Chapter 22: "A Small Change"

The morning was no different. Haruto Kirigami entered the classroom and sat in his usual spot near the window. The sun had just cracked the horizon, sending a pale golden light drifting across the room through the windowpane. The murmur of students talking buzzed through the room, but Haruto, as always, tuned it out.

Shortly afterward, Nasaki Kitta entered.

"Good morning, Haruto," she said with a casual tone, as she did every morning.

Haruto, as usual, nodded simply in return.

Nasaki didn't mind. She merely smiled faintly and sat down. It was a habit—this daily greeting. Something Haruto hadn't really given much thought to before.

But today, for some reason, he did notice it.

The bell had rung, and it was time for lunch. Haruto, like always, took his lunch and headed to the rooftop, where he ate by himself. But he wasn't surprised when Nasaki tagged along.

This too had become the norm.

They sat together side by side, eating in quiet comfort at first. The wind was soft, with the distant sounds of students down below.

"Haruto," Nasaki suddenly spoke between mouthfuls of food.

He turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

"We completed that project quite quickly, huh?" she said. "The teacher looked pleased."

Haruto nodded. "Yeah."

She smiled. "You're actually a pleasure to work with when you try."

Haruto smiled. "And you're less irritating when you concentrate."

Nasaki pouted. "Wow. You just had to put that in, huh?"

He smiled slightly, going back to his food.

A few months back, he wouldn't have thought of sitting here like this—with someone else, talking as if it were nothing. But now, it just was.

After school, Haruto was going to go home straight away when Nasaki suddenly said something.

"Hey, do you wanna go to the convenience store with me?"

Haruto blinked. "For what?"

I just wanna get some snacks," she said, stretching. "You don't have to come, but since we're going in the same direction anyway."

Haruto hesitated, thinking about saying no, but for some reason, he didn't.

".Sure," he said.

Nasaki blinked, obviously not thinking he would say yes so readily. "Really? Wow, I thought you'd say no."

He shrugged. "It's just a store."

Nasaki laughed. "Fair enough."

And just like that, they walked together.

In the store, Nasaki wandered through the snack section, scanning various items. Haruto hovered beside her, hands in pockets, watching her distractedly.

"Hmm…" she muttered, running her chin. "Do I get chocolate or chips?"

"Just buy both," Haruto replied matter-of-factly.

Nasaki dramatically gasped. "What a decadent idea!"

Haruto rolled his eyes. "It's just snacks."

Nasaki smiled, picking up both. "Okay, big spender. Your treat, then?"

"Not a chance."

She laughed, buying her own snacks before they exited the store.

Outside, they spotted a small bench by the road. The sky was beginning to change into warm tones of orange. They sat there, informally munching on their snacks, discussing nothing in particular.

Haruto wasn't aware how much it felt like home—just sitting there, hearing Nasaki speak, the day slowly becoming evening.

At one point, Haruto found himself observing little things about Nasaki.

The way she pushed her hair behind her ear whenever she was deep in thought.

The way her eyes sparkled when she was discussing something she enjoyed.

The way she leaned forward slightly when she was teasing him, anticipating a reaction.

He never really noticed before. But now…

He did notice.

And the fact that he noticed made him stop.

Why was he paying attention to these things?

Was it simply because they had been spending more time together? Or was it something else?

"…Haruto?"

He blinked, shaking out of his reverie. "What?"

Nasaki cocked her head. "You zoned out. Thinking about something?"

"No," he replied at once.

She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "Liar."

Haruto snorted, finishing his snack. "You think too much."

Nasaki pouted. "And you think too little."

They sat in silence for a moment before she suddenly stretched and stood up.

"Alright, time to head home."

Haruto got up as well, and they started walking side by side again.

The streets were quieter now, most students already home. The air was cool, carrying the scent of autumn leaves.

Nasaki walked with her hands in her pockets, glancing at Haruto.

"Hey, Haruto."

He turned his head slightly. "What?"

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "You've been acting different lately."

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Nasaki shrugged. "I don't know. You just seem… I guess, more relaxed?"

Haruto pondered it. Had he really changed?

Maybe.

He used to keep himself away from others. He did not engage in unnecessary talk. He did not allow anyone near him.

Now.

He was accustomed to having Nasaki around.

She was always there. Talking, flirting, keeping up with him even when he rejected her.

Somewhere along the way, he had ceased to push.

He looked at her. "You're imagining things."

Nasaki smiled. "Oh, please. I know you too well for that."

Haruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

She laughed.

As they approached their neighborhood, a group of their classmates passed by them.

One of them elbowed another and whispered, "Those two have been really close lately, huh?"

Haruto overheard it.

But he didn't flinch.

He just nodded, not even thinking about it.

Nasaki, however, looked at him with interest. But when she realized he was not fussed, she merely smiled to herself.

They went home together in step.

Like always.

End of Chapter 22