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𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐...

There you were, standing in the cafeteria of your school, having spilled the truth about Mika's and your conversation about Seishiro Nagi.

Silence came upon the four of you and it felt like an eternity that all of them were just staring at you. The voices of the other students in the background were drowned under your most present thought:

Shit, what have I done?

Before anyone could reply to your statement, the school bell heralded the end of the lunch break. »Oh, I haven't eaten yet«, Nagi looked at the menu in his hands.

»Haha, that's because you're always so slow, Nagi«, Reo laughed amused.

»I'm sleepy«, the white-haired boy replied indifferently.

A sudden touch warmed your hand and you looked to your side. »Come on, let's go«, Mika mumbled softly. You nodded and let him drag you out of the cafeteria. You didn't care about the menu plate you left on the table, you just wanted to get away from this situation.

Mika pulled you outside of the building and when he stopped, he grabbed you by your shoulders. »(Y/N), are you freaking crazy?«, he scream-whispered to you.

»Yeah...«, you simply replied, still struggling between being proud of yourself for saying the truth and regretting your life decisions.

»Man, you have some guts! That was embarrassingly awesome.«, Mika grinned at you.

»Ahhh what did I do, Mika? You could have helped me, but you were too stunned by Reo, weren't you?«

He sighed: »That's not important right now.«

»Oh I think it is really important.«

»Why did you lie though?«

»Lie? I didn't lie«

»But you have a crush on Nagi-kun«, he stated dumbfounded.

You groaned: »Uhhh, will you ever leave it?! It's not funny anymore! Let's just head inside, classes probably have started already and it will just be even more embarrassing to be late now.«

Mika agreed and you went towards your classroom together and gladly arrived right before your teacher entered the room. When you sat down, you felt Reo's gaze on you and since you wanted things to stay normal, you returned his look and smiled at him. He smiled back at you and you averted your gaze. You felt half satisfied, half embarrassed.

As you sat down, you sighed internally. While the teacher started the lesson, you remained distracted by your own thoughts, averting your gaze from the chalkboard and out of the window.

What a great weather for a football match...

Your teacher started to talk about some group projects in the background but you couldn't care less in that moment. You didn't know why your gaze switched over to Nagi, probably out of habit, maybe because you actually thought he was interesting. But what surprised you most about it all, was that he returned the look.

»So, partner up. The task is due next month.«

Wait what? Due date? Task? Partner?

You looked to Mika's place beside you but it was empty.

Huh? Where did this moron go? We work together in every group project!

You started panicking. Mika was your only friend in your class, hell even in your whole school. If he wasn't there you would be totally screwed. Thoughts were coming to your mind, possibilities what could have happened. Had he maybe actually not even entered the classroom? Did you not realise cause you were too focused on yourself?

»Reo-kun, I would like to partner up with you for the project. What do you say?«, a familiar male voice talked beside you.
Slowly you faced the scenery and your eye twitched when you saw Mika standing in front of your famous violet-haired classmate.

»Yeah, sure Hayase-kun. Let's partner up.«, Reo replied smiling, giving both Nagi and you a side glance.

What-

»Sorry (Y/N)«, Mika didn't even try to hide his grin. You stood up and whisper-yelled at him: »What are you doing, bastard? Who am I gonna partner up with now? Everyone here hates me!«

»The teacher doesn't«, he grinned.

»Very funny«, you slapped his arm playfully although you wished you had hit him harder.

»Well, you're not the only one people are rumouring about though«, Mika nodded towards Nagi who was sitting at his table, playing some game on his phone. He seemed unbothered, maybe even unaware of the scenery around him. A few of your classmates were pointing at and whispering about him, some even laughed. You glared at your best friend.

»I swear to God, if I have to do all the work alone, I'll kill myself just to come back to haunt you for the rest of your life.«

»Sounds great«, Mika grinned. »Now go ask Nagi«

You sighed. You had no choice. Or you had but Nagi was definitely the best one. A few steps later you were standing in front of the sleeping boy whose eyes lingered on the phone. »Could you put that on halt for a moment please?«, you asked him nervously.

