At the far end of the clubroom, where shelves overflowed with manga, wuxia and xianxia novels, and stacks of old anime CDs, Yuki stood in quiet contemplation. Her fingers traced the edge of the book in her hands, but she wasn't reading a word. The usual atmosphere surrounded her—Ren and Akari tossing jabs at Oliver, Hiroshi lost in his own world. It was familiar chaos. A rhythm she'd grown used to.
Yet her thoughts were elsewhere.
Her eyes flicked toward Oliver when she thought no one was watching. He was right there, and yet somehow distant. Even as he laughed with the others, a part of him seemed absent—guarded. And still, there was something about him. Like gravity, quietly pulling.
She inhaled deeply, steadying herself.
For nearly twenty minutes, she had debated asking him to walk her home. A simple question. But doubt kept gnawing at her.
What if he said yes just to be polite? What if he realized she was only trying to spend more time with him?
Her grip on the book tightened.
"Yuki-senpai, what do you think about this one?" Hiroshi held up a manga for approval.
She blinked, catching up. "Mm." She nodded vaguely and turned back to the shelves, letting her hands go through the motions of organizing while her mind spun. She barely registered the rest of the conversation—something about dream rituals. It all blurred.
Eventually, the books were sorted. She walked to the table. Glanced at Oliver.
And caught him looking back.
Their eyes met for a fraction too long, and her chest tightened. She quickly turned away and sat at the far end of the table, cheeks flushed.
The anime played on the screen, but she didn't see it. Her focus was locked on him. Stealing glances. Counting seconds.
Then Oliver stood. Checked the time. Grabbed his bag.
It was now or never.
"Um… Senpai."
He turned, one eyebrow raised.
"You're heading toward Hoshizakura, right? Can we… walk together?"
The words came out in a rush.
Oliver blinked, then shrugged. "Yeah, sure. But I gotta make a quick stop first. If you don't mind waiting, we can go together."
Relief blossomed in her chest. She nodded. "I don't mind."
—
The hallway was quiet, the echoes of their footsteps stretching out before them. She kept a respectful distance—not close enough to touch, but his presence still weighed on her.
She wanted to say something. Anything. But the words wouldn't come.
They reached the study club room. Oliver knocked. Inside, students were chatting, packing up. Kazu spotted them.
Oliver greeted him casually, and when asked about Yuki, replied with a light, "Just a friend."
The words stung more than she expected.
She tried to brush it off.
Then came the surprise—he was buying something.
Drugs.
She wasn't naïve. But seeing it happen like this unsettled her more than she'd thought it would.
They walked in silence. Kazu peeled away at an intersection.
It was just the two of them again.
And soon, they were in front of her house.
Yuki hesitated.
Then turned.
"Do you… want to come in for a bit?" she asked, voice soft but steady.
Oliver raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk forming. "Sure."