My Part-time Girlfriend

The air was biting cold, but Kaori's face felt warm. Her thoughts seemed to be racing as she glanced at me, though she didn't notice that I appeared uncharacteristically serious at that moment. My eyes darted between her and the pavement, my hands fidgeting with my scarf, as if the motion would somehow steady my nerves.

Ah, wait. You might be wondering about the scarf. Where did we get it?

Well, before stepping outside, I realized how cold it was. Maybe it felt colder to me than to anyone else? Anyway, we grabbed some scarves before heading out. It wasn't exactly a big moment, but I thought you should know.

So, going back.

...

Kaori's POV.

Huh? What is he going to tell me?

I glanced at Yuto. His expression looked more serious than usual, which was rare for him. He scratched the back of his neck, his gaze shifting between the ground and me like he couldn't decide where to look.

Wait…is he going to say something…important?

My heart skipped a beat.

Eh? Is he gonna do it right here, right now? No, no, no, this can't be what I think it is. It's just fake. We're just pretending. There's no way…

...

She tried to steady her breathing, but her heart betrayed her, thudding louder with every passing second. The chill of the night air seemed to heighten the racing of her pulse, each beat echoing in her ears as if the world had slowed down just for her. She focused on the rhythm of her breath, attempting to calm herself, but it was useless. The tension in the air was palpable, and the thought of what might be happening next only made her more restless.

The thought sent a jolt of panic through her, like an electric shock that left her frozen for a moment. Her hands instinctively moved to adjust her scarf, pulling it tighter around her face. It wasn't just to shield herself from the cold anymore—it was a small, desperate attempt to hide the redness that was quickly spreading across her cheeks. The warmth in her face contrasted sharply with the crisp, biting air around her, making her feel even more exposed.

Her mind was a blur of conflicting thoughts. Was she overthinking it? Was this what she thought it was? Every possibility seemed to play out in her head, but none of them felt real. It was just a simple moment, wasn't it? A simple interaction, like any other. But why did it feel like her entire world was hanging in the balance? She tugged the scarf tighter, trying to block out the whirlwind of emotions threatening to spill over, but nothing could stop her racing heart.

...

Is it just me, or is Kaori acting weird? She's just staring at me, looking redder than usual. I mean, yeah, her scarf covers most of her face, but her ears are bright pink.

"Uhmm, K-Kaori?" I said awkwardly, trying to get her attention. "You look pale red. Are you sick or what?"

Her eyes widened slightly, and she stammered, "N-no, I'm okay."

Her voice was shaky—so unlike her.

"It's just hot today, I guess," she added with a laugh that sounded…off.

Hot? Did she just say it's hot? Bro, I'm freezing to death out here, and she's talking about heat? What is this?

"Oh, okay. If you say so," I said, pretending not to notice how weird she was being. "Just tell me if you're not feeling well."

...

Kaori's POV.

He just accepted that? Thank goodness. I didn't need him prying into why I was so flustered.

But honestly, what kind of excuse was that? It's freezing cold out here! What was I thinking?

I snuck a glance at him. His usual awkward expression was plastered on his face as he adjusted his scarf. He probably thought I was insane.

Whatever, Kaori. Focus.

...

Man, this is awkward. Why do I always end up in situations like this? I mean, she's acting strange, I'm acting strange—it's a mess.

Maybe she's just cold? No, she said she's hot. Whatever, Yuto, stop overthinking. Just get to the point.

"So, what are you going to tell me?" she asked suddenly, her voice breaking the silence. She was fidgeting with her scarf, her eyes darting away from mine.

"Well, you know…" I started, trying to sound confident, but my voice wavered. "I wish I told you this sooner, but I couldn't find the right timing. I feel guilty about hiding it."

Her eyes locked onto mine, wide with confusion. "W-what are you saying?"

...

Kaori's POV.

What is he trying to say?

The way his voice softened, the hesitation in his words—what was he trying to tell me? My heart thudded loudly in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears.

Is this what I think it is?

...

"So, what I'm going to tell you is—"

I took a deep breath. This is it.

"It's about earlier in the shop, Ms. Hoshino—"

...

Kaori's POV.

Ms. Hoshino?

Wait, what?

My thoughts screeched to a halt.

Oh. So it's about another girl. Of course.

Of course. It wasn't about me. It was about someone else.

I'm so stupid.

The heaviness in my chest disappeared, replaced by a mix of relief and…something else. Disappointment? No, that couldn't be it.

Of course, it wasn't about me. I was delusional to think it was.

