How... How do you know my name?" Yuto asked, his voice trembling slightly. He looked at the girl in front of him, his heart racing with a mix of confusion and nervousness.
Heena looked back at him and offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "A classmate of mine told me," she replied simply.
Yuto took a breath, trying to regain his composure. "I see. So, tell me, what do you want from me?"
The directness of his question seemed to catch Heena off guard. Her expression shifted to one of slight shock. "Well... it's just..." she stammered, her voice trailing off. "Actually... I heard..."
Actually what?" Yuto pressed, his tone turning a bit more firm. "Are you going to finish your sentence or not?"
Heena took a moment to settle herself. The flustered look disappeared, replaced by a calm gaze. "I just needed some help from you," she said softly.
Noticing her change in demeanor, Yuto's own voice softened. "Okay, ask away. Tell me, how can I help you?"
I've heard that you're really good at your studies," Heena said, looking him in the eye. "Will you help me out?"
Yuto felt a sense of relief. It was just about studies. "Yeah, sure. By the way, you're in Section C, right?"
Yes, I'm in Section C. And you're in Section A, I assume?"
Wow, that's something," Yuto remarked with a small smile. "We're in the same grade, yet our sections are so far apart."
Heena giggled, a bright sound that seemed to lighten the air. "True!"
Just then, the heavy rain that had been pouring down began to subside. As the clouds parted, a vibrant rainbow arched across the sky. Both of them stopped talking, their eyes fixed on the beautiful colors above. It was a quiet, peaceful moment.
"Let's go, Heena," Yuto said finally, breaking the silence. "The sky is clear now."
Yeah," she nodded, her smile lingering. "See you again, Yuto."
They parted ways, each heading toward their own home, but the encounter stayed with them.
That night, Yuto sat at his desk, staring at his textbooks. But for the first time, the formulas didn't make sense. His mind kept drifting back to the afternoon. 'That girl... she was really beautiful,' he thought to himself. 'And she actually went out of her way to talk to me.'
Across town, Heena was on her terrace, the cool night breeze blowing through her hair. She was supposed to be studying, but her thoughts were elsewhere. 'So Yuto was the guy everyone talked about... I liked talking to him. I'll definitely talk to him again tomorrow.'
The next morning, Heena woke up with an unusual spark of energy. The thought of going to school didn't feel like a chore today; instead, she felt a flutter of excitement in her chest.
At the same time, Yuto was getting ready, checking his reflection one last time before heading out.
When Heena reached the school gate, her friends Neena, Mika, and Hikari were already there, waiting in their usual spot.
What's the matter, Heena?" Mika asked, leaning in with a playful smirk. "You look so happy today. Did something happen?"
When Heena is happy, she looks even more adorable," Hikari added, teasing her.
Heena felt her cheeks turn crimson. She tried to look away, but then she spotted a familiar figure. Without thinking, she walked straight toward Yuto.
Hi, Yuto! Good morning. How are you?" she asked brightly.
Yuto looked up, his expression calm but his eyes showing a hint of surprise. "Oh... Good morning, Heena."
Yuto, let's meet after class, okay?" Heena said, her voice full of anticipation
Yeah, Heena. See you then," Yuto replied
As Heena walked away toward her classroom in Section C, she was glowing. She didn't notice a pair of sharp eyes watching her every move. Kenji was standing a few feet away, his brow furrowed as he watched the interaction.
Inside the classroom, Mika and Hikari immediately cornered her. "Heena, what was that?! That's the first time we've ever seen you talk to a boy like that!"
Hikari leaned in closer. "Heena-chan... what did you say to him? Are you guys... friends?"
Heena tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yes, Hikari. We just became friends yesterday."
The school day felt longer than usual, but eventually, the final bell rang. Hikari and Mira waved as they left. "Bye Heena! See you tomorrow!"
"Bye guys! See you tomorrow," Heena called out.
Yuto was walking out of his own classroom when a hand suddenly blocked his path. It was Kenji.
Hey, Yuto! How do you know Heena?" Kenji demanded, his tone laced with suspicion
Yuto blinked. "Oh, so that girl's name is Heena!"
Kenji's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, you didn't even know her name? Then why were you talking to her so comfortably?"
Look, Kenji," Yuto said, stepping around him. "She just asked for some help with studies. There's nothing going on between us like you're imagining."
Ignoring Kenji's protests, Yuto walked away. Kenji stood there, his face twisting into a mask of frustration.
On her way home, Heena noticed the sky turning an ominous grey. Within minutes, dark clouds gathered and a sudden downpour began. She ran for cover, ducking into a small tea stall nearby. As she caught her breath, she saw another figure running toward the same spot. It was Yuto.
Heena couldn't help but laugh. "Hey Yuto! What a coincidence. We always seem to run into each other at this exact spot."
Yuto wiped some rain from his forehead and smiled back. "Yeah, Heena... it feels like fate has written it this way."
They shared a laugh, but then Heena's expression suddenly changed. A look of pure shock crossed her face. "Wait... how do you know my name? I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to tell you my name yesterday... How did you find out?"
Yuto rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... a classmate told me."
As the rain stopped as quickly as it had started, another rainbow appeared, casting a colorful glow over the wet streets. They stood there in silence for a moment, watching it together.
Hey Heena," Yuto said, turning to her. "Remember what you asked yesterday? I'm ready to help you."
Heena's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you, Yuto!"
Yuto gave a small, encouraging smile. "So, what do you say? Should we go to my place to start?"
Heena paused, a playful smile on her lips. "No..."
And from a distance, hidden behind the trunk of a large tree, Kenji watched them, his eyes narrowing as he saw them together again