Yuji, Haruto, and Yukino were walking toward the school. Haruto kept glancing at Yukino, as if an evil spirit had joined them. Yukino noticed his stare and looked back at him. Startled, Haruto quickly began to whistle and lowered his gaze.
Yukino turned away.
The very next second, Haruto's eyes snapped back to her like a magnet.
Yuji watched the exchange between the two and gave an awkward smile, completely unsure how to stop this strange tension.
*Why is this guy staring at me like that?* Yukino thought.
*Ah… I get it. He's being possessive because I'm walking with Yuji.*
She covered half her face with her hair, a tiny amused smile sneaking out.
Haruto's eyes caught that smile—and he froze.
His teeth began chattering like he'd been dropped into the Arctic without a jacket.
The world around him vanished.
In his vision, Yukino transformed. A towering female monster stood before him, her long hair falling forward, completely covering her face. A slow, terrifying smile curved beneath it.
"I'm going to kill you…"
Haruto's soul nearly left his body.
In reality, Yukino was just walking calmly, while Haruto stood stiff as a statue, pale and trembling.
Yuji glanced at him.
"…You okay?"
Haruto didn't answer. He was too busy mentally preparing his funeral.
They reached the school.
In their first period, Ma'am Akane Hoshima began distributing the test papers. Her blue hair gently swayed as she moved between the desks.
Once the papers were handed out, she stepped to the front of the class.
"This test was conducted to select the class leaders for our class."
Her eyes shifted toward Yuji, a sharp hint of anger flashing through them.
"The class leaders are Yukino Hayashi and Aizuki Kuro."
Yukino stood up. She had no interest in the position, but she accepted it anyway.
*Leader or not… it doesn't matter,* she thought. *I just want this year to end quickly.*
Yet Aizuki had another plan.
He stood up. His wolf-cut dark hair shifted slowly as he raised his head. When he spoke, his voice was calm.
"I have no interest in becoming a leader. I came here to study."
His eyes swept across the classroom, cold and unreadable.
"Not to look after others."
Yuji's fingers tightened around his desk. He clenched his jaw. His brows furrowed, and his foot tapped against the floor.
*Tch… acting like he's above everyone.*
He turned his gaze back to the teacher.
"So I'm rejecting this, ma'am—"
Before he could finish, Yuji shouted, "Hey! Don't you know how to talk to a teacher? I don't know how you behaved at your previous school—or whatever kind of class you came from!"
*At least Yuji has manners,* Yukino thought. *That guy clearly doesn't.*
The entire classroom turned to look at him, but Yuji didn't stop.
"As a newcomer this year, you should adapt to our rules. I don't know what your old school taught you, but—"
"Yuji!"
Ma'am Akane's sharp voice cut through the room, slamming into him like a warning bell.
The class fell silent.
She continued coldly, "Apologize to him."
Haruto's face turned serious. Yuji looked up at her in disbelief.
"I said, apologize to him."
Haruto stood up. "Ma'am, why does he need to—"
Before he could finish, Yuji spoke.
"…Sorry."
He paused, then lifted his eyes toward Aizuki.
"But don't talk to her like that again."
The room remained silent, the tension hanging heavy in the air.
Akane began to speak again.
"Ishida Tsukishima—the student with the third-highest marks in our class—will be the other class leader."
Yuji and Haruto quietly sat back down at their desks.
Haruto glanced toward Aizuki Kuro.
*Who is this guy?*
At break time,
Everyone gathered around Yuji to console him. Yukino felt an urge to go to him, but when she saw how his friends surrounded him, she stopped.
She just watched from where she stood.
His friends spoke over one another, all of them talking about that boy.
Yuji smiled lightly.
"Leave him. He has the right to accept or reject the position. The only issue was the way he spoke to her."
He shrugged a little.
"Looks like he's dealing with something. That's probably why he came off like that."
Yukino's eyes never left him.
When Yuji stood up, her gaze followed him without thought.
*I want to talk to him…*
He came closer and sat right in front of her, resting his cheek against his hand. His smile was easy, but his eyes stayed on hers, unbroken.
"I'm okay," he said softly. "I don't care about him."
His eyes met hers, closer than she expected.
"Why did you hesitate to come over?" he asked, lowering his voice just a little. "Aren't we friends?"
The word friends landed heavier than it should have.
Yukino looked away for a second, her heartbeat suddenly too loud.
Yuji gave a beautiful smile. "Do what your mind says."
Yukino's eyes widened.
It was the first time she heard him say those words, and they lingered in her chest longer than they should have.
Before she could respond, Yuji stood up and walked to the front of the class.
"Tomorrow is Akane ma'am's birthday," he said, turning to face everyone. "If you're okay with it, we can collect a small amount and get a cake for her."
Murmurs spread through the room.
Aizuki glanced at Yuji. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned back in his chair, lifting both legs and resting them across the desk in front of him.
The gesture was lazy. Disrespectful.
Yukino noticed it.
*What's wrong with him?*
Yuji glanced at Aizuki.
Haruto's expression darkened, and in the next moment, he stood up angrily and walked out of his seat.