Chapter 26: Unspoken Words

The classroom was full of murmur, the sun-kissed late afternoon casting its golden glow across the rows of desks. The festival committee meeting had only just started, but Haruto Kirigami couldn't concentrate. His mind was elsewhere—on Nasaki Kitta.

She had been odd since yesterday's match. Even now, she sat a few seats away from him, her cheerful demeanor muted. She wasn't deliberately avoiding him, but something was off.

And Haruto hated that he noticed.

Nasaki's voice chimed in as the committee leader assigned roles. She still spoke like she always did—calm, confident—but there was an underlying hesitation, one that only someone who had spent enough time watching her would notice.

Watching her.

Haruto clenched his fists. What was he doing? Why was he so bothered by this?

"Kirigami and Kitta, you'll be handling the main stage decorations together."

The words broke him out of his reverie.

Nasaki blinked, her lips curling upward in surprise. A moment later, she gritted a little laugh. "Ah… sure."

Haruto just nodded.

Their classmates behaved predictably.

"Nice! You two are naturals with this kind of thing."

"The ultimate team, right?"

"Maybe they should collaborate on all of this, huh?"

There was laughter afterwards.

Haruto dismissed it. Nasaki did too—apart from the flash of something in her eyes before she looked away.

They went to the storage room together in silence.

Haruto was accustomed to silence. He enjoyed it. But today, it was different—nearly stifling.

"Okay, let's grab the banners and paint first," Nasaki said, grabbing the materials.

"Yeah."

No joking. No snarky comments. No banter like normal.

Haruto caught himself staring at her again, looking for something.

At last, he spoke.

"…Are you really okay?"

Nasaki halted for a moment.

Then, she smiled. "Of course."

Liar.

Haruto frowned. "You're acting weird."

"Am I?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "I think you're just imagining things."

She turned away before he could press further.

Haruto let out a harsh breath. He couldn't understand why he was being so insistent about this. Perhaps it was because he had grown accustomed to her. To the way she always pulled him into things, yanking him out of his bubble before he knew it.

And now she was pulling away.

And he didn't like it.

They worked in efficient silence, stringing up banners and arranging decorations around the center stage.

Then, it did.

Nasaki, climbing on a chair to hang the final piece of cloth, lost her balance.

Haruto responded before he was able to think.

His arms went around her waist, holding her steady before she could hit the floor.

For an instant, time stopped.

Nasaki breathed softly.

Haruto sensed the heat of her body against him, the slight tension in his grip. He had grabbed her instinctively, but now that the reality hit him, he didn't know what to do.

Neither of them budged.

Their gazes met.

Too close. Close.

Nasaki's face flushed a bright red. "H-Haruto… you can release me now."

He did. At once.

She stepped back, laughing awkwardly. "That was… close."

Haruto turned his head, scratching the back of his neck. His heart pounded a little harder than it ought to have.

"Be more careful," he grumbled.

Nasaki parted her lips, then closed them again. Something danced in her eyes—something uncertain, something vulnerable. But she didn't speak.

Neither did he.

It was already late afternoon before they were done.

As they left the school together, Nasaki walked a few steps behind him. It was subtle, but he noticed it.

Normally, she'd be beside him, making some comment about his cold attitude or dragging him into another conversation.

But now…

Haruto slowed his pace.

Nasaki glanced at him, surprised.

"…You're walking too slow," she teased, though her voice lacked its usual energy.

Haruto didn't answer.

Because the truth was, he wasn't certain why he had slowed down either.

All he knew was that something between them had shifted.

And for the first time. He didn't know if he was ready for it.

End of Chapter 26