After lunch, Raisa took it upon herself to show me around the school.
We didn't have much time, so she focused only on the essentials: the laboratory, library, and sports hall. Efficient and well-paced, yet she still made room to introduce me to a few passing students. Not that I wasn't grateful, but… it felt unnecessary.
Still, Survival Rule #2: If you're forced to be carried away by the current, don't fight it. Just follow and observe.
So I did.
"…After school, if you want," Raisa said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "I can show you all the clubs"
I gave her a polite smile.
"I appreciate it, Raisa. But after school, I need to stop by the teacher's lounge to handle some administrative stuff. Maybe another time?"
"Oh, really? That's… Such a shame…"
She pouted slightly. Disappointed expression.
Real or just for show? Hard to say.
"Yeah~ I wanted to show you the Silat Extracurricular Room too," Tiara added, joining in without missing a beat. "But looks like that'll have to wait"
There it was again, that subtle tug-of-war between them. Nothing open. Nothing obvious. But definitely there.
And then-
"You should feel honored that they both show this kind of acceptance toward you, you know"
I blinked.
Leo.
Still here?
Still tagging along?
He stood there with that lazy smirk and a tone dipped in mockery. But behind the voice, I could hear the salt.
"Tch. Lucky you," He muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
I met his gaze for a moment.
Calm.
Neutral.
Then looked away like he was background noise.
Because that's what he was.
"Ahaha~ He's always like that. Don't mind him," Raisa said with a casual laugh. "Oh! If you're into soccer, you can count on Leo. He's the captain of our school's team. Even if he's like this, he's actually pretty good, you know?"
'Even if he's like this?'
Ouch. That's a low-key roast if I've ever heard one. An indirect jab wrapped in a compliment. Classic.
I glanced at Leo.
Yup. As expected.
That smug little smirk crept back onto his face like a reflex. He clearly tuned out the insult and locked in on the praise.
Too easy.
Guys like Leo were predictable, egos running just high enough to deflect sarcasm as long as it's sugarcoated with a gold medal.
I almost felt bad.
Almost.
But the most terrifying part?
It's Raisa.
She doesn't just smile and charm people like Leo; she controls them. Subtly. Effortlessly. A puppet master wearing the mask of the perfect school idol.
And I… Stared too long.
Her gaze caught mine.
"...Hum? Is there something on my face, Rey? Are you falling for me?"
A smile. Sweet. Innocent.
Weaponized.
My brain short-circuited for half a second. This wasn't just teasing. This was a test. A subtle jab to see how I'd react. And judging by the quiet shift in Tiara's expression and Leo's scowl, this moment had an audience.
Choice time.
Option A: Laugh it off. Lighten the mood, avoid commitment. Stay unpredictable: "Hah, I mean, who wouldn't? But I value my life too much. Leo looks like he's ready to murder me already"
Option B: Return the flirt. Meet fire with fire. Play on her level: "Maybe. But if I were, would that be such a bad thing?"
Option C: Deflect smoothly. Keep the mystery alive: "Hmm… Maybe I just admire the confidence. That's a dangerous trait, Raisa"
I smiled, slow, calculated. Met her gaze head-on.
Then chose my move.
Survival Rule #15: If all options have risks, then choose the riskiest one.
So I leaned in, just slightly. Held her gaze. Not too long, not too intense. Just enough to let the silence stretch, coil, and snap with meaning.
"Maybe," I said, voice low and calm. "But if I were… Would that be such a bad thing?"
That smile of hers didn't fade. No, it shifted. Like a curtain lifting just enough to show the edge of something sharp behind it. She blinked once, slowly, thoughtfully. Testing me. Calculating.
Leo clenched his jaw. I heard it more than I saw it. Tiara arched a brow, gaze flicking between us, unreadable.
For a moment, the world seemed to hush.
Then Raisa chuckled softly. Elegant. Dangerous.
"…Interesting," She said, turning slightly, walking just ahead of me again. "Very interesting"
Great. I just fed the beast.
But hey, if she wanted a game, I'd play.
As long as I knew the rules.
Or better yet…
Made my own.
"Hy!"
Leo's hand landed on my shoulder, a tight grip, a low voice, and a fake smile. The kind of smile that says 'Back off or else'.
I knew this was coming. His fuse was short, and Raisa just handed me a lit match.
"You're too close," he said, voice sharp. "Stay away from her"
"Oops~ Easy, man." I raised both hands slightly, smirk still in place. "I was just joking, right, Raisa?"
That last part, not a plea. A challenge.
A signal.
'Your move, Queen'
If she stayed silent, Leo would think he'd won. I'd be painted as the aggressor.
But if she backed me… She'd lose her leash on him.
So what are your choices, Raisa?
She smiled. Stepped forward. Her hand slid across Leo's shoulder, not gently, but deliberately, as she pulled him back just slightly.
"Oh, Leo~" She said sweetly, "you're not jealous, are you?"
Leo blinked. His grip loosened.
