The classroom felt quieter today.
Not because it was silent.
But because Ayinakoji had stopped trying to hear it.
Chalk scratched against the board.
Students whispered.
A chair creaked somewhere behind him.
All of it blended together into a dull, distant hum.
"…Tempest."
A voice broke through.
Ayinakoji looked up.
The teacher stood at the front, flipping through papers.
"Yes?" he answered quickly, sitting up straight.
For a moment… just a moment… there was hope in his voice.
"Stay after class," the teacher said flatly.
No explanation.
No emotion.
"…Okay."
The hope disappeared just as fast as it came.
The rest of the lesson passed slowly.
Too slowly.
When the bell rang, the room exploded with movement.
Chairs scraped.
Bags zipped.
Laughter filled the air.
Everyone left.
Except him.
Ayinakoji stayed in his seat.
Hands resting on his desk.
Eyes lowered.
Waiting.
A boy walked past him on the way out.
Same boy from yesterday.
The one he had helped.
Their eyes met for a second.
The boy looked away first.
The door closed.
Silence.
"…Come here," the teacher said.
Ayinakoji stood and walked forward.
Each step echoed louder than it should have.
The teacher placed a paper on the desk.
Ayinakoji froze.
It was his.
Every word.
Every line.
Every answer.
But his name wasn't on it.
Another name was written at the top.
"…Do you know what this is?" the teacher asked.
"…Yes."
His voice was quiet.
But steady.
"And do you know why you're here?"
A pause.
Ayinakoji looked at the paper again.
Then back at the teacher.
"…No."
The teacher sighed.
Like this was tiring.
"You copied this."
The words landed hard.
But not loud.
Ayinakoji blinked.
"…Copied?"
"Yes."
The teacher tapped the paper.
"This assignment was submitted earlier. By another student."
Ayinakoji's fingers twitched slightly.
"…That's not possible."
The teacher frowned.
"Are you saying I'm wrong?"
"No," he said quickly.
"I just…"
His voice faded.
He looked at the name again.
That boy.
The one he had helped.
Flash.
Yesterday.
After school.
"Hey… can you help me with this?"
The boy had smiled.
Friendly.
Normal.
Ayinakoji had nodded.
Of course he did.
They sat together.
Ayinakoji explained everything.
Step by step.
Carefully.
Clearly.
The boy laughed.
"Wow… you're actually smart."
That felt… nice.
"Can I copy this part?" the boy asked.
Ayinakoji hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…Okay."
Flash ends.
"…I see."
The words left his mouth before he even realized it.
"What?" the teacher asked.
"…Nothing."
Ayinakoji lowered his head slightly.
"You will receive a zero," the teacher continued.
"And this will be reported."
"…Okay."
No argument.
No defense.
Just acceptance.
The teacher paused.
Confused.
"…You're not going to explain yourself?"
Ayinakoji looked up.
His eyes were calm.
Too calm.
"I don't think it will change anything."
Silence filled the room.
The teacher stared at him for a moment.
Then looked away.
"…You may go."
Ayinakoji nodded.
"…Thank you."
He turned and walked out.
The hallway felt longer than usual.
Voices echoed from the distance.
Laughter again.
Always laughter.
He walked past a group of students.
They were talking.
"…Yeah, I just rewrote it a bit."
That voice.
"…Teacher didn't even notice."
Ayinakoji stopped.
Just for a second.
He didn't turn.
Didn't speak.
"…Easy," the boy laughed.
Ayinakoji started walking again.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"…It's fine."
He whispered it softly.
"I said it was okay."
But his chest felt tight.
Not pain.
Not yet.
Something else.
Confusion.
"…Why?"
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
He didn't expect an answer.
And he didn't get one.
After school, the sky looked dull.
Clouds covered the sun.
Ayinakoji walked home slowly.
The same road.
The same cracks.
But something felt… heavier.
A group of kids ran past him.
Laughing.
One bumped into his shoulder.
No apology.
He stumbled slightly.
Then steadied himself.
"…Sorry," he said anyway.
They didn't hear him.
Or maybe they did.
And chose not to respond.
He reached the corner where the stray cat usually sat.
It was there.
Watching him.
Ayinakoji stopped.
"…I helped someone today."
He spoke like he was telling a story.
"They smiled."
A pause.
"I thought…"
His voice faded.
"…it meant something."
The cat didn't move.
Then slowly…
It stood up.
And walked away.
Again.
Ayinakoji watched it go.
His hand lifted slightly.
Then stopped mid-air.
"…I see."
This time…
He didn't smile.
When he got home, the house was quiet.
Too quiet.
He walked to his room.
Sat on his bed.
The crack on the ceiling was still there.
He stared at it.
"…Eighteen."
His voice was empty.
No emotion.
No anger.
No sadness.
Just… empty.
He lay back slowly.
Staring.
Not blinking.
The room felt colder.
"…Helping people…"
A pause.
"…doesn't work."
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
And somewhere deep inside him…
Something small…
Shifted.
Not broken.
Not yet.
But cracked.