Chapter 22 – The Rumor Mill Explodes

The school buzzed more than usual that morning. Not the usual hum of bored students dragging their feet or gossiping about tests. No, this was sharper—giddier. Laughter rippled through the corridors like electricity. Every other student had their phones out, giggling at something on the screen.

Haru should’ve known.

“Morning, Sensei!” a cheerful second-year called out, waving at her. Then, with a not-so-subtle wink, added, “Aya-senpai’s waiting for you on the court. You two are so cute.”

“...What?”

Haru blinked, her heart skipping a beat. She pulled out her phone and, after a moment of hesitation, opened the school’s unofficial social feed.

There it was.

A collage of photos: Aya and Haru walking side by side after practice, laughing at the vending machine, one with Haru brushing something out of Aya’s hair. Someone had even snapped a blurry—but still painfully clear—shot of them sitting together on the roof, heads tilted close.

Underneath the post:

> 💕 #Haruya is real?!

When are they just gonna date already 😭

Look at Haru-sensei blushing!!

Protect Aya-senpai at all costs 🙌

Haru’s ears turned red as she clutched her phone to her chest.

Aya was standing by the court fence, already in her jersey, sipping from her water bottle. She looked completely unfazed.

When Haru approached, she grinned. “Did you see the fan edits?”

“You saw them?” Haru’s voice cracked slightly.

“Of course. One had sparkles around our faces.” Aya leaned in and whispered, “I saved it.”

“You what?!”

Aya just chuckled and tossed her bottle into her bag. “Let them talk. I’m not hiding you.”

Those words stuck to Haru’s skin like morning dew—warm, delicate, impossibly bold. Her heart fluttered. Aya made everything seem so easy, like falling in love had been the simplest thing in the world.

But things weren’t simple—not in a school where eyes were always watching.

---

That afternoon, in the staff room, things got worse.

“Yo, Haru,” Mr. Nakano, the music teacher, said with a smirk as he passed by her desk. “Saw that photo of you two. You and Aya really are joined at the hip lately, huh?”

Another teacher, Ms. Minako from math, chimed in, “She’s lucky. If I had a girlfriend that hot, I’d be smug too.”

Haru nearly choked on her coffee.

She waved her hands wildly. “I—It’s not like that! We’re not—we’re just—!”

“Oh come on,” Minako teased. “You expect us to believe you two aren't dating after that rooftop shot?”

Nakano laughed. “Don’t worry, we’re not judging. Honestly? It’s kinda cute.”

Haru muttered something unintelligible and all but fled to the hallway, red-faced and heart pounding.

It wasn’t that she was ashamed.

It was the opposite—she wanted to scream from the rooftops how much she adored Aya.

But this was work. She was a teacher. Aya was a student. No matter how mature Aya was, no matter how sincere their feelings, the world wouldn’t see it that way. Their relationship wasn’t something people would understand.

---

She found a moment of peace in the empty corridor behind the gym, where no students usually lingered.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Aya:

> [Aya]: You okay? I’ll come kidnap you if I have to.

> Haru: No kidnapping!! Just… breathing for a second.

> [Aya]: Breathing is allowed. Kissing later.

>

She sighed, half-laughing, half-dying inside.

The worst part? She wanted to be kidnapped. She wanted to go home and bury her face into Aya’s shoulder and let the world disappear.

But the world didn’t disappear.

---

Later, as she passed the faculty lounge, Haru heard voices from within. She paused.

“…Aya’s a top performer, but she’s not invincible,” a female teacher said coolly. “If she’s getting distracted with… well, certain personal matters, maybe she’s not as perfect as everyone thinks.”

Another teacher sighed. “It’s a shame. So much potential. But teenagers don’t always make smart choices.”

Haru’s heart dropped.

That was the problem. It wasn’t just her career on the line—it was Aya’s reputation too.

She stepped back before they could notice her, her chest tightening.

They were hiding their relationship for a reason.

---

That evening, they met in secret on the rooftop again, where the sun bled pink over the city skyline.

Aya leaned against the railing, arms crossed. “I saw your face at lunch. Something happen?”

Haru hesitated, then nodded. “Some teachers were talking. Saying you were getting… distracted.”

Aya didn’t even blink. “Let them.”

“No, Aya, I can’t—” Haru grabbed her wrist, eyes shining with panic. “If they start looking into us seriously… If they take away your chance at college, your career—”

Aya stepped forward, gently pulling Haru’s hands to her chest. “Then we hide it. For now.”

Her voice was calm. Steady. “We play it smart. I’ll stop flirting at school. No more rooftop lunches or practice cuddles.”

Haru’s throat tightened. “But doesn’t it bother you? Pretending?”

Aya looked at her like she was the only person in the world. “Not if it means I still get to love you when we’re alone.”

Haru stared at her, emotions crashing like waves behind her ribs.

God, how had she fallen for this girl?

Aya pulled her into a soft hug. The kind where everything else felt miles away.

---

From inside the hug, Haru murmured, “Let them talk…”

Aya smiled against her hair. “They can talk all they want. I’m still yours.”