First period dragged on, the teacher's voice soft and steady like the hum of cicadas in summer. The morning sun streamed through the windows of Class 2-B, warming the desks, casting long slashes of light across the floor.
Ren blinked slowly, his head growing heavy, the words on the blackboard blurring at the edges. The warm breeze from the open window carried in the scent of grass and distant sea salt, lulling him further.
Beside him, Aoi fought her own battle against sleep, her chin resting lightly on her hand, eyes drooping despite her best efforts.
Just… five more minutes… she told herself.
But five minutes was all it took.
By the time Mr. Tanaka noticed, both Ren and Aoi were slumped over their desks, breathing slow, lost to the world.
"Ahem," the teacher said, clearing his throat loudly. "I see my lesson is so thrilling it's put my students to sleep."
A few stifled laughs rose from their classmates.
Ren jerked awake first, blinking in confusion, his cheeks burning.
Aoi woke a heartbeat later, eyes wide with embarrassment as she straightened, smoothing her hair.
"You two," Mr. Tanaka said, though his voice was more amused than angry, "stand outside for the rest of the period. Maybe the fresh air will help keep you awake."
---
And so they found themselves in the hallway, side by side, facing the wall like misbehaving children.
For a moment, neither spoke, the sounds of the class drifting faintly through the door — the scratch of chalk, the rustle of notebooks.
Then Aoi peeked at Ren from the corner of her eye, cheeks still pink.
"I can't believe we both fell asleep…" she whispered.
Ren sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Me neither. Sorry — I think I started it."
Aoi shook her head, a tiny smile breaking through her embarrassment. "No… I think I would've dozed off anyway. It was too warm in there."
They stood in quiet companionship, the breeze lifting their hair, carrying the scent of spring.
Even standing out here like this… it doesn't feel so bad, Ren thought, glancing at her. As long as I'm with her.
And Aoi, heart still fluttering from the surprise of it all, found herself thinking, Why do I feel kind of… happy right now?
The lunch bell rang, and students spilled into the courtyard, their chatter rising like birdsong. The last cherry petals clung to the branches stubbornly, while the breeze scattered a few over the grass.
Ren and Aoi found a spot beneath one of the trees, settling on the sun-warmed stone bench. Ren unwrapped a simple sandwich; Aoi opened her bento, careful as always.
But before they could even take a bite, Yuta and Karin appeared, trays in hand, grinning like foxes.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite sleepyheads!" Yuta said, plopping down beside Ren with a dramatic sigh. "The two of you were adorable standing outside like a couple of scolded puppies."
Karin sat next to Aoi, nudging her gently. "Seriously! I was waiting for Ren to lend you his jacket or something romantic like that."
Aoi laughed, covering her mouth. "Karin, stop! It wasn't like that at all…"
Ren, cheeks warm, tried to protest. "You guys are imagining things. We were just tired, that's all."
Yuta leaned in, smirking. "Oh sure, sure. Tired from staying up all night texting each other, right?"
Aoi's face turned pink, and she waved her hands. "W-we didn't! I mean—Ren and I don't—"
Ren groaned, pushing his sandwich at Yuta in mock defeat. "Here. Eat this. Maybe if your mouth is full, you'll stop talking."
Everyone laughed, the tension easing into the comfort of familiar teasing.
---
Karin opened her juice, glancing between Ren and Aoi. "So? When are you two going to admit you're secretly dating? I mean, walking together every day, standing together outside class, now lunch together… the evidence is piling up!"
Ren looked at Aoi, their eyes meeting for the briefest, awkward second before they both looked away.
"Maybe we just… like the same route," Ren mumbled.
Aoi added, "And the same lunch spot."
Yuta stretched his legs out, grinning. "Uh-huh. That's what they all say at first."
They ate, the four of them, the breeze lifting the last petals, the sun gentle and warm. The school buildings stood quiet around them, the hum of other students filling the air.
---
After lunch, as they gathered their things, Yuta clapped Ren on the back.
"Hey, you better stay awake this afternoon. I don't think Tanaka-sensei will be so nice next time."
"And Aoi, if you doze off again, I'm totally drawing on your face," Karin teased, linking arms with her for a moment.
Aoi laughed, cheeks still pink. "I'll set an alarm on my watch, just in case."