the first day back at school was a joke. or, well, it definitely felt like it. a very cruel one.
kurumi could hear the whispers before she even stepped foot through the gates. she knew they'd be there—gossip was inevitable after the stunt she pulled before summer break. still, that didn't make it any less irritating.
she had barely taken two steps inside when a classmate, some girl whose name she didn't care to remember, leaned toward her.
"hey, yoshizawa-san… you actually came back?"
kurumi forced a polite smile, her voice light. "it is school, isn't it?"
the girl gave a nervous laugh, stepping away like she expected kurumi to throw a punch at any moment.
pathetic.
as she walked through the halls, she felt their stares burning into her. her classmates whispered in clumps, staring at her like she was some kind of wild animal—untamed, unpredictable.
she was used to being talked about—used to rumors. but this was different. they weren't just talking about her.
"she's definitely got something going on with naoi…”
"maybe naoi manipulated her into doing everything."
"who even is that naoi chick anyway? like, does anyone know her first name?"
kurumi sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she entered her classroom—3-2.
naoi was already there, slouched in her seat, arms crossed behind her head like she didn’t have a care in the world. knowing her, she probably didn’t. her uniform was slightly disheveled, as usual, and her expression was unreadable as she stared out the window.
kurumi walked past rows of desks, ignoring the murmurs. when she reached her new seat—directly in front of naoi’s, ironically—she dropped her bag onto the desk and turned to face her.
"good morning."
naoi didn’t look at her.
"so, are you enjoying the newfound fame?" kurumi added, voice dry.
"fame?" naoi finally glanced at her. "you’re the one they’re obsessed with. i’m just a supporting character in your tragic downfall."
kurumi huffed, sitting down. "tragic downfall, huh?"
"yup." naoi leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, studying kurumi with lazy amusement. "they're just dying to know why you so-obediently follow my lead. must be hard for such a ‘good girl’ to have such a terrible influence."
kurumi turned, matching her gaze with unimpressed eyes. "they think you're a bad influence?"
naoi's grinned. "of course. you're supposed to be perfect, right? now look at you. rumors of violence, running from teachers, hanging out with the school's most infamous troublemaker..." she paused, tilting her head. "they probably think you're being blackmailed, huh?"
kurumi scoffed. "so you don’t say."
"mm," naoi tapped a finger against her lips, pretending to think. "right. i almost forgot about that whole thing.”
kurumi flicked her forehead. "keep talking and i'll blackmail you."
naoi barely reacted, looking almost pleased.
before either of them could say more, the teacher walked in, and the classroom fell into a quiet, expectant buzz.
"alright, settle down. summer break is over, and it's time to get serious again. you’re third years now, so none of you have much time left."
naoi groaned dramatically. "ugh, what a pain."
the teacher ignored her.
as class began, kurumi pulled out her notebook and pen, ready to take notes. out of the corner of her eye, she saw naoi slouch even further, looking like she was seconds away from dozing off.
kurumi sighed.
same old, same old.
some things never change.
lunch. finally.
kurumi barely had time to push back her chair before naoi was already up, stretching lazily.
"come on.”
kurumi raised a brow. "what?”
"lunch, obviously, idiot."
"since when did we eat lunch together?"
naoi gave her a flat look. "since you stopped pretending you don’t like being around me."
“correction, since when did you eat lunch?”
“or i could just leave you here and let you eat alone.”
kurumi clicked her tongue but stood up anyway, trailing after naoi as she wove through the classroom. the stares hadn’t stopped. in fact, now that they were together, they’d somehow gotten worse.
"they’re still watching,” kurumi muttered under her breath.
naoi barely glanced back. "let them. maybe they’ll think i’m dragging you off to bully you or something."
kurumi scoffed. "as if they’d believe that. if anything, they’d think i’m the one bullying you."
naoi stopped at the door, turning to her with a grin. "oh? do you want to bully me, yoshizawa-san?"
kurumi rolled her eyes and shoved past her, stepping into the hallway. "shut up. not today."
naoi laughed under her breath, following close behind.
they ended up on the rooftop, mostly because naoi hated people in general and kurumi wasn’t in the mood to sit in a classroom full of judgmental eyes boring into her skull.
the air was warm, the sky clear. a perfect, peaceful moment.
probably, at least.
"so," naoi started, "how does it feel? being the school’s new top delinquent?"
kurumi, mid-bite, frowned. "i’m not a delinquent."
