The bell shrieked through the halls, and just like that the fragile silence between me and Rika shattered. Students poured out of classrooms, footsteps echoing, chatter spilling everywhere like static.
Rika straightened instantly, mask back on, the ever-composed teacher. No one would guess she'd just been trembling against me, whispering promises into my chest.
But I saw it. The tightness at the corner of her eyes. The way her hand lingered at her skirt hem like she wanted to reach for me again but didn't.
"Renji." Her voice was calm, but softer than usual. "Go. You'll be late."
I opened my mouth to push back, but stopped. Not here. Not with half the school shuffling past the hall. I gave her the faintest nod, the one that meant I heard you, I'll remember.
When I slipped into the hallway, Kai was waiting like a damn golden retriever. He leaned against the lockers, eyes wide, grinning like he'd just caught me with porn in my hands.
"Yo. Don't even lie. Something happened."
