Hearts under the same root

Chapter 7: Tensions Unravel

The next morning at class, Luna slumped into her seat beside Kai. The glow that once played in her eyes was diminished, replaced by a soft anxiety.

“Kai…” she sighed. “I told him.”

Kai blinked. “Told him what?” His heart sank, imagining the scene.

She gave him a brief look of guilt. “About us. About how I’ve been spending time with you.”

Silence. Around them, classmates settled in for another calculus lesson. Professor Ishida droned on about prime gaps, but for Kai and Luna, the space between words felt heavy.

“So?” he said quietly. “What did Arata say?”

Luna looked out the window. “He was… surprised. He said he came back because he missed me, thought maybe we’d pick up where we left off.” Her voice was small. “I told him I was seeing someone.”

Kai’s throat ached. Could she even see the pain in his expression?

“He’s angry, Kai.” Luna finally looked at him, tears glinting. “He said he’d always be here for me, and I said I… I can’t leave Kai. I-” She bit her lip, tears spilling.

Kai felt sick. This was the moment he had feared: the love he harbored for Luna, slowly becoming real, and now facing someone from her heart’s past who refused to let go.

Luna reached a trembling hand out to Kai, but he pulled away sharply, palm stinging from the cold breach.

“Kai, I—”

“You told him you’re with me,” Kai blurted, voice shaky. “Why?” He clasped his hands to stop them from shaking. Jealousy and hurt radiated through him.

Luna’s eyes widened. “Because I meant it!” she snapped. Her face flushed. “Don’t pretend you didn’t do the same to me with Miyu in high school!”

Kai stared at her, stunned. “Miyu?”

She shook her head, took a breath, and then spoke softly. “Ignore that. I’m sorry.”

Kai felt the hurt in her apology. But heat burned his cheeks. He realized he had been unfair. Maybe this was the first fight, and he hated it.

“I—” he started, then stopped. There was a tremor in his voice. “Look, Luna, I—” But before he could finish, Professor Ishida raised his voice about "sufficient conditions," snapping their classmates’ attention back to the board.

They remained silent the rest of the period. Each word unsaid weighed heavily between them. Luna’s skin prickled with embarrassment; Kai’s chest felt tight.

After class, they collected their things in awkward silence. Outside, the midday sun beat down. Luna finally broke the quiet.

“Kai, I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have taken you for granted. I was scared…”

Kai’s eyes dropped. He steadied himself. “Me too.”

She glanced up. “But Arata… he thinks I can just go back to him.” Her voice cracked, revealing her uncertainty.

Kai wiped his hands on his jacket. “Well, you can’t.” He managed a weak smile. “I wouldn’t allow that.”

Luna searched his eyes and felt her uncertainty shrink a bit. There was sincerity in his words—and relief.

For a moment, they just stood there. The tension unraveling. The sky overhead was blue, but inside Luna’s chest it felt like autumn again—crisp and confusing.

Finally, she gave a small, grateful smile. “Let’s focus on finals this week,” she said softly.

Kai nodded. In the dappled sunlight, Luna looked almost as calm as before. Beneath it all, though, both of them knew nothing about their marriage—arranged or budding love—was straightforward.