The morning walk to school was peaceful. Almost too peaceful.
Kaito and Yuki walked side by side, their usual rhythm undisturbed. The sun was warm. The breeze was gentle. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Then Yuki noticed them.
Riko and Hikari stood at the school gate. Waiting. Their eyes locked onto Yuki with the kind of focus usually reserved for prey.
Yuki's step faltered. "Kaito."
"Mm."
"They're here."
"Mm."
"And they're looking at me like I owe them money."
"You do. Emotionally."
Yuki swallowed hard. "Protect me."
Kaito stepped aside. "You brought this on yourself."
"TRAITOR!"
Before Yuki could run, Riko and Hikari moved. They flanked her with terrifying efficiency, each grabbing an arm.
"Yuki-san," Riko said sweetly—too sweetly. "We need to talk."
Hikari said nothing. She didn't need to.
"HELP!" Yuki screamed. "KAITO! HELP ME!"
Kaito watched calmly as they dragged her toward the side of the school. He even raised a hand in farewell.
"May you find peace in your next life," he called. "I'll pray for your happy reincarnation."
"KAITO YOU BASTARD—"
Her voice faded as they disappeared around the corner.
Kaito waited.
Five minutes passed.
Then Yuki emerged, completely unharmed but slightly disheveled. Riko and Hikari walked beside her, their expressions no longer murderous.
Yuki rejoined Kaito, straightening her uniform. "They hit me."
"Deserved."
"They forgave me."
"Unexpected."
Riko and Hikari approached. For a moment, the four stood in silence.
Then Riko spoke, her voice quiet but genuine. "We're not actually angry, you know."
Hikari nodded. "The prank was stupid. But..."
She trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
Thank you.
For making them realize. For forcing them to face their feelings. For being chaotic and impossible and exactly the friend they needed.
Yuki's usual grin softened into something genuine. "Yeah. I know."
They walked into school together. Normal. Peaceful. Four friends who had survived another storm.
---
Class 2-B settled into its usual pre-homeroom chaos. Students chatted. Notebooks opened. The clock ticked toward the start of the day.
Yuki was recounting her near-death experience with dramatic flair. Kaito listened with half an ear. Riko pretended to organize her desk. Hikari actually slept.
Then the door slid open.
But it wasn't Ms. Kobayashi.
It was Hoshino Shizuka.
The room went silent. The Student Council President rarely visited classrooms without reason. Her presence commanded attention—the kind of quiet that fell when someone important entered.
She scanned the room. Once. Twice.
Then her eyes landed on Yuki.
"Nakamura Yuki."
Yuki looked up. Blinked. Studied the girl before her with growing recognition.
Hoshino's voice was calm, but something flickered beneath it. "Why didn't you tell me you transferred here? Why didn't you come to meet me?"
The class held its breath.
Yuki tilted her head. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face.
"Shizuka? Is that you?"
Hoshino's expression didn't change, but her eyes softened—just slightly.
"You've changed a lot," Yuki continued, standing. "Last time I saw you, you were shorter. And less scary."
"You were shorter too. And less annoying."
"Liar. I've always been this annoying."
The class watched in stunned silence. Kaito's eyebrows rose—the equivalent of a gasp from him. Riko's pen stopped mid-air. Even Hikari lifted her head.
They knew each other. Really knew each other.
The princess and the chaos gremlin.
Connected.
Yuki glanced at Kaito, a knowing look passing between them.
(End of Chapter 75)