[Chapter 20: Closer Than Ever]
The incident with Ryo and Reika left an echo in the school halls, but as the days passed, the tension gave way to something else—curiosity, admiration… and whispers.
But Takumi and Yuri?
They moved through it all like they always did.
Together.
Now, they were unmistakably closer. Walking side by side. Sharing lunch under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. Speaking with a quiet intimacy only a few could notice. No hand-holding. Nothing.
Just a closeness that didn't need to be explained.
In class, Takumi still sat by the window, chin resting in his palm as he gazed lazily outside. But his eyes occasionally flicked sideways—to Yuri, who sits next to him.
And more often than not, she caught him looking.
"You could just talk to me, you know," she whispered during a break.
He shrugged. "You look peaceful when you're focused."
Yuri blushed lightly and turned away, pretending to read her notebook.
During lunch, their group gathered under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard.
Minato, always the observant one, had his usual teasing smirk. "Not eating alone anymore, huh? Looks like our boy Takumi is officially off the market."
Takumi glanced at him, rolling his eyes. "Don't you have something else to do?"
Aoi, with her ever-present energy, leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Seriously, are you guys like a manga couple? Can't wait for the confession scene, where Takumi finally admits it."
Both Takumi and Yuri choked on their food in unison.
"We're not—" Yuri began, flustered.
"We're just friends," Takumi muttered, trying to hide his blush as he quickly looked away.
Haturo, Takumi's best friend, lounged casually on the grass, a wide grin spreading across his face. "You two are so bad at pretending. Just date already and spare us the drama."
Kana, always the more soft-spoken member of the group, smiled gently from her seat next to Yuri. "It's nice to see you two so close. You really make a good pair."
Takumi shot a glance at her but said nothing. The teasing wasn't as harsh as it used to be. It felt… almost natural now.
"See? Kana agrees," Minato said with a wink. "So when's the big announcement, huh?"
Haturo laughed, nudging Takumi's shoulder. "Just admit it, Takumi. You're head over heels."
Takumi groaned, but his lips twitched upward. "Alright, alright. I get it."
Yuri smiled beside him, her cheeks a little pink from the teasing, but she didn't seem as uncomfortable as she might have been before. Maybe this was just what they needed—a bit of lightheartedness to ease the tension of everything that had happened recently.
"You guys are ridiculous," Yuri said, finally catching her breath. "I'm not even sure how I got roped into all this."
Aoi's eyes sparkled. "Oh, we know. It's because Takumi's awesome." She gave a dramatic wink.
Takumi turned his attention back to his lunch, trying to hide his smile. The warmth between them all was comfortable—something he hadn't realized he'd been craving until now.
Haturo threw an arm around Takumi's shoulders. "Yeah, you'd better hold on tight, buddy. Now that everyone knows you're not just some lazy guy with good grades, you've got a target on your back."
"Whatever," Takumi muttered, but the teasing didn't bother him. It wasn't like it was the first time he'd heard it.
Yuri watched the group, her heart warming at the easy camaraderie. It felt so different from the chaos of before.
And as Takumi glanced at her once more, their eyes met.
No more words needed. They were closer than ever.
As the week passed, small things changed.
Yuri started making lunch for both of them more often. Takumi, though embarrassed at first, never wasted a single bite.
He also began walking her home—not every day, but enough that people noticed.
And one rainy day after school, they shared an umbrella again. But this time, they didn't keep distance. Their hands brushed. Yuri looked up.
Takumi didn't pull away.
He just smiled a little.
Back at home, Takumi found himself lying on his bed, phone in hand.
[Yuri Shinomiya]: Did you dry your hair properly?
He stared at the message, then smirked.
[Takumi Tachibana]: You sound like my mom.
[Yuri Shinomiya]: Your mom isn't this pretty.
He stared at that one for a second.
Then sent back:
[Takumi Tachibana]: Can't argue with that.
He imagined her smiling at the screen and closed his eyes.
Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.