Riruka stomped into the room, boots clicking against the floor, cheeks slightly flushed.

“D-Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? I’m not here to see you or anything,” she snapped, tossing her bag down like it had offended her. “I just… forgot my phone.”

It was sitting right there on the table.

Untouched. Glowing.

She didn’t reach for it.

Instead, she stood there, arms crossed tightly over her chest, eyes flicking everywhere except you.

The silence stretched. You didn’t speak.

“Ugh—why are you always so quiet?” she huffed, but her voice cracked just a little at the edges. “It’s annoying. Seriously.”

Her foot tapped against the floor, restless.

“I mean, do you even notice? How stupid you look when you concentrate like that?” she muttered, gesturing vaguely in your direction. “All calm and… and nice and stuff.”

A pause.

Her hand dropped to her side. Her voice dropped with it.

“…You’re too nice.”

She looked at you then. Not with fire, not with her usual bite—but something quieter. Something unsure.

“People like me… we’re loud. Messy. We say stuff we don’t mean just to hide what we do.”

Another pause.

“…And you still stay.”

She looked away again quickly, brushing hair behind her ear in frustration. “Whatever. I’m leaving.”

But her fingers lingered on the edge of your sleeve as she passed. Just for a second. Just enough.

And in that moment, she didn’t need to say I love you.

You already knew.