Unmasked Moments

Chapter 2: Unmasked Moments

The next morning at school, nothing seemed different.

The classroom buzzed with its usual energy—friends chatting, papers rustling, laughter echoing through the halls. Hori sat by the window, chin resting on her hand, staring out at the cloudless sky. From the outside, she looked as calm and composed as always.

But on the inside, her mind was spiraling.

That was Miyamura.

She glanced toward the back corner of the room. There he sat again—glasses on, hair down, sleeves long and buttoned up. The gloomy loner. As if last evening had been a dream.

How is this even the same person?

Hori narrowed her eyes, watching him doodle in his notebook, isolated as always. No one talked to him. No one even glanced his way. And yet, he had tattoos, piercings, and the kindest smile she’d seen in a while.

It made her uncomfortable… no, curious. Curious in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.

At lunch, she cornered him by the shoe lockers.

“Miyamura-kun,” she said, arms folded.

He flinched, almost dropping his shoes. “Y-Yes?”

“Come with me.”

He looked alarmed, but obeyed.

They ended up in a quiet hallway on the second floor, far from the chattering crowds.

Hori turned to him. “Why do you hide all of that?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “You mean my piercings?”

“All of it. The tattoos. The long hair. The… the different personality.”

He gave a lopsided smile. “Well, you hide things too, Hori-san.”

She crossed her arms. “That’s different.”

“Is it?” he said gently. “You’re popular, pretty, always smiling. But at home, you’re like a mini-mom.”

Her eyes widened.

“You’re not fake,” he continued, “but you're not just what people see.”

She looked away. “Still… you surprised me. You were... nice. With Souta.”

Miyamura gave a small chuckle. “He’s a good kid. I didn’t think you’d talk to me again, honestly.”

“Well, now you’re stuck with me.”

“Huh?”

“I mean…” She paused, biting her lip. “You know my secret, I know yours. That makes us even, right?”

He looked at her for a moment, as if trying to read between the lines. Then he smiled again, a little brighter this time. “I guess it does.”

Over the next few days, things slowly shifted.

It started with small conversations in class—nothing loud enough to draw attention. A glance here, a whispered joke there. Hori found herself laughing at his dry humor. Miyamura, though still quiet, seemed to relax a little more around her.

And then there were the home visits.

Miyamura started dropping by after school, usually under the excuse of “checking on Souta” or “returning something.” But it quickly became more than that. He’d sit at the kitchen table, chatting with Hori while she chopped vegetables or folded laundry.

Souta adored him, always tugging on his sleeves and begging for stories.

And Hori… she found herself looking forward to those moments.

One afternoon, as they shared a plate of sliced apples, she asked casually, “So… why all the piercings? You don’t really seem the type.”

He shrugged. “Maybe I’m not. But I wanted to feel like I had some control. Something that was mine.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“When I was younger, I didn’t really fit in. People called me creepy. Or weird. So I thought... if I was going to be judged anyway, I might as well choose how.”

Hori went quiet.

It made sense—painfully so.

She realized then how little she actually knew about the people around her. Especially Miyamura.

“Do they hurt?” she asked, eyeing the tiny studs hidden under his hair.

He smirked. “Not anymore. Want to try?”

She nearly dropped her chopsticks. “What?! No way!”

He laughed—an honest, surprised laugh that lit up his face.

She found herself laughing too.

Later that evening, after he left, Hori stood by the window, watching the streetlights flicker on.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Miyamura.

> Thanks for dinner. And for not judging me.

She smiled, typing back quickly.

> You’re weird. But I think I’m starting to like it.

The next day at school, something happened that neither of them had planned.

Yuki Yoshikawa, Hori’s cheerful friend, leaned over during lunch and whispered, “Hey, Hori-san... I saw you walking with Miyamura the other day. What’s that about?”

Hori froze mid-bite. “W-What? Nothing. Just coincidence.”

“Hmm…” Yuki gave her a teasing look. “Is gloomy Miyamura your secret boyfriend?”

“No! He’s not—wait, secret boyfriend?!”

Yuki giggled. “You got flustered. That’s suspicious.”

From across the room, Miyamura looked up.

Their eyes met.

Hori blushed furiously.

This is getting complicated, she thought.

But deep inside, a little spark warmed her chest.

She didn’t mind the complication.

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