NOVEL WEB Chapter 19 - Hopeful feelings
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Nero's heart stopped the moment his chocolate shake slipped from his fingers. Time seemed to slow as he watched the dark liquid splash across the pristine white shirt of the tall stranger before him, creating a Rorschach of brown stains that spread like watercolor across expensive fabric.
"I—" Nero started, his own uniform suddenly feeling too tight around his collar. The midday sun beat down on the brick pathway, making the spilled shake glisten mockingly. His face burned with embarrassment as he looked up at the blue-haired student, expecting anger, expecting outrage, expecting anything but—
"It's fine."
The words were delivered with such casual indifference that Nero could only stare, a question mark practically visible in his bewildered expression. Fine? The stranger's expensive-looking shirt was ruined, there was chocolate shake dripping onto the bricks, and this guy was acting like Nero had merely bumped his elbow.
The tall student stood there, hands in his pockets, regarding the spreading stain with the mild interest one might show a passing cloud. His long blue-black hair shifted in the breeze, and Nero couldn't decide if this calm demeanor was more unsettling than if he'd just gotten angry.
"?" was all Nero could manage, his usual eloquence deserting him in the face of such unprecedented composure. Somehow, this casual dismissal of his blunder made him feel even more off-balance than a confrontation would have.
"I do appreciate the offer, though," the blue-haired student said with an easy smile that somehow made the chocolate stain on his shirt seem inconsequential.
Nero stood frozen, his mind struggling to process this unexpected kindness. *H-he's kind...* The thought drifted through his consciousness like a leaf on water, foreign yet welcome.
Standing there on the sun-warmed bricks, Nero felt something shift inside him. *Maybe I can...* His gaze drifted across the courtyard, taking in the gentle buzz of student life around him.
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A group of classmates sat at their desks near the window, their laughter carrying across the yard, their postures relaxed and welcoming.
*The vibes here are definitely different from my old school,* he realized, memories of tenser days fading like old photographs. Here, students called out cheerful greetings to each other. Someone had written "Hey, hurry!" on the board, but even that seemed more playful than demanding.
A warm certainty began to bloom in his chest. *Everyone's nice and so sweet... I was worried for no reason at all.* He almost wanted to laugh at his earlier anxieties, at how he'd spent sleepless nights dreading this transfer.
Looking down at his hands, a small, genuine smile tugged at his lips. "I'm glad I moved," he whispered to himself, and for the first time since arriving, he truly meant it.
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The soft buzz of Nero's phone cut through the quiet hum of the bus as it rumbled back to his new home. He pulled it out lazily, half-expecting another school announcement or some spam. But when the screen lit up, his eyes caught something that made his pulse quicken.
A message flashed on his social media messenger:
-Hey, let's meet up and drink~
-I want to talk to you about something~
The profile picture—a girl, smiling brightly, her hair cascading in soft chestnut waves that framed her face—caught his attention. Her eyes, a warm shade of hazel, gleamed with a playful light, slightly narrowed as though caught mid-laugh. Her skin was smooth, sun-kissed with a light golden tone, and her lips, painted a soft pink, curled into a smile that hinted at both confidence and sweetness. The way her hair tumbled over her shoulders added to the effortless charm she exuded.
Nero squinted at the name: Aiko Yoshida.
His heart jumped. *Aiko...* It took a moment, but then it clicked. She was his middle school classmate. Back then, she was cute—a shy girl who always had her hair tied in a neat ponytail, with a soft giggle that echoed in Nero’s memories. But now, as Nero stared at her picture, it was clear she had transformed. She wasn’t just cute anymore. She was gorgeous.
“Damn,” Nero muttered under his breath, feeling his face heat up. He quickly checked if anyone on the bus noticed his sudden blush, but no one cared. He glanced at the picture again. *She’s really bloomed...*
Nero’s stomach fluttered with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. They hadn’t spoken in years. Sure, they were friends back in middle school, but not close enough to randomly hang out now. *So why message me out of the blue?* he wondered.
