𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓.

── .✦ 8

(A/N: Play the song once queued)

The next morning, Ayato and Y/n walked into school together again, with Taeko joining them shortly after. The three chatted lightly as they walked toward their classroom, the usual buzz of students filling the halls. It was a calm, routine morning, filled with small talk about the weather and how they were all handling their homework load. It felt comfortable.

Throughout the day, Y/n's phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from Akira, who was excitedly updating her on his travels. He'd text things like, "I'm at the bus stop! Almost there!!" followed by photos of the nature, stray cats, or random snacks he picked up along the way. Y/n couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, finding it both cute and endearing. She replied back in between classes, reminding him to stay safe and offering little jokes to keep things light.

When lunch rolled around, the three of them headed up to the rooftop as usual. Ayato excused himself to go to the restroom, leaving Y/n and Taeko alone with their lunches. They found their spot where they usually sat, the cool breeze sweeping through the air. The sound of students mingling below was faint, almost like white noise in the background.

After a few bites, Taeko glanced at Y/n, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Hey, Y/n... how have you been?" she asked, her voice soft but carrying a hint of concern.

Y/n blinked, a little caught off guard. "I'm fine, why?"

Taeko sighed lightly, poking at her food with her chopsticks. "I don't know, I guess I just feel like... we haven't been hanging out as much lately." She paused, looking down at her lunch. "I get it, though. I mean, you and Ayato have been spending more time together. I'm not mad or anything... but I do miss you, you know?"

Y/n's expression softened as she realized what Taeko was saying. She hadn't meant to pull away from her best friend, but with everything going on, it was easy to get lost in the chaos. "I'm really sorry, Taeko... I didn't even notice how much time I've been spending with him." She gave a small, apologetic smile. "I'll make it up to you. We can plan something fun soon."

Taeko shook her head, her lips curling into a warm smile. "It's not about making it up or anything. I just wanted you to know how I felt. You don't have to change anything."

Y/n smiled at her in return, grateful for Taeko's honesty. Before she could say anything else, Taeko suddenly pulled her into a playful side hug, her head leaning against Y/n's shoulder for a moment. "You're still my best friend, you know," she said, giving her a small squeeze.

Y/n laughed softly, leaning into the hug. "You're my best friend too, Taeko. Always."

At that moment, Ayato returned from the restroom, pausing as he noticed the two girls locked in their side hug. A curious look passed over his face, his brow raised as he approached. "What's going on?" he asked, his tone light but intrigued.

Y/n and Taeko exchanged a quick glance before bursting into soft laughter, leaving Ayato looking even more confused. He stood there for a second, staring at them both with his arms crossed, before eventually shrugging it off. Whatever inside joke they shared was clearly out of his reach, but for now, he was content just to watch them with mild amusement.

The rooftop felt lighter that afternoon, like the sun was shining just a little brighter, as the three of them sat together—laughing and talking.

⊹ ࣪ ﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖

As the last bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Y/n, Ayato, and Taeko gathered at their lockers, changing out of their school shoes. The usual chatter filled the hallway, but Y/n couldn't help but feel a little detached as she slipped her feet into her casual sneakers. Taeko stood between her and Ayato, animatedly talking about some classical book that Ayato and Taeko seemed really into. The two were lost in their conversation, and Y/n, who loved reading but stuck more to the fiction and romance genre, felt out of place.