The festival ended.
But its echoes remained.
The school hallways, once filled with decorations and noise, had returned to their usual quiet state. Yet something felt… different.
Students still talked about it.
About the café.
About the success.
And most of all—
About him.
---
"…Did you see him?"
"Yeah, from Class 2-B!"
"He looked like a model!"
"I heard he got like fifty photo requests!"
Ren Takahashi.
The name had spread faster than he expected.
Ren sat at his desk, resting his chin lightly on his hand, staring out the window.
This is getting troublesome.
He had intended to remain unnoticed.
Invisible.
But now—
That plan was slowly falling apart.
---
"Yo, celebrity."
Ren didn't turn.
"…Don't start."
Yuto dropped into the seat beside him.
"You're famous now. Accept it."
"…I'd rather not."
"Too late."
Ren sighed quietly.
"…It'll die down."
"Maybe," Yuto shrugged. "Or maybe not."
A pause.
Then—
"…Hey."
Ren glanced at him.
"…What?"
Yuto leaned slightly closer.
"…Takumi's been asking about you."
Ren's expression didn't change.
But his eyes sharpened slightly.
"…About what?"
"Everything."
Silence.
"…Grades. Transfer records. Background…"
Ren looked away again.
"…People get curious."
"Yeah," Yuto said slowly.
"But this doesn't feel like curiosity."
---
Across the classroom—
Hina sat quietly.
Notebook open.
Pen moving.
But her focus—
Wasn't fully there.
Her eyes drifted.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
To Ren.
Just for a second.
Then back down again.
---
Why am I thinking about that night…?
The fireworks.
His words.
> "If I stay… will you be there?"
Her grip on the pen tightened slightly.
"…Idiot."
She whispered it under her breath.
But her expression softened—
Just a little.
---
"Alright everyone, settle down," the teacher called.
Class began.
But for some—
It was harder to focus than usual.
---
Lunch break.
The rooftop was quieter today.
A light breeze passed through.
Hina stood near the railing, looking at the sky.
"…You're here early."
She turned.
Ren.
"…You too."
"…Habit."
"…Same."
A small silence.
Not awkward.
Just…
Uncertain.
---
"…You've been quiet," Ren said.
"…So have you."
"…That's normal for me."
"…Exactly."
He smiled faintly.
"…Fair point."
---
Another pause.
Then—
"…About that night—"
They both spoke at the same time.
Then stopped.
"…You first," Ren said.
"…No, you."
"…Ladies first."
"…I'm not a lady."
"…That's debatable."
She frowned slightly.
"…You're annoying."
"…Still here though."
She looked away.
"…Unfortunately."
---
Silence returned.
But this time—
It carried something else.
Something unfinished.
---
"…You said 'stay'," Ren said quietly.
Hina's breath hitched slightly.
"…I did."
"…Did you mean it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She looked out at the sky again.
"…I don't like things disappearing."
Ren watched her.
"…That's not an answer."
"…It is for me."
---
Before he could respond—
The rooftop door opened.
Takumi.
Again.
"…I thought I'd find you here."
Hina's expression hardened instantly.
"…What do you want?"
"Just talking."
His eyes moved—
To Ren.
"…Mind if I join?"
"…Yes," Hina replied instantly.
Takumi smiled.
"…Too bad."
He stepped forward anyway.
---
The air changed.
Subtly.
But noticeably.
---
"…You're getting popular," Takumi said casually, looking at Ren.
"…It's temporary."
"…Is it?"
Ren didn't respond.
---
Takumi leaned against the railing.
"…You know, I did some checking."
Silence.
"…About you."
Hina frowned.
"…That's creepy."
"…Just being careful."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"…But strangely—there's almost nothing."
Ren's heartbeat slowed.
Not faster.
Slower.
More controlled.
"…Some people prefer privacy."
"…Not this much."
Takumi pushed off the railing.
Taking a step closer.
"…No middle school records."
"…No past connections."
"…Transfer papers that are… too clean."
Hina blinked.
"…What?"
Takumi didn't look at her.
"…It's like you appeared out of nowhere."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
---
Ren met his gaze.
Calm.
Unshaken.
"…That's quite an imagination."
"…Is it?"
"…Yes."
Takumi smiled faintly.
"…Then prove me wrong."
---
Hina looked between them.
Confused.
Tense.
"…What's going on?"
Neither answered immediately.
---
"…Nothing," Ren said finally.
"…It doesn't sound like nothing."
"…It is."
Hina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're hiding something."
Ren didn't respond.
---
Takumi chuckled softly.
"…See? Even she notices."
"…Enough," Hina snapped.
She stepped forward.
Standing between them.
"…Stop turning everything into a problem."
Takumi raised his hands slightly.
"…Relax. I'm just curious."
"…Then stop being."
Her voice was sharper now.
More protective.
More defensive.
---
Takumi looked at her for a moment.
Then—
Smiled again.
"…Fine."
He turned.
Walking toward the door.
But before leaving—
"…Masks don't last forever," he said calmly.
"…Eventually, everyone sees what's underneath."
Then—
He was gone.
---
Silence remained.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
---
"…What did he mean?" Hina asked quietly.
Ren didn't answer.
"…Ren."
"…It's nothing."
"…Don't say that."
Her voice wasn't angry.
Just—
Frustrated.
"…I hate it when people lie."
That hit.
Harder than anything Takumi said.
---
Ren looked at her.
For a moment—
He almost spoke.
Almost told her something.
Anything.
But—
He stopped.
"…I'm not lying."
"…Then tell me."
Silence.
---
"…I can't."
The words were quiet.
But firm.
---
Hina's expression fell.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"…I see."
She turned away.
"…Then don't expect me to understand."
Ren felt something tighten in his chest.
"…Hina—"
"…It's fine."
She interrupted him.
But her voice—
Wasn't steady.
"…We're just classmates, right?"
The same words from before.
But now—
They felt colder.
---
Ren didn't respond.
Because—
He didn't know how.
---
"…I'm going back," she said.
She walked toward the door.
Paused for a second.
But didn't look back.
Then left.
---
Ren stood there.
Alone.
Again.
---
"…This is bad."
He muttered it to himself.
Not because of Takumi.
Not because of suspicion.
But because—
> He was starting to lose something important.
---
The wind passed quietly across the rooftop.
Carrying with it—
A feeling he couldn't ignore anymore.
---
End of Chapter 9
---