The school gate loomed tall in front of Shin, its black metal bars a reminder that the day hadn't even started yet—and he was already thinking about leaving.
"I can't believe I have to sit through seven hours of this when all I want to do is go back to Ai..."
He smiled to himself, walking slowly toward the entrance, his fingers brushing over his lips.
Their first real kiss. Not the peck on the cheek, not the teasing forehead kisses, but the kiss.
She tasted like strawberries.
And fire.
And heartbreak waiting to happen, but he didn't care. He wanted to burn for her.
"Ugh, why did it have to be a weekday?"
His shoulders slumped. The earlier sweetness faded under the weight of another typical school day—until he saw a familiar silhouette leaning against the wall just outside the gates.
Yuki.
The white-haired boy stood with his back to the wall, arms crossed, expression blank. He wasn't even looking in Shin's direction. In fact, he looked bored. Detached.
But Shin wasn't fooled. Not for a second.
He grinned.
"Well, look who totally wasn't waiting for me."
Yuki's ears twitched.
He turned just enough to give Shin the side-eye. "Baka. I was just passing by. You're not that important."
Shin's grin widened.
"Right, right. You just happen to be standing outside the school gates fifteen minutes before the bell rings. Leaning on the same wall you leaned on yesterday. Totally coincidental."
Yuki huffed and looked away. "You're full of yourself."
Shin took a step closer. "And you're full of tsundere."
Yuki shoved off the wall, brushing past him. "Shut up. I'm going inside."
"Wait, wait," Shin said, falling in step with him. "You didn't even ask how my morning was."
Yuki rolled his eyes. "Why would I?"
Shin leaned in with a smirk. "Because you like me."
Yuki stopped dead in his tracks. His cheeks flushed pink.
"D-Don't say embarrassing stuff like that in public!"
"Who's embarrassed? I'm proud. I mean, I had a great time yesterday." He sighed dramatically. "That totally not a date thing we did? Yeah, I've never not dated someone so hard in my life."
Yuki tried to stomp off again, but Shin grabbed his wrist gently.
"Hey. Thanks for yesterday. Really."
Yuki blinked.
Shin's voice had dropped its teasing edge. For a moment, it was just sincerity, soft and real.
"That haunted house? Your scream?" Shin added with a mischievous glint. "Cutest thing I've ever heard."
"I-I didn't scream," Yuki snapped.
"You clung to me so tight you left nail marks. I still have scratches. Wanna see?"
Yuki's face turned red. "You were the one who tripped and grabbed me!"
"To protect you! I was shielding your fragile little heart."
Yuki turned away again, but he was smiling now. Just barely.
They walked into school side by side, their arms occasionally brushing. Shin kept stealing glances at him.
"Hey," Shin said suddenly. "You know that fortune teller yesterday?"
Yuki nodded slowly. "Yeah? What about her?"
"She was kind of intense. Talking about destiny and stuff. Said we were meant to be together."
Yuki looked down at the floor. "T-That's just dumb."
Shin burst out laughing. "That was oddly specific. Still, she had a point about us, don't you think?"
"No."
Shin leaned in closer. "But you did keep the teddy bear."
"...It's big. I can't throw it away."
"You snuggled it."
"No, I didn't."
"You named it."
Yuki shot him a glare. "Shut up!"
"'Mr. Fluffers,' right?"
Yuki shoved him with a groan. "I hate you."
"Liar."
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END OF CHAPTER : 50 : HE WASN'T WAITING FOR ME!
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