Chapter 47 (Part 3) — After lunch Silent Jealousy
The lunch bell echoed through the school, long and sharp, cutting across the cafeteria like a signal that something had ended—and something else had quietly begun.
Chairs scraped against the floor. Trays slid back into return slots. The lively noise of lunchtime conversations slowly shifted into movement, footsteps, and murmurs as students began pouring out of the cafeteria in groups.
At the center of it all, Haruya stood up.
It wasn't dramatic. He didn't say anything special. He simply picked up his bag, adjusted the strap on his shoulder, and looked around with his usual gentle expression—calm, polite, unaware.
That alone was enough.
Saeko rose from her seat a second later, her movements slightly stiff. Reina followed immediately, smooth and composed, as if she had already calculated the exact timing needed to remain beside him.
And just like that, the atmosphere changed.
Girls nearby who had been laughing seconds ago fell silent. Conversations died mid-sentence. A few students slowed their steps without realizing it, eyes drawn instinctively toward the small group.
Haruya walked between Saeko and Reina.
Not in front.
Not behind.
Between them.
To anyone watching, it looked natural. Casual. Almost ordinary.
But in this world, it wasn't.
A boy—a real one—walking calmly through a crowded school hallway after receiving gifts at lunch was not a small thing. It was a statement, even if he didn't mean it to be.
Whispers followed them like shadows.
"Did you see that…?"
"They both gave him something, right?"
"So it's true… he really accepted them."
A girl standing near the exit clenched her fingers around her phone, nails digging into the case. Another pretended to scroll casually, camera angled just enough to capture his back as he walked away.
Some stared openly.
Others looked away too quickly.
A few forced themselves to laugh, acting as if it didn't bother them.
But it did.
The jealousy wasn't loud. It wasn't explosive.
It was quiet. Heavy. Dense.
Girls who had once entertained harmless fantasies—what if I sat next to him, what if I talked to him just once—felt those thoughts shrink back into their minds, crushed under the reality of what they had just seen.
Reina's presence alone was enough to suppress any reckless courage.
She walked with confidence, shoulders straight, gaze forward. She didn't glare at anyone. She didn't need to. There was something in her posture that said everything clearly:
Don't cross this line.
A group of girls near the lockers exchanged looks.
"I thought about talking to him once," one muttered under her breath.
Another snorted quietly. "Are you crazy? Did you not see Reina just now?"
"Yeah… even if I wanted to, I value my life."
Saeko felt the stares too.
She kept her head slightly lowered, fingers brushing the edge of her bag where the charm used to be—now gone, now with him. Her heart was still beating faster than normal, but she forced herself to walk evenly, not too close, not too far.
This kind of attention wasn't new.
It had been like this for a while now.
Ever since people found out she was close to him, the looks had changed. Not curiosity anymore—calculation. Comparison. Envy.
If I were closer to him…
If I were his sister… his friend…
If I were her…
Saeko ignored it, like she always did.
Reina noticed everything.
The way conversations lowered as they passed. The way footsteps hesitated. The way eyes followed Haruya but never quite dared to linger too long.
Good, she thought coldly.
That's how it should be.
Haruya, meanwhile, felt something odd without understanding why.
The corridor felt… heavier.
Not threatening. Not dangerous. Just dense, like the air before a storm. He adjusted his grip on his bag and glanced sideways briefly.
"Is something wrong?" he asked gently.
Saeko startled slightly. "N–No! Nothing at all."
Reina answered at the same time, calm and firm. "Y-Yes."
Haruya smiled apologetically. "Ah… sorry."
That smile only made things worse for the onlookers.
Behind them, a girl leaned against the wall, eyes dark.
"So unfair," she whispered.
Another replied quietly, "Even ugly boys are rare… and he's like male god."
No one followed them.
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
As Haruya, Saeko, and Reina disappeared down the corridor, the cafeteria slowly returned to noise—but the feeling they left behind didn't fade.
It lingered.
Like a warning.
Like a promise.
Something had shifted today, even if no one said it out loud.
And everyone felt it.
---
The Call That Feels Too Polite
The hallway had almost returned to its usual rhythm when a soft chime echoed from the school intercom.
"Takahara Haruya, please report to the staff room.
I repeat, Takahara Haruya to the staff room."
The sound cut cleanly through the air.
Haruya blinked. "Eh… the staff room?"
Saeko froze for half a second. Reina's eyes narrowed immediately.
"Did you do something?" Saeko asked quickly, her voice a little too worried.
Haruya shook his head. "I don't think so. I've been behaving… I think."
Reina crossed her arms, already suspicious. "Teachers don't call students for no reason."
Around them, whispers ignited again.
"Staff room…?"
"Why him?"
"Did something happen?"
Haruya gave an awkward smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I'll be right back. It's probably nothing."
Saeko nodded, but her fingers clenched unconsciously. Reina watched him turn away, her gaze sharp, memorizing the direction he went and little worry for Haru.
