When the last library detention bell rang, Yuuji practically bolted out of his seat.
Three weeks of quiet tension, half-whispered insults, and shared silences had turned into something neither of them had words for—but it was real. Something delicate. Something that made his heart misbehave every time Ren leaned a little too close or whispered something just to see him blush.
But now it was over. No more enforced proximity. No more excuses to sit beside each other.
Which made what came next even more ironic.
"Class 2-A," said their homeroom teacher the next morning, eyes gleaming with the kind of evil joy only teachers wield, "you will now begin your midterm group presentation project. Pairs only. Randomized."
Yuuji's stomach dropped.
He didn't do group work. He did solo projects. Independent study. The kind where no one could ruin the grading curve with apathy or bad handwriting.
Please not Ren, he thought. Please not—
"Yuuji Aikawa and Ren Sakamoto."
Ian Moore and Rio Wilson
Kenji Suguru and Will Ethan
You six will be leading the project and the rest of the class should choose their partners...pair in two
The universe laughed in his face.
Ren leaned back in his seat two rows ahead and shot him a wink.
Yuuji didn't return it.
He was too busy internally screaming.
---
Their topic was simple enough: Social Development in Adolescents. A subject vague enough to be infuriating and controversial enough to spark chaos.
They met in the library again—no longer as detainees, but reluctant collaborators.
Ren flopped into a chair across from Yuuji with a sigh. "So, what's the plan, Boss?"
"Don't call me that."
"You're gonna lead this thing, aren't you?"
Yuuji resisted the urge to sigh. "Fine. We'll split it down the middle. You take early adolescence and peer influence, I'll handle late adolescence and emotional development. We can meet to stitch it together later."
Ren pouted. "No brainstorming? No artistic synergy?"
Yuuji deadpanned, "This isn't a manga."
"It could be," Ren muttered. "The enemies-to-lovers subplot's already peaking."
Yuuji kicked him under the table.
Ren grinned.
---
As the week dragged on, it became clear: working with Ren was both a blessing and a curse.
A blessing—because he was surprisingly clever when he focused. He made points Yuuji hadn't considered and wasn't afraid to challenge him in a way that made their work better.
A curse—because he was Ren. Constantly leaning too close. Whispering comments in Yuuji's ear when the teacher wasn't looking. Writing jokes in the margins of their shared Google Doc.
Yuuji tried not to look forward to their meetings.
He failed miserably.
---
One afternoon, while reviewing their outline in the student lounge, Ren leaned back in his chair and asked, "Do you think we're emotionally developed?"
Yuuji blinked. "What?"
"For the presentation," Ren said, voice casual but eyes sharp. "We're supposed to analyze emotional maturity. Would you say we qualify?"
Yuuji glanced at their notes, flustered. "That's not how it works."
"But we're teenagers. Who better to judge?"
Yuuji narrowed his eyes. "You just want to trap me into a compliment."
"I don't need a compliment," Ren said, leaning closer, "but I wouldn't hate one."
Yuuji muttered, "You're impossible."
Ren grinned. "And yet you kissed me."
Yuuji froze.
It was the first time either of them had brought it up since.
The kiss.
The night at Ren's apartment.
The not-quite-label that now hovered between them like a thread in the dark.
He looked away. "That doesn't mean anything."
"It does to me," Ren said, quieter now.
Yuuji's breath hitched.
"Do you regret it?" Ren asked.
"…No."
"Then why won't you look at me?"
Yuuji did.
Their eyes locked, and for a second, the world narrowed down to that stare—the tension, the fear, the hope wrapped in every word they weren't saying.
Ren's voice softened. "You don't have to run from this."
"I'm not running."
"You're hiding," Ren said. "Behind grades and deadlines and sarcasm. And it's okay—I get it. I just… I want you to choose me. Not tolerate me."
Yuuji didn't answer.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because it would mean something.
And he wasn't sure if he was ready for what came after that.
---
The night before the presentation, Ren messaged him at 2:14 AM.
REN: You still awake?
YUUJI: Barely. Why.
REN: Just wanted to say… this was the best project I've ever done.
YUUJI: Because of me, obviously.
REN: Exactly. I liked building something with you. Even if it's just slides and citations.
Yuuji stared at the screen, the tightness in his chest both warm and terrifying.
YUUJI: I liked it too.
He hesitated.
Then, before he could think too hard:
YUUJI: And maybe I like you. Just. You know. In general.
There was a pause.
Then Ren sent a sticker of a cartoon heart melting into a puddle.
Yuuji rolled his eyes but smiled into the dark.