𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆 | 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘬.

𝟖

As the days rolled on, the excitement from the dance began to build within the school halls. Posters decorated the walls, and students buzzed with anticipation, chatting about their outfits and plans for the big night. But amidst the chatter, your thoughts were consumed by more than just the upcoming dance.

You had been waiting anxiously for your math exam results. You’d spent hours studying with Nanami, and while his tutoring sessions had helped you grasp some of the more difficult concepts, the looming dread of the exam lingered. The moment you spotted the grades posted on the bulletin board, your heart raced.

“C’mon, please be decent,” you muttered under your breath, squeezing through the throng of students. As you reached the front of the board, your eyes scanned the list frantically until they landed on your name. A wave of relief washed over you—B-. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a significant improvement from your usual grades.

A smile broke out on your face, and just as you turned to share the news with Nanami, you noticed him standing a few feet away, engaged in conversation with Gojo and some other classmates. You approached them, unable to hide your excitement.

“I did it! I actually passed!” you exclaimed, practically bouncing on your heels.

Nanami turned to you, eyebrows raised in surprise before a smile crept onto his lips. “That’s great! I knew you could do it.”

Gojo nudged Nanami playfully. “Looks like your tutoring skills are top-notch. Maybe you should consider teaching as a side job!”

You laughed, feeling a rush of gratitude for Nanami’s help. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have done it without you.”

“Just remember to keep studying,” Nanami replied, his tone serious yet encouraging. “It’s just one step. You have to keep up the momentum.”

You nodded, appreciating his unwavering dedication. The encouragement felt nice, and for a brief moment, the pressure of the upcoming dance faded into the background.

As the week rolled on, the dance loomed closer, and the preparations intensified. Yui and Ayumi were in full swing with their outfits, making sure everything was perfect. You found yourself caught up in their excitement, although you still felt a flicker of nervousness about what the dance would mean for you and Nanami.

“Are you excited?” Yui asked one afternoon as you all sat together in the cafeteria.

“Yeah, I guess,” you replied, though the truth was that the anticipation was laced with anxiety. “I mean, it’s just a dance, right?”

“Just a dance? It’s the dance!” Ayumi chimed in, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “You’ll be dancing with Nanami! It’ll be amazing!”

The mention of Nanami sent butterflies fluttering in your stomach. You still felt a mix of confusion and excitement about your arrangement. Were you two just friends pretending, or was there something deeper starting to bloom?

“Yeah, we’ll be fine,” you said, trying to sound more confident than you felt. “We’ve got this whole fake relationship thing down.”

Yui raised an eyebrow, teasingly. “Fake relationship? Are you sure you’re not starting to develop real feelings for him?”

You laughed nervously, shaking your head. “No way! It’s just for appearances, remember?”

–

As the school week continued, the tension between you and Nanami began to feel more palpable. There were moments when you caught him looking at you in a way that sent your heart racing, but you tried to brush it off as a side effect of your arrangement. Yet, those fleeting glances lingered in your mind, and doubt began to creep in.