oops, i meant that | joyuma

10: NAMES THAT WE USED TO CALL

morning came like any other.

the campus buzzed with its usual chaos. there were students rushing to beat deadlines, coffee cups clutched like lifelines, chatter bouncing off the walls.

yuma adjusted his cap lower over his face as he walked past the front gates, sunglasses hiding the tired lines under his eyes. it was routine, just another morning. just another attempt to blend in despite being impossible to ignore.

he tugged his bag higher on his shoulder, footsteps falling into rhythm with the tide of students.

that was when it happened.

a familiar figure passed by him in the crowd. tall, steady strides, dark hair catching in the sunlight. something in yuma's chest jolted, like his body wanted to react, to turn, to say something,

but nothing came.

the stranger's gaze brushed his for the briefest second, impassive, detached, as if yuma was just another face in the swarm.

and then they passed each other.

just like that.

yuma blinked, confusion twisting in his gut. he stopped walking for a moment, turning slightly, half-expecting the other to glance back but the figure kept moving, disappearing into the crowd without hesitation.

a classmate bumped into yuma and pulled him back to reality.
"nakakita-kun, come on! class is about to start."

yuma forced a small smile, nodding as he followed them in.

inside the lecture hall, it was like nothing had ever happened.

as soon as he entered, voices erupted around him.

"nakakita-kun, your drama last night was amazing! i stayed up just to watch you!"

"hey, can you sign this for me? just once, please?"

"nakakita-kun, who are you sitting with today? do you want to sit with us?"

hands shoved notebooks, pens and even snack wrappers toward him. a few classmates giggled, hovering close to snap sneaky photos. yuma laughed softly, bowing his head in thanks, slipping into his public mask like second nature.

"thank you, really. i'm glad you enjoyed it," he said, offering a polite smile.

"sure, i can sign one thing, ah, not too many, please. let's not disturb class."

they laughed at how humble he sounded, even when every word was rehearsed politeness.

as he finally sank into his seat, a girl leaned over with a teasing grin.

"nakakita-kun, you've been glowing lately. did something happen? someone special maybe?"

the table erupted in giggles. yuma blinked, startled, heat creeping up his neck.

"special? no, nothing like that. i've just been busy with work."

another chimed in, whispering loud enough for him to hear. "he's blushing. he's definitely hiding something."

"no, i'm not," yuma said quickly, trying to laugh it off.

he tugged at his notebook, trying to distract himself but out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the figure across the room again. seated quietly at the far side, head bent over his notes, not sparing him even a glance.

still, yuma's chest clenched.

he didn't know why.

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