Brief
The afternoon sun filtered through the classroom windows, casting a warm glow over scattered sports festival posters. The homeroom bell had just rung, but the air buzzed with restless energy. user stood at the front podium, papers in hand, ready to announce the group's t-shirt colors. Besides, Kouki stood rigid as a board. His knuckles were white around his notebook, his breathing slightly uneven, his ears already tinting a faint pink. user glanced up at him with concern, wondering why he was so tense.
Riku’s voice cut through the murmur from the desks. "A report?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.
user opened your mouth to start, but Kouki’s hand darted out, gently stopping you. "I-I'll say it properly," he stammered, his voice tight. user sighed internally, thinking it didn't really matter who delivered the news, but user let him take the lead.
Kaiji leaned forward from his seat, grinning. "What, what? Sounds deep~" he teased. Kouki shot him a look, ears burning hotter. "S-shut up. Listen quietly," he muttered, his voice wavering slightly despite his attempt at authority.
You were about to clarify that it was just about uniform colors when Ryu’s voice sliced through the room. "Hey, are you two dating?" he called out, followed quickly by Takato’s amused remark, "Ah, right, you were together yesterday too." Ryu leaned forward, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as his gaze bounced between you and Kouki. "What's up? Are you dating?" he pressed.
Before you could even process the question, Kouki’s voice rang out, clear and startlingly confident. "Yes."
The word hung in the air. "It's not like that!" user blurted out, eyes snapping to his. (Did he just say "Yes"?!) user thought, heart hammering. The classroom noise faded into a dull hum. user and Kouki locked eyes, pupils wide, completely frozen. The papers in user's hand crinkled slightly under grip. For a heartbeat, the rest of the world vanished. There was only him, his flushed cheeks, and the impossible, beautiful delusion shining in his gaze.
The noon wind tugged at the chain-link fence on the rooftop, but the silence between you and Kouki was heavier than any breeze. Riku and Kaiji stood nearby, exchanging glances until Kaiji cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ehem... I'd like to clear things up a bit," he started, shifting his weight. "You... actually thought you were dating him?" He paused, then added, "You didn't, right?"
Riku crossed his arms, his tone calm but probing. "Why did you think you were dating User, Kouki?"
Kouki's ears burned crimson, but he crossed his arms, muttering stubbornly, "Because User told me to go out together."
"Did you really say that?" *Kaiji asked, turning to User.
Your stomach dropped. (Did I really say that?!) You scrambled through your memory, heart pounding, until the realization hit. "Wait, back then...!" you stammered. Riku noted your reaction quietly, and you pressed on, asking if it was behind the school building. When Kouki nodded, you shook your head rapidly. "No, that's not it! That didn't mean that! I just said to walk with me to the sports storage room!"
Kaiji sighed, rubbing his neck. "Man, so it really was just Kouki's misunderstanding after all."
Riku murmured, "I thought it was strange."
But Kouki wasn't listening. Pride flared to mask the embarrassment, and he looked away, voice tight.
"I don't want to embarrass you more. You're like a Yamato Nadeshiko, after all. You're just too shy to admit in front of everyone that you're dating me, right?"
(He's still misinterpreting...! And what even is a Yamato Nadeshiko?!) User thought, exasperated but strangely flustered. User met his gaze, dead serious. "It's really not like that. I clearly said to accompany me to the storage room... didn't you hear me?"
Finally, the fight drained out of him. Kouki went completely still, like a shell that had just cracked open.
Riku sighed, "...Ah, he's beyond repair."
Kaiji apologized, bowing his head repeatedly. "Sorry, this guy has a bit of a tendency to live in his fantasies."
Riku looped an arm around Kouki's shoulders. "Let's go already. I'll treat you to ramen on the way back, alright?" They dragged the deflated boy away, leaving you alone with the wind.
User replayed the memory of his warm hand, cheeks heating as User wondered if he'd truly thought it was a date all along. (And yet... because someone said "go out together," he actually ended up going out...? Was it just coincidence? Or just the moment?) User chest felt heavy.
...
Several days later, the after-school sun painted the empty classroom in gold. User and Kouki sat across from each other, sports festival brackets spread across the desk. User tapped pen against the paper, confirming the team divisions for basketball, volleyball, and soccer, noting how glad User were that everyone picked different events to avoid conflicts. You looked up, offering an encouraging smile. "You're on basketball, Kouki. Give it your all!"
Kouki's expression shifted. The casual air vanished, replaced by a quiet intensity. He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to a murmur. "...Will you come watch?"
User's heart skipped a beat, but masked it with a practiced smile. "Y-yes, of course! I'm on the executive committee. I'll be there for all the matches!"
Kouki didn't look away. He studied your face, hesitation flickering in his eyes before something solidified in his gaze. He took a slow breath, his words deliberate, hanging in the quiet air like a promise he was terrified to make but couldn't hold back.
"If we win the championship..." he began, his voice steady despite the faint blush creeping up his neck, "...will you go out with me again?"
