"Can you do the windows as well, Kurokawa?"
Yuuto glanced up from the broom in his hands as a classmate let a bucket fall beside him.
"Yeah, I have to get to club practice. You're much quicker at these things anyhow."
I never claimed-
But already halfway down the hall, both of them laughing as if they hadn't volunteered the whole classroom to him.
Yuuto sighed. He didn't mind cleaning - just being handed everything like he was invisible.
He grumbled to himself, "This is the way that villains are made."
Then after a beat, added "...but I'm far too shy to do that."
The classroom was still, the sun setting low and sending golden lines across the desks. He extended his hand for the rag—stopped.
Warm breath tickled the side of his ear.
His whole body spasmed. "A-A-Amamiya-san?!"
He spun so sharply that he almost dropped the mop. Standing behind him was Hikari Amamiya, leaning forward with the largest possible smile on her face, trying—and failing—to stifle a laugh.
"hahaha! Oh man—your face! I should have recorded that!"
Yuuto flushed as he hastily returned to the mop bucket, busying himself by claiming it required instant attention. "Don't sneak up on a person like that."
Hikari laughed as she breezed in, her hand on her hip. "You were so far in cleaning mode that I was beginning to think you didn't even hear me. It's a tragic production. All that quiet torment."
Yuuto grumbled something.
She inched closer. "What was that?"
"...Nothing."
"Eh~, are you blushing there, Kurokawa-kun~?"
"I'm not," he growled, face visibly contradicting him.
"You're so easy to tease. Fortunately for you, your fake girlfriend has come to the rescue." She gathered a rag and gave the window a quick wipe. "Cleaning goddess reporting for duty."
He gave her a skeptical look. "That sounds made up."
"Indeed. But you nearly smiled, so I have won."
"I didn't smile."
"You nearly did."
They set to work. Yuuto swept while Hikari sang a made-up song that sounded vaguely like a faulty commercial jingle. It ought to have grated on the senses, but somehow didn't.
"You don't have to help," Yuuto told her briefly.
She smiled slyly. "You're my boyfriend, correct? Therefore I must assist."
Thump.
His heart gave an undeniable jolt.
He immediately averted his gaze, his ears reddening.
She laughed. "Hahaha~, you're so easily flustered, it's adorable!"
She stood next to him, twisting her rag. "And you also don't have to serve those classmates. I'm sorry that my boyfriend should not have to serve as a cleaning servant."
He blinked. "It's alright... I-I don't really have friends and I'm not in a club either. I'm a bit shy so..."
There was a pause.
Then Hikari leaned in—a bit too close—her teasing smirk returning. Her collar dropped down slightly, just far enough that Yuuto's eyes flared and he spun his head the opposite direction in a panic.
"You have me now," she whispered in a silky tone.
His face flushed red. "A-Amamiya-san..."
"Hahaha!" She laughed out loud, leaning back on her heels. "I got you again!"
He moaned, becoming even redder. "You're really evil."
"You're also kind of adorable when you're shy."
They went back to cleaning, and Hikari brushed up against him sometimes "accidentally" and laughed each time he jumped slightly. Yuuto attempted not to react—but it was becoming increasingly harder.
They worked side-by-side until the very last desk was cleared, the very last spot cleaned.
Hikari collapsed into a chair, dramatically folding herself across a desk as a movie star in distress. "I've destroyed my hands. I'll never play the piano again."
"You don't play the piano."
"Still! The idea of me is ruined."
Yuuto leaned on the windowsill. "Too bad. The concept was the only thing about it I enjoyed."
"Ow," she grinned. "You keep that up and I'll begin to think you're enjoying yourself."
They stood in comfortable silence for a moment as the sunlight poured through the windows.
Then it happened.
Yuuto swung about with the mop as Hikari stepped back to view her work. Their shoulders collided. A little gasp escaped Hikari as she stepped slightly backwards onto the wet floor.
Yuuto's arm extended swiftly, catching her wrist as she was about to fall.
He caught her awkwardly but firmly. His hand stayed on for a second longer than it should have before releasing her.
"You okay?" he asked.
She gazed up at him in surprise—and perhaps something more in her eyes.
"Well well," she remarked. "You do have reflexes."
"I was saving the bucket," he told her matter-of-factly.
"Liar. You were totally being my hero."
"You're standing. The bucket isn't."
"Details."
She stood up and smoothed out her skirt. "Well, nice catch, Kurokawa-kun. Very princely. I'm putting that on your boyfriend résumé."
"You're exhausting."
"You like it," she sang.
He didn't respond.
And he didn't deny it either.
They entered the hall side-by-side. Yuuto didn't glance her way, but he had snuck a quick look when he'd assumed she wasn't paying attention.
She smiled.
Not huge. Not flirty.
Just discreetly.
As though something genuine had escaped through the gaps.
This game?
It may not be as one-sided as all that.
To be continued....