"you hit someone."
"she deserved it."
"you ran from a teacher."
"you were literally the one who grabbed me and ran."
naoi waved dismissively, "irrelevant."
kurumi sighed, chewing slowly before speaking. "i don’t really care what they say. it’s just annoying."
"they’ll get over it eventually."
"you sound so sure of that."
"of course. it’s because i am sure of it,” naoi paused to take a sip of water—oh, kurumi thought, she has no food. "besides, once they realize you haven’t actually changed, they’ll get bored."
kurumi gave her a questioning look. "haven't changed?"
naoi nodded, leaning back against the wall. "you still act like a good girl, don't you?"
kurumi narrowed her eyes. "i'm not acting."
naoi laughed, but didn’t argue.
“... naoi.”
“yoshizawa-san.”
“do you… want some of my bento?” she paused for a moment. “it feels… weird to eat, since you have nothing.”
naoi, instead of saying anything, opened her mouth wide and said ‘ahh’.
kurumi rolled her eyes, shoving her chopsticks through naoi’s lips.
for a while, they just ate in silence, the wind carrying distant sounds of students chattering below.
then, naoi spoke again. "by the way."
kurumi looked up.
“why do you look so startled? jeez…” naoi hummed slightly, as if she were giving herself approval to continue. "if that isanuma girl tries anything again, tell me."
kurumi raised a brow. "why?"
naoi shrugged, careless. "just tell me."
kurumi studied her for a moment, then smiled slightly.
"what, are you gonna hit her this time? or carve up her desk again?"
naoi grinned. "i’d love to see the look on your face if i did."
kurumi huffed a quiet laugh. "stupid."
the wind blew past them again, and for the first time all day, kurumi felt like she could breathe.
the final bell rang, a sharp relief cutting through the dull haze of the afternoon. students stirred, the tension of the day finally breaking as chairs scraped against the floor and chatter filled the room.
kurumi, still seated, exhaled slowly. she wasn’t tired, but the weight of existing in this school, under these eyes, made her feel like she’d just run a marathon.
so exhausting...
slightly less with naoi around, though.
"you gonna sit there all day?"
she turned her head to see naoi standing beside her desk, bag slung lazily over one shoulder.
"are you in a rush?" kurumi countered, raising a brow.
naoi shrugged. "not really. but you look like you're about to pass out."
kurumi bit the inside of her cheek and stood up, sliding her bag over her shoulder. they walked toward the door together, and just like that, the whispers followed.
"are they seriously leaving together?"
"yoshizawa-san’s totally different now..."
"why's she hanging around someone like that?"
kurumi ignored them, but naoi? naoi sneered idly. she even slowed her pace slightly, letting the murmurs crawl up their backs before finally exiting the room.
kurumi shot her a look. "you're enjoying this, aren’t you?"
"of course i am," naoi said, completely unapologetic. "i love watching people scramble to make sense of things. it’s pathetic."
kurumi sighed, but she couldn't exactly disagree.
they stepped into the crowded hallway, the sea of students moving in sluggish waves toward the exits.
"so," naoi started, glancing at her, "where are you headed?"
"home."
"boring."
"where else would i go?"
naoi beamed smugly. "dunno. want me to pick a place for you?"
kurumi rolled her eyes. "as if i’d trust your judgment. you’d probably take me somewhere weird."
"you do, though."
kurumi inhaled sharply but didn't argue. that would've given naoi way too much satisfaction—more than she deserved.
they reached the shoe lockers, and as kurumi bent down to switch into her outdoor shoes, naoi leaned casually against the stack of lockers beside them.
"you know," naoi mused, "i expected you to be way more stressed about all this."
"all what?"
"the whole school suddenly giving a shit about you. i thought you’d be pulling your hair out trying to 'fix' your reputation or whatever. ex-student council pres turned bad girl, whatever will you do..."
kurumi snorted. "yeah, well, unfortunately i don’t have the energy for any that."
"wow, character development."
kurumi shut her locker with a little more force than necessary and stood up. "fuck off."
"you’re so violent, yoshizawa-san. maybe i should confirm all the rumors about you, will that make you feel better?”
kurumi sighed. “please don’t.”
naoi only grinned in response. they stepped outside, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. students were scattered around the entrance, some walking home in groups, others lingering to chat. a few of them glanced their way—some curious, some wary, most just confused.
kurumi sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "alright, i’m leaving."
naoi hummed. "hmm."
kurumi gave her a side-eye. "what?"
