The fourth day of study sessions began like the rest: a quiet table in the corner of the library, warm afternoon light filtering through the windows, and the gentle rustle of notebook pages.
But something was different about Mio today.
She was quieter than usual-more withdrawn.
Kaito noticed immediately. He was a realist, sure, but he wasn't emotionally blind. It didn't take divine power to tell when someone was off, not for him at least.
"You alright?" he asked, subtly, as he pretended to focus on a math question.
Mio didn't answer right away. She stared out the window, watching as students passed in twos and threes below. One couple stood out-Hiroshi and Yuki, walking side by side near the courtyard, laughing about something only they could understand.
Mio's hands clenched slightly.
"I'm fine," she murmured.
Liar, Kaito thought, but said nothing.
Instead, he scribbled the same problem three times without solving it, giving her space.
He wanted to say something-anything that might make her pain easier to carry. But what could he say? Hey I know your heartbreak because I read it in a manga panel once. That'd get him either put in an asylum or laughed at.
That evening, as he walked home alone, he thought of ways of how Hiroshi would've solved the problem.
Keeping up the act these past four days was exhausting. Being Hiroshi meant smiling, listening, caring--and none of that came naturally. But it worked. Somehow, we became friends... I think. But now I have to figure out how Hiroshi would help a teenage girl get over a heartbreak.
Worse yet I don't even get divine intervention or even a step by step guide.
Just Aphireia's vague, theatrical decree: Help them heal. Help them move on. Or suffer.
Great.
The next day, the real trouble began.
As Kaito approached the school gate, he spotted a familiar face. A boy named Ryota Wakamatsu. He had the kind of effortlessly nice guy smile that made people trust him, and Kaito remembered him vaguely from the manga-Mio's classmate. A minor side character. One of the few boys who ever talked to her beyond asking for notes.
Now, Ryota was leaning against the gate, talking to Mio.
Laughing.
Kaito stopped.
Were they always like this with each other? No no if I remember correctly in the manga they barely interacted, but even then Mio was still very shy to talk to him and didn't really hold conversations well with him. So what changed?
Should I push for this, watch from a distance, or am I meant to pull her away from it?
He had no answer.
As he passed by, Mio glanced his way-waved.
Kaito waved back hesitantly, not because he didn't want to but because it was unexpected for him.
Later into the day Kaito sat in the corner of the classroom during lunch, arms crossed, observing Ryota out of the corner of his eye while trying not to look like a stalker. Across the room, Ryota laughed with a group of friends, flicking through something on his phone. Mio wasn't far-just a few desks over eating quietly, occasionally glancing in Ryota's direction with that same unreadable expression.
This is annoying. What's with her sudden interest in Ryota. I know best that she can't possibly be into him... right. I mean I wouldn't think her feelings for Hiroshi could just fade like that for someone she's barely interacted with. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it, he thought.
He looks back towards Mio who continues to watch Ryota with more expressions of interest.
Okay I need to find out what's going on between them.
The opportunity came after school, when Ryota passed by Kaito at the shoe lockers.
Normally, Kaito wouldn't talk to someone like Ryota. Well he wouldn't talk to anyone at all. Especially someone like Ryota.
But today, he forced himself to speak.
"Hey, Wakamatsu."
Ryota blinked in surprise. "Oh uh, Sugiura, right? What's up?"
Kaito nodded. "I heard you're good at soccer. Do you do pickup games after school?"
"Sometimes. Usually Wednesdays. Why?"
Kaito shrugged with practiced indifference. "Just wondering if you'd be down to play sometime. I've been meaning to get more active."
It wasn't a lie. Kaito had been meaning to get more active for the past year and a half.
"Sure, man. We're playing today actually-short a player. You game?"
Kaito hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."
He sucked at soccer.
Of course he did.
Five minutes in, Kaito already knew this was going to be miserable. He misjudged the passes, barely kept up with Ryota's pace, and more than once completely missed the ball.
But he wasn't here to win. He was here to get answers.
Ryota, as expected, played with grace and ease, never hogging the ball, always passing. When Mio came by to return a forgotten notebook, Ryota noticed her immediately and waved with a bright grin-mid dribble, no less.
Kaito watched carefully.
Mio waved back, then turned to go.
Okay something is clearly up.
Later, as they cooled off, Kaito sat on the bench beside Ryota, legs burning, chest heaving.
"So you and Hanazawa talk often?" he asked casually, wiping his forehead with a towel.
Ryota looked at him sideways. "Hanazawa? Yeah, sometimes. Why?"
Kaito shrugged. "Just noticed you two seemed friendly."
Ryota gave a sheepish smile. "I guess? She's cool. Very quiet, but she's smart."
Kaito nodded. "I see..."
Ryota glanced over, probably trying to read his face-- but Kaito stayed unreadable as always.
"Hey Sugiura."
Kaito takes a sip of water before answering. "What is it?"
"Could it be that you like Hanazawa," Ryota asked skeptically.
Kaito looks towards him, shocked, nearly choking on the water he just swallowed. "W-what?"
Ryota shrugs his shoulders while wincing at Kaito's coughing. "Well I've noticed you and Hanazawa talking within school and that is more than I have seen either you talk to someone you don't know. So I figured you were asking these questions because you were interested in her, and thought maybe that I had something for her."
Kaito stared at him in disbelief. "You have an interesting mindset, but me and Hanazawa are only friends. She's just helping me study. That's the only reason why we're really talking."
Ryota chuckles to himself. "Sorry I let my imagination get over me."
Ryota rubbed the back of his head while still laughing to himself. Kaito just continued to look at him in disbelief while his social battery continued to drain more and more.
Well since things went this way, I might as well ask him now.
Kaito sighs. "Well are you interested in her?"
Ryota stops laughing and turns toward Kaito waving his hands frantically. "No No! If anything the person I'm into is her friend Tanabe."
Kaito eyes widened in surprise. He likes female support number 3?
"Actually I've been asking Hanazawa for help and pointers to catch her attention and in return I help her gain confidence to talk to people," Ryota says sheepishly.
Come to think of it, maybe I just never noticed them talking before. Have they been doing this for a while?
Kaito just sighs as he slumps over. "She likes sweets."
"Im sorry? I didn't really hear you."
"Tanabe likes sweets. If you want to catch her attention maybe try giving her some sweets or something. Though I wouldn't know anything about making friends, nevertheless a girlfriend," Kaito says flatly.
They both sat in silence that was only occasionally interrupted by the other guys who were preparing to leave.
Before Ryota could speak he was interrupted by one of his teammates. "Hey Ryota we're going out for Ramen! Want to join?!"
"Of course but I'm not paying this time!" Ryota stood up and stretched just before grabbing his stuff. "Hey kaito want to tag along?"
Kaito stared at the group in silence and shook his head. "Nah I'm just going to head home."
"Well I won't force you to come." Ryota turned around to leave and waved back at Kaito. "It was a very interesting experience. Also Sugiura...thanks for the info."
And with that Ryota ran towards the group as they waited on him and walked away laughing. Kaito just watched and looked up towards the sky.
Guess I over-thought it.
That night Kaito stared at his ceiling lost in thought.
I didn't get anything useful about Ryota... but I learned something I forgotten about Mio. Which is the fact that she always wanted to be less shy and have more confidence.
Kaito pulls out his phone and starts jotting things down.
I'm not the best person to teach someone how to overcome their shyness but Hiroshi is. Although I should probably do extra research... I don't think relying on my acting can completely help me sail through this situation.
Kaito types something out in big letters on his phone.
"Alright onto step two."