The first Sunday of December arrived with a faint chill that wrapped the campus in a pale, winter haze. The sun hovered low in the sky, painting everything in an amber tone that felt both lonely and peaceful. For once, there were no schemes, no exams, no hidden motives — at least, that's what we hoped.
Our group — informally dubbed the Miyamoto Group (by me, of course) — had planned something simple: lunch, shopping, and karaoke. Simple things that normal high school students did without thinking twice. For Ayanokōji, though, even this kind of outing was something unusual.
There was me, Soshi Miyamoto, obviously the heart and soul of this group. Alongside were Yukimura, Haruka Hasebe, Akito Miyake, Mei Yu Wang, Kyosuke Okitani, Wataru Ijuin, Airi Sakura, and An Maezono. A ragtag bunch of students who somehow clicked together despite our differences — or maybe because of them.
We met up near Keyaki Mall just before noon. The place was buzzing with chatter and the faint jingle of holiday music. Most students were using their points to buy gifts or winter clothes. I joked that maybe I should buy something for Karuizawa to keep the "class mood up," earning a half-hearted glare from Yukimura and a stifled laugh from Hasebe.
"Just make sure you don't go bankrupt before Christmas, Miyamoto," Ayanokōji said casually from beside me, hands in his pockets as usual.
"Ha! As if! I've got plenty saved. I'm practically a point millionaire," I said, proudly tapping my digital wallet — which, honestly, looked better than it was.
Haruka raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure you spent half of it on that limited ramen subscription."
"…Shut up."
The group burst into light laughter. For a fleeting moment, it really did feel like the kind of high school life people talked about — the kind that Ayanokōji always said he wanted to "observe."
We started with lunch at a small family restaurant. It was cozy, filled with the smell of grilled meat and warm soup. Airi ordered a kids' meal out of habit, blushing furiously when the waiter raised an eyebrow. Ijuin teased her relentlessly until Mei told him to shut it, which was honestly kind of cute.
Yukimura and Akito were arguing about test strategies — again — while I tried to focus on my tonkatsu, which was, frankly, life-changing.
Hasebe leaned toward Ayanokōji. "You know, you've been a lot more sociable lately. What happened? Did Horikita finally teach you how to smile?"
Ayanokōji looked up, genuinely confused. "Am I smiling?"
"That's… debatable," Haruka muttered.
I laughed. "Don't push him too hard. That's his thinking face. You'll break him."
Airi tried to change the topic. "S-so… are we still doing karaoke after this?"
"Of course," I said, giving her a thumbs-up. "I've been practicing some songs. You guys are about to witness greatness."
"That's what you said last time before you butchered 'Blue Bird,'" Okitani remarked dryly.
"…That was a stylistic interpretation."
After lunch, we drifted through the mall in pairs and trios. Some went for clothes, others browsed electronics or snacks. Mei dragged Maezono to a perfume stall while I hung around with Ayanokōji near a bookstore.
He was flipping through a copy of The Prince by Machiavelli. Figures.
"You ever get tired of all this thinking?" I asked.
"Thinking?" He glanced up. "Not really. It's more tiring to act without thinking."
"Yeah, but sometimes you just gotta go with the flow, man. Overthinking ruins the vibe."
He didn't answer — just turned another page. Typical Ayanokōji.
Still, it was weirdly comforting to hang out like this. Maybe it was the first time since the special exams that he seemed at ease — if that was even possible for him.
Later, we gathered again and made our way to the karaoke place near the dorms. The room we got had colored lights that flashed with the beat, and a small table already filled with snacks and drinks.
As expected, the first few songs were chaotic. Hasebe and Mei went first with an upbeat idol song, their energy so infectious that even the quiet Airi started clapping along. Okitani and Ijuin followed up with a rock number that nearly blew out the speakers.
Then came my turn.
"Alright, everyone. Brace yourselves."
I grabbed the mic with both hands, closed my eyes, and started my rendition of Silhouette.
Halfway through the chorus, Haruka burst out laughing, Akito threw popcorn at me, and even Ayanokōji smirked — a rare sight.
"Hey! You guys don't understand art when you hear it!" I protested.
"It's not art if it sounds like a dying crow," Yukimura deadpanned.
We went on for another hour, trading songs, laughing, and arguing about who hit the highest note. Airi even sang a soft ballad near the end, her voice trembling but pure, and the room fell silent out of genuine admiration.
Moments like that felt special — fragile even. None of us knew how long they'd last, given the brutal system of this school, but right then, it didn't matter.
By the time we left the karaoke place, the sky had already turned dark. The cold air bit at our cheeks, and our breath came out in little clouds. We decided to walk back toward the dorms as a group. That was when we saw them — two girls walking side by side at the end of the path.
