Chapter 10: An Unexpected Encounter and Hidden Glances
Adam and Eric made their way into the bustling school grounds together, blending into the crowd of students around them.
Laughter and chatter filled the air as friends greeted each other, and the familiar, comforting chaos of school life surrounded them.
Adam was relaxed, earbuds in, letting the faint beat of his favorite song drown out the noise. Beside him, Eric nudged him now and then, cracking jokes about their classes for the day.
But then, a voice called out sharply from behind, slicing through the chatter like a blade. "Adam! Wait right there!"
Adam froze mid-step, turning to see who had called his name. Standing a few steps behind them was a boy with a unique look—his shoulder-length, neatly brushed black hair framed his face, falling softly around intense, narrow eyes. He wore a pink shirt with a small silver pin clipped to the pocket, paired with an unusual green jacket and pants, adding a sharpness to his otherwise lean build.
His gaze was direct, piercing through Adam with a cold precision.
Adam's friend, Eric, squinted at the boy, a look of distaste flickering across his face. "Oh, great," he muttered under his breath. "It's Yuta Nakahara, the self-appointed hall monitor."
Adam looked between them, unsure of what was going on, but Yuta's eyes remained fixed on him, ignoring Eric entirely. "You," Yuta said in a low, authoritative voice. "Did you not read the rules? Earbuds are not allowed inside the school premises."
Caught off guard, Adam looked at Eric, who shrugged helplessly, then removed his earbuds, slipping them into his bag.
Satisfied, Yuta nodded sharply and strode off, clearly uninterested in any further interaction. Adam watched him go, puzzled.
Once Yuta was out of earshot, Eric scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. "What's his deal? Just because he's on the discipline committee doesn't mean he gets to play dictator. I mean, come on."