𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆 | 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘬.

𝟓

The next morning arrives with a heavy sense of inevitability. You wake up earlier than usual, the sunlight barely beginning to creep through your window. The first thing that greets you is the reminder of today’s math exam, an unwelcome weight that settles in the pit of your stomach as you stretch and blink away the remnants of sleep.

You spent the previous night studying, or at least attempting to. The formulas and equations had blurred together after a while, your mind wandering to thoughts of Nanami and the strange deal the two of you had made. Yet, despite the distractions, you had managed to get through most of the material. The real test, however, would come today.

As you roll out of bed, the realization hits you that today isn’t just about the exam. There’s also Nanami, and the arrangement you both agreed to. You’ll have to continue pretending, playing the part of his girlfriend, even if it still feels surreal. Your thoughts linger on how natural things had felt during your conversations—easier, almost comfortable—but there’s no denying that this situation is anything but normal.

You try to push those thoughts aside as you go through your morning routine. A hot shower helps shake off some of the lingering sleepiness, but your mind remains preoccupied. After getting dressed and grabbing your schoolbag, you make your way downstairs to the kitchen.

The familiar scent of coffee and toast greets you as you step into the kitchen. Your parents are already sitting at the table, your dad with his newspaper and your mom sipping her coffee. The normalcy of the scene grounds you for a moment, helping to momentarily dispel the looming weight of the day ahead.

"Good morning," your mom greets you with a warm smile. "You’re up bright and early today."

"Morning," you mumble, heading over to grab a piece of toast from the counter. "Math exam today. Wanted to get in a bit more studying before school."

Your dad glances up from his paper, his brow furrowing. "Feeling ready?"

You hesitate, unsure of how to answer. "I guess? I studied last night, but I don’t know. It’s been tough this year."

"Don’t worry too much," your mom reassures you, her tone soft. "You’ve always done well. Just focus on what you know and do your best."

You nod, though the knot of anxiety in your stomach doesn’t loosen. Sitting down at the table, you take a few bites of toast, though the thought of eating anything substantial makes you feel even more nervous.

"Anything else going on at school?" your dad asks, casually flipping through the newspaper.

For a split second, your mind flashes back to Nanami, to the deal, the study sessions, and how the two of you now have to pretend to be dating. You shake your head quickly, focusing on finishing your toast.

"Not really. Just school stuff," you say, hoping to leave it at that.

Your parents exchange a brief glance, but they don’t press further.

Once you’re done with breakfast, you excuse yourself to grab your bag and head out the door, feeling your heart start to race. The calm of your morning routine slips away as the reality of the day sets in. You try to focus on the exam, but your mind keeps drifting back to Nanami, to the way he had smiled yesterday, to the lingering tension between you two that you couldn’t quite shake.

–

The school day passes in a blur of chatter, lessons, and the looming math exam. As soon as the bell rings for your math class, your nerves spike, and you walk toward the classroom with a sense of dread hanging over you. You spot Nanami briefly in the hallway, but he doesn’t approach. Instead, there’s a quick exchange of glances—an unspoken acknowledgment of what’s to come.