Chapter 8: Unspoken Thoughts

The following days felt strange to Hikari. It was as if something in the air had changed between her and Aoi, even if nothing had been said aloud. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but every glance toward Aoi, every word exchanged, felt like it carried a weight she wasn’t used to. And yet, no one else seemed to notice anything different.

The teasing from her classmates had long faded, but it lingered in the back of Hikari's mind, making her overly conscious of her own behavior around Aoi. She found herself second-guessing every little interaction, wondering if she was being too obvious, too nervous, or too... flustered.

It was a Friday afternoon, and the school day was winding down. The final bell of the day was moments away, and Hikari found herself in her seat, tapping her pencil absentmindedly on the desk. Aoi had just finished gathering her things, getting ready to leave for the day. As always, Aoi’s movements were smooth, effortless, almost like she existed in a space of her own—a quiet, serene world that seemed to only belong to her.

Hikari couldn’t help but watch her, the way Aoi’s fingers brushed against the books, the subtle shift of her posture as she prepared to stand up. There was something oddly captivating about the way Aoi seemed completely at ease in her own skin, and it made Hikari feel... small, though not in a bad way. Just... aware.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day, Hikari quickly packed her things, feeling a sudden urge to leave before she did something foolish. She was halfway out of the door when she realized she had left her water bottle on her desk. With a sigh, she turned back to retrieve it.

That’s when she saw Aoi standing in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the afternoon light. She had clearly been about to leave, but paused, noticing Hikari standing alone. There was something almost unspoken about the way their gazes met, a silent communication that left Hikari feeling a little exposed.

“You forgot this,” Aoi said, her voice quiet but steady, and there was something warm in her eyes that made Hikari’s heart flutter again. She handed her the water bottle without a second thought.

“T-thank you!” Hikari blurted, her face flushing at how awkward she sounded. “I—I’m always doing that.”

Aoi blinked once, her expression unreadable. She didn’t smile, but her gaze lingered for a second longer, as if she were quietly trying to figure Hikari out.

“It’s fine,” she said simply. “You seem distracted lately. Everything okay?”

Hikari’s heart skipped a beat. Again? Aoi’s concern was so gentle, and it made Hikari feel so... seen. It was almost too much to handle. She opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it, unsure of what to say. How could she explain the whirlwind of thoughts and feelings that had been stirring inside her? How could she possibly tell Aoi that it wasn’t just her water bottle Hikari was forgetting, but her own sense of self whenever Aoi was around?

“I’m fine,” Hikari finally managed, her voice softer this time, less sure than before. She smiled weakly, trying to convince herself more than Aoi. “Just... a lot on my mind, I guess.”

Aoi didn’t say anything right away, her gaze never leaving Hikari’s face. There was a moment of quiet between them, and for the first time, Hikari realized just how close they were standing. Aoi’s presence was all-encompassing, like it was pulling Hikari in. Her heart was racing again, and she had to force herself not to look away, not to let Aoi see the confusion she was feeling inside.

Finally, Aoi’s voice broke the silence again, this time softer and more... understanding. “If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.”

Hikari’s heart did a strange little flip. She nodded quickly, feeling her cheeks grow warm at Aoi’s words. She wanted to say something, to explain that she didn’t need to talk, but she knew that wasn’t true. She didn’t have the words, and she didn’t even know how to begin.

“Thanks,” Hikari whispered, her voice barely above a breath. “I—I’ll be fine, really.”

Aoi gave her one last look, a gaze that lingered just a little too long, before she nodded and left the classroom, her footsteps echoing in the empty hall. Hikari stayed behind, her heart thudding in her chest as she processed everything that had just happened.

Why is it so hard to talk to her? Hikari wondered, staring down at her hands. There was something about Aoi that made everything feel amplified, every look, every word, every silence. It wasn’t just that Aoi was... well, Aoi—it was something else, something deeper that Hikari couldn’t quite define.

As she stood there, her heart still pounding in her chest, Hikari realized something that made her stomach twist in the most uncomfortable way: she didn’t just want to talk to Aoi. No, it was more than that. She wanted to understand her, to be close to her, to be the one Aoi could talk to, to be the one Aoi would turn to.

But that realization only made her feel more confused. She wasn’t sure how she felt, not exactly. All she knew was that every time she was near Aoi, she felt something—something that made her nervous, something that made her heart race in ways she didn’t understand.

Hikari took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. There would be time to think about this later, she told herself. Right now, she just needed to focus on getting home and surviving another day without making a complete fool of herself around Aoi.

But as she walked down the hall, her thoughts kept returning to Aoi, to her voice, her gaze, the way she had made Hikari feel seen in a way no one else had.

She couldn’t explain it. But something was changing. And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it yet.