Sakamoto-sensei scanned the room, his gaze shifting from one side of the classroom to the other. His brows furrowed slightly. "Where's Hikari?!" His voice carried over the murmurs of the class, silencing everyone in an instant. "He was just here a moment ago. Anyone see him leave?"
A chorus of confused "no's" spread across the room. Students exchanged glances, some shrugging while others looked around as if Hikari might suddenly reappear. Sakamoto-sensei pressed his lips together in thought before shaking his head, dismissing the concern. A single absent student wouldn't derail his lesson. Turning back to the whiteboard, he continued writing, his chalk scratching against the surface.
Hikari watched the entire exchange from the ceiling, his form blending seamlessly with the shadows cast by the fluorescent lights. His heart pounded in his chest as Sakamoto-sensei searched for him, but a wave of relief washed over him when the teacher let the matter drop. The challenge now was returning to his seat unnoticed. Timing was everything. He had to wait for the perfect moment.
Minutes ticked by. Patience. Steady breathing. Then—
Now!
Hikari glided down like an ink stain sliding off a page, shifting his form just as he reached his chair. A fraction of a second later, he sat there, pen in hand, jotting down notes as if he had never left. A long, deep breath left his lips, tension releasing from his shoulders. He had done it.
A loud clatter broke the silence. The class turned to see Sakamoto-sensei's whiteboard marker rolling across the floor. The teacher's eyes were locked onto Hikari, his expression frozen in shock. A moment ago, that seat had been empty.
Whispers spread like wildfire. Heads turned toward him, students staring with wide eyes. No one could explain it. One second, Hikari was gone. The next, he was sitting there like nothing had happened.
Sakamoto-sensei hesitated, his mind working through the impossible. Had he imagined it? No—he was sure that desk had been empty. Yet, there Hikari was, scribbling down notes with a completely straight face. The teacher exhaled sharply and smiled to himself, shaking his head.
"My mind must be playing tricks on me," he muttered under his breath before addressing the class again. "Alright, let's continue."
The room settled once more, though lingering gazes still flickered toward Hikari. He kept his head down, focused on his notebook, willing himself to blend into the background.
"Psst. Hikari."
The whisper came from his side. Mitsumi.
"What did you do? And why did you just leave like that?" she hissed, her voice barely above a breath.
Hikari kept his expression neutral as he tilted his head slightly in her direction. "Sorry. It was an emergency. I heard someone crying for help. I didn't want to bother you."
Mitsumi narrowed her eyes at him before sighing. "You should've told me first. I was worried."
Guilt pricked at him. He hadn't meant to cause concern. "Sorry," he mumbled.
The lesson continued, the incident fading into the background—at least, for now.
The shrill ring of the lunch bell signaled freedom. Hikari leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply as he stared up at the ceiling. The morning had been eventful, to say the least. His thoughts drifted to the woman from earlier. Something about her had been oddly familiar, though he couldn't place where he had seen her before. Had she called the police? He hoped so. The thieves wouldn't be bothering anyone for a while.
He reached for his bag, ready to dig out his lunch. Just as he unzipped it, something caught his eye—an unfamiliar bundle wrapped in a blue scarf. Hikari's brow furrowed. He pulled it out, unwrapping the fabric with careful hands.
Two bento boxes sat inside.
Hikari blinked.
A small sticky note was attached to the top of the box, the handwriting playful and slightly teasing:
Hello Hikari! I made lunch for you and Mitsumi as well. I cannot find anything nicer than these bento boxes so that's what I used. Enjoy your date—I mean, lunch, Hikari!
His face burned as he read the words. Date?! Who even wrote this?! His head snapped toward Mitsumi, who looked at him with mild curiosity.
"Mitsumi, your lunch." He handed her one of the bento boxes, clearing his throat in an attempt to mask his embarrassment.
She accepted it without hesitation. "Thanks, Hikari."
He tried to ignore the amused glances from the students sitting nearby. His stomach grumbled, reminding him of what mattered most—food. He pushed the thoughts aside, unfastened the lid, and took in the neatly arranged meal inside. Whoever had made this had put in some serious effort. The rice was perfectly shaped, the side dishes carefully arranged. He hesitated before taking a bite, half-expecting some sort of prank, but the flavors melted in his mouth, and he couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction.
Mitsumi nudged him lightly. "So, where exactly did you go earlier?"
He chewed slowly, considering his words before responding. "I heard someone crying for help, so I went to check it out. There were thieves trying to steal from a woman near the love bridge."
Mitsumi stiffened. "Were they caught?"
Hikari shrugged. "I think so. I told the woman to call the police before I left. They were still unconscious when I left them."
A frown settled on her lips, but she nodded. "So they were the same ones from before..."
It was likely. The same thieves who had tried to rob Mitsumi had now targeted someone else. He had a feeling this wasn't the last time he'd run into trouble like this.
The classroom buzzed with chatter, students sharing food and laughter. The scent of warm meals filled the air, mixing with the sounds of crinkling wrappers and clinking chopsticks. Outside, the sky stretched wide, a soft breeze rustling the trees lining the school courtyard. For a moment, everything felt normal. Peaceful.
But Hikari knew better.
Something about today felt like the beginning of something much bigger.
As he continued eating, his thoughts drifted back to the woman. The way she had smiled at him, as if she knew something he didn't. The familiarity in her eyes. Where had he seen her before?
He couldn't quite put his fingers around it but one way or another, the lady really did seem familiar.