Over the next few days, Kaito found himself looking forward to the time he spent with Ryu more than he expected. They started talking between classes, sometimes sharing lunch, and even hanging out after school. It wasn’t just about the project anymore. Kaito wasn’t sure when it had started, but he was beginning to like the moments when they just... existed together.
One day at lunch, Ryu tossed Kaito a bag of chips like he always did, but instead of just taking them, Kaito threw them back at Ryu with a playful grin.
"Hey!" Ryu said, laughing as he tried to catch them. "What’s your deal? Getting cocky now?"
Kaito smiled, his heart beating a little faster than usual. "I don’t know. Just felt like it."
For a moment, they just stared at each other, and Kaito wondered if Ryu felt the same way. It wasn’t anything big, but it felt... like something. Something that Kaito couldn’t explain.
Ryu smirked, tossing the chips back at him. "You’re weird, Kaito."
Kaito just laughed, and for the first time in a while, it felt like everything was... okay.
They were getting closer, and Kaito wasn’t sure what that meant yet, but he couldn’t help but feel like whatever came next, was going to be something they couldn’t ignore.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cTRWeGltD
Kaito wasn’t sure when it happened. It wasn’t like one moment stood out more than the others. It wasn’t a single event that flipped the switch. But somewhere between studying together, having random conversations between classes, and even those weird moments when Ryu would just casually toss him chips, something had shifted.
It was after school, and Kaito was walking down the hallway to his locker. He hadn’t seen Ryu in a while, but Kaito wasn’t really worried. Ryu had a habit of disappearing for a while, only to show up again when Kaito least expected it.
He was pulling his books out of his locker when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Yo.” It was Ryu, standing right behind him with that usual lazy grin, his hair slightly messy and his eyes half-lidded. But there was something different in the way he looked at Kaito like there was a quiet understanding between them now that hadn’t been there before.
Kaito didn’t know why, but that look made his heart do a weird little flip in his chest. He couldn’t decide if he liked it or if it freaked him out.
“You’re late,” Kaito said, trying to hide the nervousness that suddenly swirled in his stomach.
Ryu shrugged. “Yeah, well, you know me. Time doesn’t exactly mean much to me.”
“Clearly,” Kaito muttered, but he was smiling a little. “Did you even do any of the project work?”
Ryu smirked. “Of course. I just need a little time to think, you know?” He leaned against the lockers, clearly not taking things too seriously. “But hey, I’ll finish it eventually. You know I always pull through.”
Kaito rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just don’t expect me to do it all for you.”
Ryu laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and for some reason, Kaito found that laugh way more contagious than he should’ve. It was like hearing something familiar but still kind of new at the same time. He realized that, despite Ryu’s slacker attitude, he didn’t mind it as much as he used to. Actually, he kind of liked it.
They were walking to the school gates when Ryu suddenly stopped, looking over at Kaito with a weird expression on his face.
“You wanna hang out today?” Ryu asked, sounding a little unsure, which was a side of him Kaito wasn’t used to seeing. Ryu usually acted like he was always in control of everything. This side of him made Kaito wonder if maybe Ryu cared more about their time together than he let on.
Kaito blinked. “Uh... yeah. Sure.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but his heart was beating a little faster. Why did it feel so weird to say that? It wasn’t like they hadn’t hung out before, but this was different.
“Cool,” Ryu said, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I know this place nearby. It’s pretty chill. Want to check it out?”
“Sure. Lead the way.”
Kaito followed Ryu, but he was suddenly hyper-aware of how close they were walking. Every time Ryu moved, Kaito felt this weird pull inside him. The air felt heavier, charged in a way he couldn’t explain.
They made their way to a small café a few blocks from the school, tucked in between two shops. It was quiet, with the sound of soft music playing in the background. Ryu immediately made himself comfortable, sitting in the corner booth like he owned the place.
“I come here all the time,” Ryu said, as if that explained everything. He ordered coffee for both of them, even though Kaito wasn’t sure if he even liked coffee. It didn’t matter, though. He was too distracted by the fact that Ryu had just invited him out, of all people. Kaito wasn’t used to being this close to anyone. Especially not Ryu, who had always seemed so carefree and a little too casual about everything.
Ryu handed him a cup, and Kaito accepted it without saying much. He didn’t know what to say. He just kept looking at Ryu, trying to make sense of the odd feeling swirling around in his chest.
“So... you okay?” Kaito finally asked, trying to break the silence. He wasn’t sure if he was asking about the project, or if he was asking something more.
Ryu paused, looking over the rim of his coffee cup. “Yeah. I mean, I’m always okay,” he said, but the way he said it made Kaito feel like there was more to it than just that.
Kaito wanted to push, to ask what was really going on with him, but something held him back. He wasn’t used to digging into people’s problems, and honestly, he wasn’t sure Ryu would even let him.
Instead, he just took a sip of his coffee, trying to pretend it didn’t taste way too bitter for his liking.
“Hey, you don’t have to act all tough around me, you know,” Kaito said after a while, letting his words hang in the air.
Ryu looked at him for a moment, his usual playful smirk gone. For a second, he almost seemed vulnerable. It was a side of Ryu Kaito hadn’t seen before. “You’re not gonna let me get away with anything, are you?” Ryu asked, his tone quieter than usual.
Kaito didn’t answer right away. He wasn’t sure what to say, but the silence between them didn’t feel as awkward as it usually would. Instead, it felt... comfortable. Like they were two people just figuring things out together, not needing to talk all the time but still understanding each other in a way that Kaito had never experienced before.
Ryu broke the silence again, his voice lower than usual. “Look, I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but... I’m not as chill as I seem. Sometimes, I feel like I’m just... faking it.”
Kaito was quiet, not sure what to say. But somehow, it didn’t feel like a weird confession. It felt like something Kaito needed to hear. They weren’t just two people who happened to be thrown together for a project anymore. They were starting to understand each other in ways they hadn’t before.
“Yeah,” Kaito said, offering a small smile. “I get it. Sometimes I feel like that too.”
Ryu nodded, his smile more honest this time. They sat there for a while, drinking their coffee in silence, the weight of their words hanging between them. Kaito wasn’t sure where this was going, or if he was ready for whatever came next, but for the first time, he didn’t mind it. It felt right.
It felt like they were getting closer, piece by piece.
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