"When you do figure it out… let me know."
Kane's words wouldn't leave my head.
I told myself it didn't matter, that it was just something she said in passing. But the more I tried to brush it off, the more it lingered—circling in my thoughts, filling the quiet spaces in my mind.
Figure what out?
I knew what she meant. I just didn't want to admit it.
The classroom felt distant, the teacher's voice muffled under the weight of my thoughts. My fingers tapped absently against my desk, eyes unfocused as I stared at the textbook in front of me.
Beside me, Kane sat with her chin resting in her palm, her other hand lazily twirling a pen between her fingers. She didn't seem to be paying attention to the lesson either.
Or maybe she just didn't care.
I exhaled, shifting in my seat.
Did she even mean it? Or was it just another offhand comment she'd forget by the end of the day?
The bell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.
As students began packing up, Haru stretched with a dramatic groan. "Finally. I swear, that class lasted a year."
Kane snorted. "That's because you didn't pay attention."
"Why would I? It's not like I'm gonna need to know calculus to survive."
"Tell that to your future employer," I muttered, grabbing my bag.
Haru clapped a hand on my back. "Oh, Yuki, my sweet, overthinking friend. You still think I'm gonna get a job?"
I sighed. "That's not the flex you think it is."
Kane rolled her eyes. "Idiots. Both of you."
"You say that like you're any different," Sayoko cut in, appearing beside Kane with a teasing smirk.
Haru turned to her, feigning shock. "Sayoko! My dear, beautiful, intelligent classmate, you wound me! I'm nothing but a diligent student trying to make his way in the world."
Sayoko raised an eyebrow. "Diligent? You fell asleep five minutes into the lesson."
"Exactly! And that takes skill."
I shook my head. "This conversation is going nowhere."
Haru grinned. "Which means we're definitely doing something after school."
Sayoko folded her arms. "And what exactly are we doing?"
Haru pointed at me. "That depends on Yuki."
I blinked. "Uh, I was just going home."
Haru gasped dramatically. "Blasphemy! Yuki, it's a crime to waste a perfectly good afternoon doing nothing."
"Doing nothing sounds like the best possible use of my time," I muttered.
Kane shook her head. "Idiots. Every single one of you."
Sayoko smirked. "You keep saying that, but you still hang out with us."
Kane clicked her tongue. "Unfortunately."
Haru slung an arm around my shoulder. "Then it's settled! We're going out."
Sayoko sighed but didn't argue. Kane simply shrugged.
And just like that, my plans for a quiet afternoon vanished.
As much as I wanted to protest, I knew it wouldn't change anything. Once Haru decided something, it was easier to go along with it than waste energy fighting back.
I sighed. "Fine. Where are we even going?"
Haru grinned. "Now that, my dear Yuki, is a surprise."
Kane arched an eyebrow. "Meaning you have no idea."
"Details, details," Haru waved a hand dismissively. "We'll figure it out as we go."
Sayoko shook her head, amused. "I can already tell this is going to be a disaster."
"That's the spirit!" Haru clapped his hands together. "Now, let's get moving before Yuki changes his mind."
I wouldn't, but I wasn't exactly excited either.
By the time we left the school gates, the afternoon sun had started its slow descent, casting warm hues over the pavement. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of spring, and despite myself, I felt my mood lift—just a little.
"So, are we actually going somewhere or just wandering aimlessly?" Kane asked, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket.
"Life is about the journey, not the destination," Haru said sagely.
Sayoko smirked. "That's what people say when they have no plan."
"Exactly."
I sighed. "You really dragged us all out for nothing."
Haru nudged me playfully. "Oh, come on, Yuki. You spend way too much time overthinking. Just let go for once."
I wanted to argue, but the truth was, he wasn't entirely wrong.
"Fine," I muttered. "Just… let's not do anything stupid."
"Yuki, my dear, responsible friend," Haru said with a dramatic hand over his heart, "when have I ever done anything stupid?"
Kane snorted. "Do you really want us to answer that?"
Haru ignored her and gestured toward the small shopping district down the street. "How about we go there? Maybe grab something to eat?"
Sayoko hummed in approval. "Not a bad idea."