Even from a distance, they stood out. One had long, pale hair, a small cane tapping against the ground — Arisu Sakayanagi. The other, warm and radiant with her soft smile — Honami Ichinose.
The respective leaders of Class A and Class B.
Ayanokōji stopped walking, his expression unreadable. The rest of us followed suit.
Ichinose noticed us first and waved cheerfully. "Ah, Ayanokōji-kun! And everyone from Class D too! Out together today?"
I stepped forward before anyone else could answer. "Yeah, we're just enjoying our hard-earned break. You know, like normal people do."
Ichinose giggled. "That's wonderful. It's rare to see such unity among classmates."
Beside her, Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly, her usual mischievous smile forming. "My, my. To think the elusive Ayanokōji-kun actually mingles in groups now. I was starting to believe he existed only in Horikita-san's orbit."
I shot her a look. "Guess even geniuses need friends sometimes."
"Hmm," she hummed softly, eyes flickering toward Ayanokōji. "If that's what you call it."
The air between them carried an unspoken tension — subtle but palpable. Two queens of the battlefield meeting on neutral ground, neither willing to yield an inch.
Ichinose quickly broke the silence. "Oh right, congratulations on your victory against Class C. It must've been tough going up against Ryuuen-kun."
"Thanks," Ayanokōji replied simply.
She smiled, genuinely. "Our Class B lost to Class A by just two points this time. It was really close."
Sakayanagi added smoothly, "Indeed. Though I must say, Honami-san's class gave us quite a challenge. Perhaps next time, you'll even beat us."
Ichinose laughed lightly. "Perhaps. Still, it seems Class D is improving fast too. I'll have to be careful or we might end up falling behind you."
That struck a nerve in Yukimura. He straightened, his jaw tightening. "Don't worry, we'll catch up soon enough. And when we do, we'll overtake you — both Class A and B."
Sakayanagi's smile deepened. "How bold. Confidence is a precious commodity at your level. I wonder if you can sustain it when reality sets in."
"Try me," Yukimura snapped.
Ichinose looked between them, a faint crease forming on her brow. "Let's not argue, okay? We're all working hard in our own ways."
Airi stepped forward timidly. "Y-yeah… Ichinose-san always helps others… she's really nice."
That defused some tension, though Haruka muttered under her breath, "She's too nice. It's weird."
Akito agreed quietly, "Yeah. Feels fake sometimes, like no one's that perfect."
I chuckled. "Come on, guys. Maybe she's just born with a halo."
Ichinose blinked at me in confusion, and I waved it off. "Don't mind them. We just don't get to meet angels often."
Sakayanagi's soft laugh echoed in the air. "Oh, Miyamoto-kun, you certainly have a unique way with words. I do wonder, though… what happens when an angel falls?"
"Then I'd probably like her even more," I said casually. "Fallen angels are totally my type."
That earned a few groans from the group, but Ichinose only smiled politely. "I'll take that as a compliment… I think?"
Ayanokōji, however, was silent — watching both girls with that calm, detached gaze of his. It was almost as if he was already seeing the next several steps in their inevitable clash.
Eventually, Ichinose and Sakayanagi excused themselves, heading in separate directions. Ichinose waved as she left. "See you in class, everyone. Let's all do our best."
"Yeah," I muttered. "Sure. Until we're enemies."
As we continued walking back, Haruka crossed her arms. "I don't know what it is, but Ichinose gives me chills sometimes. She's too nice. No one's that genuine."
Akito nodded. "Same. She's like some perfect idol who never cracks. Creepy."
Airi shook her head. "I think she's just… really good at being kind. Not everyone pretends."
Yukimura sighed. "Either way, she's not someone to underestimate. If her class is only two points behind A, that's terrifying."
"Yeah," I said thoughtfully. "Still, if she ever went dark, she'd be unstoppable. But, you know, she's not my favorite right now."
Everyone gave me a collective look.
"What? I'm just saying I like variety. Angels, demons, tsunderes — I don't discriminate."
Even Ayanokōji gave me a rare, side-eyed glance that said why am I friends with this person.
We finally reached the dorms. The group began dispersing with lazy waves and half-hearted goodbyes.
As I turned to head inside, I caught sight of Ayanokōji staring into the night sky. His expression was unreadable — that calm mask of his once again in place.
I asked quietly, "You think we could actually beat them someday? Ichinose, Sakayanagi… all of them?"
He didn't answer right away. "In a perfect world," he said finally, "Class B would rise to A, and we'd take their place as B. Then we'd be forced to crush them."
He looked at me then, eyes sharp under the soft glow of the dorm lights. "The real question is… could you?"
I thought for a moment before smirking. "If it's for Class D? Yeah. Even angels fall eventually."
A faint, amused breath escaped him — almost a laugh, but not quite. "I see."
We stood there for a while, listening to the wind brush through the trees.