Behind the screen

Friends?

Yuki's POV:

Yuki awoke with a pounding headache and a dry mouth. She groaned, rolling over in bed, trying to recall the events of the previous night. The dim light filtering through the curtains made her squint as she sat up, rubbing her temples.

Bits and pieces of the night came back to her—dancing with her friends, losing them in the crowd, stumbling to the bar, and then... Kenma. Her eyes widened as she remembered flirting with him, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

She glanced around her room, spotting Kenma asleep in a chair by the door. He looked uncomfortable, and the sight of him there filled her with a mix of guilt and confusion. What had she done?

Quietly, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed over to him. She gently shook his shoulder. "Kenma? Wake up."

Kenma stirred, blinking groggily before his eyes focused on her. "Morning," he mumbled, stretching.

"Morning," she replied, feeling awkward. "Did you stay here all night?"

He nodded. "You asked me to. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

She bit her lip, her embarrassment deepening. "I'm sorry about last night. I don't usually drink that much. I don't know what got into me."

Kenma waved off her apology. "It's fine. I'm just glad you're okay."

Yuki sat down on the edge of her bed, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I... I don't really remember everything. Did I do anything... stupid?"

Kenma hesitated, then shook his head. "You were just really drunk. You kissed me, but I didn't... I mean, nothing else happened. I made sure you got home safely."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for that. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there."

He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "Anyone would have done the same."

Yuki shook her head. "Not everyone. You didn't have to stay, but you did. Thank you, Kenma."

There was a moment of silence between them, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Yuki finally broke it, needing to address the elephant in the room. "Kenma, I owe you an apology. I've been really judgmental towards you. I thought you were just a fake, but I don't really know you, do I?"

Kenma looked at her, his expression unreadable. "No, you don't. But maybe that's because I don't let people see the real me."

She nodded, understanding dawning on her. "I'm sorry. I should have given you a chance."

Kenma stood up, stretching again. "It's okay. I get it. Being in the spotlight makes people assume things. It's easier to keep up a facade sometimes."

Yuki stood as well, feeling a strange sense of connection with him. "Maybe we can start over? As friends?"

He looked at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'd like that."

They exchanged numbers, and Kenma left to go back to his own room. Yuki watched him go, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. Maybe this was the beginning of something new—something real.