Takeshi sat in the back row.
The teacher's voice blurred into background noise.
He stared at the board, but his mind was somewhere else.
Behind doors.
In shadows.
Inside himself.
---
A paper ball bounced off his head.
He blinked.
Looked over.
Rei grinned.
> "Earth to Sato."
Takeshi smirked.
> "You're the one acting weird lately."
> "Me?" Rei raised a brow. "You're the one zoning out like a ghost."
The class chuckled.
The teacher turned, eyes narrow.
> "You two. Quiet."
They nodded.
But Takeshi could still feel Rei's eyes on him.
---
At lunch, things didn't get better.
A group of girls by the stairs kept whispering and glancing at Takeshi.
Someone said, "He's been kinda distant lately…"
Another whispered, "He's still cute though."
Takeshi sighed.
Being noticed wasn't new.
But lately, it felt heavier.
Like the more people saw him, the less he felt like himself.
---
He found an empty bench behind the gym.
Quiet. Calm.
Until Asami sat beside him without a word.
---
> "What do you want?" he asked.
> "Nothing. Just… hiding from people."
> "You too?"
> "Always."
They sat in silence.
Birds chirped somewhere nearby.
Leaves rustled.
Then—
> "You used to smile more," she said.
> "You used to talk less."
Asami smirked.
> "Fair."
---
Takeshi turned to her.
> "Why are you always near when I'm... falling apart?"
> "Maybe I like puzzles."
> "Or maybe you're part of the mess."
She didn't answer.
Just leaned back.
Eyes half-closed.
> "What if I told you… it gets worse before it gets better?"
> "Then I'd ask—what comes after worse?"
She looked at him.
For real, this time.
> "Truth."
---
Back in class, Rei watched them walk in together.
He didn't say a word.
Just quietly sketched something in his notebook.
A new page.
Three shapes.
Three names.
And a question at the bottom:
> Who is lying?
---
End of Chapter 25.