The thought lingered. Something felt off. He hadn’t even crossed her mind, as far as he knew, since middle school. But now, suddenly, she wanted to meet up? *There’s gotta be something she wants.*
His fingers hovered over the screen, staring at the message.
*"But really... she's so damn cute."* The thought slipped in uninvited. His heart raced faster as teenage hormones took over. There was no way he could just ignore her. He chuckled, a mixture of nerves and lust bubbling up. *What could she possibly want to talk to me about?*
But before he could get carried away, his AI’s voice chimed in, cool and robotic. "Nero, check your map."
The map. The one he had been rewarded with after his transfer, the one said to lead him to a legendary item. Nero hesitated for a second, then pulled up the holographic display from the corner of his vision. A grid of locations spread out before him, and as he zoomed in, something caught his eye.
His heart skipped a beat. The blinking marker on the map... it was *exactly* where Aiko had suggested they meet.
Nero’s breath caught in his throat. His thumb trembled over the phone screen. This wasn’t just some random hangout request—it was connected to his quest. A legendary item, and Aiko, his cute middle school friend, both in the same place. His mind spun with the possibilities. *What does this mean? Is she connected to this somehow?*
The bus jerked as it made a stop, but Nero barely noticed. He sat there, staring at the map, his heart racing with anticipation.
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Nero stood at the entrance of the apartment building, double-checking the address on his phone. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the street as students headed home from their after-school activities. His new school uniform still felt stiff, but at least this had been a better first day than he'd expected – especially after that chocolate shake incident.
*This is it,* he thought, looking up at the modern building. His parents had handled everything – the rent, the furniture, even having his belongings moved in. All he had to do was find his way here after school. Simple enough, even if the bus route had been unfamiliar.
But as he stepped into the hallway, time seemed to freeze. There, just ahead of him, was a sight that made his heart skip several beats. That blonde hair, those bright blue eyes – he would never forget them. It was *her* – the same girl he'd seen at the park bench that day, back when everything had gone sideways with Marcus and his crew.
The memory flashed through his mind: the way she'd been giggling on that bench, sunlight dancing in her hair, a moment of beauty amid chaos. He'd only caught a glimpse of her then, his split lip still bleeding from the fight he'd won more by luck than skill. He'd wanted to stop, to look longer, but the warning voices in his head and the very real possibility of Marcus's friends catching up had forced him to run.
Now here she was, in the last place he'd expected. His new neighbor. The universe, it seemed, had a strange sense of humor.
*What are the odds?* his mind raced as he watched her approach her door. The same girl who'd unknowingly given him a moment of peace during one of his worst days was now standing mere feet away. His heart began to race, but for entirely different reasons than it had during that fateful afternoon...
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The world seemed to slow down the moment Nero saw her in the hallway. Tall, graceful, with flowing blonde hair catching the fluorescent lights like spun gold. Her bright blue eyes were focused ahead as she approached her apartment door, briefcase in hand.
*The prettiest person I have ever seen,* Nero thought, his heart thundering in his chest. His school uniform suddenly felt too warm as he stood there, frozen in the corridor. *Who also happens to be right in front of me...*
*Is my next-door neighbor!* The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He watched as she reached for her keys, his mind racing. *Should I try greeting her right now?*
"Uh, what should I do?" he muttered to himself, tugging nervously at his black tie. His normally composed demeanor crumbled as he noticed her about to enter her apartment. *S...she's about to go in!*
Gathering every ounce of courage he possessed, Nero managed a hesitant "H...hello?"
She paused, turning slightly. "Hm...?"
"Oh, hello," she replied, her voice as elegant as her appearance.
"T-then..." Nero stammered, his cheeks flushing pink, a nervous smile spreading across his face. "Have a nice evening!" The words tumbled out in a rush, his usual coolness nowhere to be found in the presence of his beautiful new neighbor.