The tea was warm, the scent of dinner richer now as it drifted from the kitchen. Mark found himself laughing more than expected, the tightness in his shoulders easing with each passing minute.
Akiha sat across from him, her posture still neat and composed, but her smile had grown genuine—no longer the quiet, polite one she wore at school, but something real. Soft laughter escaped her lips as she told him a story about her little sister Natsuki trying to bake cookies using salt instead of sugar.
"And she made us all eat them," Akiha said with a shake of her head. "I still remember the betrayal."
Mark chuckled. "That sounds like something my friend Rhein would do. Though he'd probably eat the whole tray himself first."
Akiha smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're... not like how I thought you'd be."
"Oh?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "What did you think I was like?"
"Quiet. Always a little… lost in your head. But you're funny. And kind."
Mark looked down into his half-empty cup. "I guess I don't talk much unless I feel like there's something worth saying."
"I'm glad you said something today."
He looked back at her, their eyes meeting in a comfortable silence.
RING-RING.
His phone vibrated.
He sighed, fishing it from his pocket. A name lit up the screen in bold text: Takamine Miyu.
Before he could answer, the call ended—and a second later, another message came through:
[Takamine Miyu]: Where are you?? Come to the front gate. NOW.
Mark stared at the message, his mood dipping instantly. Her voice echoed in his head—sharper than most, always commanding. He didn't even need to hear her in person to feel the annoyance rising.
Akiha must have noticed the shift in his expression. "Is something wrong?"
Mark stood, pocketing his phone. "It's... someone from school. We're in a project together. She can be a bit much sometimes."
Akiha nodded slowly. "You should go, then."
He hesitated. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cut our talk short. I just think if I don't go, she'll cause more problems."
Akiha gave a small smile, though her eyes held a tinge of disappointment. "It's okay. I understand."
"I'd like to visit again, if that's alright."
Her smile widened slightly. "We'd like that."
Mark gave a slight bow to her mother and siblings, thanked them again for the tea, then slipped on his shoes at the door. The sky was dim now, colors bleeding into early dusk as he walked briskly back toward school.
His footsteps echoed along the sidewalk, his jaw clenched tighter with each step.
What now, Miyu? he thought bitterly. What do you want that couldn't wait?
He rounded the corner, finally spotting the front gate of the school. And sure enough, leaning against the brick post, arms crossed and foot tapping, was Takamine Miyu.
Her long black hair swayed slightly in the wind. She was still in her school uniform, though her blazer was off and draped over one shoulder. Her eyes locked onto his the second she saw him, and her mouth twisted into a familiar frown.
"You took your sweet time."
Mark sighed. "You didn't say it was urgent."
"If I had, would you have come any faster?"
He didn't respond.
She walked up to him, arms still crossed. "Where were you? You weren't answering your phone during cleanup time."
"I had something to do."
"With who?"
"That's not your business."
Miyu narrowed her eyes. "We're in the same group. Everything is my business if it affects the project."
"I finished my part. You know that."
She looked at him, eyes scanning his expression, then stepped closer. "You were with that girl, weren't you? Mamiya?"
Mark's face twitched. "So what if I was?"
"Do you even know what kind of person she is?"
Mark felt something in his chest tighten. "She's kind. She treats people with respect. Which is more than I can say for you."
Her eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"
"You act like everyone's beneath you, like the world owes you something. I'm not your servant, Miyu."
For a moment, silence hung between them, heavy and electric.
She looked like she might snap back—but then, unexpectedly, she looked away.
"I didn't call you here to fight," she said quietly. "I wanted to tell you... we have to present early next week. The teacher moved the schedule."
Mark blinked. "You couldn't have messaged me that?"
"I wanted to talk in person."
"Why?"
She didn't answer immediately. Her lips parted slightly, then closed. After a pause, she muttered, "Because you've been... different lately."
He stared at her. "Different?"
"You used to just do whatever. Now you're talking back. Hanging around girls like her."
Mark couldn't help but scoff. "I didn't realize my personal life was a school concern."
Miyu's fists clenched. "Just... be careful, okay?"
Before he could ask what that meant, she turned and walked away, fast and purposeful, disappearing down the road without another word.
Mark stood by the gate, stunned.
Be careful? What is that supposed to mean?
Whatever it was, it made him feel like a piece of a much bigger puzzle had just been placed in front of him—he just didn't know what the picture was yet.
And he hated that Miyu might know more than he did.