"Wh-what? No, I just-"
"Because," Raisa added, cutting in smoothly, "Rey is new. And friendly. And polite. And cute in his own way"
Her tone was light, but every word was laced with control.
Then she turned to me and winked.
"Right, Rey?"
Oh~ I see. She didn't defuse the bomb.
She made sure I was holding it.
Noted.
Game on, Raisa.
Before I could reply to Raisa's wink-of-war, a low sigh broke the tension.
"… You two really are something else"
Tiara. Raisa's childhood friend, someone who knows Raisa inside out, is Tiara.
She had her arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, the picture of disapproval, but there was a faint smile tugging at the edge of her lips. Calm. Cool. And watching everything.
Unlike Leo, she wasn't emotionally flailing. Unlike Raisa, she wasn't playing chess with people.
No. Tiara was measuring. Weighing.
And right now? Her gaze was on me.
"You okay?" She asked. Simple question. But her eyes narrowed just a bit, like she was testing my answer.
"Yeah," I said. "Still alive"
She chuckled once. Short and sharp.
"Good. You'll need that survival instinct around here"
I couldn't help but smile at that.
Tiara, she wasn't trying to charm me. Wasn't staking a claim.
She was warning me.
And the way she stood slightly between me and Leo, just enough to be noticed, not enough to be obvious... I understood.
Tiara wasn't a piece on the board.
She was the one who flipped it if the game got too dirty.
A protector? Maybe.
An observer? Definitely.
A threat? Only if you were stupid.
I filed that away.
Survival Rule #18: The quiet ones are the ones you watch closest.
Because when they move, it means they've already decided.
"We wasted too much time here, Raisa. Enough with the game. Let's go back to the classroom"
Oh? So she knows the 'games.' Impressive.
But the way Raisa looked at Tiara just now... That was something else. Sharp. Almost electric.
Ah~ I see now. They're both tangled in the same web, caught in each other's gravity. Chains, really. Not the kind you wear, but the kind you choose not to break.
"…You're right," Raisa finally said, her voice as composed as always. "Let's go back, shall we, Rey?"
Why is she looking at me like that? Hey, don't pin this on me, I'm just following the current here. You started the storm, I'm just riding the wave.
"Ahaha~ You're right," I laughed, trying to ease the tension. "It's fun with you guys. Guess I didn't notice how much time had passed. Alright, let's head back"
"…Tch. You're lucky Raisa stopped me," Leo muttered as he brushed past us. His footsteps were heavy, deliberate, each one leaving a mark on the floor, like he needed the world to feel his irritation.
He walked ahead, leaving the three of us behind.
"Ahaha~ Funny guy," I said, watching his retreating figure.
"You think so?" Tiara asked, eyebrow arched just slightly.
"Yeah. What else? Slave guy?"
That got a reaction. A smirk. Small, just a twitch at the corner of her lips, but it was there.
"'Slave guy,' huh? That's... Not wrong," She muttered, eyes drifting away, her voice soft like she wasn't really talking to me anymore.
And Raisa? She was already a few steps ahead, walking with that signature grace of hers. But her hands, normally relaxed, almost regal, were clenched. Just slightly. Subtle, but telling.
Interesting. Even Raisa has limits.
"You okay, Tiara?" I asked. Not because I didn't know the answer, but because I wanted to hear her say it.
She turned to me. Those clear, quiet eyes of hers didn't blink. Didn't flinch.
"Yeah," She said. "Just tired of seeing people play with knives while pretending they're handing out flowers"
Oof. That one landed. Not on me, but on someone else. Or maybe both of them. Hell, maybe all of us.
"Must be exhausting," I murmured. "Being the one who watches while others act like they're in control"
Tiara nodded, slow and steady.
"Someone has to keep things balanced"
And I realized then, she's been carrying that role for a long time. The silent weight of someone who sees too much and says too little.
"…You're doing a great job. And… Thanks for earlier," I said, my voice quieter than usual.
This time, I offered Tiara a genuine smile, small, maybe a little crooked, but real. A rare one. The kind that slips out when my guard's down.
She blinked, caught off guard. "…W-What? I didn't do any-"
"Hy! Are you two going or what?" Raisa's voice cut through, sharp and impatient. She stood ahead, arms folded, one eyebrow raised like she already knew we'd get distracted.
Tiara and I exchanged a glance. No words needed, just a silent understanding passed between us.
With a soft chuckle, I turned toward Raisa. "Coming," I said.
And so, the three of us walked back to the classroom, carrying quiet thoughts, half-finished smiles, and the lingering tension of things left unsaid.
Survival Rule #1: If you find a potential partner who understands, treat them well.
…Not that I'm saying Tiara's that, but...
Okay, maybe just a little.
It's rare. People who don't just listen, but see. The kind who don't flinch when you say too much, or worse, when you say nothing at all.
Tiara… She's like that. A mirror that doesn't judge, only reflects. Dangerous, in a comforting way.
So yeah, treat them well. Because if you don't, someone else will.
And in this world? In this Hell, that's the kind of mistake that haunts you.
....
...
..
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