"I'm home!" I pant, slipping off my shoes in a heap as I bolt upstairs. I'd dashed out the school gates the second the bell rang, hoping—praying—not to run into that idiot on the way back. The house is quiet. Empty. Perfect.
I wash my hands and splash my face, still flushed and sticky from the sprint home. My heart's racing, but it's not from the run.
Kaito Hideaki.
Stupid Kaito, always grinning, always one step ahead. Teasing when I least expect it. Smirking like he owns the world—like he knows exactly what effect he has on people.
The image of him after the race flashes in my mind. That smile. The way he looked at me, like I was the only person on the field.
I groan, burying my face in the towel. Why does he do this to me?
Then Nanami's voice echoes in my head: "Don't tell me you actually like him."
Nope. Not happening.
But my cheeks burn hotter. It's happening.
"Ayu~nyan!"
The door slides open.
"Ayu?"
Kaito's standing there—of course he is. Still in his sports uniform, hair messy, cheeks still slightly flushed from the race. We lock eyes for a split second before I whirl away, pretending to fidget with something on my desk.
"Con… congratulations on winning the race," I mutter, trying (and failing) to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Behind me, I hear his footsteps. Loud. Intentional.
Before I can react, arms wrap around me from behind.
"W-what the—?!" I stammer, frozen.
His head leans against my shoulder. His voice is low, teasing.
"Ayu-chan, since when could you make such a cute face?"
"Get off—!" I elbow him lightly, but he just laughs and pulls me down with him.
Before I know it, we're wrestling on my futon, a tangle of limbs and laughter.
"Don't you have any boundaries?!"
"Not with you," he grins, pinning my wrists with just enough pressure to be annoying. "You're like a cat, you know that?"
"What part of this is cat-like?!" I snap, squirming.
He leans closer, and suddenly—chomp.
"Ow!" I yelp as he bites my shoulder—playfully, but still.
"See?" he smirks. "Even your little yelps are cat-like."
I glare at him. "You're one to talk. You're the real cat. All smug and clingy when you want attention."
He pauses, pretending to think. "Hmm. So are we both cats, then?"
I pout, trying not to smile. "More like two cats stuck in the same box."
Kaito laughs, low and warm, then flops beside me on the futon. For a moment, we just lie there, breathing in sync.
And then he turns his head, eyes locking with mine again.
Soft. Mischievous.
"You're not gonna run away again, are you, Neko-chan?"
I roll onto my side, facing away. "Shut up."
But he sees the smile I'm hiding.