapping her fingers against her desk before standing up.

"You disappeared after Friday."

Rin tensed.

"Did I?" she said quietly, not looking at her.

"Yeah. I was waiting to see you today," Anko said, strolling toward Rin's desk, leaning against it like she belonged there.

Rin blinked. "Why?"

Anko gave her a look. "Why not?"

Rin had no response to that.

She lowered her gaze, gripping the edge of her desk. Anko was right in front of her, close enough that she could see the slight smirk playing on her lips, the way her eyes softened.

"Rin," Anko said suddenly. "Let's be friends."

Rin's breath caught.

She stared up at Anko, not sure if she heard that right.

"I mean, we basically already are, aren't we?" Anko continued, tilting her head. "We eat lunch together. We talk. And now, I'm standing here, talking to you first thing in the morning. Feels like friendship to me."

Rin had to look away. She wasn't sure if she was embarrassed or just overwhelmed.

"I—" She stopped.

She wanted to say yes. She really did. But Sakura's words echoed in her head.

Stay away from her.

Her fingers curled into fists on her lap.

Anko studied her for a moment before sighing. "You're overthinking again," she said, her voice softer this time. "It's not that complicated, you know."

Rin hesitated.

Was it really okay? To say yes?

Anko straightened, but before she could step away, Rin found herself gripping the edge of Anko's sleeve, stopping her.

Anko blinked, surprised.

Rin's face burned. "…Fine."

Anko's eyes widened slightly before her expression shifted into a slow, satisfied grin.

"Good," she said simply, before letting herself drop into the seat in front of Rin, turning around to rest her arms on the back of the chair. "Now tell me—did you at least miss me a little?"

Rin immediately regretted everything.