— Group project.
Those three words were enough for Yuuto Hoshino to slowly close his notebook… and silently accept that his day was ruined.
— The project will be done in teams of five — the teacher announced, writing on the board. — Theme: "Communication and Human Relationships."
Silence.
Then—
— THIS IS PERFECT!! — Sakura Aoyama practically jumped out of her seat. — I WANT YUUTO!
— That's not how this works — said the teacher, adjusting his glasses.
— But it should be! — she shot back.
— Definitely not — Yuuto muttered.
Haru raised his hand.
— Teacher! I want Yuuto too!
— This is not an auction — the teacher replied, visibly tired.
Ren crossed his arms.
— I just want to see how this turns out.
— You will participate — said the teacher.
— Then I want full chaos.
Misaki raised her hand calmly.
— May I suggest a group formation?
The teacher nodded.
— As long as it's organized.
She pointed without hesitation:
— Me, Yuuto, Sakura, Haru, and Ren.
Silence.
Sakura broke into a huge smile.
— APPROVED!
— It hasn't been approved yet — said the teacher.
— But it should be!
The teacher sighed.
— …fine.
— YES!! — Sakura celebrated, hitting the desk.
Yuuto closed his eyes.
— This is the worst possible scenario.
— I disagree — said Ren. — This is the best possible entertainment.
---
After class, the group gathered in the library.
Or rather…
tried to.
— Alright! — Sakura clapped her hands. — Let's start!
— We're in a library — said Misaki. — Lower your volume.
— Right! — Sakura whispered… loudly. — LET'S START!
— That's not whispering — Yuuto commented.
Haru opened a notebook.
— So… communication and human relationships…
— Easy! — Sakura said. — You just talk to people!
— Too simplistic — Misaki replied.
— Too complicated — Sakura shot back.
Ren raised his hand.
— My contribution: people are weird.
— That doesn't help — said Yuuto.
— It does. It summarizes everything.
— In a way… — Yuuto thought — …you're not wrong.
— See? — Ren smiled. — The silent one understands me.
— Don't get carried away.
---
— Alright — said Misaki, naturally taking the lead. — We need to divide tasks.
— I'll do the presentation! — Sakura said.
— Of course you will — Yuuto murmured.
— I'll do the written part — said Misaki.
— I… can help — said Haru.
— You'll get in the way — Ren replied.
— HEY!
— I'll do the revision — said Yuuto.
Everyone looked at him.
— You… volunteered? — Sakura blinked.
— It's more efficient.
— Wow… progress!
— Don't get used to it.
— Too late!
---
A few minutes later…
— This is boring — Sakura said, dropping onto the table.
— We're studying — said Misaki.
— Exactly!
— That's the objective.
— But it's boring!
Yuuto kept writing.
— Communication doesn't have to be fun.
— Yes, it does! — Sakura pointed at him. — If it isn't, no one pays attention!
He paused.
Thought.
— …that makes sense.
Misaki looked up.
— I partially agree.
Sakura smiled.
— TWO TO ONE!
— This isn't a vote — said Yuuto.
— Now it is!
Ren raised his hand.
— I vote for chaos.
— No one asked for your opinion — said Misaki.
— But I gave it anyway.
---
— Wait! — Sakura suddenly said. — I've got it!
— That's never a good sign — Yuuto muttered.
— Let's test communication in practice!
— How? — Haru asked.
Sakura smiled dangerously.
— Let's do an exercise!
— I don't like this — Yuuto said.
— You will!
— I doubt it.
— We're going to simulate situations!
— That sounds unnecessary.
— You're going to pretend you're on a date!
Absolute silence.
Haru choked.
Ren started laughing.
Misaki froze.
Yuuto… froze.
— No.
— Yes!
— No.
— YES!
— This has nothing to do with the project.
— It has everything to do with it! Communication in social situations!
— Rejected.
— Approved by me!
— That's not how this works.
— IT IS!
She pulled a chair and sat in front of him.
— Let's go!
— No.
— Start!
— No.
— START!
Yuuto looked at her.
Sighed.
— …this is a waste of time.
— Then prove it!
— …
— …
— …
— …good afternoon — he said flatly.
Sakura's eyes widened.
— HE STARTED!!
Haru nearly fell off his chair.
Ren was laughing openly.
— This is going to be amazing.
Sakura quickly recomposed herself.
— Good afternoon! — she replied enthusiastically. — Do you come here often?
— No.
— Wow, that's a terrible answer!
— You asked for realism.
Ren clapped.
— 10/10.
Misaki watched closely.
— Continue.
Yuuto closed his eyes for a second.
— This is embarrassing.
— IT'S PART OF IT!
— …
— …
— You talk too much — he said.
Sakura stopped.
— Was that personal?
— Observation.
She crossed her arms.
— Then I'll respond properly!
She leaned forward.
— And you talk way too little.
— I know.
— And that annoys me.
— I know.
— And even so…
She stopped.
For a second…
she was speechless.
— …it's interesting.
Silence.
Haru blinked.
Ren stopped laughing.
Misaki observed.
Yuuto looked at Sakura.
— That wasn't in the script.
— I know — she said, quickly looking away. — That was improvisation.
— Spontaneous communication — Misaki commented.
— Works better than I expected — Ren said.
— That was weird — Haru said.
— It was — Yuuto agreed.
But he didn't seem bothered.
---
Some time later, the group finally made progress on the project.
Miraculously.
— I think we finished the base — said Misaki.
— Finally! — Sakura stretched. — That was exhausting!
— You turned half of it into theater — said Yuuto.
— And it worked!
— Partially.
— My win.
— You decide your own victories.
— Always!
Ren stood up.
— I'd give full marks just for your performance.
— IT WASN'T A DATE! — Sakura shouted.
— Not yet — Haru added.
— SHUT UP!
---
As they left the library, the sun was already low.
The group slowly began to disperse.
— Yuuto — Misaki called.
He stopped.
— Yes?
— You… really do observe people well.
— I try.
— Keep trying.
She walked away.
Sakura appeared beside him.
— What did she want?
— Nothing important.
— Suspicious.
— Coincidence.
She smiled.
— You're getting better at this.
— At what?
— Talking.
— Your fault.
— I KNEW IT!
He looked ahead.
— …it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Sakura went silent for a second.
Then she smiled.
— Then I'll keep going.
— I figured.
They walked together for a few steps.
No rush.
No need to talk.
But this time…
the silence wasn't empty.
It was shared.
And somehow…
that said more than any words.