Vol. 2 — Chapter 16: Lines in the Sand
The next morning felt heavier than usual.
Yuto stood in front of his mirror, tugging at his uniform collar for the third time. No matter how he adjusted it, it still felt tight — like something was pressing against his chest from the inside.
Why couldn't he just say it yesterday?
He dragged himself out the door, his mind replaying the scene at the school gate like a broken record. The way that upperclassman — Kaito, or Kai, or whatever his name was — had leaned in, talking to Yuna like they were old friends. That easy grin. That confidence.
It made Yuto's stomach twist.
"Don't wait too long," Rika's words echoed in his head.
He kicked a loose pebble along the sidewalk as he walked. Yeah, easy for her to say. She doesn't know how impossible this feels.
---
When Yuto reached school, he wasn't surprised to find Daiki and Souta waiting by the classroom door.
"Morning, Lover Boy," Daiki said with a sly grin.
"Don't start," Yuto muttered, slipping past him.
"Relax," Souta chimed in. "It's not like you're denying it anymore."
"I am definitely denying it," Yuto shot back.
"Are you, though?" Daiki teased. "You looked ready to explode yesterday when you saw Yuna with that third-year."
Yuto froze. "You saw that?"
Daiki smirked. "Everyone saw that. Pretty sure half the hallway did."
Yuto groaned. "Great. So now the whole school thinks I'm a jealous boyfriend?"
"Not yet," Souta said. "But give it a week."
Yuto buried his face in his hands. "You two are insufferable."
---
He thought he'd catch a break when Yuna arrived, but she only made things worse.
"Morning, Yuto!" she said brightly, waving at him across the room.
Yuto blinked. Was it just him, or was she smiling more than usual?
"Morning," he mumbled, looking away.
"Morning, Yuna!" Daiki called. "Sleep well after your romantic walk home?"
Yuto's head snapped toward him. "Daiki!"
Yuna tilted her head, completely unfazed. "Romantic? That's a new one."
Daiki grinned. "Come on, you two looked like a couple."
Yuto wanted to disappear. "It wasn't—"
"Maybe next time, Yuto," Yuna cut in, smiling at him teasingly. "Then it'll really feel like a date."
The whole class erupted into oooohs.
Yuto's brain short-circuited. "Wha—?! I—That's not—!"
Yuna just laughed and took her seat.
Daiki elbowed Souta. "She's good."
Souta nodded. "She's very good."
Yuto slumped into his chair, wondering if life could get any crueler.
---
But the day wasn't done testing him.
At lunch, as Yuto was heading toward the courtyard for some peace and quiet, he spotted him.
Kaito.
Leaning casually against the wall near the vending machines, surrounded by two other third-years.
And Yuna.
She was laughing at something one of them said, her hand covering her mouth politely.
Yuto's chest tightened.
He stopped in his tracks, frozen between wanting to turn around and wanting to march straight over there.
Why is she even talking to them?
As if sensing his presence, Kaito glanced his way. Their eyes met for the briefest moment.
And Kaito smirked.
It wasn't a friendly smirk. It was the kind of smirk that said, Yeah, I know you're watching. What are you gonna do about it?
Yuto's fists clenched at his sides.
He turned away before anyone could see the storm brewing in his expression.
---
By the end of lunch, he was sitting at his desk, arms crossed, staring blankly at the floor.
"Still alive?"
Rika again.
"You have the worst timing," he muttered.
She sat on the edge of his desk. "You saw her with him, didn't you?"
He didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Rika sighed. "You're not gonna win by glaring at him from across the hallway, you know."
"I don't care about winning," Yuto said flatly.
"Then what do you care about?"
The question hit harder than it should've.
What did he care about?
He wanted to say Yuna. He wanted to say being honest with her. He wanted to say not losing his chance.
But instead, he muttered, "I don't know."
Rika studied him for a moment before hopping off his desk. "Figure it out fast, Yuto. Because that guy? He won't wait."
---
After school, Yuto packed his things slowly, waiting for the classroom to empty out.
But Yuna didn't leave.
She was by the window, humming softly to herself as she scrolled through her phone.
Yuto hesitated, then walked up to her. "Hey."
She looked up, smiling. "Hey. Ready to go?"
He nodded.
The walk home was quiet again, but this time, Yuto couldn't stand the silence.
"Hey, Yuna," he said suddenly.
She glanced at him. "Hmm?"
"That guy. Kaito. From Class 3-A. You… talk to him a lot?"
Yuna raised an eyebrow. "Jealous again?"
Yuto flinched. "I'm not—! I just—!"
She giggled. "Relax. He's just friendly. It's not a big deal."
Not a big deal? Yuto thought bitterly. It feels like a big deal.
He didn't say it out loud.
Instead, he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away.
Yuna slowed her pace, studying his face. "You really don't like him, huh?"
Yuto kept his eyes on the ground. "…No."
Yuna smiled faintly. "You're kind of cute when you're like this."
Yuto's head shot up. "Wh—What does that mean?!"
She just laughed and walked ahead. "Nothing."
But Yuto's heart wouldn't stop pounding.
---
When they reached their usual split in the road, Yuna turned to him. "See you tomorrow, Yuto."
This time, Yuto didn't hesitate.
"Yuna."
She blinked. "Yeah?"
The words trembled on his tongue.
Say it.
Say it now.
But his courage faltered again.
"…Nothing. Just—see you."
Yuna tilted her head but smiled anyway. "See you."
And then she walked away.
Yuto stood there, fists clenched, teeth grinding.
He hated this.
He hated how easy Kaito made it look. He hated how powerless he felt.
He hated himself for still being too afraid to tell her the truth.
---
That night, lying awake in his bed, Yuto finally admitted it to himself.
If he didn't do something soon…
He was going to lose her.
---
End of Chapter 16.