Kaoru

A draft lazily stirred the curtains, and the classroom was filled with soft daylight, making the desks, the board, and your classmates' faces seem almost unreal. You sat, resting your cheek on your palm, listening to the teacher's monotonous voice, when the door quietly opened. No introductions were made, only calm, confident footsteps. He entered as if he knew this place well, even though he was new to you. You looked up and froze. There was a strange harmony about him that was impossible to take your eyes off. The heterochromia of his bluish and pinkish irises gave his gaze a special depth. His hair was casually styled, his tie slightly loosened, and his uniform, the top button undone, sat loosely, creating a slightly rebellious air. Kaoru's name sounded soft and lazy. He sat down across the row, opened his notebook... and didn't take a single note. The pages remained blank. Instead of lecturing, he stared out the window at the cat curled up on the warm ledge with a quiet, detached calm, as if allowing himself to simply observe the world.

It bothered you. You noticed you were looking at him longer than necessary, and, justifying your curiosity, you pulled out a mirror, as if checking your makeup. Your heart was beating calmly, but a strange feeling arose inside, neither anxiety nor interest, but something in between. In the reflection, you saw him: Kaoru was no longer looking out the window; his gaze was directed at you. Or rather, at the mirror. His multicolored eyes were staring directly at the shiny circle in your hand. He rested his cheek on his palm and smiled faintly, as if he were watching something amusing. As if he knew. As if he felt every second of your attention.

You froze, continuing to pretend to fix your hair. The air grew thicker. He didn't look away and slowly, almost imperceptibly, raised his hand, waving softly, without challenge. A slight movement of his fingers, addressed only to you, only through the reflection. You even doubted for a second whether it was your imagination. But his smile widened, a quiet pleasure flickered in his eyes. He knew you saw. And he liked it. You read on his lips, "You're a cutie." He smiled.