On the morning of the third day of school, sunlight streamed through the spotless windows of Class 1-A, scattering soft specks of gold across the neatly arranged desks.
The air carried the refreshing scent of a new beginning—a brightness that did nothing to lift the heavy haze in Kamuro Masumi's heart.
Kamuro sat in a back-row seat, her purple hair cascading over her shoulders, shielding most of her indifferent expression. She rested her chin on one hand, eyes seemingly fixed on her open textbook, yet deep within her violet gaze churned a quiet storm of tangled thoughts.
The conversation she had unintentionally overheard in the corridor yesterday continued to echo in her mind.
Sakayanagi Arisu—the silver-haired girl with a cane, her classmate, the one who always smiled as if she knew everyone's secrets.
She was conspiring with Class C's Ryuuen Kakeru.
They were planning to target Sakamoto-kun.
And worse—Sakayanagi was using her access to the S-System to leak information to Class C.
Sakamoto-kun…
The black-haired boy who made Kamuro's cheeks heat up at the convenience store with nothing more than a casual gesture and a can of juice.
He had no idea what danger was circling around him.
A sudden impulse flared in her chest—
Tell him.
Warn him.
Right now.
But a cold wave of rationality swept in immediately, drowning that impulse.
Tell him?
On what grounds?
What was she to Sakamoto-kun?
They'd only crossed paths once—awkwardly at that.
He probably didn't even remember her name.
Why should she stick her head into a mess involving Sakayanagi and Ryuuen?
They were dangerous. Ruthless.
If she spoke out and they discovered she was the leak, they wouldn't hesitate to crush her.
Kamuro's fingers tightened subtly.
…Better not get involved.
Better to just mind her own business.
She forced her thoughts back to her textbook. But her mind drifted uncontrollably to the mini fridge in her dorm room—a single can of white juice resting quietly inside.
The can Sakamoto-kun had "swapped" in their brief convenience-store encounter.
The one she ended up paying for.
She had never drunk it.
Instead, she had placed it in the fridge… almost instinctively.
Why keep it?
Even Kamuro didn't know.
Maybe that can of juice held too many complicated emotions.
Class time crept closer, second by second.
And then—just before the bell could pierce the air—
The classroom door slid open.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, backlit by the corridor's morning glow, his outline momentarily softened by the light.
He took a step forward, entering the room fully:
Black-rimmed glasses.
A clear, distinct tear mole beneath his left eye.
A composed, handsome face.
A wine-red blazer fitting perfectly over his tall, straight posture.
It was Sakamoto-kun.
The entire class turned toward him at once.
His footsteps were steady and controlled, each stride measured, his arms swinging with effortless moderation, his back straight like a pine in winter.
His destination was obvious—the empty seat by the window.
As he reached it, his left hand brushed lightly above the chair back, his body turning at a precise angle, his center of gravity dropping smoothly. In one fluid motion, his hips settled onto the seat surface perfectly—
*RING—!!*
The preparatory bell blared through the classroom, loud and sudden, almost unnervingly synchronized with his landing.
Time seemed to freeze.
The previous second had been silence—the final frame of Sakamoto taking his seat.
The next was a resounding declaration that class had begun.
Yet the boy by the window simply adjusted his posture naturally, turning his gaze toward the podium's entrance with unhurried calmness.
As if the deafening bell existed solely to accentuate his perfectly timed movement.
The classroom held its breath.
The elites of Class 1-A were used to this sight. They exchanged brief glances—silent exclamations mixed with a knowing, resigned acceptance.
Kamuro Masumi watched Sakamoto-kun's composed profile, a flicker of emotion passing through her violet eyes.
Again. Not a second off.
This guy's sense of timing is absurd.
Her gaze drifted instinctively to the far side of the room.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat there quietly, her cane resting against her chair.
She propped her chin lightly on her hand, eyes calmly fixed on Sakamoto-kun.
A soft, playful curve tugged at the corner of her lips.
That smile was enigmatic—neither warm nor hostile, as if Sakayanagi were admiring an interesting collectible… or quietly setting a trap.
Kamuro couldn't read a single intention from that serene expression.
Sakayanagi… what exactly was she thinking?
Would she really go through with what she and Ryuuen discussed yesterday?
Would they truly team up to target Sakamoto-kun?
Kamuro's mind grew even more tangled.
She forced herself to avert her eyes and look toward the podium, trying to anchor her attention on the teacher's lecture.
But all morning, she absorbed nothing.
The teacher's voice faded into meaningless background noise, while the tall outline of Sakamoto-kun's back and Sakayanagi's mysterious smile alternated in her thoughts like a broken film reel.
When the dismissal bell rang for a short break, Kamuro finally exhaled.
She noticed something unusual: fewer students were gathered around Sakamoto-kun's desk compared to the previous two days.
Perhaps everyone had acclimated to the elegant atmosphere he naturally carried.
But Morishita Ai, with her purple twin-pigtails, still hovered beside him with boundless enthusiasm.
She chattered away, her face bright with delight.
Sakamoto-kun listened calmly, occasionally nodding, his demeanor as refined as ever.
Kamuro watched from her seat, her fingertips unconsciously brushing the edge of her textbook.
She wanted to walk over—
to greet him naturally, like Morishita Ai…
or even warn him about the hidden danger…
But she didn't move.
She simply sat there, lowering her violet eyes, letting hesitation and worry coil tightly inside her.
Time crept by, every second stretching out her anxiety.
At last, the morning classes ended.
*Ding-a-ling-ling—!*
The bell chimed crisply.
The teacher closed his lesson plan and announced the end of class.
And then—
*Crash—!*
Almost simultaneously, Sakamoto rose from his window seat like an arrow loosed from a bow.
His movement was swift yet impossibly smooth—lightning wrapped in elegance.
Without hesitation, he strode toward the classroom door.
His posture was upright, steps firm and rhythmic, cutting through the classroom like Moses parting the Red Sea.
Students instinctively moved aside for him.
There was nothing casual about his pace.
He looked like someone heading toward a prearranged, important appointment.
From the moment the bell rang to the second his figure vanished through the door, only a few seconds had passed.
Kamuro Masumi's head snapped up.
Where was Sakamoto going?!
To the cafeteria?
No—the cafeteria was in the opposite direction.
And nothing about his urgency resembled someone going to lunch.
Was he heading somewhere… unexpected?
Curiosity wrapped around Kamuro like climbing vines, tightening until it smothered her hesitation.
Before she could think, she grabbed her phone from her desk.
Her books remained scattered—she didn't care.
She stood abruptly.
"Excuse me," she whispered to the student beside her, her voice carrying a hint of concealed urgency.
She squeezed past desks and darted toward the door.
In the corridor, Sakamoto's tall figure was already nearing the corner—seconds away from disappearing completely.
Kamuro's heartbeat skyrocketed.
She quickened her steps, her purple hair lifting slightly behind her.
She was going to follow him.
To see where this elegant, unpredictable boy went when no one was watching.
To uncover the Sakamoto hidden beneath that flawless composure.
Maybe… understanding him better would help her finally make her decision.
Patreon Rene_chan for advanced chapters