Akiyama and I were walking at the hallway alone together, there were noises of students coming from a distance. The silence after school was calming. 
     " Thanks for waiting for me Akiyama" I said as he nodded and continued walking and when we arrived at the school gate I bid farewell to him as we're going the opposite direction.
     I was walking towards home since it's not that far from the school, only a little bit. 
     * At our house *
"Mom, I'm home," I said, kicking off my shoes and placing them neatly on the rack.
"Welcome home, Miyu," Mom replied, her back to me as she stirred a pot on the stove. "How was school?"
"So-so," I mumbled, slumping onto the couch. "How's Dad? Mom, I really want braces." My voice was heavy with disappointment and .
Mom turned around, her face softening. "I know, honey. Don't worry, if Dad comes back, we'll get you braces, okay?" She came over and sat beside me, gently squeezing my hand. "But you need to know that you're beautiful, okay? Crooked teeth or not, you're beautiful, sweetie.” she said.
     I ate silently.
     " None of you knows how I feel, you're not in my situation". I said to my thoughts.
     After I was done eating, I washed the plates and watched TV with mom for a bit, after a while I said that I'll be going to my room because I have class tomorrow.
     I was laying at my bed and watching some videos when I get a sudden relapse about my ex fling 2 years ago, not to mention it was 10pm.
     Usui Yomeda, my ex fling. We met at social media, we were in a stalking stage for about 8 months but the last 2 months of it was turning cold.
He'd go offline for almost a day, leaving me constantly checking his profile. When he finally came back online, it was just a quick 'sorry,' as if nothing had happened. I never complained, his mere presence was enough to make me happy, until it became a predictable routine.
     I was crying all night until I fell asleep. One night I confronted him if he had liked a girl in their area, he denied it again and again until I got the real answer.
     My gut was right, all my overthinking was right. I stopped talking at him ever since that night but I remembered what he said before, that he'll going to transfer here.
     " Maybe that was him I saw earlier?" My heart begins to pound faster and heavy. I checked the time and it was 11:26.
     " Oh shoot it's almost midnight" I prepared myself to sleep and set the alarm to 5:30am. 
* Alarm ring*
     " 5 more minutes...." I snoozed my alarm.
     "  Wake up Miyu, you're almost late. It's 6:50 in the morning" I heard my mom.
     " WHAT? 6:50?!" I quickly went to the bathroom and took a shower.
     " Yes, I tried waking you up earlier and you said 5 minutes more" Mom said.
    Almost done with my preparations, I swiftly donned a fresh batch of my black masks. Mom gestured for me to join her for breakfast, but I insisted there was no time as I hurriedly put on my shoes and dashed out the door, determined not to be late.
     The school was 25 minutes away from our house. I'll get their before Ms. Ayano starts her lesson. 7:20  I did not stop running until I was at the door of our classroom.
    Struggling to catch my breath, I paused before opening the door to compose myself. Just as I was about to take a deep breath, my lungs rebelled, and I coughed uncontrollably from the strain of the run. And then, in that moment of chaos, something unexpected happened...
     " Here, drink this"
     In a moment of desperation, I grabbed someone's water without a second thought, my chest constricting with pain. After taking a few sips, the tightness eased, but I was still struggling to catch my breath. As I calmed down and turned to thank the person for the water, I realized it was Akiyama.
[ Kei's POV ]
    After arriving at school, I quickly went to our classroom to drop off my bag at my usual chair. Then, I hurried down to the first floor, hoping to find a special someone, only to discover that she was not there yet.
    I stepped outside to quench my thirst at the vending machine, taking a refreshing sip. Glancing at the time, I realized it was time to head back to our room."
     As I began to walk I saw a girl running desperately, I didn't bother to know who was that because I don't really care. 
     The school bell was about to chime later, when I was nearly at our classroom I saw Tachibana at the door gasping for air, I could tell that she's unwell because she was coughing uncontrollably and holding her chest.
      " So that was her, she should have looked at the time first and besides class starts at 8am" I said to my thoughts.
     " Here, drink this" offered her my drink, she immediately took and drank it.
     " Oh shoot, I drank that earlier, I'm such an idiot" I said in my thoughts, I felt my face heat up a little but keep my cool.
     She was drinking and calmed down but she was still catching her breath. 
     " T...thank you" she was still panting and she returned the water bottle to me.
     " Why are you still outside the classroom you two?" We heard Ms. Ayano was looking at us smirking.
     " I'm sorry Ma'am, I was almost late so I ran until i get here" she said with a straightforward face and she coughed again.
     I just looked at her and shrugged myself off.
     " Ohhh so that's why you're panting, okay okay let's get inside, class is about to start now" Ms. Ayano entered the room and so are we.
     Ms. Ayano started her lecture and we were listening to her, it was mid lesson when we heard a loud stomach rumble, all of us looked at Tachibana.
     She asked us why are we staring at her and pretended that wasn't her, while she's keeping her face straight.
     " Miyuki did you eat breakfast?" Her best friend asked her with a concerned look.
     " Yes, I had breakfast." She quickly replied.
     " Ma'am please continue" she added so the class could refocus on Ms Ayano.
     Ms. Ayano continued her lecture and saw Tachibana covering half of her face with a notebook and her brows was furrowed, feet was crossed, she might have been embarrassed after what just happened. 
     " She really do likes wearing mask"
   She must have noticed me looking at her so she hid her face with her notebook and looked at the window. 
     I couldn't help myself to smile a little, she was like my little sister when embarrassed and returned my attention to Ms. Ayano's lesson.