The days of silence stretched into three, and the tension was unbearable, though neither of them said a word about it. Hibari found himself on the rooftop of Namimori Middle during lunch, seeking solace in the quiet heights overlooking the town. He leaned against the railing, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon.

But he wasn't calm. Not even close. He was boiling with anger.

What is wrong with him? Hibari thought, jaw tightening. Dino hadn't been acting like himself—avoiding him, not speaking to him properly, not even trying to address the obvious tension between them. And that infuriated Hibari. How am I supposed to know what's wrong if he doesn't explain?

The door to the rooftop creaked open behind him, and Hibari's sharp gaze flicked to the source. The senior who had confessed to him a few days ago stepped through, startled to see him there. What's his name again? The guy quickly regained his composure and smiled softly, offering a polite greeting.

"Hibari," he said, his tone warm, though there was a hint of nervousness. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Hibari didn't respond, merely turning back to the view, his silence a clear indication that he wasn't particularly interested in the interaction.

The senior, undeterred, took a few steps closer. "I hope you don't mind me being here."

Hibari's fingers tapped the railing absently, his expression unreadable. He didn't even turn to look at the guy.

--

Downstairs, Dino was rushing through the hallway toward his class, his thoughts scattered and his mood already sour. He barely registered his surroundings until a familiar figure on the rooftop caught his eye.

Stopping dead in his tracks, he squinted, his breath hitching. Through the glass of the rooftop door, he could see Hibari standing by the railing—and with him, the guy who had confessed.

Dino's chest tightened. His first instinct was to storm up there, but he held himself back, his hand gripping the strap of his bag so tightly his knuckles turned white. His jaw clenched as a thousand thoughts flooded his mind.

Of course, he's with that guy. Why wouldn't he be?

His mind reeled. What am I even doing here? Dragging this out when I can clearly see it's not working. Maybe... The thought formed painfully in his head, but he couldn't stop it. Maybe I should call things off. Maybe that would be better—for both of us.

Dino's heart ached as he turned away, forcing himself to keep walking. He didn't want to face the truth of what he'd just seen, but the seed of doubt had already taken root. And it wasn't going anywhere.

--

Dino's day had already been exhausting. Staying late for his students' exams had drained him, and he had hoped to come home to some semblance of peace. But the moment he stepped inside and heard the unmistakable crash of breaking glass, his body went on high alert.

Rushing to the kitchen, he froze at the sight before him. Hibari was crouched on the floor, blood trickling from his hands as he picked up shards of broken glass with infuriatingly steady movements.

"What the hell are you doing?" Dino snapped, his voice laced with frustration and worry as he rushed over. He crouched beside Hibari, feeling a mix of anger and panic rise in his chest.

"I'll do it," Dino said firmly, his tone cold but pleading beneath the surface.

Hibari didn't even look up, continuing to collect the fragments with his bleeding fingers. The sight made Dino's heart ache and his anger boil over simultaneously.

"I said I'll do it!" Dino's voice rose, sharper now.

Hibari finally stopped, his movements stilling as he glanced at Dino. His expression was unreadable, but the silence spoke volumes. Then, without a word, Hibari returned to picking up the glass, as if Dino hadn't said anything.

Dino's patience snapped. His voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Why are you being so difficult? Your hands are bleeding! Just go wash them and get them treated—I'll clean this up for you!"

Hibari, already worn thin from his own bottled-up emotions, felt his irritation spike. He wasn't used to being scolded, especially not by Dino. His response was sharp and cold. "I'm not some helpless fool. I can handle this."

The words felt like a slap to Dino. He couldn't believe how stubborn Hibari was being, even at his own expense. His frustration erupted as he grabbed Hibari's wrist roughly, yanking him away from the glass.

"Stop being so damn reckless!" Dino shouted, his voice tinged with desperation. "Do you even care how much this—"

Hibari, startled by Dino's aggression, reacted instinctively. His free hand pushed Dino away with surprising force, and his sharp eyes narrowed. "Let go of me."

But Dino didn't back down. Instead, he tightened his grip, his own temper flaring. "Not until you listen to me!"

Hibari's movements became more forceful as he tried to free himself, his own anger bubbling over. "If you don't let go—"

The tension between them reached its peak, both of their emotions raw and volatile. The air in the room felt suffocating as the clash of wills played out in a way neither of them had intended.

For a brief moment, their eyes met, and there was something deeper beneath the anger—a mix of hurt, confusion, and unspoken feelings that neither of them knew how to voice. But the fragile moment passed as quickly as it came, lost in the heat of the argument.