Morning sunlight slipped through the classroom windows, spreading warm light across the desks.
Akira arrived earlier than usual.
He sat down quietly, placing his bag beside his chair before leaning back slightly.
The familiar hum of conversations filled the room, yet none of it reached him.
Everything felt… different today.
Not uncomfortable.
Just heavier.
His eyes moved unconsciously toward the seat beside him.
Hanoka wasn’t there yet.
He looked away immediately.
The classroom door slid open.
Soft footsteps entered.
The atmosphere changed almost instantly.
Hanoka Todoka walked in.
Several students greeted her loudly, but her eyes searched only one place.
Akira.
Their gazes met for a brief second.
She smiled.
Small.
Gentle.
Not the bright public smile everyone else received.
Something quieter.
Something personal.
Akira quickly turned his head toward the window.
Classes passed faster than usual.
During lectures, Hanoka occasionally leaned closer to ask questions.
Akira answered briefly.
But unlike before, he didn’t push her away.
Not completely.
Their shoulders brushed once while reaching for the same notebook.
Both froze.
Neither mentioned it.
Whispers spread across the classroom.
“Look at them…”
“They’re definitely close now.”
“I swear she only talks to him.”
Jealous stares followed them.
Akira ignored it.
Hanoka didn’t.
She noticed every word.
Every glare.
Yet she stayed seated beside him anyway.
Lunch break arrived.
Instead of going elsewhere, Hanoka placed her lunch gently on Akira’s desk.
“Today… can I sit here?”
Akira sighed.
“…You already are.”
She laughed softly.
It was the first time he didn’t refuse.
Then Hanoka answered “Will you feel uncomfortable removing the mask?”
Akira: “No worries I will not remove it I will manage don’t worry.”
They ate quietly.
Comfortable silence.
Wind entered through the open window.
For once, Akira didn’t feel the need to escape to the rooftop.
After school, the dismissal bell rang.
Students packed quickly, conversations buzzing around them.
Akira stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Hanoka followed him out of class.
They walked side by side toward the gate.
No dramatic conversation.
Just footsteps matching naturally.
Outside the school gates, they paused.
Hanoka hesitated.
“Asking something strange… is okay?”
Akira glanced at her.
“…Depends.”
She looked at the ground.
“You always look like you’re ready to leave everyone behind.”
He stayed silent.
“…But lately,” she continued, “you wait.”
Akira didn’t answer.
Instead, he turned slightly.
“…Go home safely.”
He walked away before she could respond.
Hanoka watched him disappear into the crowd.
A small smile formed on her lips.
Evening arrived.
The scene shifted.
Hanoka’s home.
Large windows.
Quiet halls.
The atmosphere felt unusually tense.
The front door opened.
Her parents entered hurriedly.
Their expressions serious.
“Hanoka,” her mother said gently, “we need to talk.”
She sat down.
Confused.
Her father sighed.
“Our company has complications overseas.
We must leave the country temporarily.”
Hanoka blinked.
“…Leave?”
“For some time,” her mother nodded.
“You’ll continue school here.”
A pause.
Then—
“We arranged a place for you to stay.”
Hanoka tilted her head.
“With relatives?”
Her father smiled slightly.
“With someone we trust deeply.”
“He’s a student at your school.”
Her heart skipped.
“…Someone from my school?”
“He’s a good boy.
Responsible.
His family helped us before.”
Hanoka felt a strange unease.
Excitement mixed with nervousness.
Night approached as they drove through quiet streets.
Streetlights passed one by one.
Hanoka looked outside absentmindedly.
Then—
Her eyes widened.
Parked near a house…
Familiar a black S13.
Same black colour
Same license plate
Her breath stopped.
The Demon.
Akira’s car.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
No way…
Her thoughts raced.
Please… please let it be…
The car slowed.
Stopped.
Right in front of the house.
Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.
It can’t be…
Her parents stepped out.
Hanoka followed slowly.
Every step felt unreal.
They walked toward the door.
Her father knocked.
Footsteps approached from inside.
The door opened.
Akira stood there wearing his mask
Silence fell.
His eyes widened.
“…Hanoka?”
She stared back in shock.
“…Akira?”
Her parents smiled warmly behind her.
“Looks like you already know each other.”
Neither of them spoke.
The realization hit both at once.
Hanoka…
was going to live in Akira’s house.
