(Aika’s POV — Thursday Evening)

  I’ve been staring at the same page of my textbook for fifteen minutes.

  Not reading it. Just… staring. Thinking.

  About a certain idiot who’s probably still playing nurse right now.

  Kazama.

  He said his little sister was sick. I wonder how she’s doing.

  Is he still trying to make soup? Did he end up poisoning her by accident?

  …Should I text him?

  I glance at my phone.

  The chat is open. All I have to do is type something.

  "How's your sister?"

  Or maybe "Don't burn the house down."

  Something casual. Friendly.

  Definitely not because I’m worried or anything.

  Right?

  I sigh and lock the screen.

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  No. He’s probably still busy.

  He might even be asleep already. I shouldn’t bother him.

  “What are you mumbling about over there?”

  I nearly throw my phone as my sister Momo peeks into my room, grinning like a fox.

  I sit up straighter. “Nothing. Don’t you knock?”

  “I did knock. You just didn’t hear because you were too busy blushing at your phone.”

  “I wasn’t blushing!”

  She saunters in, arms crossed, teasing smirk on full power.

  “So? Who is he?”

  I freeze. “Who’s who?”

  “The boy who has you smiling at your screen like it just confessed to you.”

  “I wasn’t smiling! I was checking the time!”

  “Right. Because the time is so funny.”

  “Momo!”

  She laughs and flops onto my bed. “Relax, I’m not gonna tell Mom. I’m just curious. You’ve never acted like this before.”

  “I’m not acting like anything.”

  “Oh please. You sighed three times in the last ten minutes. You never sigh. You’re not even a sigh person.”

  I groan and bury my face in my pillow.

  She continues, voice softer now. “So? Is he nice?”

  “…He’s… a dumbass.”

  Momo grins. “Ah. So you like him.”

  “I don’t—!” I start to protest, but stop. “I mean… I don’t know.”

  There’s a silence. A knowing one.

  “I just… I kind of got used to him being around. That’s all.”

  Momo ruffles my hair. “You’re so cute when you’re in denial.”

  “I’m going to delete your contact info.”

  “I already memorized yours. And your locker combination.”

  I shove her off the bed.

  She leaves giggling.

  I glance at my phone one last time before turning out the light.

  Still no new messages.

  But for some reason…

  That dumb grin of his sticks in my mind as I fall asleep.

  To be continued…