The elevator ascended smoothly, its steel-framed walls reflecting the dim light. Inside, two passengers stood in silence, waiting.
Ding!
A crisp chime signaled their arrival. The control panel displayed the number 4 as the doors slid open.
"I'm heading off. See you later."
Kure Ragna stepped out without hesitation, waving casually. Since he and Karuizawa Kei weren't a real couple, there was no need for unnecessary sentiment. To him, it was just a normal farewell between friends.
Kei, however, seemed momentarily dazed, only snapping back to reality after a brief pause.
"Oh—yeah, see you."
She clutched the bag in her hand as if she had something more to say, but by the time she raised her head again, the elevator doors had already closed.
Back in his dorm, Kure Ragna swiped his access card, pushing open the door in one fluid motion. He stepped inside, kicked off his shoes, and—paused.
His eyes landed on the access card already inserted in the reader.
Someone was here.
A quick glance toward the bed confirmed it. Though the layout of Advanced Nurturing High School's dorms made it difficult to see the entire room from the entrance, the unmistakable sight of a pair of small, white-stockinged feet dangling off the edge of the bed gave away the intruder's identity.
Yep. Figures.
"Hey, Arisu," he called, shutting the door behind him.
A soft giggle followed.
Sitting gracefully on the bed, Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head, her silver hair catching the light.
"Weekends are so dreadfully dull," she said with a knowing smile. "I thought I'd drop by."
Kure Ragna raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't say you couldn't," he replied, already heading to the kitchen. Within minutes, he returned with two cups of steaming oolong tea.
Arisu took hers delicately, blowing on the surface before taking a sip.
"Drinking this right after milk tea... won't it taste bitter?"
"It's fine—" He started to say, but then he caught the look in her eyes. The kind of look that said she knew something.
"Kamuro-san told me," Arisu continued, her voice unhurried. "She saw you shopping with a girl from Class D. Buying clothes, no less."
Kure Ragna blinked.
Kamuro? Paying attention to me?
Sure, it made sense that she knew about his connection with Arisu. But keeping tabs on him? That part didn't quite add up.
"I'm happy for you," Arisu said suddenly, setting down her cup. "Truly. Finding happiness with your sweetheart... isn't that wonderful?"
Her tone was light, but Kure Ragna couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
"That's not how it is," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kei and I aren't actually—"
He stopped short.
For a moment, he debated whether explaining their fake relationship to Arisu was a good idea. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't reveal something like this, especially to someone as perceptive as her. But somehow, he knew she wouldn't spread it around.
Arisu listened quietly as he finished his explanation, nodding thoughtfully.
"I see," she mused. Then, her gaze lifted. "But what about Yukinoshita Haruno?"
Kure Ragna frowned.
"What about her?"
"Kamuro told me you two were quite... close at lunch. Even exchanging food."
His frown deepened as he tried to recall.
"Oh—that? That wasn't—"
Then he stopped again.
"Hold on. Why does it feel like Kamuro tells you everything?"
Arisu smiled, taking another slow sip of tea.
"As a leader, it's only natural to keep an eye on my subordinates' concerns."
Her response was vague, but the way the steam curled around her face made her expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, in a different dormitory, Kei Karuizawa stood in front of a full-length mirror.
Clad only in her underwear, she studied her reflection.
In the past, she had hated moments like this—facing her own body, her scars, her past. But today was different.
A deep rose color rested against her skin, covering the blemishes of old wounds. Beautiful. Mysterious. Almost elegant.
"I wonder... will he notice?"
She hesitated. Kure Ragna had chosen the darkest shade for her, but scars weren't just about color—they had texture, too.
After a long pause, she grabbed her phone, adjusted the camera angle, and snapped a picture. Only her waist was visible in the frame.
Then, she sent it.
Back in dorm 401, Kure Ragna's phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Kei.
Absentmindedly, he clicked it open—only to be met with a delicate image of a dark rose against pale skin.
His mind blanked.
"...Huh?"
A second later, Arisu leaned over for a peek.
Her smile turned sharp.
"Heh... Fake couple, huh?"
From afternoon until evening, Arisu lingered in Kure Ragna's room. Their conversation, while casual, often drifted back to the same two names—Karuizawa Kei and Yukinoshita Haruno.
The way she slipped in questions out of the blue, steering the topic with subtle precision, made it impossible for him to ignore.
Even Kure Ragna, who rarely let things get to him, started feeling the pressure.
Arisu didn't leave until dinner time. He offered to go with her, but she declined.
"I have other matters to attend to," she said lightly.
Sure, whatever.
He didn't dwell on it. Instead, he picked up the cups to wash them—only to be interrupted by a sudden knock at the door.
At first, he assumed Arisu had forgotten something. But then, he hesitated.
The knocking wasn't composed or patient—it was urgent. Almost agitated.
His brow furrowed.
This feels familiar... MASAKA?
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