Hanoka’s words lingered in the living room long after she said them.
“I look forward to living with you.”
Akira didn’t answer immediately.
The evening light slipped through the curtains, painting the room in warm gold.
For a moment, he simply stood there, hands in his pockets, mask hiding half his expression.
“…Yeah,” he finally said quietly.
“Do as you like.”
It wasn’t warm.
It wasn’t cold either.
Hanoka smiled anyway.
The house settled into silence after that.
Boxes filled the hallway — luggage delivered by her parents, neatly labeled.
The faint scent of new furniture mixed with the familiar calm of Akira’s home.
Hanoka walked slowly around the living room, observing everything.
Clean shelves.
Minimal decorations.
No unnecessary clutter.
It felt… lonely.
A house lived in by one person for a long time.
She turned toward Akira, who had already moved into the kitchen without making noise.
He tied an apron around his waist.
Hanoka blinked.
“You cook?”
“I live alone,” he replied while opening the refrigerator.
“I’d starve otherwise.”
He spoke naturally, as if this arrangement wasn’t strange at all — as if having the school’s most admired girl suddenly living with him was just another weekday inconvenience.
The sound of chopping vegetables filled the air.
Hanoka sat at the dining table, resting her chin on her hands, watching him.
His movements were precise.
Efficient.
Familiar.
Again, that strange feeling crept into her thoughts.
The way he moves…
The posture…
Even his silence feels the same…
Her mind returned to that memory.
Shibuya.
Crowds cheering.
Lights everywhere.
Isamu Sawada standing confidently on stage.
And behind him—
The black S13.
Demon.
Her eyes slowly drifted toward the window, where the car rested outside under the fading sunlight.
Her heartbeat quickened.
No…
It can’t be that simple.
Akira placed a plate in front of her, breaking her thoughts.
Dinner.
Simple.
Warm.
Homemade.
“…Eat before it gets cold,” he said.
Hanoka stared at the food.
“You made this… just now?”
He nodded and turned away, already preparing another plate.
But instead of sitting across from her, he picked up his own meal.
And walked toward the stairs.
Hanoka remembered the rule.
I eat alone.
She watched him go.
“…Akira.”
He stopped halfway up.
“Why do you avoid people so much?”
Silence.
Only the faint ticking of a wall clock answered first.
“…Habit,” he said without turning around.
Then he disappeared upstairs.
Hanoka ate slowly.
The food was delicious.
Comforting.
It felt strangely intimate — eating something made by him in a quiet house that now belonged to both of them.
Yet the distance between them remained.
After finishing, she cleaned the dishes instinctively.
The sink was already spotless.
Everything about Akira suggested discipline… control… boundaries carefully built over time.
Her curiosity only grew stronger.
Night fell.
The house dimmed into soft shadows.
Hanoka stepped into her new room again.
She spun once in the center, smiling to herself.
“I’m really living here…”
Excitement bubbled up inside her chest.
But then—
Her gaze moved toward the hallway.
Upstairs.
Toward his room.
The forbidden place.
She remembered his words clearly:
Don’t come inside my room.
Even if I am dying.
Hanoka crossed her arms.
“…That just makes me more curious.”
She took one step into the hallway.
Then stopped herself.
“No.
Rules are rules.”
She turned back—
—but froze.
A faint sound came from upstairs.
Not movement.
Not footsteps.
A voice.
Low.
Calm.
Practicing lines.
Hanoka tilted her head.
It sounded like… acting.
Dialogue delivery.
Emotion controlled perfectly.
Her heart skipped.
She slowly walked closer to the staircase, careful not to make noise.
The voice continued.
Confident.
Professional.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
Her eyes widened.
I’ve heard this voice before.
Not at school.
Not today.
On television.
On stage.
In interviews.
Her breath caught.
“…Isamu…?”
The voice stopped instantly.
Silence crashed over the house.
A door upstairs clicked shut.
Footsteps approached.
Hanoka quickly stepped back into the living room, pretending she had just come down for water.
Akira appeared at the top of the stairs moments later.
Mask still on.
Eyes sharp.
“…Did you need something?”
Hanoka forced a casual smile.
“Nope!
Just thirsty.”
He stared at her for a second longer than normal.
As if measuring something.
As if checking whether she had heard too much.
“…Go to sleep early,” he said finally.
“School tomorrow.”
He turned and disappeared again.
Hanoka stood frozen.
