The days after the festival felt… different.
Not in a way others could easily notice.
But for Arata—
Everything had changed.
---
The classroom buzzed with its usual energy.
Laughter.
Conversations.
The scratching of pens against paper.
But beneath it all—
There was something else.
A shift.
---
"…You feel it too, right?"
Arata didn't look up from his book.
"…Feel what?"
Yuto leaned back in his chair, lowering his voice slightly.
"The atmosphere."
"…Be specific."
"People are watching you more."
Arata turned a page calmly.
"…That's not new."
"Yeah," Yuto said, eyes narrowing slightly,
"…but this time it's different."
---
Arata paused.
"…How?"
Yuto glanced around the room.
"…It's not admiration anymore."
A brief silence.
"…Then what is it?"
Yuto met his gaze.
"…Suspicion."
---
Arata said nothing.
But he understood.
Suspicion was far more dangerous than admiration.
Because admiration kept distance.
Suspicion—
Closed it.
---
Across the room—
Hina sat quietly.
Her notebook open.
Her pen unmoving.
---
Why didn't he say anything…?
That moment replayed again.
> "I can't."
Not won't.
Not don't want to.
But—
can't.
---
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…What are you hiding…?"
She whispered under her breath.
---
"Hey, Hina."
She looked up.
Her friend leaned closer, concern written clearly across her face.
"You've been really quiet lately. Are you okay?"
"…I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"…Just tired."
"…If you say so."
But the doubt lingered.
---
Lunch break.
The rooftop was quiet.
Almost too quiet.
---
Takumi stood near the railing, hands in his pockets.
Waiting.
---
The door opened.
"…You wanted to talk?"
Hina's voice was cold.
Distant.
---
Takumi turned, offering a small smile.
"…You came."
"…Make it quick."
"…Straight to the point. I like that."
She didn't respond.
---
Takumi reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
"…Tell me something."
He stepped closer.
"…Do you really know him?"
Hina frowned.
"…What are you trying to say?"
"Just answer."
"…Yes."
"Completely?"
She hesitated.
Just for a moment.
"…Enough."
Takumi let out a quiet chuckle.
"…That's not very convincing."
---
Hina's eyes hardened.
"…If this is a joke—"
"It's not."
His tone shifted.
Serious now.
---
He unlocked his phone and turned the screen toward her.
"…Then look."
---
A photo.
Slightly blurred.
But unmistakable.
---
A young man.
Standing beside a line of black luxury cars.
Dressed in a formal suit.
Surrounded by men in black.
Their posture—
Respectful.
Submissive.
---
Hina's breath caught.
"…What is this?"
Takumi watched her closely.
"…Look carefully."
---
She did.
And then—
Her eyes widened.
---
"…That's—"
Her words stopped.
Because she already knew.
---
"…Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Takumi said quietly.
"…It's just someone who looks like him."
"Is it?"
"…Yes."
"Then why does the name match?"
---
Her heartbeat quickened.
"…What name?"
---
Takumi's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Arata Kurosawa."
---
Silence.
---
The wind brushed past them.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
---
"…You're lying," Hina said.
But her voice—
Wasn't steady.
---
"…Am I?" Takumi replied calmly.
He stepped closer.
"…I told you before. He doesn't make sense."
"…Stop it."
"No records. No past. No background."
"…Stop it!"
Her voice cracked this time.
---
Takumi didn't smile.
Didn't mock.
He simply looked at her.
"…I'm not saying this to hurt you."
"…Then why?"
"…Because you deserve to know the truth."
---
Hina looked back at the screen.
At the image.
At the person who looked exactly like him—
But wasn't supposed to be.
---
"…Even if it's true," she said slowly,
"…it doesn't change anything."
Takumi raised an eyebrow.
"…Really?"
"…Yes."
"…So if he lied to you about everything—"
"He didn't!"
The words came out instantly.
Without hesitation.
---
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Revealing.
---
Takumi exhaled softly.
"…You're already defending him."
Hina froze.
"…I'm not."
"…You are."
---
He stepped back slightly.
"…Then prove me wrong."
A pause.
"…Go ask him."
---
Hina didn't respond.
Because deep down—
She already knew she would.
---
"…I'm leaving," she said quietly.
But her voice—
Wasn't as strong as before.
---
"…You will ask him," Takumi said.
Not a question.
A certainty.
---
She didn't deny it.
---
---
Back in the classroom—
Arata sat alone.
The noise around him felt distant.
Muted.
---
Arata Kurosawa…
A name that didn't belong here.
A name that should have never reached this place.
---
"…So it's started."
He murmured quietly.
---
The door slid open.
He looked up.
---
Hina.
---
Their eyes met.
And instantly—
He understood.
---
Something had changed.
---
"…Ren."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
---
"…Can we talk?"
---
Arata closed his book slowly.
"…Sure."
---
The air between them felt heavier than ever.
---
And for the first time—
He felt it clearly.
---
> The truth was no longer hidden.
It was coming for him.
---
End of Chapter 10
---