episode 24
1644 Words
If there was one thing Aru had learned over the past few days, it was this—when his friends became quiet, it never meant peace. It meant preparation. And today, from the moment he stepped into the classroom, he could feel it again. Not loud teasing. Not obvious whispers. Just… glances. Small smiles. People looking at each other like they were waiting for the right moment.
“…No,” Aru muttered under his breath as he walked to his seat.
“…No what?” Rei asked, already seated.
“…Something’s going to happen.”
“…That’s always true.”
“…Today feels worse.”
“…That’s also always true.”
“…You’re not helping.”
“…I’m being accurate.”
“…Stop being accurate.”
“…I’ll try.”
“…You won’t.”
“…I won’t.”
Aru dropped into his chair, sighing slightly. For a few minutes, nothing happened. The teacher came in. Class started. Notes were written. Everything looked normal. Too normal.
Then lunch break came.
And everything changed.
“Alright,” one of the boys said, standing up dramatically in the middle of the group. “We’re bored.”
“…Sit down,” Aru replied immediately.
“No.”
“…Why are you standing?”
“Because I have an idea.”
“…I don’t like ideas.”
“You will.”
“…I won’t.”
“You will.”
“…I won’t.”
“Everyone—circle.”
“No,” Aru said instantly.
“Yes,” the group replied together.
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…Stop.”
“No.”
“…I’m not moving.”
“We’ll move you.”
“…You won’t.”
“We will.”
“…Try.”
“…We are.”
Within seconds, chairs shifted. People gathered. Someone pulled Aru’s chair slightly. Another moved the desks. And before he could properly react—
He was in the circle.
“…I hate all of you,” he muttered.
“…We love you too,” one of them replied.
“…No you don’t.”
“…We do.”
“…You don’t.”
“…We do.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
“…Not really.”
Rei sat down beside him.
Of course.
“…You’re part of this too?” Aru asked.
“…Apparently.”
“…You could’ve escaped.”
“…You didn’t.”
“…That’s because they dragged me.”
“…They didn’t drag me.”
“…Then why are you here?”
“…Because you are.”
Aru paused.
“…That’s not a reason.”
“…It is.”
“…It’s a bad reason.”
“…It works.”
“…Annoying.”
“…Consistent.”
“Alright!” the same boy clapped his hands. “We’re playing Truth or Dare.”
“…No,” Aru said again.
“Yes.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…Stop.”
“…Too late.”
“…I’m leaving.”
“Try.”
“…I will.”
“You won’t.”
“…I will.”
“You won’t.”
Aru looked around.
Everyone staring.
Waiting.
Smiling.
“…Fine,” he muttered.
“Good.”
“…I still hate you.”
“We know.”
The game started.
First few rounds—normal.
Harmless questions.
Easy dares.
Nothing serious.
Laughter.
Noise.
Aru relaxed slightly.
“…This isn’t that bad,” he admitted quietly.
“…Wait,” Rei replied.
“…For what?”
“…For it to get worse.”
“…It won’t.”
“…It will.”
“…You’re always negative.”
“…I’m always right.”
“…We’ll see.”
A few turns later—
It got worse.
Of course it did.
“Alright,” one of the girls said, spinning the bottle.
It landed.
On Aru.
“…No,” he said immediately.
“Yes,” she replied.
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…Truth.”
“Oooooo.”
“…Why are you reacting like that?”
“Because this is interesting.”
“…It’s not.”
“It is.”
“…Ask.”
She smiled.
“…Who do you like?”
Silence.
Immediate.
Complete.
Aru blinked once.
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…Change the question.”
“No.”
“…Another question.”
“No.”
“…Anything else.”
“No.”
“…This is unfair.”
“…Answer.”
Aru looked around.
Everyone waiting.
Watching.
Smiling.
Even Rei—
Was looking at him.
Calm.
But paying attention.
Aru exhaled slowly.
“…No one.”
“…That’s a lie,” someone said.
“…It’s not.”
“…It is.”
“…It’s not.”
“…You hesitated.”
“…I didn’t.”
“…You did.”
“…I didn’t.”
“…You did.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
“…Not really.”
“Next,” someone said quickly.
The bottle spun again.
And stopped.
On Rei.
“…Oh,” one of them said.
“…Now this is good.”