Her heart raced wildly.
Pieces connected inside her mind.
The car.
The posture.
The voice.
The secrecy.
Only two possibilities remained.
Either—
He was the biggest Isamu Sawada fan alive.
Or…
She was living under the same roof as the most famous young actor in Japan.
Hanoka pressed her hands against her cheeks, barely containing her excitement.
“…No way.”
A smile slowly formed.
Outside, the black S13 reflected the moonlight like a silent witness.
And upstairs—
Akira sat alone in his room, staring at the closed door, knowing something had begun to change.
Morning sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, painting soft gold lines across the room.
Hanoka slept peacefully under the blanket, completely unaware of the world outside.
Her alarm clock blinked silently.
7:58 AM.
Two minutes before disaster.
Outside the door, Akira stood holding something behind his back.
He knocked once.
No response.
He opened the door slowly.
Hanoka was still asleep, curled slightly, hair spread across the pillow, breathing softly like nothing in the world could disturb her.
Akira stared for a second.
“…Unbelievable.”
He checked the clock again.
8:00 AM.
He sighed.
From behind his back, he revealed a small water gun.
He aimed carefully.
Pshhhhh—
A cold spray of water landed directly on Hanoka’s face.
Hanoka jolted upright instantly.
“WAH—?!”
She looked around in pure confusion, hair messy, blanket tangled around her.
Akira stood at the doorway completely calm.
Water gun still raised.
“School time,” he said flatly.
“Get ready.”
Hanoka blinked.
Processing.
Then realization hit.
“YOU SPRAYED ME?!”
Akira turned away already walking down the hallway.
“You ignored three alarms.”
“I JUST MOVED HERE YESTERDAY!”
“That’s not an excuse for being late.”
Hanoka grabbed a pillow and threw it toward him.
It missed completely and landed in the hallway.
“MEANIE!”
Akira picked up the pillow without even turning around.
“You have fifteen minutes.”
He placed it back on her bed and closed the door.
Hanoka stared at the door, stunned.
Then she slowly smiled.
“…He woke me up.”
For a moment, the unfamiliar room didn’t feel unfamiliar anymore.
She rushed out of bed.
Hanoka finished tying her ribbon while walking toward the dining table.
She stopped.
Only one plate was set.
One cup of tea.
One lunch box.
She looked around.
“A-Akira?”
From upstairs came his voice.
“I already ate.”
Hanoka frowned.
“…You didn’t.”
Silence.
Then footsteps.
Akira came down carrying an empty tray — neatly arranged, spotless.
“I told you,” he said calmly.
“I eat in my room.”
Hanoka crossed her arms.
“Every meal?”
“Yes.”
“Breakfast too?”
“Yes.”
“Lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes.”
She stared at him like she had discovered a strange species.
“That’s illegal roommate behavior.”
Akira picked up his bag.
“It’s efficient.”
“It’s lonely!”
He paused for half a second.
Just half.
“…I’m used to it.”
Hanoka didn’t reply immediately.
Something about the way he said it felt heavy.
Not sad.
Just… practiced.
Like a rule carved into him.
She sat down and started eating quietly.
After a moment—
“You woke me up,” she said casually.
“So that means you’re responsible for making sure I survive school.”
“I packed your lunch.”
He pointed toward the box.
Hanoka opened it.
Perfectly arranged food.
Cute even.
Her eyes widened.
“…You’re secretly a housewife.”
Akira sighed.
“We’re leaving in three minutes.”
Akira grabbed his keys from the table and looked back at Hanoka.
“Okay, listen carefully,” he said calmly.
“We’re taking the car today because we’re late.
But I won’t drive all the way to school.”
Hanoka tilted her head.
“Why?”
“We’ll stop a little distance away,” Akira continued.
“A friend of mine lives nearby.
He’ll take the car back to my house.”
He paused, adjusting his mask slightly.
“That way no one at school sees my car… or connects us.”
Hanoka blinked in confusion.
“And after that,” Akira added, “you’ll walk to school first.
I’ll come a few minutes later.”
“…Every day?” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
“I don’t want your reputation going down because of me.”
For a moment, Hanoka simply stared at him.
He was serious.
Completely serious.
A small smile appeared on her face.
“Weird…” she said softly.
“But okay.”
Akira turned toward the door.
“Good.
We’re leaving.”
The drive felt… strangely comfortable.
