𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙏 || 𝘼𝙮𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙠𝙤𝙪𝙟𝙞 𝙭 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧 || 𝙔𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙚

7

The school day had finally come to an end, and the once-quiet corridors now buzzed with the animated chatter and laughter of students eagerly making their way out of the school.
They dispersed in various directions, some heading towards their dorms while others grouped up with friends for some well-deserved relaxation.

Amidst this lively scene was [Name], standing by her desk and meticulously organizing her belongings to ensure she didn't leave anything behind. Her mind wandered to the evening ahead, and a smile played on her lips as she remembered Haruka's invitation to hang out. The anticipation of spending time with her friend filled her with a warm sense of excitement, motivating her to quicken her pace. She carefully checked each item before placing it into her school bag, eager to join Haruka and make the most of their evening together.

Engrossed in her task, [Name] was oblivious to the silent approach of a black-haired girl. To which she was brought back to reality by a light yet deliberate tap on her shoulder. Startled, [Name] spun around swiftly, her eyes widening in surprise as she found herself face-to-face with Horikita.

She had assumed that Horikita had already left the classroom, and the sight of her stern expression only deepened [Name]'s growing unease. Horikita's piercing gaze seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words, each one weighing heavily in the air between them.

[Name] could feel the intensity of Horikita's presence, and the usually composed and focused girl now found herself momentarily at a loss. Her thoughts raced as she wondered what could have prompted this unexpected encounter.

Was it something she had done or perhaps something she had failed to notice?

"Oh, uh, Horikita...?" [Name] managed to stammer, a nervous smile forming as memories of their past interactions flashed through her mind. She could recall the intensity and determination that always accompanied Horikita, and today was no different.

"Can we talk?" Horikita's tone was firm, leaving little room for negotiation.

[Name] blinked, momentarily taken aback by the directness of the request. "Oh... uh... I planned to go hang out with Haruka, right—" she began, her words trailing off as she saw the unyielding look in Horikita's eyes.

"It's important." Horikita interjected, her voice carrying a sense of urgency that couldn't be ignored.

[Name]'s eyes widened further at Horikita's persistence. She glanced away briefly, her mind flicking to her plans with Haruka. The excitement she felt moments ago now mingled with a growing concern.
With a resigned sigh, she turned back to Horikita, her resolve clear in her eyes despite the conflicting emotions within her. "Alright... give me a minute..." she said, her voice steadying as she accepted the necessity of the conversation.

As [Name] finished packing her belongings, her mind raced with questions about what could be so important. She hoped Haruka would understand the delay.

With that, [Name] hurried out of the classroom, her heart pounding with urgency and regret. She navigated the bustling hallway until she found Haruka patiently waiting by the window, gazing at the campus. The late afternoon sun bathed the scene in a warm, golden light, creating a tranquil atmosphere that contrasted sharply with [Name]'s inner turmoil.
As [Name] approached, Haruka's face lit up with a smile, only to falter when she noticed the severe expression on her friend's face.

"Hey, Haruka..." [Name] began, her voice tinged with apology. "Something came up... and I kinda need to handle it now, but I promise we'll hang out next time...!"