"nothing."
kurumi waited. she knew naoi wasn’t done—nothing was never nothing with naoi.
"was just thinking... i could walk you home, if you want."
kurumi blinked. "since when did you offer to do things for other people?"
"i don’t. you just happen to be fun to piss off, so.”
one of naoi’s white lies every so often wouldn’t hurt anybody. the real reason—she didn’t need to know it.
kurumi scoffed. “hard pass."
"aww, are you shy?"
"no, i just don’t want to deal with your bullshit the whole way there."
"you’re so dramatic. you like it.”
kurumi turned, starting down the street. she didn’t expect naoi to follow, but after a moment, she heard footsteps beside her. she shouldn’t even be surprised at this point.
"you really never listen, do you?" kurumi muttered.
"nope," naoi said, grinning. "and neither do you. so i guess we’re even."
kurumi sighed, shaking her head—but for some reason, she didn't tell naoi to leave.
they walked in silence at first. not the heavy, suffocating kind—just the kind that settles naturally between them, like an unspoken understanding. the streets stretched ahead, lined with familiar scenery: quiet houses, convenience stores glowing under flickering signs, the occasional rustle of wind through trees.
"you live kinda far," naoi murmured after a while.
kurumi glanced at her. "it’s barely been five minutes. plus, you didn’t have to come. you practically brought this upon yourself."
"oh, but i did," naoi said, voice dripping with mock sincerity. "who knows what kind of trouble you’d get into without me watching over you?"
kurumi rolled her eyes. "right. because you’re so responsible, naoi."
"exactly. glad you finally understand."
kurumi exhaled sharply through her nose, something almost like a laugh. naoi caught it, of course.
"do i amuse you, yoshizawa-san?"
"not in the way you think."
naoi narrowed her eyes playfully. "so rude and for what?”
they kept walking. the sidewalks were mostly empty now, the air cooling as the sun dipped lower.
"so," naoi drawled, stuffing her hands into her pockets. "how does it actually feel. being back, i mean."
kurumi was quiet for a moment, kicking a stray pebble across the pavement. "kinda weird."
"that’s all?"
"what do you want me to say? 'oh, naoi-san, it’s so stressful, i can’t handle it, please save me, or just kill me instead’?"
naoi snorted. "i mean, yeah, that’d be hilarious."
kurumi sighed. "but seriously. it’s not like i expected people to forget over summer break. still, walking in and seeing their faces again... it was annoying, if anything."
"you should’ve seen yours. looked like you were ready to set the whole school on fire."
"not a bad idea, actually."
"now that’s the yoshizawa-san i know," naoi teased.
kurumi shook her head, lips twitching into something that wasn’t quite a smile but was definitely close enough to being one.
they turned onto a quieter street, only a few blocks from kurumi’s house now. the orange glow of the setting sun cast long shadows behind them.
"so, since you’re asking questions, i have one for you." kurumi started, glancing at naoi. "why’d you really come with me?"
"i told you, to make fun of you."
another white lie.
kurumi gave her a look. the look.
naoi sighed dramatically. "fine. maybe i just wanted to make sure you didn’t suddenly drop dead from all the stress or something."
this one was slightly closer to the truth.
"how considerate of you," kurumi deadpanned.
"i am considerate," naoi shot back. "besides, if you did drop dead, who else would i have to torment?"
"find a new hobby."
"ehh, too much work."
kurumi shook her head again, but this time, she didn’t even try to hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
they reached her house. kurumi stopped at the gate, glancing back at naoi.
"guess this is where you leave."
“guess so,” naoi tilted her head. "you’re not gonna invite me in?"
"absolutely not."
“no goodnight kiss either?”
“what—no!”
"so coldhearted."
kurumi scoffed. "you’re the last person who gets to call anyone that."
naoi snickered but didn’t argue. instead, she took a small step back, shoving her hands deeper into her pockets.
"see you tomorrow, then?"
kurumi hesitated, just for a second.
"yes," she said firmly. "see you tomorrow."
naoi spared her one last glance before turning on her heel and strolling off into the young night.
kurumi watched her leave for a moment before finally stepping inside, shutting the gate behind her and approaching the front door.