As Haruya walked down the corridor alone, unaware eyes followed him—some curious, some envious.
And from the far end of the hallway, half-hidden near the staff room entrance, a woman watched him approach.
Akari Hoshizuki's lips curved into a soft, satisfied smile.
"So obedient," she thought.
"So easy to call."
She straightened her posture, smoothing her sleeves.
"This time," she whispered to herself,
"I finally get to talk to you properly."
The staff room door waited.
And something about that invitation felt just a little too deliberate.
---
The Cafeteria Aftermath (Jealousy Without Power)
The moment Haruya disappeared down the hallway, the cafeteria's noise shifted.
Not louder.
Sharper.
Girls who had been pretending not to look suddenly stopped pretending.
"…Did you see that?"
"He got called to the staff room right after receiving gifts."
"Of course. Everything revolves around him."
Some laughed it off, others scoffed, but envy clung to every whisper.
At one table, a group of girls leaned close together.
"So Saeko and Reina actually gave him gifts… openly."
"Tch. As if anyone else even has a chance."
"Reina's family alone could crush half this school."
A girl clenched her chopsticks a little too hard.
"If I were closer to him first, it could've been me."
But no one stood up.
No one dared approach.
They all knew the invisible rule.
Reina was not someone you challenged.
Saeko, gentle as she looked, was never alone either.
So the jealousy stayed where it always did in this world.
In quiet stares.
In bitter thoughts.
In dreams that would never be acted on.
Across the cafeteria, Saeko sat stiffly, eyes fixed on the door Haruya had gone through. Her smile was polite, but worry leaked through the cracks.
Reina leaned back in her chair, expression calm, unreadable—yet her foot tapped once, sharply, against the floor.
Neither of them spoke.
But both felt the same thing.
Something had shifted.
And whatever was happening in the staff room…
They didn't like being left out of it.
---
The Staff Room (A Smile That Didn't Reach the Eyes)
The corridor outside the cafeteria felt quieter than it should have been.
Haruya walked beside a staff member who had come to call him, his steps light but his thoughts slightly tangled. Lunch had been… strange. Not bad. Just heavy in a way he couldn't explain. Saeko's nervous hands. Reina's calm that felt too deliberate. The way the air itself seemed to tighten around him.
He scratched his cheek lightly.
"Did I do something wrong?" he wondered for the fifth time.
The staff room door slid open with a soft sound.
Warm fluorescent light spilled out, carrying the familiar scent of paper, coffee, and faint perfume. Teachers sat at their desks grading papers, chatting quietly, typing on tablets. It was an ordinary place. Safe. Boring, even.
And yet—
"Haruya-kun."
The voice came smoothly, almost gently.
He turned.
Akari Hoshizuki stood a few steps away, holding a thin file against her chest. Her posture was relaxed, her expression composed, the image of a calm, reliable teacher. The kind students trusted without question.
"Ah, yes, sensei?" Haruya bowed politely, as he always did.
Akari smiled.
It was soft. Careful. Practiced.
"I just wanted a quick word with you," she said. "Nothing serious. Please don't worry."
Her eyes lingered on him for half a second longer than necessary.
Haruya nodded, instantly easing. "Okay."
She gestured to a quieter corner of the staff room, away from the other teachers. As they walked, Akari's gaze traced him in fragments, as if memorizing something already known by heart.
His posture.
The way he held his bag.
The faint crease between his brows when he was thinking.
So close, she thought.
So close again.
They stopped near a window where sunlight filtered through thin blinds.
Akari opened the file, pretending to glance at papers she didn't really need.
"I wanted to ask how you're doing," she said lightly. "Classes just resumed after the holidays. Sometimes students feel pressure returning to routine."
"I'm okay," Haruya replied honestly. "It feels… kind of nice to be back."
Her smile deepened.
"That's good to hear." She paused, then added casually, "And your studies? Any difficulties? Or… any trouble with other students?"
The question was phrased carefully. Too carefully.
Haruya shook his head. "No, nothing like that. Everyone's been… normal."
Akari's fingers tightened around the file.
Normal.
She stepped half a pace closer, as if to reassure him, and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
Just a light touch.
Brief.
Almost motherly.
"There's no need to endure anything alone," she said softly. "If anything ever happens… you can come to me."
Haruya stiffened—only a little.
Not because it felt wrong.
But because it felt sudden.
Still, he smiled politely. "Thank you, sensei."
Akari withdrew her hand immediately, as if she'd never touched him at all.
Inside her chest, something twisted violently.
His shoulder was warm.
Real.
Her gaze dropped for a fraction of a second, then lifted again, calm restored.
Good.
He didn't notice.
Or rather—he didn't suspect.
She closed the file. "That's all. I won't keep you from your lunch any longer."
"Oh—okay." Haruya bowed again. "Sorry for taking your time."
