You'll Have To Catch Me First

Ren Nakamura had always been good at ignoring people.

He ignored teachers, classmates, and the occasional guy stupid enough to challenge him. He ignored the whispers in the hallways, the judgmental looks, the way people automatically moved aside when he walked past.

It was easy.

Or at least, it used to be.

Until her.

Because Yuki Hoshino, for some reason, refused to be ignored.

Like today.

Ren had just settled into his usual spot at the back of the class, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, mind drifting toward sleep—when a small folded note landed on his desk.

He frowned.

Then, without even opening it, he scribbled one word on the back:

"No."

With a flick of his fingers, he sent it flying onto Yuki's desk.

A few seconds later, she slid it back.

Ren sighed, unfolding it.

"You didn't even read it."

Ren clicked his tongue, flipped it over, and wrote:

"Still no."

Another flick.

Yuki let out an exaggerated sigh as she unfolded the paper again.

Then, she turned toward him, chin propped on her hand, smiling.

"I didn't even ask anything yet," she whispered.

Ren barely glanced at her. "Didn't have to."

She gasped dramatically. "What if I was confessing my undying love to you?"

Ren blinked, unimpressed. "Then you have terrible taste."

Yuki giggled. "I do sit next to you every day, so maybe you're right."

Ren exhaled, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. "Why do you even talk to me?"

"Because I feel like it."

"That's a terrible reason."

"But it's the truth."

Ren glanced at her. Yuki was still smiling, her expression playful but steady. Like she wasn't afraid of him. Like she saw something in him worth talking to.

Tch. She was annoying.

But...

She was also warm.

And that, somehow, was worse.

Lunch Break – Rooftop

Ren sighed the moment he stepped onto the rooftop.

Because she was already there.

Again.

Yuki was sitting near the railing, legs crossed, her bento box open on her lap. She glanced up as he approached and smiled.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't my favorite person."

Ren scoffed. "Then you need better standards."

"Probably," she agreed, popping a piece of food into her mouth. "But oh well."

Ren eyed her for a long second before sitting down a few feet away. He pulled a canned coffee from his pocket, cracking it open with one hand.

"So," Yuki said casually. "You don't eat lunch?"

"Not hungry."

She frowned. "That's not healthy."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Neither is annoying me every day, but here you are."

Yuki gasped, placing a hand on her chest. "Wow. I pour my heart and soul into our friendship, and this is how you treat me?"

"Friendship?" Ren repeated, skeptical. "Since when?"

"Since the moment I decided it," she said easily. "And I'm very persuasive."

Ren clicked his tongue, sipping his coffee. Why was she like this?

Yuki suddenly shifted, reaching into her bento. "Here."

Before he could react, she held out a piece of tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) with her chopsticks, inches from his face.

Ren froze.

"What," he said flatly.

"Try it."

"No."

"Come on, you're not eating anything. Just one bite."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "I don't do pity food."

"It's not pity food. It's friendship food."

"I never agreed to this friendship."

"Yet here you are, talking to me every day, sitting next to me, sharing your precious oxygen with me," she teased. "It's basically official."

Ren stared at her, deadpan.

Yuki wiggled the chopsticks slightly. "So? You in or what?"

Ren did not want to take the bite. Absolutely not.

But Yuki wasn't backing down.

And something about the way she held out her food so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world, made his chest feel weird.

Tch. Fine.

Without a word, he leaned forward and ate the bite straight from her chopsticks.

Yuki blinked. "Oh."

Ren chewed, swallowed, and met her gaze. "What?"

She smiled slowly. "Nothing. Just... you actually did it."

Ren scowled, looking away. "Shut up."

Yuki laughed. "See? I knew you'd warm up to me eventually."

Ren sighed, taking another sip of coffee. This girl was going to be the death of him.

After School – Outside the Classroom

"Ren."

He had barely stepped into the hallway before she appeared at his side.

Again.

"Tch. Seriously?"

Yuki hummed. "You say that like you're surprised."

"I am. Most people give up on me by now."

"Well, I'm not most people."

Ren sighed. "Unfortunately."

Yuki grinned, skipping a step ahead so she was walking backward, facing him. "So? Where are we going?"

"We?"

"Yes, we."

"I go home alone."

"Sounds lonely."

"It's peaceful."

"Sounds like an excuse."

Ren clicked his tongue. "Why do you always follow me?"

"Because you let me."

Ren stopped walking.

Yuki stopped too, tilting her head. "What?"

"You're wrong," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I don't let you do anything. You just do whatever you want."

Yuki smiled. "And yet, you never stop me."

Ren clenched his jaw. Damn it.

Why was she always right?

She studied him for a moment, then suddenly reached forward—and flicked his forehead.

Ren jerked back. "The hell?"

"That's for always sleeping through class," she said smugly.

Ren glared at her. "You're gonna regret that."

Yuki stuck her tongue out. "Guess you'll have to catch me first."

And before Ren could react, she turned and ran down the hall.

Ren blinked.

Then, before he could stop himself—he ran after her.

For the first time in a long time, without realizing it—

He was smiling.