The morning sun filtered through the Hayato estate once again, casting a soft glow over the hallways. Naoto had already begun his day, seated in the grand study with his books neatly organized and lesson plans reviewed.
Rika hadn't shown up.
Again.
He didn't sigh this time. He simply waited.
Down the hall, Rika lounged on the sofa in one of the smaller sitting rooms, phone in hand, scrolling through messages she wasn't really reading. Her friends had started asking questions.
"Who's the guy?"
"Is he cute?"
"Are you two like… living together?"
She answered vaguely, refusing to feed the rumors. She hated the attention. She hated him.
But her mind kept drifting to the sound of his voice from the night before.
Unexpected Encounter
It wasn't until late afternoon that Rika finally showed up at the study, arms crossed and posture defensive.
"You waited all day for me?" she asked, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.
Naoto nodded. "I said I'd help you. I don't go back on promises."
She rolled her eyes. "You're seriously that boring, huh?"
"Maybe," he said simply. "But I take my responsibilities seriously."
She stepped inside but didn't sit down. Instead, she wandered around the room, brushing her fingers along the spines of books as if inspecting them. Naoto didn't press her. He just slid a worksheet across the table and picked up his pen.
"I figured we'd review some classical literature today," he said, his tone calm and even. "You missed a few lessons already."
Rika snorted. "Oh no, what a tragedy. I'll never survive without knowing 19th-century metaphors."
Naoto looked up at her then—not with irritation, but with something else. Understanding. And that made her frown deepen.
"You're not dumb, Rika," he said, carefully choosing his words. "You just don't trust people who want to help you."
She stiffened. "You don't know anything about me."
"You're right," he said. "I don't. Not yet."
For the first time, she didn't have a quick comeback. She just stared at him, searching for the sarcasm in his face and finding none.