Unraveled Ties-Chapter 44: A Question Without an Answer

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, but the campus remained lively. *Exams were around the corner, and students were either rushing to cram or forming study groups.*

Reiji found himself inside the clubroom, watching as Sena sat across from him, fully focused on her notes. Her sharp gaze followed each word as she underlined key points, her fingers tapping against the desk in rhythm.

For a while, he simply observed, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. *Seeing her so serious was... kind of amusing.*

"...You know, I never thought I’d see you this invested in studying," Reiji remarked.

Sena didn’t even glance up. "And I never thought I’d have to deal with an annoying clubmate while doing it."

Reiji chuckled. "Oh? So I’m annoying now?"

"You always were," she deadpanned.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his palm. "Harsh."

Sena sighed, finally lifting her gaze. "What do you even want, Tsukishima?"

Reiji shrugged. "Nothing. Just admiring your dedication. It’s rare."

"Shut up," she muttered, flipping the page.

He grinned, but then she added, "By the way, we’re pausing the lessons until exams are over."

Reiji raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Taking pity on me already?"

Sena rolled her eyes. "I just don’t want you failing because of me. Your grades are your responsibility, but I’d rather not be blamed if you suddenly drop to the bottom."

Reiji smirked. "Touching. So when’s the next lesson, then?"

Sena leaned back in her chair, stretching. "The weekend after exams. We’ll go out for lunch."

Reiji blinked. "Wait, hold on—lunch?"

"Yeah." Sena shot him a look. "What? You thought I’d just keep making you stare into my eyes forever? We’re progressing."

"...And by progressing, you mean...?"

"A food date. I’ll see how you act in a real setting," she stated simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Reiji stared at her. *A date? Well, a ‘lesson’ date, technically, but still.*

"Got a problem with that?" Sena asked.

Reiji exhaled. "Nah. Just surprised."

Sena smirked. "Then focus on studying for now. Wouldn’t want you getting distracted, right?"

Reiji scoffed. "You say that, but you’re the one bringing up things that’ll be distracting."

Sena shrugged, going back to her book. "Not my problem."

---

They continued studying for a while, the sound of pages flipping and pens scribbling filling the air.

But Reiji... *couldn’t fully focus.*

Every now and then, his gaze drifted toward Sena. *Her concentrated expression. The way she lightly chewed the end of her pen while thinking. The subtle furrow of her brows when she was deep in thought.*

She really was pretty.

That was a fact he had long accepted. *But lately, he was noticing it more.*

Before he realized it, his mouth moved on its own.

"...Can I hold your hand again?"

Sena’s pen stopped moving.

She turned to him, brow raised. "...Why?"

Reiji opened his mouth—then closed it. *That was a good question.*

He didn’t know why.

He just... wanted to.

But saying that outright? No way.

"...I dunno," he muttered, looking away.

Sena studied him for a moment, then sighed. "You’re a weird guy, you know that?"

Reiji didn’t argue.

Still, after a brief pause, she extended her hand.

Reiji hesitated for a second before slowly taking it.

Her hand was warm. Soft. *Different from Aoi’s, but still comforting in its own way.*

For a moment, he simply held it, *feeling the quiet beat of his own pulse grow faster.*

Sena, as usual, didn’t seem too fazed. "Satisfied?"

"...Yeah."

Reiji let go, flexing his fingers as if trying to memorize the sensation.

Sena shook her head. "You’re so strange."

Reiji chuckled. "Maybe."

The conversation ended there, but even as they returned to their studies, *Reiji found himself unable to shake off the feeling lingering on his fingertips.*