The Feeling I Couldn't Explain

The familiar noise of Class 2-B filled the room once again.

Students chatted excitedly about homework, weekend plans, and meaningless gossip. Laughter echoed across the classroom like birds singing at dawn.

But Yuna Tachibana barely heard any of it.

Her attention remained fixed on the screen of her phone.

The anonymous account stared back at her.

No profile picture.

No posts.

No information.

Nothing.

And yet somehow...

It was always there.

Always the first to view her stories.

Always the first to react.

Like a shadow that followed her wherever she went.

Ever since that night by the riverside, a strange feeling had settled deep inside her chest.

A feeling she couldn't explain.

A feeling that whispered that something wasn't right.

Suddenly—

The classroom door slid open.

The sound snapped Yuna out of her thoughts.

Ren Kurokawa entered.

Quiet.

Expressionless.

The same cold look he always wore.

He walked toward his seat without saying a word.

Yuna watched him carefully.

This was the Ren she knew.

Reserved.

Distant.

Not clingy.

Not affectionate.

Not the boy who had held her tightly beneath the streetlights and confessed feelings she had never heard before.

As if sensing her stare, Ren glanced at her.

"Why are you looking at me?"

Yuna immediately looked away.

"N-Nothing."

Her heart skipped.

Because if this was Ren...

Then who had been with her that night?

---

The morning lesson passed in a blur.

The teacher's voice faded into meaningless background noise.

"Open your books to page forty-six."

Yuna stared at Ren from across the room.

The memory replayed itself once more.

"I really, really like you..."

His voice.

His warmth.

His embrace.

Then another memory followed.

"I wish it were me instead."

Her fingers tightened around her pen.

The plastic creaked under the pressure.

Why did it feel like he had become a completely different person that day?

---

Lunch break arrived.

The cafeteria buzzed with energy.

Students lined up for food while conversations overlapped in every direction.

Balancing her tray carefully, Yuna searched for an empty table.

Then—

THUD.

Someone collided with her.

Her tray tilted dangerously.

"Ah—!"

Before disaster could strike, another hand steadied it.

"Careful~"

Yuna blinked.

Standing in front of her was a girl she had never seen before.

Long dark hair flowed over her shoulders like silk.

Her smile was gentle.

Beautiful.

Yet there was something about her presence that felt strangely intimidating.

Something difficult to describe.

"Sorry about that," the girl said warmly.

"You didn't spill anything, right?"

Yuna shook her head.

"No, it's okay."

The girl studied her for a moment.

Then she smiled.

"So you're Yuna."

Yuna froze.

"...You know me?"

"A little."

The girl tilted her head.

"I've heard your name before."

For some reason, that answer only made Yuna more uncomfortable.

Then the girl leaned slightly closer.

"You're cuter in person."

Yuna nearly dropped her tray again.

"H-Huh?!"

The girl laughed softly.

"Relax. It's a compliment."

---

A familiar voice interrupted them.

"Yuna."

Yuna turned immediately.

Ren stood nearby.

The same unreadable expression rested on his face.

For a brief second, silence settled between the three of them.

Then Yuna noticed something strange.

The smile on the girl's face disappeared.

Only for a moment.

But it disappeared.

Ren looked at her.

"...Who is she?"

The smile instantly returned.

"Just a classmate."

Yuna glanced between them.

The atmosphere felt oddly tense.

Like invisible sparks floating through the air.

The girl stepped away.

"See you around, Yuna~"

Then she glanced at Ren.

"...And Ren too."

With that, she walked away.

Leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.

Yuna looked at Ren.

"Do you know her?"

"No."

His answer came immediately.

Too immediately.

And somehow...

That bothered her.

---

After school, the hallways were nearly empty.

The setting sun painted long shadows across the lockers.

Yuna crouched down to fix her shoes.

Then a familiar voice spoke from behind.

"Yuna~"

She jumped.

"Ah?!"

The same girl stood there.

Smiling.

As if appearing out of nowhere was completely normal.

"Sorry."

She giggled.

"Did I scare you?"

"A little..."

The girl leaned casually against a locker.

"You and Ren are pretty close, huh?"

Yuna felt her cheeks warm.

"He's my boyfriend."

A brief silence followed.

The girl's smile changed.

Not completely.

Just enough to feel different.

"Ah..."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"So it's you."

Confusion washed over Yuna once again.

"What does that mean?"

The girl simply looked away.

"Nothing."

Then she smiled.

"Just interesting."

As she walked away, Yuna felt a chill crawl across her skin.

Every conversation with her left behind the same feeling.

Like she knew something.

Something important.

Something she wasn't saying.

---

That night, Yuna sat on her bed scrolling through social media.

The anonymous account had reacted first again.

As always.

Then suddenly—

A new message appeared.

Unknown Sender:

Be careful.

Yuna froze.

"...What?"

Before she could process it, another message arrived.

Not everyone who smiles at you is kind.

A cold sensation spread through her body.

Instantly, she remembered Akane's smile.

Warm.

Beautiful.

And somehow...

Unsettling.

Yuna tightened her grip on the phone.

The warning echoed inside her mind.

---

Outside her house, the night was silent.

Moonlight bathed the quiet streets in silver.

From a distance, a lone figure stood watching her bedroom window.

Motionless.

Patient.

Waiting.

The moonlight finally revealed her face.

Akane Hoshizaki.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Little by little..."

Her eyes glimmered beneath the darkness.

"...you'll find out."

---

Inside her room, Yuna stared at the mysterious warning message.

Questions flooded her mind.

The anonymous account.

Akane.

The strange changes in Ren.

The memory of that night.

And most of all...

The two different versions of the boy she loved.

One was cold.

Quiet.

Distant.

The other was warm.

Gentle.

Affectionate.

Her hands trembled.

Why did it feel like...

She was in love with two completely different people?

As darkness filled the room, two identical silhouettes appeared in her imagination.

Standing side by side.

One smiling softly.

The other expressionless.

Both wearing the same face.

And neither willing to reveal the truth.

End of Episode 2

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