Kane shrugged. "Whatever."
I sighed again but followed along.
And just like that, the evening unfolded—not with a plan, but with the unpredictable chaos that always seemed to follow us.
The streets were lively, filled with the chatter of passing students and the occasional honk of a car weaving through the narrow roads. The scent of fresh bread from a nearby bakery mixed with the lingering aroma of street food, making my stomach grumble before I could stop it.
Haru, of course, noticed. "Ah-ha! Yuki is hungry!" He grinned, pointing dramatically. "That means we have to eat first."
I rolled my eyes. "You were going to make us eat anyway."
"True, but now I have a noble cause."
Sayoko shook her head. "You just want an excuse to stuff your face."
"Hey, I won't deny that," Haru said, already leading the way toward a small food stall at the corner of the street. It had a few tables set up outside, and the smell of grilled skewers and fried snacks was enough to convince me to sit down without much protest.
We took our seats, and Kane leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "So, what's the plan? Are we just wasting time here?"
"You say that like wasting time with friends is a bad thing," Sayoko said, smirking.
Kane clicked her tongue but didn't argue.
I watched as Haru ordered enough food to feed a small army, then turned to me. "Alright, Yuki. Spill it."
I blinked. "Spill what?"
"You've been acting weird all day. What's up?"
I hesitated, glancing at Kane. She didn't meet my eyes, instead idly spinning her straw in her drink.
"It's nothing," I said quickly.
Haru gave me a deadpan look. "Dude. We've known each other for how long now? You're thinking about something."
Sayoko leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm. "Let me guess… something Kane said?"
I stiffened slightly. Haru's eyes widened in realization. "Ooooh. Interesting."
Kane finally looked up, her gaze sharp. "You guys are annoying."
Sayoko chuckled. "You keep saying that, but you haven't left."
Kane sighed, then turned to me. "If something's bothering you, just say it, Yuki."
For a moment, I considered brushing it off again. But the words wouldn't leave my head, and maybe—just maybe—I needed to get them out.
I exhaled. "Earlier… when you said, 'When you do figure it out, let me know'…" I hesitated. "Did you actually mean that?"
Kane didn't answer immediately. She stared at me for a long moment, then looked away. "You already know the answer to that."
Silence settled over the table.
Haru and Sayoko exchanged glances but, for once, didn't say anything.
And in that quiet moment, I realized—whether I was ready to admit it or not—that Kane was right.
I did know the answer.
I just wasn't sure what to do with it.
The weight of Kane's words settled in my chest, heavy and unshakable. I wanted to press further, to get some kind of clarification, but something in her expression told me I wouldn't get one. Not here. Not now.
Haru, of course, wasn't one to let tension linger for long. He clapped his hands together, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Alright! Since we're getting all serious here, let's lighten things up. We should play a game!"
Kane groaned. "Why?"
"Because," Haru grinned, "games are fun, and Yuki clearly needs a distraction before he explodes from overthinking."
Sayoko smirked. "He has a point."
I sighed. "I'm not going to explode."
"Yet," Haru said, wiggling his fingers dramatically. "Which is why we must act now."
Kane rolled her eyes. "Fine. What kind of game?"
Haru tapped his chin in mock thought. "Hmm… how about a question game? We each ask a question, and you have to answer honestly. No dodging, no lying."
I frowned. "That sounds like a trap."
Sayoko smiled. "That is a trap."
"But a fun one!" Haru said. "C'mon, let's do it."
Kane sighed but didn't argue, which meant she was in. Sayoko leaned forward, clearly enjoying this. I, however, had a bad feeling about where this was going.
Haru grinned. "I'll start! Yuki, have you ever had a crush on one of us?"
I nearly choked on my drink. "What?!"
Sayoko burst into laughter. Kane just raised an eyebrow, watching me.
Haru smirked. "Well? Answer honestly!"
I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. "That's a ridiculous question."
"That's not a no," Sayoko pointed out, eyes gleaming.
I groaned. "Can we not do this?"
Kane sighed, taking a sip of her drink. "Let him off the hook, Haru. If he's too much of a coward to answer, then—"
"I am not a coward!" The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
Kane smirked. "Then answer the question."