Morning sunlight slipped through the car windows as Akira steered the Demon through quiet streets.
What was supposed to be a rushed ride turned into something entirely different.
They talked.
Then joked.
Then laughed.
Again and again.
For a moment, it didn’t feel like two classmates sharing a ride.
It felt like two children escaping the world together.
Hanoka laughed at one of Akira’s dry comments before suddenly going quiet.
Her smile faded slightly.
That hand gesture…
Those jokes…
Her mind raced.
Three months ago.
Shinjuku stage.
Six p.m.
Isamu Sawada said the exact same thing…
She remembered the crowd bursting into laughter — thousands of people smiling like carefree children.
Her eyes slowly moved toward Akira gripping the steering wheel.
Could it be…?
Is he Isamu?
…Or just a hardcore fan like me?
Akira noticed the silence immediately.
He glanced sideways.
“Why so quiet?”
Hanoka blinked, pulled out of her thoughts.
“It’s just… something you wouldn’t understand.”
Akira shrugged lightly.
“If you want to tell me, you can.
If you don’t… then don’t.”
He kept his eyes on the road.
“I’ve heard of personal space.
I won’t bother you asking what it is.”
Hanoka looked at him, surprised.
“…Wow.
That’s actually kind of you.”
Akira smirked faintly beneath his mask.
The car slowed as they reached a small residential street.
He parked near a modest house.
Without hesitation, Akira rolled down the window and casually tossed the car keys toward an open bedroom window.
The keys disappeared inside perfectly.
Hanoka’s jaw dropped.
“WOW.
Blind trust much?”
“He’s an old friend,” Akira replied calmly while stepping out of the car.
“I trust him.”
He stretched slightly.
“Just wait and see.
The car will be back home.”
They walked toward the porch together.
Akira sat down on the wooden steps while Hanoka stood beside him.
He pointed down the road.
“Alright.
From here, you walk to school.
It’s not far — you can already see the rooftop.”
Hanoka followed his finger and spotted the distant building.
“I’ll wait here,” Akira continued.
“Once you’re inside the school, I’ll come later.”
“Oh… okay.” She hesitated.
“But how will you know I reached?”
Akira slowly pointed two fingers toward his eyes.
“Eyes.”
He leaned back casually.
“Want me to spell it out for you?”
He smirked.
“E.
Y.
E.
S.”
Hanoka crossed her arms, pretending to be offended.
“Ohhh, someone has confidence in his eyes, huh?”
Akira scoffed.
“They’re better than yours, you idiot.”
“MEANIE!”
Hanoka laughed and started running toward the school, her hair swaying in the morning wind.
Akira watched her go.
The laughter faded.
The street became quiet again.
He rested his elbows on his knees, eyes soft behind the mask.
“…I love her.”
Hanoka stepped into the school gates.
Almost instantly, she felt it.
Eyes.
Too many of them.
Whispers started forming around her like smoke.
She slowed down slightly, confused… until she noticed it.
A small detail.
Her socks.
She had forgotten to wear them.
Her expression froze.
“…No way.”
Heat rushed to her face.
She quickly adjusted her steps and walked faster, trying to act normal while clearly panicking inside.
Behind her, students started noticing.
“Did she forget her socks?”
“Wait… seriously?”
“She still looks perfect though…”
Hanoka lowered her head slightly and hurried inside.
From a distance, Akira sat on the porch of the house, watching the direction she left.
He took a sip from an energy drink, eyes half-lidded.
Then he clicked his tongue quietly.
“…These people.”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“I didn’t know she forgot her socks.”
He stood up.
“…Should’ve asked her before she left.”
Without another word, he walked toward the school.
Inside the classroom…
Hanoka had just taken her seat, still slightly flustered.
Students were still whispering around her, some curious, some teasing, some staring.
Akira entered the classroom.
The door slid open.
Silence dropped for a second.
He walked in calmly, like always, and placed his bag on his desk.
But his eyes immediately shifted.
Hanoka.
And the attention around her.
Boys glancing too long.
Whispers continuing.
Girls talking softly.
“Poor thing…”
“She forgot her socks…”
“Still looks cute though…”
Akira’s expression darkened slightly.
He walked toward Hanoka’s desk.
Stopped beside her.
“Hanoka.”
She looked up.
“…Yeah?”
He spoke quietly.
“Meet me near the girls’ changing room.