Akari shook her head. "It was my choice."
As he turned to leave, she watched him walk away, every step imprinting itself into her mind. The sound of his shoes faded down the corridor.
The staff room returned to its quiet hum.
Akari remained by the window.
Her reflection stared back at her in the glass—serene, gentle, perfectly normal.
Her fingers curled slowly.
So close, Haru.
Close enough to touch.
Close enough to breathe the same air.
She exhaled, steadying herself.
"Not yet," she whispered under her breath. "I must be patient."
Outside the Staff Room (Concern That Can't Be Hidden)
The staff room door slid open.
Haruya stepped out, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder, his expression calm as usual. To him, it had been a short, slightly awkward conversation. Nothing more. Nothing worth remembering.
But the moment he crossed into the hallway—
Two pairs of eyes locked onto him.
Saeko and Reina were standing a little too close to the door for it to be a coincidence.
They weren't talking. They weren't pretending to walk past. They were waiting.
The moment they saw him, both of them straightened at the same time.
"H-Haru-kun!" Saeko said first, taking a quick step toward him.
Reina followed immediately, her brows already drawn together. "What happened?"
Haruya blinked, surprised by the intensity in their voices.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Saeko glanced back at the staff room door, then at Haruya again. Her fingers twisted nervously around the hem of her sleeve.
"We saw you get called inside," she said softly. "You didn't come back for a while…"
Reina crossed her arms, her posture sharp and protective, eyes scanning Haruya from head to toe as if checking for damage.
"Who called you?" Reina asked flatly. "And what did they want?"
Haruya let out a small laugh, genuinely confused. "It was just a teacher. She asked how my studies were going."
Saeko's shoulders relaxed a little—but only a little.
"J-Just that?" she asked. "Nothing else?"
"Nothing else," Haruya replied. "Why?"
The question hung in the air.
Saeko hesitated, then looked down, cheeks faintly pink. "It's just… sometimes teachers worry too much. And you were gone longer than usual."
Reina didn't soften.
"Did she touch you?" she asked suddenly.
Saeko's head snapped up. "R-Reina?!"
Haruya nearly tripped over his own feet. "T-Touch—? No, no! It wasn't like that!"
Reina's eyes narrowed, sharp enough to cut glass. "You're sure?"
"Yes!" Haruya said quickly, waving his hands. "She just talked. That's all."
Saeko watched his face closely, searching for any sign of discomfort, any hint that he was hiding something. When she found none, she finally exhaled, relief flooding her expression.
"Oh… good," she murmured. "That's good…"
Reina clicked her tongue quietly, clearly dissatisfied but forced to accept it.
"…Fine," she said. "But next time, tell us."
Haruya tilted his head. "Tell you… what?"
"If someone calls you away," Reina replied. "If something feels even a little strange."
Saeko nodded quickly. "Y-Yes. We might be able to help."
Haruya stared at them for a second, then smiled—gentle, unaware of how dangerous that smile was to both of them.
"You're worrying too much," he said lightly. "Really, I'm okay."
Saeko felt her heart skip.
Reina felt her jaw tighten.
Why does he always say that so easily?
Why does he never realize how much attention he draws?
Reina looked away first. "Let's go. Lunch break's almost over."
Saeko nodded, falling into step beside Haruya.
As they walked down the corridor together, Saeko stayed close—just a little closer than necessary. Reina walked on his other side, subtly positioning herself between him and the passing students.
Haruya noticed neither.
He only thought, They're acting kind of protective today.
Behind them, the staff room door remained closed.
And inside, unseen, a quiet smile lingered—patient, pleased, and very much awake.
— To be continued...
---- ----- ----- ----- -----
Author note 🧾
Okay okay, I can already hear it.
"WHY did Akari call Haruya into the staff room?"
"WHY did she touch his shoulder?"
"Author?? Is this normal???"
I will say Relax.
This is Akari we're talking about.
She didn't randomly call him.
She didn't accidentally touch him.
And no, this is not some innocent "concerned teacher moment."
This was planned.
Calculated.
Scheduled like a meeting invite.
Because — surprise surprise — she's a yandere.
And before anyone asks, no, I'm not going to write an explanation note in the story every time to explain what a yandere is. This isn't a biology class. And I'm little lazy 🦥
If you're confused right now, there are only two possibilities: ✌🏻
- You skipped the chapter where I explained her obsession.
- You read it but your brain said, "Nah, I'll ignore this."
In both cases, I have one solution:
👉 Go back and read it again. Slowly. Like your future depends on it.
Because future chapters are not going to be polite.
They are not going to repeat themselves.
They are not going to say "don't worry, nothing bad will happen."
They will simply happen.
I can't babysit readers who treat important backstory like optional DLC 😌
That's a skill issue.
So yeah—
No need to overthink.
No need to panic (yet).
And no, this is not the last "Akari moment."
Good luck.
You're going to need it 😇
— king_fuzu.