“…Very good.”
“…Truth or dare?” the girl asked.
“…Truth,” Rei replied.
“…Safe.”
“…Always.”
“…We’ll see.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“…Same question.”
“…Who do you like?”
Silence again.
But different.
Rei didn’t react immediately.
Just… thought for a second.
Then—
“…No one.”
Aru blinked.
“…You’re copying me.”
“…I said it first.”
“…I said it louder.”
“…That doesn’t matter.”
“…It does.”
“…It doesn’t.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
But the group didn’t stop.
“…Both of you are lying.”
“…We’re not.”
“…You are.”
“…We’re not.”
“…You are.”
“…Stop.”
“…Make us.”
“…I will.”
“…You won’t.”
“…I will.”
“…You won’t.”
The game continued.
But the energy had shifted.
Now every small thing—
Felt like it meant something.
Every glance.
Every reaction.
At one point—
Another dare came.
And of course—
It landed on Aru again.
“…No,” he said instantly.
“Yes,” they replied.
“…Dare.”
“Oooooo.”
“…I don’t like that sound.”
“You will.”
“…I won’t.”
“You will.”
“…I won’t.”
The girl smiled.
“…Sit closer to Rei.”
Silence.
Then—
Laughter.
“…That’s not even a dare,” someone said.
“…It is.”
“…It’s weak.”
“…Do it.”
“…I’m already sitting here.”
“…Closer.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…No.”
“Yes.”
“…Stop.”
“No.”
“…Fine.”
Aru shifted slightly.
Just a little.
“…That’s not closer,” someone said.
“…It is.”
“…It’s not.”
“…It is.”
“…Closer.”
Aru sighed.
Then—
Moved.
Closer.
Now their shoulders almost touching.
“…Happy?” he said.
“Very.”
“…Annoying.”
“…Adorable.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
Rei didn’t move away.
Didn’t react much.
Just—
Stayed.
“…You’re not even reacting,” Aru muttered.
“…To what?”
“…This.”
“…What about it?”
“…We’re close.”
“…We were already.”
“…Not this close.”
“…It’s the same.”
“…It’s not.”
“…It is.”
“…You’re impossible.”
“…You’re overthinking.”
“…I’m not.”
“…You are.”
“…Fine, maybe a little.”
The game ended eventually.
Not because they were done—
But because the bell rang.
“Saved by the bell,” Aru said immediately, standing up.
“…Barely,” one of them replied.
“…I’m leaving.”
“You’re always leaving.”
“…Because you’re always like this.”
“…And you stay.”
“…Unfortunately.”
“…Fortunately.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
After school—
They walked again.
Group at first.
Then slowly—
Less people.
Until—
Just two.
“…That was stupid,” Aru said.
“…It was.”
“…They’re getting worse.”
“…They are.”
“…We should stop them.”
“…You won’t.”
“…I might.”
“…You won’t.”
“…You’re very confident again.”
“…I’m right again.”
A small pause.
“…You didn’t answer properly,” Aru said suddenly.
“…About what?”
“…That question.”
“…Which one?”
“…You know which one.”
“…I answered.”
“…You said ‘no one.’”
“…Yes.”
“…That’s not a real answer.”
“…It is.”
“…It’s not.”
“…It is.”
“…You’re avoiding.”
“…You’re asking too much.”
“…Maybe.”
They kept walking.
“…You didn’t move away,” Aru added quietly.
Rei glanced at him.
“…From what?”
“…When they told me to sit closer.”
“…You moved.”
“…You didn’t.”
“…I didn’t need to.”
“…Why?”
A small pause.
Then—
“…Because it didn’t matter.”
Aru blinked once.
“…Oh.”
Silence.
“…It didn’t bother you?” Aru asked.
“…No.”
“…Not even a little?”
“…No.”
“…Why?”
Rei looked ahead.
“…Because it was you.”
Aru didn’t reply immediately.
“…That’s a weird answer,” he muttered.
“…You asked.”
“…I did.”
“…That’s your answer.”
“…It’s still weird.”
“…Not really.”
They reached the usual point again.
“…See you,” Aru said.
“…Tomorrow,” Rei replied.
They walked away.
But this time—
Aru didn’t turn back.
He just kept walking.
Thinking.
- Writer
