As the days passed, Kaito couldn’t deny the change between them. What started as a school project was now something more, something that neither of them had expected but both seemed to be okay with. They spent more time together, not just to work on their project, but because they wanted to.
And with each passing day, the air between them seemed to grow heavier, filled with unspoken things. Kaito didn’t know what they were yet, but he couldn’t ignore them.
He wasn’t sure if Ryu felt the same way. But as Ryu gave him that familiar grin one afternoon, Kaito realized something: Maybe he didn’t need to know. Not yet.
It had been a few days since their coffee date, and things were different. It wasn’t like everything had magically changed, but Kaito couldn’t ignore the small shifts. The glances they exchanged, the little inside jokes that were starting to form, the way Ryu seemed a little more... open. It was a change Kaito wasn’t sure how to process, but somehow, it felt right.
That afternoon, they met up again in the library to work on the project. Kaito was already there, sitting at their usual table near the back, a textbook open in front of him but his mind wandering. It wasn’t like he had a lot of work to do; he’d done most of it the night before. But he found himself thinking about Ryu more than he liked to admit.
When Ryu finally showed up, he was carrying a bag of chips his usual snack and a soda. He dropped the bag in the center of the table and flopped into the chair across from Kaito.
"Late as usual," Kaito said, looking up from his book.
Ryu just smirked. "Hey, I work on my own time. Don’t judge me." He opened the bag of chips, tossed a few into his mouth, and leaned back in his chair.
Kaito shook his head, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. He still wasn’t used to how relaxed Ryu was about everything, but it didn’t bother him as much anymore. In fact, there was something... comforting about it.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, each of them lost in their thoughts. The usual tension between them was gone, replaced by a quiet kind of companionship. Kaito found himself glancing up at Ryu more often, watching the way Ryu absentmindedly popped chips into his mouth, his eyes flicking over to Kaito every now and then.
"So," Kaito said, breaking the silence, "How’s everything going with your other classes?"
Ryu paused mid-chip, looking at Kaito like he was trying to decide whether to answer honestly or just deflect with some joke. Finally, he sighed and shrugged.
"Honestly? I’m kind of struggling," Ryu admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "I don't know... I just feel like I'm not... not good enough, you know?"
Kaito blinked. This wasn’t the Ryu he was used to. "What do you mean, not good enough?"
Ryu ran a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable. "I mean, I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I’m just wasting my time. I don’t really fit in anywhere, and I’m not exactly acing everything, you know? And I guess... I guess I’m just tired of pretending everything’s fine when it’s not."
Kaito stared at him for a moment, processing the words. He had always seen Ryu as this carefree guy who didn’t care about school or anything else. But now, hearing him say this, it was like seeing a completely different side of him. Ryu wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t this untouchable guy with no problems. He had his own doubts and insecurities, just like everyone else.
"Hey," Kaito said, his voice softer than usual. "I get it. You know, I’ve got my own stuff going on too."
Ryu looked at him, surprised. "Really? You’re... not perfect?"
Kaito smirked, though there was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "Believe it or not, I’m not. But I think you’re better at this stuff than you give yourself credit for."
Ryu stared at him for a second, before breaking into a small grin. "You really think so?"
Kaito nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed but also oddly sure of himself in that moment. "Yeah, I do."
The room fell silent again, but this time, the quiet didn’t feel awkward. It felt... comfortable. Kaito wasn’t sure where things were headed with Ryu. But he couldn’t deny that the more time he spent with him, the more he wanted to. Something about Ryu’s easygoing nature, the way he could make Kaito laugh even when he was frustrated, pulled Kaito in.
Ryu suddenly stood up, grabbed his soda and stretched. "Alright, enough of this deep talk. Let’s get back to work, yeah?"
Kaito chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess we should."
They spent the next hour working on the project, but it wasn’t the same as before. There was no tension, no awkward silences. There was a new kind of ease between them, like they didn’t have to try so hard anymore.
When the bell rang to signal the end of the school day, Kaito gathered his things, about to head out. But before he could walk away, Ryu stopped him.
"Hey," Ryu said, his voice just a little more serious than usual. "You wanna hang out again this weekend?"
Kaito stopped in his tracks, caught off guard by the question. He looked at Ryu, his heart skipping a beat. He wasn’t sure why, but the invitation made him feel... something. Something a little deeper than he expected.
"I’m free," Kaito said after a pause, trying to sound casual, even though his stomach felt a little tight. "Where are we going?"
Ryu grinned, the familiar playful smirk returning to his face. "I don’t know. I was thinking of just... going wherever the day takes us."
Kaito smiled back, his nerves easing. "Sounds good."
As they left the library together, walking side by side, Kaito felt like something had shifted. He didn’t know what this was, or where it was going, but for the first time, he wasn’t worried about it. Maybe Ryu didn’t have all the answers. Maybe Kaito didn’t either. But together, maybe they didn’t need to.
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