The Monday after Suki's dinner at the Takeda house began like any other: students trading homework, Kenji snoring against his desk, Aoi glaring at him to shut up.
But by second period, the air in the classroom shifted.
Whispers began at the back, hushed at first. Then louder. Passing from desk to desk, like sparks on dry grass.
"Hey, isn't that him?"
"Takeda Ryuzí, right?"
"Yeah. I heard what happened at his last school..."
Ryuzí stiffened in his seat, hand frozen over his notebook. His jaw tightened.
Not again.
By lunch, the whispers weren't whispers anymore.
On the way to the courtyard, a boy from another class sneered loud enough for half the hallway to hear. "Careful around him, Aoyama. You don't know what kind of things Takeda's done."
The hallway went still. Dozens of eyes turned.
Suki froze mid-step, bento in his hands. "...What did you say?"
The boy smirked. "Just warning you. At his old school, they said he—"
"Shut up."
Everyone blinked. The voice was sharp, cold, cutting through the noise. But it wasn't Ryuzí who said it.
It was Suki.
Suki stepped forward, his usual sunshine nowhere in sight. His voice was steady, fierce. "Don't spread garbage when you don't know the truth."
The boy scoffed. "Truth? It's a fact. Everyone knows—"
"I said shut up!" Suki snapped, startling the crowd. His fists trembled, but his eyes didn't waver. "I know him. I know who he is. And he's nothing like what you're saying."
Gasps rippled through the students.
Ryuzí stood frozen behind him, his chest twisting painfully. Why... why is he doing this?
The boy sneered. "Oh? So what is he then? Your boyfriend?"
Laughter erupted.
Suki's ears went red, but he didn't back down. He lifted his chin proudly. "So what if he was? At least I'd know the truth, instead of clinging to lies like cowards."
The laughter choked into silence.
No one had expected him to bite back.
Kenji appeared from the side, cracking his knuckles. "Yo, maybe you should shut your mouth before I shut it for you."
Aoi's eyes were sharp as blades. "Spreading rumors makes you pathetic. Get lost."
The boy faltered, muttered something under his breath, and slunk off.
The hallway buzzed again, but this time the tone was different. Shocked. Curious. Maybe even impressed.
Suki turned, heart still hammering, and faced Ryuzí. "Let's go."
On the rooftop, the silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words.
Suki slammed his bento down, glaring at the sky. "I can't believe them. Talking like that, spreading lies when they don't know a damn thing!"
Ryuzí sat against the railing, staring at the floor. His fists were clenched tight, nails digging into his palms. "...You didn't have to."
"Yes, I did," Suki snapped, whipping around to face him. "I'm not gonna stand there and let them tear you apart. Not when I know the truth."
Ryuzí's chest squeezed. "...Why."
"Because I care!" Suki shouted, voice cracking. "Because I can't stand seeing you hurt like that!"
The words hung heavy in the air.
Ryuzí's breath stuttered. His throat ached. "...You don't understand. The more you stand up for me, the more they'll target you too."
"Let them!" Suki's fists trembled. His eyes burned. "I'd rather they target me than let you carry it all alone. You've carried enough already."
Ryuzí's eyes widened. His chest throbbed painfully, warmth and fear colliding inside him.
"...Idiot," he whispered, but the word shook.
Suki softened, stepping closer. "Maybe. But I'm your idiot. And I'm not going anywhere."
Ryuzí looked up, meeting Suki's eyes. The rooftop wind tugged at their hair, the silence stretching between them.
For once, Ryuzí didn't look away.
Instead, he whispered, almost too soft to hear: "...Thank you."
Suki blinked. His lips curved into a small, tender smile. "Anytime."
When they returned to class, the whispers were still there — but quieter now. Watching them. Wondering.
Ryuzí sat at his desk, ignoring the stares. But for the first time, the whispers didn't bury him completely. Because when he glanced sideways, Suki was there — smiling at him like the rumors didn't matter.
And for a fleeting moment, Ryuzí almost believed it.