Don't You Dare Say It

A loud clap caught everyone's attention.

“Everyone, I have an announcement. We have a transfer student."

The class buzzed with gossip.

“Hey, who do you think it could be?”

“What if he’s a hottie?”

The girls squealed; the boys joined in.

“Wait. What if it’s a girl?”

A gentle whisper brushed past my ear.

Ignore...Ignore.

“ Don’t ignore me, Haruki. Who do you think it is? Aren’t you curious?"

He kept elbowing me.

“Your guess is as good as mine," I whispered back.

"At least show some excitement. May your days of loneliness finally come to an end."

"I'm good."

“SILENCE, CLASS.”

The chatter died down as quickly as it had erupted.

Miss Yuki turned to the door and gestured, inviting them in.

The figure entered— velvety golden-brown hair and striking, moonlit blue eyes. The moment she appeared, my heart slammed against my ribs

Why her?

“Miss Hana will be joining us. She has someone she loves in this class. Everyone, treat her with kindness,” Miss Yuki urged.

The room was filled with hushed conversations.

“Hana, dear, you can take that sea—”

She cut her off midway.

“I’ll take that seat.” She pointed toward Haruto.

What! No—no—no.

I snapped my head toward Haruto. He immediately caught on and shifted to the seat in front of me.

Everyone glanced back as she took the seat beside me.

I stared outside the window, ignoring the death glares and disgusted whispers.

What does she want now? The whole class-switching commotion, saying she has someone special here, and now choosing the seat beside me.

"Now, now, class, let’s focus on studying rather than wasting time."

The focus shifted, and I relaxed for a bit—before she started.

"Good morning, Haruki. You doing well?..." Her lips lifted in amusement.

Something's wrong... her being nice.

"Hello..."

Don't reply! Don't you dare reply...

"Ummm...so it's gonna be that way."

Haruto snickered from the front.

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you? No wonder you shifted."

I shot him an interrogating glance.

He covered his mouth, barely hiding his grin.

"Answering the wrong person, dude. Got some advice for you, Haruki..."

"I'm gonna skip that." My lowered tone gradually rose.

"Never make a girl wait... it can cost you a limb or two."

The moment he said that, I felt death linger over me.

" As you wish. Don't blame me for what happens next."

A shiver ran down my back. She took her phone out and scrolled to the photos.

"Look, what I've got here. Should I read it out?"

My lowered head shot up.

"NO!" My voice, once quiet, now echoed to the back of the room. All eyes landed on me.

...

"Haruki, dear, do you not like my class?" Miss Yuki asked.

"No...Miss, it isn't like that," I stammered.

"Really... I thought you had a problem with it."

Raising her hands, she mimicked me—"No!"— and the class burst into laughter. I sat back down.

"Hmm… didn't think showing you your own writing would trigger such a reaction."

She shrugged, completely unfazed.

Typical delinquent behavior…

I clenched my fists. My knuckles whitened.

"Let's try this again. Good morning, Haruki. How are you?"

She smirked like a cute angel assigned to anguish a human.

"Good morning... that was an odd joke about having someone you love here."

"But I do have someone I love...tormenting."

"Why are you here?"

"To spend more time with you. Did you really think you could just disappear like that?"

"You did all this bullshit just for that?"

" Language. Maybe I should teach you a lesson. What if... I tell everyone about your little story—Chances of love. How romantic. Everyone should know what a great writer you are."

I instantly straightened.  My eyes shot up. Her phone dangled in her hand. 

Cold sweat formed on my neck. 

I lunged for it.

She yanked it away at the last second.

"Tsk. Haven't you tried before—and failed miserably? Still haven't learned."

Her lips parted, ready to expose everything.

"Don't you dare say it."

"NOOOO—"

"JACKPOT!"

A high-pitched sound escaped me. My hands trembled. I slumped back, oblivious to the stares.

...

"You didn't?"

For a moment, I froze.

She's just messing with me... I hate how easily she can.

"I knew about your brain, but do you leave your eardrums at home too?"

Miss Yuki's eyes remained wide, processing everything.

"Haruki, dear, kindly leave my class. You're disrupting the decorum." Her gentle tone carried something sharper beneath.

"But—I... It's..."

It wasn't even my fault in the first place.

"Leave," She repeated, firmer.

I packed up and left. I went up to the roof. The wind stripped away some of the stress.

Hana transferred. Worse, she's my seatmate. Could things get any worse?

...Such bad luck...

Mitsuba...what would you have done in my situation?

I lay on the concrete. My bag became my pillow, my hand reached toward the sky. 

My eyes fluttered shut.

I stirred at the sounds of the final bell.

 The day had ended.

I stretched, picked up my bag, and headed to my locker.

As I twisted the lock—

"Haruki!" 

A surprised voice called out.

I turned. Mitsuba stood beside me.

"Mitsuba? Don't you usually practice after school?"

"I decided to skip today."

"Skip? That's rare coming from you. Especially with regionals coming up."

"I had some stuff to take care of... so that's why..."

She bit her lip, her eyes darting around the hallway.

Is she nervous? 

"You doing alright?"

Before I could finish, an arm wrapped around my neck

"Yoo... Haruki, you never told me you had friends."

He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, fake-sobbing while peeking through one eye. Behind him stood Hana.

"Can you stop with your con-artist acting?"

Even Hana looked annoyed. Meanwhile, Mitsuba relaxed, her fidgeting fingers settling.

"Okay, Ok! Jeez... At least tell me who this is." He winked.

"You shouldn't hide secrets from your friends, Haruki." Hana added.

"We are not friends."

Mitsuba chuckled softly.

"I'm Mitsuba Hanekawa. You can call me Mitsuba."

"I'm Haruto Kurosawa. Call me Haruto."

"I'm Aoi Hana. Nice to meet you."

"Wait... you're Mitsuba? The ace of our basketball team?" Haruto stepped closer.

She nodded.

"What's your relationship with Haruki?"

"That's none of your business, Haruto."

"Come on, Haruki... let me have some fun."

Hana tilted her head, listening carefully.

"Haruki? He's a good friend, a good listener. He even makes me sweat sometimes."

"PHRASING, Mitsuba!"

"I don't know about him, but I get what she means. Someone like Haruki, who hides behind pieces of paper, can't get a girlfriend."

Hana's tone carried a slight edge.

"You keep a diary, Haruki? Wow... that suits you."

I blinked.

"Umm... yeah, I do. It's a little embarrassing." I scratched my cheek.

"You don't need to be embarrassed. Everyone has something they care about. We're people, we make our own rules. Don't let anyone bring you down."

"Thanks... that helped."

Mitsuba's words wiped the smirk off Hana's face, leaving behind a cold, empty stare.

"Mitsuba, you wanted to tell me something, right?"

"Oh! I nearly forgot. Are you free this Saturday?"

"I am... You want to practice?"

"No. I was wondering if you'd be okay going on a date with me."

"Huh! Wait—what?"

Mitsuba... and me? Alone?

Hana and Haruto froze.

"Saturday. Harajuku Station. 12:30 p.m. Oh—and Haruki? Don't make a lady wait."

 She winked and walked off.

"Congratulations, dude. You just scored your first date." Haruto said, grinning.

A date...