Now.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“…Why?”
“It’s important.”
He didn’t wait for more questions.
He turned and walked out of the classroom, hands in pockets.
Moments later…
Hanoka stepped out into the hallway.
She found him waiting near the corridor leading to the changing rooms.
“…What is it?” she asked.
Akira looked at her for a moment, then spoke directly.
“When I said we’re leaving early,” he said, “I also meant you shouldn’t forget things like that.”
Hanoka blinked.
“…So what am I supposed to do?
I forgot them.”
Akira sighed slightly.
Then reached into his bag.
And pulled out a neatly folded pair of socks.
Hanoka froze.
“…You brought them?”
He looked away slightly.
“Go inside and wear them.”
A pause.
Then more quietly—
“Can’t let people keep staring at you like that.”
Hanoka stared at him for a moment, surprised.
Then slowly, a small smile formed.
“…You really think ahead too much.”
Akira turned his head slightly.
“Just go.”
Hanoka took the socks.
And walked inside.
Akira stayed outside for a moment longer.
Then leaned against the wall, exhaling lightly.
“…Tch.”
But his eyes weren’t annoyed.
They were just watching the hallway she disappeared into.
Carefully.
Quietly.
Whispers filled the classroom the moment Akira stepped inside.
“…Why does Akira care so much?”
“…Are they dating or something?”
“I heard they came to school together…”
“…He always stays silent though.”
Akira didn’t react.
He walked calmly to his seat.
Sat down.
Opened his bag.
Took out his MP3 player.
Put on his earphones.
And slowly lowered his head.
The world outside became distant.
Muted.
Unimportant.
Across the room, Hanoka heard everything.
The whispers.
The laughter.
The comments.
Her expression tightened.
Boys nearby continued talking carelessly.
“Damn, Akira really ruined our chance to see Hanoka properly today…”
“What a waste…”
“She’s literally right there but—”
Disgust flickered in her eyes.
She looked away sharply.
The classroom slowly shifted.
Students began gathering closer.
Too close.
The noise increased.
Hanoka glanced around.
English period…
She looked at the timetable on the wall.
Empty classroom energy.
No teacher yet.
She sighed.
“…Of course the English teacher is late again.”
The crowd fully formed around her desk now.
Questions started pouring in.
“Hanoka, are you dating Akira?”
“You came together, right?”
“What’s your relationship?”
“Be honest!”
Hanoka frowned slightly.
“What makes you think that?” she asked calmly.
A girl leaned forward.
“We saw you sitting on the porch with him.”
Hanoka crossed her arms.
“Ever heard of the term personal space?”
She paused.
“He was just sitting alone.
I sat beside him and asked for notes.”
Her voice was firm.
Controlled.
But inside…
her heart was not.
Because deep down, she knew something.
Even if she said that…
Akira wouldn’t reject her.
He wouldn’t push her away.
That thought alone made something tighten inside her chest.
A strange rhythm.
Unfamiliar.
Thump… thump…
She froze for a moment.
Then realized it.
I… might like him.
Her eyes softened slightly.
But her voice stayed steady.
“So no,” she said to the crowd.
“We’re just friends.”
At that exact moment—
Akira slowly lifted his head.
The noise was too much again.
He sighed.
Then stood up.
And walked directly into the crowd.
Without hesitation— thump
His hand lightly hit the back of one boy’s head.
Not hard.
Just enough.
“Hey,” Akira said calmly.
“Mind keeping it down?
I’m trying to sleep.”
The boy turned sharply.
“Oi—why did you punch me?!”
Akira tilted his head slightly.
“It was the only available solution.”
A pause.
“You wanted me to punch the girls instead, you airhead?”
The boy’s face twitched.
“Oh yeah?
You wanna fight?!”
Akira looked at him blankly.
“I’m not picking a fight.
You are.”
“I’m just trying to sleep.”
The boy snapped.
“Take this!”
He swung a punch.
Fast.
Direct.
But—
Akira caught his wrist instantly.
No struggle.
No hesitation.
Just grip.
Firm.
Controlled.
The classroom froze.
Akira leaned slightly forward.
Then casually removed his gum— and spat it onto the boy’s shirt.
“Here.”
A pause.
“One-on-one punch to gum delivery complete.”
Silence.
The boy froze.
The class went dead quiet.
Akira let go of his wrist.
Sat back down.
