𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆 | 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘬.

𝟏𝟔

The cave exploration wrapped up as the group began to make their way back to the surface. You squinted against the harsh daylight, blinking away the darkness of the cave. Despite the chatter and excitement from your classmates around you, the air felt heavier, a silent tension simmering beneath the surface.

As you fell into step beside Ayumi once more, her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You and Nanami looked cozy back there," she teased, nudging you playfully.

You forced a smile, reminding yourself of the pretense you and Nanami had agreed upon. "It's... complicated."

Ayumi raised a brow, giving you a knowing grin. "Well, relationships usually are. But I’ll say this, it definitely keeps things interesting."

Your gaze dropped to the ground, your mind whirling. "Interesting is one way to put it."

The forest path back to the bus felt longer than before, your thoughts divided between Nanami's confession and the silent but palpable tension with Gojo. As you approached the clearing, you caught sight of Gojo near the edge of the group, his usual laid-back demeanor overshadowed by something darker. His gaze flickered toward you, and though his signature grin was still present, it lacked its usual warmth.

Before you could contemplate approaching him, Ayumi grabbed your arm and dragged you towards the bus. "Come on, sit with me," she said cheerfully.

You hesitated, glancing back at Gojo who was now heading towards the back of the bus. Something in you ached to go after him, but the weight of your situation with Nanami kept you rooted in place. As Ayumi led you to a seat near the front, you silently wished for the clarity you didn’t have.

The bus rumbled to life, and as it sped down the winding roads, Ayumi chattered about the trip, but you found it hard to focus. Every so often, your eyes wandered to the back of the bus where Gojo sat alone, his gaze turned out the window, lost in thought. Your stomach twisted with unease.

The reality of the situation was closing in on you. You were supposed to be in a fake relationship with Nanami, yet his recent confession had added layers of complexity you weren’t prepared for. And then there was Gojo—his unspoken feelings hanging between you, complicating things even further.

As the bus ride continued, the knot in your chest only tightened.

–

Later, after returning to the town, the group scattered, some students heading to the small shops lining the streets while others indulged in local snacks. You wandered aimlessly, your thoughts in a chaotic swirl of emotions. The more you tried to focus on the present, the more Gojo's intense gaze from earlier haunted you.

Despite Nanami’s confession, you couldn’t ignore Gojo’s quiet attention. The way his playful exterior hid something more serious—a depth you had rarely seen from him before—made it harder to keep pretending that nothing had changed.

As you passed by a quaint café, you spotted Gojo seated alone on a bench outside, casually sipping from a water bottle. His sunglasses were perched on his nose, but even through the reflective lenses, you could sense his usual playfulness was absent.

You hesitated, thinking about walking past him and avoiding the inevitable confrontation. But something drew you to him—a magnetic pull that refused to let you go.

Before you could change your mind, you found yourself standing beside him. "Hey," you said softly.

Gojo didn’t look up immediately, but after a few beats, he lowered his sunglasses, his blue eyes locking onto yours. "Hey."

The tension between you hung in the air, thick and suffocating. You shifted nervously, unsure of what to say. "You’ve been... quiet today," you observed. "That’s not really like you."