BETWEEN WORLDS | Ryohei Arisu x Reader

September 7 2012

The day felt like it was dragging on, each minute stretching endlessly, and the constant ticking of the clock only made it feel worse. I couldn't help but glance at it every few seconds, eagerly awaiting the bell to ring. It felt as though the entire universe was in a standstill, everything waiting for this moment. When the bell finally rang, I was already halfway through packing my things, my mind far ahead of where it should have been. The weekend was just around the corner, but more importantly, so was time spent with my friends and more specifically, with Arisu.

I packed my bag hastily, tossing things in without much care, too eager to be done. Haeru had already sprung up from her seat, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her eyes fixed on the door as she scrolled through her phone. She was always like this, so full of energy, ready to go at the drop of a hat.

"Y/N, come on! Hurry up, or they'll leave us behind!" she called out, her usual teasing tone coming through loud and clear. She was smiling, though, so I knew she wasn't really annoyed.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, throwing the last few things into my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. I could already feel the excitement bubbling up inside me. The idea of hanging out with everyone after school, of spending time with Arisu, was enough to make the day feel worthwhile. Even though it was only a couple of hours of fun, it always felt like those moments made up for everything else.

We stepped outside, the cool air of the late afternoon brushing against my skin as we walked toward the gates. The usual scene greeted us, Chota and Karube were leaning against the brick wall, their heads tilted back toward the sky as if they were trying to will the day to end faster. They noticed us right away.

"Finally," Karube said with a wide grin, though it wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. It was more a general statement, as if he just enjoyed getting a reaction.

Haeru rolled her eyes. "Blame her," she said, pointing at me. "She was too busy organizing her notes."

"Hey, it's important!" I protested, though I couldn't help but laugh. There was something about Haeru's teasing that felt so familiar, so comforting, that it was impossible not to smile.

"You two," Karube said, glancing toward Arisu. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes. I could sense that he was about to say something, but then Haeru stepped forward, cutting him off before he had the chance.

"Let's get going," she said, grabbing my wrist. "Don't keep us waiting. It's movie night, remember?"

I nodded, following her lead. The others started to walk with us, but as I looked over to Arisu, something shifted. He had always been the calm one in the group the steady presence that balanced out everyone else's energy. He didn't have to speak much to make his presence known. His silence was loud in its own way, and it was a comfort I hadn't realized I needed until I was around him.

"Hey," Arisu said softly as we caught up to him, his voice as steady as always.

"Hey," I replied, offering a smile that felt too big for my face, though I couldn't help it. There was something about the way he looked at me that always made me feel like I was the only person in the room.

"Ready to go?" he asked, his tone light but there was something else in his gaze something I couldn't quite place. It wasn't just casual; it was like he was checking in, as if he needed to make sure I was okay, but didn't want to ask outright.

"Yeah," I murmured, my heart already starting to race. It was ridiculous how just his presence made everything feel a little more intense. We began walking, and I noticed that Haeru and Karube were bickering about something trivial probably the best snacks in the cafeteria. Their voices were filling the air, but it felt distant, like background noise.