Put his earphones back in.
And lowered his head again.
As if nothing had happened.
The room stayed silent.
Even Hanoka.
But inside her chest…
that same strange feeling grew even stronger.
Because now she understood something clearly.
Akira didn’t just avoid attention.
He controlled it.
The classroom stayed quiet long after Akira sat down.
No one laughed.
No one whispered loudly anymore.
Only the faint sound of pages turning and chairs shifting filled the air.
The boy whose shirt now carried a piece of gum slowly backed away, embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck while avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Akira didn’t even look at him.
Head lowered.
Music playing softly through his earphones.
Disconnected.
Like none of this mattered.
Hanoka watched him.
Her fingers rested on her desk, unmoving.
He didn’t even try to look cool…
He wasn’t showing off.
He wasn’t trying to impress anyone.
He simply returned to silence.
And somehow…
that made him stand out even more.
The classroom door finally slid open.
The English teacher walked in, slightly out of breath.
“Sorry, sorry!
Staff meeting ran long.”
Students quickly rushed back to their seats.
Books opened.
Chairs scraped.
Normality returned.
But the atmosphere had changed.
Every few seconds someone glanced toward Akira.
Then quickly looked away.
Hanoka turned forward, but her mind wasn’t on English class anymore.
He helped me.
Again.
She lightly touched the socks he had given her earlier.
Warm.
Safe.
Protected.
Her cheeks turned faintly pink.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Akira.
He wasn’t even pretending to listen.
Head slightly tilted.
Eyes closed.
One hand resting against his cheek.
Peaceful.
Like someone finally allowed to rest.
How can someone be so gentle… and so distant at the same time?
Time passed.
The lesson ended.
The bell rang loudly across the school.
Students immediately began talking again.
Energy returned.
But this time, something was different.
No one crowded Hanoka aggressively.
No one made loud jokes near Akira’s desk.
There was space.
An invisible boundary.
And everyone felt it.
Akira removed one earphone.
Slowly stood.
Picked up his bag.
He didn’t even glance around before walking toward the door.
Just like always.
Leaving before attention could catch him.
Hanoka hesitated only a second.
Then stood up too.
Ignoring the curious looks around her.
She followed him out.
The hallway was bright with afternoon sunlight.
Students moved in groups, laughing, talking about clubs and homework.
Akira walked ahead calmly.
Hands in pockets.
Mask hiding half his expression.
Hanoka quickened her pace.
“Akira!”
He stopped but didn’t turn immediately.
“…What?”
She caught up, slightly breathless.
“You didn’t have to do that earlier.”
He shrugged.
“They were noisy.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
He finally looked at her.
Eyes calm.
Unreadable.
Hanoka smiled softly.
“…Thank you.”
A small pause.
Akira looked away first.
“…Don’t misunderstand.”
“You looked uncomfortable.
That’s all.”
But his ears turned slightly red.
They began walking together down the corridor.
Side by side.
Comfortably silent.
Students noticed.
Of course they noticed.
Whispers followed them.
“There they go again…”
“They really are close…”
“Akira never walks with anyone…”
Akira ignored everything.
Hanoka noticed everything.
And strangely…
she didn’t mind.
Outside, the afternoon air felt warm.
A gentle breeze moved through the schoolyard.
They reached the entrance steps.
Akira stopped.
“You go ahead.”
Hanoka tilted her head.
“Hm?”
“I’ll leave later.”
She immediately understood.
His rule.
His distance.
Protecting her reputation.
Her expression softened.
“…You think about others too much.”
Akira gave a small scoff.
“Wrong.”
“I just hate attention.”
She smiled knowingly.
“…Liar.”
He didn’t reply.
Hanoka started walking toward the gate.
After a few steps, she turned back.
Akira was still standing there.
Watching silently.
Making sure she left safely.
Her heart beat faster again.
Why does he do things like this…?
She waved slightly.
He nodded once.
Nothing more.
Only after she disappeared beyond the gate did Akira finally move.
He exhaled slowly.
“…This is bad.”
His hand pressed lightly against his chest.
Heartbeat loud.
Unsteady.
“…I’m getting attached.”
He adjusted his mask.
Then walked toward the opposite direction.
Alone again.
But the loneliness didn’t feel the same anymore.
High above, unnoticed by both of them—
Several students watched from classroom windows.
Rumors were already spreading.
Stories forming.
