A Liar's Truth [UNDER FINAL REVISION]

Ch 51: The choice is yours

Third person's point of view

Gravel shifted beneath Ginka's shoes before settling again. She stopped a few paces behind him, watching his back as the last traces of sunlight filtered through the branches, painting long shadows across the path between them.

Ginka leaned against the side of the shed, "I wasn't aware we had plans."

"No." The pebble rolled effortlessly across his knuckles before disappearing into his palm. "But someone usually comes looking."

"You sound disappointed."

A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Didn't think it'd be you."

"I just wanted some air."

"...Sure."

Silence settled comfortably between them.

Not awkward. Just... quiet.

The chatter from the classroom had become little more than a distant murmur, carried faintly on the wind before dissolving into the sounds of the mountain.

A dry leaf skittered across the dirt path between them. She leaned against the weathered boards. The wood was cool against her back, grounding the restless thoughts she'd been carrying since the announcements.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The pebble clicked softly against Karma's fingers.

Flip. Catch. Flip. Catch.

Ginka watched the steady rhythm, "...Koro-sensei was right."

The pebble stopped.

For the first time since she'd arrived, Karma looked at her. "...About which part?"

Class E - Karma Akabane
DOWN! 2 ➡️10
Ranked 10th

Ginka looked toward the trees instead of answering immediately. Somewhere deeper in the woods, a bird called once before everything fell quiet again.

"You worked harder at the beginning of the year," she continued. "Then you stopped."

The pebble remained motionless in Karma's hand. He didn't deny it. That irritated her more than if he had.

"They're still good."

"That's not the point."

He rolled the pebble between his fingers, "Isn't it?"