Monochrome into Colors – Chapter 7: The Color of Tension

Chapter 7: The Color of Tension

[Hayate Kurogane]

The day was passing faster than I expected. The art project had finally reached its final stage, and the presentation was scheduled for tomorrow. The work was practically finished, but Aoi and I were still adjusting the last details. The atmosphere in the study room was tense—the kind of tension you feel when you know the pressure is on you but don’t know how to shake it off.

Aoi was focused, leaning over the draft sheets, organizing the drawings we had made throughout the week. She was so engrossed that she barely noticed when I approached to grab some materials from the table.

I moved toward her silently, which was natural for me since no sane person would talk during a moment like that. But, of course, I had no idea what she was doing, and my sudden proximity startled her—perhaps as a reflex.

Aoi gave a slight jump, a reaction so quick that I almost didn’t notice, but it was enough for her to nearly knock over one of the piles of papers on the table. I quickly stepped back, surprised by her reaction.

— A-Aoi, are you okay? — I asked, a bit confused. I didn’t expect her to react that way. But then, I realized that maybe she was more tense than I had imagined. The presentation was about to happen, and maybe the nervousness was getting to her.

She looked at me, her eyes slightly widened, but she quickly tried to compose herself. Her face was slightly flushed, but I didn’t notice.

— Ah... yes, yes! It’s just... I was just surprised, that’s all. — She replied with a forced smile, still trying to hide her nervousness. Her hands moved quickly, arranging the papers as she looked at the drawings, clearly trying to focus again.

I really didn’t know what to think. Aoi was always so calm, so composed. Seeing her this unsettled over something so simple made me wonder if she was really okay. But then again, there was no point in asking the same thing over and over.

— Sorry if I scared you. — I said, still trying to smooth things over.

She quickly nodded, her expression more relaxed, but her mind still seemed elsewhere.

— It’s nothing, Hayate. It’s just... the proximity caught me off guard, that’s all. No need to worry. — She tried to smile, but her voice was softer than usual. Whatever was going on with her, I had no idea.

And as she continued working, I stood there, unsure of what to say. I had no idea how to handle moments like this. But something told me that, no matter how much she tried to hide it, the pressure was weighing on her. And even though I wasn’t good at understanding these kinds of signs, I knew I had to do something to help—but what?

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[Aoi Tachibana]

I wasn’t really prepared for what happened. When Hayate suddenly got so close, as if it were nothing, I was so startled that I barely managed to control myself. Yeah, I should’ve been calmer, but seeing him so close, so focused on what he was doing, made me nervous.

The truth was that ever since we started working together on this project, a part of me had been on constant alert. Of course, he hadn’t noticed. Hayate, with his distracted nature, didn’t seem to realize how close he got to me sometimes or how my feelings were starting to get all mixed up because of it.

When he nearly made me drop the papers, I panicked, and my heart raced uncontrollably. But all I could do was smile, forcing the best smile I could muster, so he wouldn’t see how confused I was.

— A-Aoi, are you okay? — He asked, sounding concerned. Not that he was looking at me, but his voice... that quiet concern of his was something I had never noticed before. He always seemed so distant, so oblivious to what was happening around him.

I tried to act normal, as if I hadn’t just had a near heart attack from his sudden closeness. But I knew he wouldn’t notice. He never noticed anything, not even the fact that when he was near, my breathing became harder to control.

— Ah... yes, yes! It’s just... I was just surprised, that’s all. — I said, struggling to maintain my composure. He shouldn’t notice what was happening. Not now. Not when I was still trying to understand my own feelings.

I was tired. Tired of trying to hide everything I felt whenever he was around. And more than that, I was starting to fear that all of this might be more complicated than I had imagined.

— Sorry if I scared you. — Hayate said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

I quickly nodded, trying to make it seem like everything was fine, even though it wasn’t. But at the same time, I didn’t want him to worry about me. Not now.

— It’s nothing, Hayate. It’s just... the proximity caught me off guard, that’s all. No need to worry. — I lied, more to myself than to him. The truth was that what really caught me off guard was how much my life was starting to be colored in a way I couldn’t control.

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End of Chapter 7