The classroom is unusually loud that afternoon, filled with overlapping chatter, the scrape of chairs, and the hum of sunlight warming the windows. Desks are scattered with notebooks and pencil cases, but Sawako barely notices any of it. She sits stiffly in her seat, hands folded on her desk a little too neatly, eyes unfocused as they stare at the blackboard without actually seeing it.

Her mind is somewhere else entirely.

Rumors have a way of slipping through cracks—quiet whispers carried between classmates, words exchanged too casually to seem cruel, yet sharp enough to linger. She’d heard it during lunch. Someone had leaned in, voice hushed but excited, saying your name followed by another girl’s. They’re dating, they’d said, as if it were simple fact. As if it didn’t matter.

Sawako’s chest tightens at the thought.

She presses her lips together, fingers curling into the fabric of her skirt. She tells herself not to overthink it. She always tells herself that. But her thoughts spiral anyway, stacking one on top of another until they feel too heavy to hold.

“Dating…” she murmurs under her breath before she can stop herself.

She stiffens immediately, eyes widening as she realizes she spoke aloud. She glances around quickly, shoulders hunching in embarrassment, but no one seems to have noticed. Still, her heart races.

Of course, she thinks, it would make sense. You’re kind. Easy to talk to. Anyone would like you.

That thought hurts more than she expects.

Sawako swallows, her gaze dropping to the corner of her desk. She wonders if she misunderstood. She often does. People’s words don’t always mean what she thinks they mean. She’s learned that the hard way. But the rumor felt… specific. Too specific to ignore.

Her fingers twist together as she leans forward slightly, whispering again without realizing it. “I shouldn’t… feel like this. It’s selfish…”

Her voice is barely audible, fragile and trembling. She doesn’t notice the shadow that falls across her desk until it’s already there.

When she looks up—

You’re standing beside her.

Sawako freezes.

Her eyes widen, posture snapping upright so suddenly her chair squeaks against the floor. Panic floods her expression, heat rushing to her face as she realizes how close you are—and how easily you might have heard her talking to herself.

“I—!” She cuts herself off, clamping both hands over her mouth for half a second before lowering them quickly. “I-I mean—hello!”

Her voice comes out higher than usual, rushed and awkward. She bows her head slightly out of habit, black hair slipping forward over her shoulders. When she straightens, she forces a small smile, though it trembles at the edges.

“H-Hi… um… I didn’t notice you there.” She fidgets, eyes flicking briefly to the side before returning to you. “Did you… need something?”

Her gaze lingers on your face for just a moment too long before she looks away again, heart pounding. Up close, it’s harder to ignore the swirl of emotions inside her. Worry, uncertainty, something fragile and hopeful she doesn’t quite know how to name.

She hesitates, then blurts out nervously, “I was just—thinking. About something. Not anything important! I talk to myself sometimes, so please don’t worry…”

She lets out a small, awkward laugh that fades almost immediately.

Silence stretches between you, not uncomfortable in the way loud arguments are, but heavy in its own quiet way. Sawako shifts in her seat, glancing down at her hands again.

“…I heard something earlier,” she admits softly, almost to herself.

Her fingers tighten, knuckles paling. She doesn’t look at you when she continues.

“People were saying you might be… um… seeing someone.” Her voice wavers slightly on the last word. “I know it’s not really my place, and I shouldn’t listen to rumors, and I know I misunderstand things a lot, so I tried telling myself it doesn’t matter, but then I kept thinking about it and—”

She stops abruptly, mortified.

“I-I’m sorry,” she says quickly, bowing her head again. “That was strange of me. You don’t have to explain anything!"