Crunch, crunch— Crunch, crunch—
The sound of an expressionless girl eating rice crackers filled the room. Rin's small teeth bit into the crispy snack with rhythmic precision. She watched the girls at the door with a calm gaze.
The transfer student... she had received Alex's email. As a Student Council member, she knew whenever a new student arrived. Since it involved Alex, she expected a beautiful girl, but seeing Saki in person, she had to admit she was stunning.
Rin might look stoic on the outside, but she wasn't emotionless. She just rarely showed it. No one could tell what she was thinking, not even her twin sister, Kaede.
A girl from Osaka... she seems shy. A bit of a Kansai accent... looks like the type who's easily bullied.
Crunch—
Rin bit down again, a bit louder this time.
"A transfer student?"
Sakura Miyajima, the senior student, looked like she had just finished practice. She was still in her kendo gear, radiating the energy of a top-tier athlete. Combined with her naturally sharp and elegant features, it was no wonder she was so popular.
"A transfer student right before the holidays?" Sakura was surprised, then looked at the club sign. Her eye twitched. "And why are you bringing her to this kind of club the moment she arrives?"
"Saki is our friend," Ai said, twirling the ends of her platinum hair around her finger. "We're just giving her a tour."
"Friends, huh..." Sakura wasn't a fool. The side-ponytail senior looked at the girls with a gaze full of resentment. "She just got here and she's already your friend? How impressive. I've reached out to you girls so many times, yet I'm still not considered a 'friend'... how cruel."
Even Saki could feel the thick aura of a "woman scorned" emanating from Sakura.
Ai's fingers froze. Makoto awkwardly tugged at her tie. Only Chi-chan managed a nervous smile. "Sakura-senpai, we do consider you a good friend."
"Chisato, you know that's not what I mean."
What did she mean? Saki was utterly lost. Chi-chan and Makoto knew exactly what was going on. Sakura's resentment wasn't directed at them, but at Alex. Their "friendship" wasn't just casual—they were all intimately connected through Alex. Because Sakura wasn't part of that "inner circle," she felt left out. She was complaining that Alex had completely ignored her and hadn't made a move.
As for Saki, being escorted to the "Sex Club" by Alex's harem on day one proved she was already his woman. Sakura didn't believe for a second that Saki was just a "regular friend."
"Hey there," Sakura said, stepping in front of Saki. She wasn't aggressive; she smiled warmly like an older sister. "If you're looking for a club, would you be interested in the Kendo Club?"
Here she goes again, Chi-chan thought with a sigh. Sakura had invited them all before for the same reason—she wanted to get closer to their man. They had all declined because they weren't interested in sword fighting and didn't want to make things awkward for Alex, who didn't seem particularly interested in Sakura.
"Kendo?" Saki blinked.
"Yes. There are many clubs, but I can honestly say mine is the most famous and elite... well, excluding this 'weird' one," Sakura glanced at the Sex Club. "And lately, since I've kicked out all the male members, it's an all-girls club. We're a bit short-staffed..."
Saki wasn't interested in kendo, but seeing this beautiful senior looking so cool and sharp in her gear sparked a sudden curiosity. "Is your swordsmanship... very strong?"
Is there a chance? Sakura's smile brightened. "Of course. I'm very skilled. If you join, you'll definitely improve. And... based on my observation, you would look stunning in a kendo uniform!"
Saki ignored the part about skill; the part about looking "stunning" was the final straw. "Can I... go see it first?"
"Of course! Let's go right now." Sakura didn't wait, grabbing Saki's hand and dragging her away.
Ai, Makoto, and Chi-chan stood there in shock before running after them. "Wait! Don't leave us behind!"
As their voices faded, the crunch, crunch continued. Rin watched the empty doorway, her brown eyes thoughtful. After a while, she took a sip of tea, pressed her hands against the low table, and stood up to close the door.
Suddenly, her expression changed. The stoic girl looked panicked. She scrambled back to the table and shoved the box of rice crackers underneath it.
"Rin, I saw you. Why are you acting so flustered? I rarely see you like this," Alex's voice rang out as he pushed the door open. He saw the short-haired girl sitting perfectly still, face as blank as a wall.
He looked at her suspiciously, scanned the room, and narrowed his eyes. "Don't hide it. It's food, isn't it?"
"...No."
"Miss Rin, could you please wipe the crumbs off the corner of your mouth first?" Alex reached out, swiped his finger across her lip, and put it in his own mouth. "This is... a cracker? A cookie?"
"..."
Rin's expression crumbled. She looked at the boy she loved with a pout that almost looked pitiful. But Alex showed no mercy, reaching under the table and pulling out the snack box.
"!!!"
"I knew it. Rin, you're hiding snacks and not sharing? Keeping them all to yourself?"
"No," Rin shook her head. "I was afraid you wouldn't like it."
"What?"
"Girls who eat rice crackers... aren't cute. They're like old men."
"..." Alex was stunned. "Where did you get that idea? What does eating crackers have to do with being cute? I wouldn't care if you liked gnawing on chicken feet."
"I don't like chicken feet," Rin said.
"But I do... well, you know what I mean. This smells good, let me try one." Alex took a bite.
Crunch—
He chewed under the gaze of the emotionless beauty. His expression turned... strange, then subtle, before he let out a heavy sigh. "The taste... isn't as good as the bite I just had. It's missing something."
Missing something? The bite he just had was from the corner of my mouth...
Flash—
Even the stoic Rin couldn't handle Alex's cheesy lines; her cheeks flushed pink. Her mask slipped. But unlike her sister, Rin wasn't a stuttering tsundere. She bit off a small piece of the cracker and pressed it against his lips with her own.
"Mmm~" So sweet...