episode 20
1314 Words
Some teachers liked peace. Some liked discipline. And some—like this one—liked creating problems and calling it “learning.”
“Today,” the teacher said, writing quickly on the board, “you will work in pairs.”
Groans filled the classroom instantly.
“Why?” someone complained.
“Because you need it,” the teacher replied without turning.
“We don’t.”
“You do.”
“We really don’t.”
“You really do.”
“…Unfair.”
“…Accurate,” the teacher added.
Aru leaned back slightly in his chair, already knowing what was coming. He didn’t even need to look at the seating arrangement. “…Don’t say it,” he muttered under his breath.
“Sit with your desk partner.”
“…Of course,” Aru said flatly.
Rei, beside him, didn’t react. “…That was expected.”
“…I still don’t like it.”
“…You’ll survive.”
“…Barely.”
Behind them, immediate whispering started.
“This is perfect.”
“This is planned.”
“It has to be.”
“…We can hear you,” Aru said without turning.
“We know.”
“…Stop.”
“No.”
“…Annoying.”
“Very.”
The worksheets were handed out—two per pair.
“Discuss. Solve. Submit together,” the teacher said.
“…Together?” Aru repeated quietly.
“…That’s how pairs work,” Rei replied.
“…I know how pairs work.”
“…Then why are you asking?”
“…Because I don’t like it.”
“…Too late.”
“…Unfortunate.”
They both looked down at the sheet.
Silence.
Then—
“…You start,” Aru said.
“…Why me?”
“…Because you’re faster.”
“…You admit it?”
“…No.”
“…Then?”
“…Just start.”
“…Fine.”
Rei began writing, calm and steady. Aru watched for a second, then leaned slightly closer to see better.
“…Your handwriting is annoying,” Aru said.
“…Why?”
“…It’s too neat.”
“…That’s not a problem.”
“…It is.”
“…How?”
“…Makes mine look worse.”
“…That’s your problem.”
“…Exactly.”
A small pause.
Then Aru picked up his pen.
“…Move a little.”
“…Why?”
“…You’re taking space.”
“…I’m not.”
“…You are.”
Rei shifted slightly anyway.
“…Better?”
“…Yes.”
“…You’re difficult.”
“…You’re in my space.”
“…It’s a shared desk.”
“…Not equally.”
“…Now it is.”
“…Good.”
A few minutes passed.
Actual work started happening.
“…This one is wrong,” Aru said suddenly.
“…It’s not.”
“…It is.”
“…Check again.”
“…I did.”
“…You didn’t.”
“…I did.”
Rei paused, looked at the step again—
“…Oh.”
“…See?”
“…Fix it.”
“…You fix it.”
“…You found it.”
“…You wrote it.”
“…Teamwork.”
“…Fine.”
They both leaned in at the same time—
Their heads almost bumping.
They stopped.
Paused.
Then both moved back slightly at the same time.
“…Watch it,” Aru muttered.
“…You leaned in too.”
“…You did first.”
“…No.”
“…Yes.”
“…Doesn’t matter.”
“…It does.”
“…Not really.”
“…Okay, maybe not.”
They continued writing.
Across the classroom, their friends were not being subtle.
“Look at them.”
“They’re actually working.”
“Unbelievable.”
“…Take a picture,” someone whispered.
“…Don’t,” another replied.
“…Too late.”
“…You didn’t.”
“…I did.”
“…Delete it.”
“…No.”
“…Delete it.”
“…Maybe later.”
Aru glanced back once.
“…I’m going to destroy your phones.”
“Do it.”
“…I will.”
“Do it.”
“…After class.”
“We’ll run.”
“…You won’t be fast enough.”
“We are.”
“…We’ll see.”
Rei shook his head slightly. “…You’re popular.”
“…Stop saying that.”
“…It’s true.”
“…It’s annoying.”
“…So are you.”
“…Wow.”
“…Just saying.”
“…Rude.”
“…Accurate.”
“…You’re repeating yourself.”
“…You deserve it.”
Aru smirked a little. “…Maybe.”
As the work continued, something strange happened.
They… synced.
Not in a big way.
Just small things.
One writing while the other checked.
One solving while the other corrected.
No arguing for a few minutes.
“…This is working,” Aru said quietly.
“…It is.”
“…Don’t get used to it.”
“…Too late.”
“…I can stop.”
“…You won’t.”
“…I might.”
“…You won’t.”
“…You’re very confident.”
“…I’m right.”
“…We’ll see.”
A pause.
“…We already are,” Rei added.
Aru didn’t reply.
But he didn’t argue either.
The bell for submission rang.
“Time’s up,” the teacher said.
“Finally,” someone groaned.
“Submit your work.”
Aru looked at their sheet.
“…It’s done.”
“…Obviously,” Rei replied.
“…It’s actually good.”
“…Obviously.”
“…Stop saying obviously.”
“…Then stop being surprised.”
“…I’m not surprised.”
“…You are.”
“…A little.”
“…Exactly.”
Aru stood up, holding the sheet.
“…I’ll submit.”
“…Go.”
As he walked forward, someone whispered loudly—
“Power couple.”
“…I heard that,” Aru said.
“Good.”
“…Stop.”
“No.”
“…I’m serious.”
“So are we.”
He placed the sheet down and came back.
“…They’re annoying,” he muttered.
“…They’re right sometimes,” Rei said calmly.
“…No.”
“…Yes.”
“…No.”
“…Yes.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay.”
After class ended, the teasing didn’t.
“So how was it?” one of the girls asked Aru immediately.
“…Fine.”
“Just fine?”
“…Yes.”
“Nothing else?”
“…No.”
“…Liar.”
“…I’m not lying.”
“…You are.”
“…I’m not.”
“…You are.”
“…Stop.”
“…Okay, maybe later.”
On Rei’s side—
“You didn’t mess up, right?”
“…No.”
“She didn’t distract you?”
“…No.”
“…Sure?”
“…Yes.”
“…Alright.”
“…Stop asking.”
“…We’re curious.”
“…Don’t be.”
“…Too late.”
School ended.
People started leaving.
Aru packed his bag slowly.
“…You going?” Rei asked.
“…Yeah.”
“…Same.”
“…Walk?”
“…Okay.”
Again.
Side by side.
Not planned.
Just… natural now.
Outside, the air felt lighter.
“…That wasn’t bad,” Aru said.
“…It wasn’t.”
“…We didn’t fight much.”
“…We didn’t.”
“…That’s new.”
“…It is.”
“…Don’t get used to it.”
“…Too late.”
“…You keep saying that.”
“…Because it’s true.”
“…Maybe.”
A small silence.
Then—
“…You work well,” Aru said casually.
Rei glanced at him.
“…So do you.”
Aru looked away slightly.
“…I know.”
Behind them, their friends watched from a distance.
“They’re walking together again.”
“They always are now.”
“Something’s happening.”
“Definitely.”
“…We should not interfere.”
“…We should definitely interfere.”
“…Agreed.”
The road stretched ahead.
Same as always.
But the way they walked it—
Was slowly changing.
- Writer