I looked at her, then at Sayoko, then at Haru, who was practically bouncing in his seat with excitement.
This was a terrible idea.
But as I opened my mouth to respond, I hesitated—because, for the first time in a long time, I wasn't sure if I was ready to admit the truth.
The words sat heavy on my tongue, unspoken but impossible to ignore. I could feel three pairs of eyes locked on me, waiting, watching, anticipating.
Haru was grinning like he had just won the lottery. Sayoko looked amused, tilting her head slightly as if studying me. And Kane… Kane was unreadable, her expression calm, but her gaze sharp, as if daring me to say something I couldn't take back.
I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Fine," I muttered. "If it'll get you off my back—yes."
Haru gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "A confession! Right here! In public!"
Sayoko smirked. "Interesting."
Kane, however, didn't react. Not immediately. She simply blinked, her fingers tapping lightly against the side of her cup. If she was surprised, she didn't show it.
Haru, on the other hand, was thriving on the chaos. "Alright, alright, follow-up question—who?"
I groaned. "That wasn't part of the deal."
Sayoko chuckled. "No dodging, remember?"
Kane still hadn't said anything. She was just watching me, waiting.
I could feel the heat rising to my ears. "This game is stupid."
Haru leaned in, grinning. "And yet, you still haven't answered."
I clenched my jaw. I could lie, but they'd see right through me. I could brush it off, but Haru wouldn't let it go. And Kane… Kane would just keep looking at me like that—like she already knew.
I exhaled sharply. "It was a long time ago," I muttered. "It doesn't matter anymore."
Kane's fingers stopped tapping. Her expression remained neutral, but something flickered in her eyes—just for a second.
Sayoko hummed. "That's not an answer."
Haru pointed dramatically. "Yuki. Tell us. For science."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Haru, I swear—"
But before I could finish, Kane finally spoke.
"Drop it."
Her voice was quiet, but firm.
Haru blinked. "Huh?"
Kane leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "It doesn't matter, right? So just drop it."
Haru frowned slightly, looking between the two of us, but for once, he didn't push.
Sayoko raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The conversation shifted after that, Haru steering it toward something lighter, and soon, the tension eased. But even as the evening continued, and laughter filled the space between us, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.
And when I glanced at Kane, I realized—she couldn't either.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of conversation and mindless banter, but the unspoken weight between Kane and me never fully disappeared. It lingered in the pauses, in the brief moments our eyes met and quickly looked away.
Even Haru, oblivious as he was, seemed to sense it. He didn't bring up the topic again, which was rare for him. Sayoko, on the other hand, watched with quiet amusement, like she was enjoying a show only she fully understood.
By the time we finished eating, the sky had deepened into a dusky blue, the streetlights flickering on one by one.
"Alright," Haru stretched, yawning, "that was fun, but I should probably head home before my mom calls in a missing person report."
Sayoko smirked. "You? Missing? More like she'd celebrate the peace and quiet."
Haru placed a hand over his chest, gasping. "Sayoko! You wound me!"
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever, drama queen. I'm leaving too."
Kane stood, brushing off her jacket. "I'll walk."
I hesitated. "I should head back too."
We said our goodbyes, and soon, it was just Kane and me walking down the dimly lit sidewalk.
For a while, neither of us spoke. The only sounds were the distant hum of traffic and the rhythmic tapping of our footsteps against the pavement.
Finally, Kane broke the silence. "You didn't have to answer, you know."
I glanced at her. "Would it have made a difference if I didn't?"
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets. "Haru's an idiot, but he's right about one thing—you overthink too much."
I frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She stopped walking, turning to face me. In the dim glow of the streetlights, her expression was unreadable. "It means, Yuki, that you spend so much time worrying about things that don't matter anymore that you miss what's right in front of you."
My breath hitched slightly.
There it was again. That feeling—that pull in my chest, like I was teetering on the edge of something I wasn't sure I was ready for.
Kane held my gaze for a moment longer, then shook her head with a small sigh. "Forget it. Just get home safe."
And before I could say anything else, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.
I stood there for a long time, staring after her, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts.
Because the truth was, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise…
I knew exactly what she meant.