Chapter 12 – Aya’s Stormy Mood

The week crawled forward, but something had shifted. Aya wasn’t her usual teasing, smug self. Gone were the casual shoulder bumps and lazy smirks that made Haru’s stomach flutter.

Instead, Aya was… quiet. Distant.

Haru noticed it first during the morning meeting. When she greeted her, Aya barely nodded. No sly comment about her messy hair, no “Good morning, newbie.” Just a curt, “Morning,” before looking away.

Haru chewed her lip through the announcements, trying to shake off the unease. Maybe Aya was just tired? Overworked?

But then lunch happened.

---

They were in the staff room. Haru was reaching for her bento when Shinichi strolled in, flashing that easy smile.

“Takamine-sensei,” he greeted warmly, pulling up a chair across from her. “Got a moment? I was hoping to pick your brain about the festival budget.”

“Ah—sure,” Haru said, forcing a polite smile. She wasn’t used to people asking her for advice. It was… nice, actually.

They chatted while she tried to eat, Shinichi’s light humor making her laugh in spite of herself.

Until she felt it. That prickling weight of a gaze.

She glanced sideways—straight into Aya’s eyes.

Aya was sitting by the window, half-turned away, but her gaze was sharp as a blade, locked on them like a predator sizing up prey. Her jaw worked as she picked at her food, movements stiff.

When Shinichi cracked another joke about tea ceremonies, Haru laughed nervously—and swore she saw Aya’s chopsticks snap clean in half.

Haru almost choked on her rice.

---

By the time lunch ended, Haru’s stomach was a knot of guilt and confusion. Aya didn’t say a word to her the entire time. Not one.

Did I… do something wrong?

That thought clung to her like a shadow all day. When classes ended, she even took the long route to avoid the gym, afraid of bumping into Aya’s stormy silence.

But fate had other plans.

---

Haru rounded the corner near the stairwell—and nearly yelped when a hand closed around her wrist.

She spun around, heart slamming against her ribs.

Aya.

Towering over her in her track jacket, hair tied up messily, eyes burning with something Haru couldn’t name.

“A-Aya—”

“Why are you running from me?” Aya’s voice was low, even—but her grip, though gentle, pulsed with restrained tension.

Haru’s throat went dry. “I-I wasn’t—”

“Don’t lie.” Aya stepped closer, close enough that Haru could feel the heat radiating off her. “You’ve been avoiding me all day.”

“I just—” Haru stammered, desperate for an escape. “I thought maybe you were… mad at me.”

Aya’s brows lifted slightly. “Mad? Why would I be mad at you?”

Haru bit her lip, heart pounding. “Because… you’ve been so… different since Shinichi-sensei arrived.”

Something flickered in Aya’s eyes. She moved closer still, until Haru’s back brushed the cool metal of the stair railing.

“So that’s it,” Aya murmured. “You think this is about him?”

Haru’s pulse thundered in her ears. Aya’s face was inches away now, her breath warm against her cheek.

“Aya…”

Aya leaned in, her voice dropping into a husky whisper that curled around Haru like smoke.

“Don’t make me angry, newbie.”

The words weren’t loud, but they landed like a lightning strike—hot, shocking, and leaving Haru’s entire body trembling.

---

Aya’s fingers lingered on Haru’s wrist as her lips curved into the faintest smirk, dark and unreadable. Then she stepped back, leaving Haru breathless and burning with questions she was too afraid—and too thrilled—to ask.