»Not possible. I-«

»Wait, is that Mobile Raid?«, you excitedly went behind his chair, staring at his phone screen.

»Yeah. I'm trying to up my online ranking.«

»That's so cool, I'm playing it too! What is your-«

»(L/N), Nagi«, the teacher suddenly stood in front of you and cleared his throat. His eyes came to a halt at the white-haired boy as he demanded: »Hand me your smartphone.«

»Ah, whatta pain.«, Nagi said, looking back at his phone. »I lost.«
Indeed the familiar red „Game Over" of Mobile Raid was written over his screen and you sighed.

He is surely getting us into even more trouble with his attitude.

A small smile crept up on your face though and you had to bite your lip to hide it from the teacher. The school bell rang, indicating the end of today's classes. Everyone except you was quietly going back to their assigned seat, tidying it up, and watching the show in front of them from the corners of their eyes.

»Everyone is dismissed except you two«, the teacher spoke up, not taking his eyes off of you and Nagi. Everyone obeyed. As soon as the doors of the classroom were shut behind the last student, which was Reo Mikage, the scolding began. »What are you two thinking that you're doing? Nagi, you don't seem to have any respect for me since you're playing games on your phone during classes. And on top of that you seem to even think that I would not notice it. That means: detention! And about you«, he switched his gaze to you, pursing his lips. »You're dismissed.« He sighed, turned around, and started walking back to his desk.

»Hold on, please, Sensei«, you spoke up. Your teacher faced you again with a look that was just as surprised as you were. You also felt Nagi's gaze on you and swallowed down the uneasiness that stirred up inside you. »Nagi-kun is recently socialising more, thanks to Mikage-kun. That's why he is part of the football club now, which has it's first official match today. And...«, you nervously started fumbling with your fingers. »I encouraged him to continue playing the online game when I saw it on his phone. I am just as blameworthy as he is. We're in the same position. And I know it's not in my right to demand for such a thing, but I want to be brave and ask you anyway: could you please dismiss the both of us for today? This match is important for Nagi.«

Your teacher simply stared at you for a moment, while your heart was beating faster than when you were chasing Mika some days ago. Meanwhile you definitely chose to regret all the decisions you made that day and already expected a worst case scenario. Eventually, your teacher sighed. »Alright. I'll make an exception this time. But you two better prepare an outstanding presentation for next month.«

Wait, so we're paired up? What was the task again?

You figured that you rather shouldn't ask the teacher about it right now. »Alright!«, you agreed, nodding enthusiastically. Then, as soon as he had turned around again, you grabbed Nagi's sleeve and pulled on it twice. »Come«, you whispered, urging him to leave the room immediately. You didn't want him to ask or say anything again now that you had solved his problem.

As soon as you left the classroom you exhaled deeply, relieved about being out of this stressful situation finally. »God, that was so close. He only dismissed us because I'm popular with the teachers 'cause of my good grades. You better be more careful next time!«

»Hmm probably. Thank you, (L/N).«, Nagi was scratching his head with his right hand, looking at you with a cute pout. »What task did he mean though?«

You snorted. »Dummy, we have a partner project. It's due next month.«

»What task?«

»Uh...I don't know.«, you admitted with a sheepish grin.

»So you're just as clueless as me, Dummy«, he took out his phone, seemingly writing something down. You just observed him - his features - since you never really did that before. Sure, you had paid more attention to him than to your other classmates, yet you never dared to study him that detailed. »Reo says it's about the new chapter from the book. And that I should come to the football field now. See you then«, he explained and started strolling down the hall.

»Oi wait«, you reached for his arm and placed yourself in front of him. »We need to exchange numbers. And besides, I'll go to the football field too.«

»Okay«, he simply replied and you two went down the stairs together.

»Alright«, you were tipping on your phone. »What's your phone number?«

After a few seconds Nagi held his phone in front of you and you copied the number written there. »Thanks«, you smiled at him. »I'll message you so that you have mine too. Let's give our best with the project.«

»M'kay«

»Great. See you later, have fun during the match! I'll run ahead to get a favourable place to watch it!«

With these words you ran ahead, once again feeling heat rising to your cheeks.

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𝙶𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐...