Chapter 4: Facing the Rumors

The following morning, Nasaki Kitta made her way through the school corridors, her otherwise cheerful face shadowed by the gossip that trailed behind her.

"Did you hear? She was with Haruto Kirigami."

"I never thought she'd speak to someone like him."

"Perhaps she feels sorry for him?"

She attempted to brush them off, but the words stuck to her like a shadow. She wasn't surprised—rumors traveled quickly in their school, and anything unusual was sufficient to create one.

It still irritated her. What was wrong with having lunch with Haruto? They weren't doing anything scandalous.

By the time she arrived at her class, she found Haruto by the window seat, gazing out the window with his typical faraway look. He did not appear concerned about the rumors. Or perhaps. he was accustomed to them.

Nasaki sat down, but during the lesson, she couldn't resist sneaking a peek at him. Was he actually fine?

During lunch, Nasaki used to eat with her friends, but today she hardly touched her food. The atmosphere at the table was light until one of the girls, Ayaka, leaned in suddenly.

"Come on, Nasaki, be honest," she whispered. "Are you interested in Haruto Kirigami?"

Nasaki hesitated, carefully selecting her words. "Why does it matter?"

One of her friends, Chisato, laughed. "Come on, Nasaki. He's strange. Always by himself, never speaks to anyone. People are accusing you of pitying him."

Nasaki's fists clenched beneath the tablecloth. "He's not strange," she said, her voice stronger than she had anticipated. "He just doesn't like to be noticed."

Ayaka and Chisato looked at each other. "So you're defending him."

She took a deep breath. "Look, we simply happened to have lunch at the same location. That's all. People are blowing things out of proportion."

"But isn't it dangerous?" Chisato whispered. "I heard he got into trouble in his previous school."

Nasaki's gut twisted. Haruto. was bullied, wasn't he?

"That's just hearsay," she retorted. "We don't know the truth."

Her friends fell silent. The conversation shifted, but Nasaki's mind remained elsewhere.

She had already made up her mind—she wasn't going to let rumors shape how she saw Haruto.

Meanwhile, Haruto sat alone on the rooftop again, staring at the clouds.

He knew people were talking. He had heard the whispers, seen the stolen glances.

It wasn't the first time.

"I should have known better."

He had spent years avoiding attention, making himself invisible. And yet, one small interaction with Nasaki was enough to pull him back into the spotlight.

He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.

Just then, the door to the rooftop opened.

Nasaki stepped out, her eyes scanning the area before landing on him.

"Figures you'd be here," she said, walking over.

Haruto didn't respond. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk.

Nasaki sat down next to him, far enough apart to be comfortable.

"You heard the gossip, huh?" she asked.

Haruto gave a sarcastic laugh. "Hard not to."

Nasaki leaned back against her knees. "They're frustrating."

Haruto looked over at her. "They don't upset you?"

"They do," she said. "But what gets on my nerves more is that people think they know you when they don't."

Haruto turned his face away. "It doesn't make a difference."

"It does," Nasaki persisted. "If people are going to say something, I'd rather they say it about the truth."

He didn't know how to respond to that.

For a moment that felt forever, they simply sat, the breeze holding their silence.

Then Nasaki spoke once more. "Do you want me to explain things?"

Haruto hesitated. "How?"

"'By being honest.' She turned and looked at him. 'That we just happened to have lunch together. That you're not some intimidating loner. That you're just. you.'"

Haruto blinked. No one had ever told him something like that before.

At last, he released a gentle sigh. ".Do as you please."

Nasaki grinned. "Then I will."

And for the first time in a long time, Haruto felt something unusual—hope.

Nasaki didn't waste any time.

The following day, she made sure to drop comments in a casual manner whenever people talked about the rumors.

"Oh, Haruto? We just so happened to dine at the same restaurant. He's not that bad to talk to, though."

"I don't understand why people think he's intimidating. He just prefers to be alone."

"I think everyone's being too dramatic. You should give him a try instead of making assumptions."

Gradually, the rumors lost their impact.

Of course, not everyone believed it. Some still gazed at Haruto curiously, but the crueler whispers disappeared.

Haruto realized.

And for the first time in a very long time, he didn't feel totally by himself.

As the last bell sounded, Haruto gathered his belongings slowly, observing as students exited the room.

Just as he was walking out, Nasaki stopped by his desk.

"Hey," she said with a smile. "Walking home?"

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Nasaki shrugged. "No reason. Just thought I'd walk with you."

He hesitated. Normally, he would refuse. But today.

".Fine," he muttered, standing up.

Nasaki grinned. "See? You're not as scary as they think."

Haruto rolled his eyes, but a small, almost unnoticeable smile tugged at his lips.

Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change.