"I… I… I'm on the edge of failing my yearly exams…"
Fallen's voice cracked under the weight of tension.
Misaki blinked, visibly caught off guard. "Huh?!"
She had been expecting a confession. Something dramatic. Her heart had already jumped halfway to her throat. Her cheeks even flushed in anticipation—then that came out?
Fallen awkwardly scratched the back of his head, avoiding eye contact. "Can you please… teach me?"
Misaki stared at him for a second, eyes twitching. "You idiot." She exhaled. "Which subject?"
"…Every subject," Fallen said with the most pitiful, dramatic sigh he could muster.
She nearly dropped her bag. "That's not happening! I'm not a robot!"
"Okay, okay, okay! Then just Math and Physics?" he begged, palms together like he was praying.
Misaki rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Fine. Are you free tomorrow evening?"
"Yeah," he replied quickly, nodding. "You can come over then."
She turned slightly, brushing her bangs aside. "Hmm. Alright then. Bye."
"Bye!" he called after her, a grin breaking across his face.
---
[Next Day – Evening]
Books were stacked across the table like mini towers of doom. Notebooks flipped open. Pens rolled away. Fallen slumped in his chair, groaning dramatically.
"Mannn, my back hurts," he moaned. "Can't we take a break? Just five minutes?"
Misaki didn't even look up. "Idiot. Sit down. You're the one who begged me for help."
Fallen sat up straight with a wince. "You're rough."
She shrugged casually. "That's how my mom used to teach me. She said it improves focus."
"Sounds like an excuse to whack people," he muttered.
Misaki smiled faintly. "She also told me… your mom and my mom studied like this too. Long nights, notebooks everywhere."
Fallen paused.
"So it's a generational thing, huh?" he said, voice softer.
"Yeah," she replied.
Fallen looked down at the table.
"…If my mom were still here," he said quietly, "she'd probably be bringing food around now, telling me to drink soup and stop whining."
Silence lingered in the room like fog.
Misaki closed her book slowly and looked at him.
"Then what do you wanna eat, dummy?"
"Huh?" he asked, surprised.
"I said, what do you want for dinner?" she repeated. "I can cook."
He waved it off. "Nah, no need for that."
"I'm hungry too," she said bluntly. "Just tell me."
He hesitated, then gave a small smile. "Rice and curry?"
Misaki stood up and stretched. "Okay."
As she turned to leave the room, Fallen watched her go.
He felt something heavy rise in his throat.
"Misaki…" he said suddenly.
She stopped at the doorway.
"I love you."
The words left before he could stop them.
His eyes widened. "Aah—wait! I didn't mean it like that!"
Misaki turned her head slightly, her face already red.
"I know…" she said softly. "You mean like a big sister, right?"
Fallen gave an awkward laugh. "Y-Yeah… You cook for me and take care of me and all. That's it."
She smiled gently. "Dummy."
---
[After Dinner – At the Table]
Plates clinked as the two finished their meal. Fallen leaned back, content and full.
"That was amazing," he said. "You're like, secretly a chef."
Misaki smirked. "Don't flatter me too much."
A moment of comfortable silence followed.
Then Misaki asked, "Where's your dad, by the way?"
Fallen's eyes drifted to the window.
"Probably with his doctor friend," he answered. "That guy's house is practically his second home."
"So… he's not home much?"
Fallen shook his head. "Yeah. Either he's working or somewhere else. He checks in, though."
Misaki lowered her gaze for a moment. "I see…"
She paused.
Then looked straight at him.
"I love you too."
Fallen nearly choked. "HUH?! What?!"
Misaki's face turned a bright shade of pink. "I mean—since I can cook, and you're always alone, and I'm single too, so I thought…"
"Accepted," Fallen said immediately.
"W-WHAT?! You didn't even let me finish!"
"Still. Accepted."
"Ughhh! You're so embarrassing!" she shouted, flailing. "I'm going home now!"
"Wait!" Fallen stood. "I was joking—well, kinda—but it's dark out! Let me at least walk you."
"No need!" Misaki called back, already storming down the hallway.
Fallen hurried after her, flinging open the front door—but she was gone.
The street was empty.
The breeze blew gently through the trees. Shadows stretched across the pavement, long and quiet.
He took a step forward. Looked both ways.
"…Fast," he muttered. "How did she disappear that quick?"
He pulled out his phone and hesitated. Then slowly dialed her house number—the old landline.
After two rings, her mother answered.
"Hello?"
"Uh… good evening, auntie. It's Fallen. I just… wanted to check if Misaki got home okay."
"Yes, dear," her mother replied kindly. "She reached safely just a few minutes ago."
A breath of relief escaped him.
"Good…"
He hung up, sat on the stairs, and looked up at the sky. Stars blinked down, peaceful and distant.
His heart, however, raced louder than ever.
---
End of Chapter 8.