The classroom buzzed with noise.
Students talking. Laughing.
Everything normal.
Except—
Yamabuki wasn't listening to any of it.
His eyes were stuck on one thing.
Naya.
And more specifically—
The guy talking to her.
"…Tch."
He clicked his tongue.
Loud enough for the person next to him to notice.
"Bro, what's your problem?" his classmate whispered.
"Nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
The guy standing near Naya leaned slightly closer.
Smiling.
Talking casually.
Like they were close.
Too close.
Yamabuki's grip tightened on his pen.
Crack.
"…Oops."
"…You just broke your pen," the classmate said.
"Yeah. So?"
Meanwhile…
Naya noticed.
Of course she did.
Her eyes flickered toward Yamabuki for a second.
Then back to the guy.
"…So you're joining the event too?" the guy asked.
"Maybe," Naya replied calmly.
"You should. It'll be fun."
Yamabuki stood up suddenly.
"I'm going out."
"Class is still—"
"I said I'm going."
Door slammed.
🌤 Hallway
Yamabuki walked fast.
Annoyed.
No—
More than annoyed.
"…Why is that even bothering me…"
He ran a hand through his hair.
Frustrated.
"…It's none of my business."
Then why—
"…Tch."
Rooftop
Of course.
He ended up there again.
Leaning against the railing.
Trying to calm down.
"…Annoying…"
Footsteps.
"…You always come here when you're upset."
He froze.
"…Who said I'm upset?"
Naya walked beside him.
Standing close.
But not touching.
"You broke your pen."
"…So?"
"You left class."
"…So?"
"You're avoiding me."
"…I'm not."
Silence.
Then—
"…You didn't like it?"
"…Like what?"
"…Me talking to someone else."
That hit directly.
"…Don't be stupid."
"Then look at me and say it."
"…Tch."
He didn't.
Couldn't.
Naya stepped closer.
Just a little.
"…You're easy to read."
"I'm not." 💢
"You are."
"…Shut up."
Another step closer.
Now—
Too close.
"…Then tell me," she whispered,
"Why did you look so angry?"
Yamabuki's heartbeat sped up.
Annoyingly loud again.
"…I wasn't angry."
"Liar."
"…I just didn't like his face."
Naya blinked.
Then—
She smiled.
A soft, teasing smile.
"…So you were jealous."
"I WASN'T!"
Silence.
Then—
Naya leaned slightly closer.
"…Good."
"…Huh?"
"…Because I don't like it either."
Yamabuki froze.
"…What?"
"…When other people get too close to you."
His brain stopped working for a second.
"…W-What are you saying…"
"…Nothing."
She stepped back again.
Like it never happened.
"…You're imagining things."
"Tch… you're the worst."
"…I know."
But—
This time—
Her smile stayed.
End Scene
From below the rooftop—
That same figure watched.
Silent.
Cold.
"…So that's how it is."
A pause.
"…He's getting closer than expected."
Their eyes darkened.
"…This is a problem."