Episode 2: Saki Smells Suspicion

Title: Between Us and the Bell Rings

“Minami Haruto. Age 17. Favorite color: grey. Social level: level 1 mushroom.”

Saki Tsukino held a notepad with Haruto’s name scribbled in bubble letters and doodles of suspicious-looking eyes. She squinted at Kaoru from across the lunch table in the cafeteria.

“You’ve been spending too much time with him,” she accused, poking a fish stick like it owed her money.

Kaoru shrugged, sipping miso soup. “We just eat lunch. Sometimes we talk about… things.”

Saki narrowed her eyes. “That’s how friendship begins, Kaoru. You swore you wouldn’t betray me with rooftop traitor energy.”

Kaoru chuckled. “Relax, Saki. You’re still my number one loudmouth.”

Saki rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway. “You better not be hiding secrets from me.”

Kaoru paused mid-chew. If only she knew.

Ever since the rooftop lunches began, Haruto had slowly become a part of Kaoru’s daily routine. They’d started walking to the school gate together, trading sarcastic remarks and random facts about pigeons and conspiracy theories. Haruto had even drawn a caricature of Kaoru as a talking donut wearing glasses.

It was hideous. And weirdly flattering.

Still, Kaoru kept it quiet. Not because he was ashamed—but because he liked it. Their secret little world above the school, away from the chaos below.

But Saki wasn’t buying the silence.

The next day, she showed up on the rooftop.

Uninvited.

“Yo.”

Haruto and Kaoru looked up mid-lunch, both blinking in unison like startled cats.

“What the—Saki?!”

Saki plopped down next to them, opening a glittery pink lunch box. “I figured I’d join you. Just once. You know, to see what the fuss is about.”

Haruto stiffened, clutching his chopsticks like a weapon. Kaoru gave her a helpless look.

She ignored both reactions. “You weren’t going to tell me you made a new friend?”

“We didn’t make friendship bracelets,” Kaoru muttered.

Haruto glanced sideways, clearly uncomfortable. But Saki was undeterred.

“So, Haruto,” she said sweetly, “what’s your backstory? Kaoru says you’re secretly a prince in hiding.”

Haruto blinked. “What.”

Kaoru choked on his rice ball. “I did not say that.”

“Well, it would explain the air of mystery,” Saki went on. “And the way you don’t talk to anyone. Classic anime prince move.”

“I just don’t like noise,” Haruto muttered.

Saki leaned closer. “So why do you talk to Kaoru?”

Haruto looked at Kaoru, then looked away. “…He talks like white noise.”

Kaoru gaped. “Was that an insult or a compliment?”

“Maybe both,” Haruto said, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

Saki gasped. “You can smile?!”

Haruto looked away, ears pink.

Saki grinned. “Okay. I like you. You’re weird.”

Kaoru sighed. “Please don’t adopt him.”

But something shifted after that. Haruto started showing up more regularly. He’d still vanish some days, but on others, he’d hang around while Saki teased Kaoru about his messy handwriting, or while the three of them shared weird snacks and terrible cafeteria puns.

It wasn’t long before others started noticing.

One afternoon, as the trio was leaving school, class rep Kento stopped Kaoru near the bike rack.

“You’re friends with that Haruto guy now?” he asked, arms crossed.

Kaoru nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

Kento frowned. “Just… be careful. He’s kind of a loner. Some kids say he punched a teacher once.”

Kaoru stared. “Seriously? That’s not true.”

Kento shrugged. “Just saying. He’s got a record.”

Kaoru clenched his fists, ready to snap back—but Haruto appeared out of nowhere, stepping between them.

“I didn’t punch anyone,” he said coolly. “But thanks for caring.”

Kento flinched, then muttered something and left.

Haruto didn’t look at Kaoru.

“Thanks,” Kaoru said softly.