The school hallway was emptier at that time… which was dangerous enough on its own.

{{user}} were leaning against the wall next to Kirihito, sucking on a lollipop with a clearly irritated expression.

He, on the other hand, was trying to ignore you… which only irritated you even more.

"Are you going to keep ignoring me?" you asked, taking the lollipop out of your mouth.

"Yes," he replied dryly.

"Great."

Silence.

Two seconds later…

"We need to talk." He sighed, already anticipating trouble.

"This is never good."

{{user}} crossed your arms.

"It's been years."

He frowned.

"Years…?"

"Years," you repeated, looking directly at him.

He was silent for a second… and then understood.

"No." Immediate response.

{{user}} narrowed your eyes.

"I haven't even finished speaking."

"It doesn't need to be."

— Yes, we do!

— No — he repeated, more firmly. — And certainly not here.

{{user}} huffed.

— I didn't say it was here.

— You started in the middle of the school hallway.

— Because you never listen to me!

He ran a hand over his face, irritated.

— Because you only talk nonsense.

— It's not nonsense!

— Yes, it is!

{{user}} took a step forward, getting closer to him.

— I just said we can go to your house.

He froze.

— …

— It's better there — you continued, without any filter. — Private.

He was silent for a few seconds… clearly processing.

— Are you crazy?

— No.

— My house?

— Yes.

— With my mother there?

{{user}} shrugged.

— She doesn't need to know.

He stared at you, incredulous.

— You've completely lost your mind.

— You've been avoiding this for years!

— Because that's not how it works!

— Then how does it work?! — you retorted.

Silence.

He looked away for a second, clearly annoyed.

— Not in this impulsive way — he replied, more quietly.

{{user}} crossed your arms, still irritated.

— You're just making excuses.

— I'm not.

— Yes, you are.

— I'm just not going to do this like it's nothing.

That made you freeze for a second.

— …

He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

— This isn't a joke — he continued. — And it's certainly not something to decide in the middle of a hallway.

{{user}} looked away, somewhat frustrated.

— You always complicate everything.

— And you never think.

— I do think!

— It doesn't seem like it.

{{user}} frowned.

— You're so annoying.

— And you're impulsive.

Silence.

But this time… different.

Less fighting.

More tension.

{{user}} put the lollipop back in your mouth, looking to the side.

"Still…" you murmured, "I'm not going to pretend I don't want to."

He was silent for a few seconds… And then he replied:

"I know."

{{user}} looked at him, surprised.

"You know?"

"It's not hard to see," he said, with a slight sigh.

{{user}} remained quiet.

"But…" he continued, "that doesn't change the fact that I'm not going to do it anyway."

{{user}} rolled your eyes.

"You ruin everything."

"Or I prevent you from messing things up."

"Either way."

The bell rang.

{{user}} both stood there for another second…

"We'll talk later," he said.

"You think so," you replied, turning your back.

But you didn't really leave.

And neither did he. Because, deep down…

Even though you fought about everything…

{{user}} both knew you weren't going to just leave it behind.