Favorite Fixation (Yandere boys x Reader)

53.) Evanescent

Lunch had gone surprisingly well after Hayami joined the table. The initial heaviness that weighed on (Y/n) had lightened, and the chatter around her became more lively. Even Reina, who was usually reserved, and Yuuto, who kept his distance, got roped into the conversation. (Y/n) didn't participate much, content with being a quiet observer, but that was how she preferred it. Watching the others laugh and talk felt like a brief escape from her own swirling thoughts.

But when the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, the creeping weight of reality returned. The next class was math- the class she used to share with Aiko. They had always sat next to each other, their desks side by side. As (Y/n) walked in, her heart clenched at the thought of seeing that empty seat. She braced herself for it, expecting the familiar ache to grow stronger.

Except, it wasn't empty.

Riku was there, sitting in Aiko's seat, his usual quiet demeanor making him almost blend into the background. It took (Y/n) by surprise, and for a brief moment, she felt an unexpected sense of relief wash over her.

Riku's presence made things easier, even if unintentionally. Most students at Seishin Academy didn't know about his mutism. In fact, a lot of their classmates had simply written him off as anti-social with a permanent RBF. And that misconception worked in (Y/n)'s favor. Anytime she glanced around the room, feeling the prying eyes of her peers, Riku would meet her gaze and look around as well. With just one look from him, most of the students quickly returned to minding their own business, the intimidating aura he gave off working like a charm.

Even Emi and Minato, notorious for causing trouble, kept to themselves for the hour, too cautious to make a scene. Thanks to him, the class passed quickly, and for once, (Y/n) didn't feel like she had to keep her guard up. It was a small comfort, even though she hadn't absorbed a single word of the lesson.

By the time she reached her sixth class of the day, music, (Y/n) was mentally drained. But to her relief, Asahi had stuck to his word. He didn't bother her. He didn't even glance in her direction. She was grateful for that, even if she still didn't care for him much. Sure, he had helped her avoid trouble earlier, but that didn't mean she suddenly liked him. His silence today was the best thing he could offer, and she was more than willing to take it.

Then came her seventh hour: art.

(Y/n) found herself seated next to Hayami again, and despite her initial worries, the atmosphere wasn't awkward. Hayami, despite her love of gossip, didn't ask any questions about the past few weeks and didn't pry into the dark cloud that had been following (Y/n). For that, the girl was grateful. The absence of probing questions allowed her to breathe a little easier, and the steady rhythm of their art class became almost soothing.

Throughout art class, (Y/n)'s gaze drifted over to Souta a few times. Something was calming about his presence, something that made the weight of her first day back at school a little easier to bear. He sat at his desk, clearly bored, his pencil spinning effortlessly between two fingers. His expression was set in a half-hearted glare, a clear signal to anyone nearby that he wasn't in the mood for conversation. The slight scowl was his armor, his way of fending off unwanted attention.

But when his eyes accidentally caught hers, (Y/n) noticed the subtle change in him. The sharpness in his expression softened, the tension in his face easing, and the pencil he had been twirling slipped from his grip, clattering to the desk. But then the bell rang, breaking the quiet moment.

The school day had passed in what felt like a blur. One minute she had been struggling through classes, and the next, the bell was echoing through the hallways, signaling the end of her first day back. As the sound filled the building, students wasted no time rushing toward the doors, eager to escape. Among them was Hayami, who darted out as quickly as possible, leaving (Y/n) to her own thoughts.