𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆 | 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪 𝘬.

𝟏𝟗

“Just talk to him,” Yui insisted, leaning across the cafeteria table, her eyes sharp with determination. Her normally cheerful expression was tinged with concern. “It’s the only way you’ll stop driving yourself crazy.”

You sighed, pushing your lunch tray aside. It wasn’t like you hadn’t already tried. That conversation with Nanami under the tree had been serious. And yet, nothing seemed simpler now. If anything, the time apart only deepened the uncertainty swirling in your chest. What were you supposed to do next?

“I did talk to him,” you mumbled, glancing between Yui and Ayumi, who sat beside her, listening intently. “We agreed to take it slow. To figure things out, but… I don’t know if that’s enough. Nothing feels resolved.”

Ayumi, ever the quieter of the two, gave you a soft smile of understanding. “It’s not easy to untangle your feelings, especially after all that’s happened,” she said gently. “But you shouldn’t rush yourself. This is a lot to deal with.”

You nodded, feeling the weight of their words. They both knew about the pretend relationship and about Nanami’s confession, and while they offered support, there was no easy solution. The lines between pretending and reality had blurred too much.

“Maybe the senior prom will help distract you,” Yui said suddenly, a smile lighting up her face as she shifted the topic. “You do realize it’s just around the corner, right?”

Ayumi’s eyes lit up too. “It’s less than a week away! We’ve already started planning what to wear. You should come shopping with us.”

The reminder of the upcoming prom sent a strange mix of excitement and anxiety through you. The idea of dressing up, going to the dance, and pretending everything was normal—pretending that your heart wasn’t in chaos—felt overwhelming. But at the same time, there was a part of you that wanted to let loose, to enjoy one last carefree night before graduation loomed large.

“Who are you going with?” Yui asked, nudging you playfully. “Are you and Nanami going together? Or…” She trailed off, shooting you a mischievous look, “...does Gojo plan to sweep you off your feet?”

You rolled your eyes, though the question hit a little too close to home. "I don’t even know if I’m going yet," you admitted, biting your lip.

Yui’s eyes widened in shock. “What? You have to go! It’s our senior prom. This is like… the event of the year. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

Ayumi nodded in agreement. “And it’s not just about having a date. It’s about celebrating together, as friends, before everything changes.”

The idea of change hung in the air like an unwelcome guest. Graduation was so close now—too close, really. Once the prom was over, it would only be a matter of weeks before you all went your separate ways, leaving behind the safety and predictability of high school. The future, with all its uncertainties, was rushing toward you like a train you couldn’t stop.

“I guess you’re right,” you said, sighing as you leaned back in your chair. “I just… haven’t really thought about it.”

“Well, start thinking about it,” Yui said with a grin. “Because we’re all going together, no matter what!”

As the conversation shifted back to the excitement of the dance—dresses, music, decorations—you found yourself momentarily swept up in their enthusiasm. Maybe this was what you needed. A night to let go, to push aside the mess of emotions swirling around Nanami and Gojo and everything in between, and just be.

–

You decided to sit outside in the courtyard, hoping the fresh air would clear your mind. But as you settled onto a bench, you spotted Gojo making his way over, his carefree attitude a stark contrast to your swirling thoughts. He was always able to lighten the mood, and you welcomed the distraction.