Opinions dividing.
Some admired him.
Some envied him.
Some hated him.
And without realizing it…
Akira Tamyama was slowly becoming the center of attention again.
The one thing he feared most.
Meanwhile, Hanoka walked home smiling to herself.
Holding onto the smallest moments of the day.
The socks.
The protection.
The quiet kindness hidden behind cold words.
She placed a hand over her chest.
“…Why does being near him feel like this?”
The wind carried her hair gently as she walked forward.
Unaware— that both of their lives had already begun changing in ways neither of them could stop.
Akira disappeared into the evening streets, the city already glowing beneath rows of streetlights.
Neon reflections stretched across the pavement as he walked quickly, hands buried in his coat pockets.
Every step felt heavier than usual.
For the first time since Hanoka moved in, he felt nervous.
Not about the premiere.
About her.
Back at the house, Hanoka sat curled up on the sofa, knees tucked under a blanket.
The television illuminated the quiet living room.
The ticking wall clock echoed softly.
She glanced toward the staircase.
“Akira…?”
No response.
She assumed he was resting in his room preparing for work.
The broadcast began.
Bright music filled the room.
The screen revealed the grand premiere stage — cameras flashing endlessly, reporters shouting questions, crowds cheering behind barricades.
And then—
He appeared.
Isamu Sawada stepped onto the stage.
Perfect posture.
Calm confidence.
Elegant smile.
Hanoka’s eyes sparkled instantly.
“There he is…!” she whispered, leaning closer to the TV.
Onscreen, Isamu adjusted his sleeve slightly before greeting the audience.
The small gesture made Hanoka freeze.
“…That hand movement again…”
Her brows slowly knitted together.
The way he tilted his head while listening to the host…
The pause before speaking…
The relaxed shoulders hiding quiet tension…
Her heart began beating faster.
“No… it can’t be…”
Meanwhile backstage, Akira—now fully Isamu—finished his speech under roaring applause.
Cameras flashed like lightning around him.
He smiled professionally, waved, and exited the stage.
The moment he stepped behind the curtain, his expression dropped.
“…I need to get home before she notices anything weird.”
Toru Nitagawa approached, throwing an arm over his shoulder.
“You looked nervous today, Isamu.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were,” Toru laughed.
“Who’s she?”
Akira stopped walking.
“…What?”
“The girl making Japan’s coolest actor panic.”
Akira clicked his tongue.
“You talk too much.”
Toru grinned wider.
“I’m definitely visiting your school.”
“Don’t.”
“I already decided.”
“…You’re a menace.”
Back at the house, Hanoka sat frozen.
On TV, Isamu laughed during an interview.
The same laugh.
The exact same one she heard during the car ride.
Her hands slowly tightened around the blanket.
“Akira… Isamu…”
Her mind replayed everything:
The Demon S13.
The jokes.
The eyes behind the mask.
The way he avoided attention.
The strange rules at home.
Eating alone in his room.
Her heartbeat grew louder.
“…If they’re the same person…”
She shook her head quickly.
“No.
That’s impossible.”
Yet the doubt refused to disappear.
The broadcast ended.
The house fell quiet again.
Outside, midnight wind brushed against the windows.
Hanoka stood up slowly and looked toward Akira’s closed bedroom door upstairs.
For a moment… she almost walked toward it.
Then she remembered his rule.
Never enter his room.
She stopped halfway up the stairs.
“…Personal space,” she murmured softly.
Turning back, she returned to the sofa, though sleep refused to come.
Hours later, the front door opened quietly.
Akira stepped inside, now back in casual clothes and mask, moving carefully to avoid making noise.
He froze.
Hanoka was still awake.
She looked at him silently.
“…You’re late,” she said.
“…Work ran long.”
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Something felt different.
Hanoka studied him carefully — searching for confirmation her heart couldn’t ignore.
Akira avoided her gaze and walked toward the stairs.
“Good night.”
“Akira.”
He stopped.
She hesitated.
A thousand questions sat at the edge of her lips.
But instead she smiled gently.
“…Welcome home.”
Akira paused for a moment longer before quietly replying—
“…I’m home.”
And for the first time since meeting her…
he wondered how long he could keep the secret hidden.
It’s been so much fun working on this story, even though life has been a bit tough lately and kept me away from the keyboard more than I’d like.
I hope you’re all doing well—how is life treating you lately?