Crossing courts | Rin Itoshi

XV

Rin, holding the onigiri he purchased, made his way to the library in search of Y/n. The quiet atmosphere of the library contrasted with the liveliness of the cafeteria, but Rin's determination to find Y/n remained unwavering.

Spotting her engrossed in her studies at a table, Rin approached with his customary calm demeanor. "Y/n," he said, capturing her attention. As she looked up, he inquired, "Have you eaten?"

Observing Rin's inquiry about Y/n's meal, Kumi, who was studying alongside Y/n in the library, couldn't help but pick up on the subtle nuances. Intrigued, she interjected with a teasing smile, "Rin, are you worried about Y/n? Is that why you bought her an onigiri?"

Rin, caught momentarily off guard by Kumi's directness, maintained his calm demeanor but couldn't entirely conceal a faint blush that touched his cheeks. "I just thought she might not have had lunch," he replied, his tone steady despite the underlying warmth in his gaze.

Kumi, however, wasn't one to let such matters pass without a bit of teasing. "Oh, Rin, you're such a caring guy," she teased, winking playfully at Y/n.

Y/n, meeting Rin's gaze, admitted, "Actually, I haven't eaten yet." She offered him a grateful smile as Rin handed her the onigiri.

"Thanks Rin."

Rin, however, couldn't help but notice Kumi, who was studying alongside Y/n and seemed to have skipped a meal as well. Addressing Kumi, he asked, "Kumi, have you eaten anything?"

"I'm fine , Rin, I actually grabbed a bite during our study lesson, thanks tho," she reassured him with a smile.

As Rin left the library to fetch something from the cafeteria, Kumi, sitting beside Y/n, couldn't resist the opportunity for a bit of playful speculation. She leaned in and whispered, "You know, Y/n, I'm starting to think that Rin might like you."

Y/n, caught off guard by Kumi's sudden remark, chuckled nervously. "What? No way, Rin is just being nice," she replied, attempting to dismiss the idea.

Kumi, however, raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. "Oh come on! The guy just bought you an onigiri and walks you home almost everyday, that's more than 'just being nice.' "

Y/n chuckled at Kumi's playful speculation, dismissing it with a light-hearted comment. "You're being delusional Kumi, Rin is just a nice guy, that's all."

Kumi, undeterred, raised an eyebrow and gave Y/n a knowing look. "Well, maybe he's being nice because he likes you, have you ever thought about that?" she teased.

Y/n, feeling a hint of embarrassment, blushed slightly. "What? No, it's not like that, we're just friends," she insisted, though a subtle uncertainty lingered in her expression.

Kumi, always perceptive and playful, couldn't resist pushing the boundaries a bit further. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she leaned in closer to Y/n and asked, "Come on, Y/n, is Rin secretly your crush that you're hiding from us?"

Y/n, caught off guard by the directness of Kumi's question, nervously stammered, "Wha—no! Rin is just a friend. Seriously!"

Kumi, however, continued to tease with a knowing smile. "You're blushing! I think there's more to this 'friendship' than you're letting on."

Caught in the playful interrogation of her feelings, Y/n let out a nervous laugh and admitted, "Okay, fine. Maybe I do have a little crush on Rin." She glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, before turning to Kumi with pleading eyes.

"But please, Kumi, don't tell anyone. It's just... a secret, alright?"

Kumi grinned, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "Your secret is safe with me Y/n, but I have to say it's kind of cute," she teased, nudging Y/n playfully.