Wait, why am I even thinking like this?

Is this what they call jealousy? No, it can't be. I shook my head slightly, trying to clear my thoughts.

"Uhmm, K-Kaori?" Yuto's voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"Y-yes?" I stammered.

"Are you listening?"

...

Bro, she's not even listening! I mean, I get that I'm not the most interesting guy to talk to, but come on.

I waved a hand slightly, hoping to catch her attention. "Uhmm, Kaori?"

She jumped slightly, her head snapping up to look at me.

"I-I'm still listening!" she said loudly, her voice higher-pitched than usual.

Okay, calm down, Yuto. Just finish what you were saying.

"So, earlier in the shop, Ms. Hoshino, the class secretary, happened to pass by," I said, trying to keep my tone even. "She asked what I was doing there. Honestly, I panicked. I told her I was waiting for someone because I didn't want her to think I was buying anything expensive. I mean, look at me—I don't exactly scream 'big spender,' right?"

...

Kaori's POV.

I stared at him, trying to process what he just said. So Ms. Hoshino saw him and asked questions, and he panicked.

"And?" I prompted, curious despite myself.

"Good thing you didn't come too early, or she might've figured something out. We would've been doomed," he said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"So, did she notice anything or what?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

"Of course not," he said, almost too quickly.

"Then what are you feeling guilty about?" I asked. "We're good, right?"

...

Man, why is she so calm about this?

"Well, yeah, but I still lied to you…even if it was just a small thing," I admitted.

Yeah, man, even a small lie is still a lie. No wonder you're such a loser.

She paused, her expression unreadable. Then, to my surprise, she smiled—a small, genuine smile.

"Well, yeah, you did lie to me. That's a minus point for you, I guess," she said, her tone teasing.

Wait, was she…happy?

"But we're good. I forgive you. Just don't lie to me again, okay?"

Her voice was soft, almost kind.

"Y-yes, ma'am!" I said, snapping into a mock-salute.

She laughed—a quiet, gentle laugh that made my heart skip a beat.

...

Kaori's POV.

I couldn't help but laugh. He looked so ridiculous standing there like a soldier, but it was…cute.

"Anyways, let's go now before we're late for dinner," I said, trying to change the subject before things got too weird.

"Oh, okay," he replied, falling into step beside me.

...

The Walk to Dinner.

We walked side by side, the sound of our footsteps blending with the faint hum of the city around us. The air was cold—so cold it felt like it could seep into your bones. But for some reason, I felt warm.

I snuck a glance at Kaori. She was staring straight ahead, her expression calm but distant, like she was lost in thought.

"Hey, Kaori?" I said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for…you know, being cool about all this," I said, my voice softer than I intended.

...

Kaori's POV.

His voice startled me out of my thoughts. I turned to look at him, surprised by his sudden sincerity.

"Thanks for what?" I asked.

"For putting up with me," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know I'm not exactly easy to deal with."

I blinked, caught off guard. Was he…being self-aware?

"No problem," I replied softly, a small smile tugging at my lips.

...

I let out a relieved laugh, maybe a little awkwardly, but it felt good to break the tension. "Lol," I muttered to myself, trying to lighten the moment. As we continued walking, the silence between us became more comfortable than before, like an unspoken understanding that settled in.

Snowflakes began to fall gently as we neared our destination, the soft white flakes catching the glow of the streetlights and floating lazily in the air. The sight was almost magical, a quiet beauty in the way the night seemed to come alive with each flake. Kaori glanced up at the sky, her breath visible in the cold air, a soft mist that disappeared almost instantly. Her eyes followed the snowflakes for a moment, and for a brief second, she seemed lost in the peaceful quiet of it all.

"It's snowing," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice just as soft, almost blending with the stillness of the night.

Cringe. The thought hit me, but I quickly pushed it aside.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause, as if time itself had decided to take a break. The two of us stood together in the falling snow, the soft flakes drifting down around us. It wasn't much, but it felt strangely... peaceful. In that quiet, fleeting moment, everything else faded away, leaving just the soft whisper of the snow and the calm presence of her beside me.

...

And for the first time in a long while, Kaori found herself wishing their fake relationship didn't have to end. She had convinced herself countless times that it was just an act, something temporary, a little game they were playing. But standing there, surrounded by the quiet of the falling snow, something felt different. She hadn't expected to feel this way—like the lines between what was real and what wasn't had started to blur. For just a moment, it felt like everything could stay the same, like they could keep pretending forever.