Chapter 4 — A Thorn Beneath Petals
Rain fell softly the next morning, painting the world in a sheen of silver and gray. The streets were slick with puddles, and umbrellas bloomed like flowers as students made their way to school.
Elira and Elena shared a deep green umbrella, walking closely together as the drizzle dampened their skirts and shoes.
Kaito was waiting at the usual corner, holding a navy umbrella of his own. He offered a small wave and stepped closer.
"Morning, my friend of twins~" he greeted. "Looks like we'll be walking in a watercolor today, ain't that exciting?"
Elena raised a brow. "That's poetic."
Kaito chuckled. "I've been doing a lot of research and hanging around writers and artists too much, maybe."
They walked the rest of the way under the soft patter of rain, their umbrellas bumping once or twice. The air smelled of earth and wet leaves, and the distant sound of car tires swishing along asphalt filled the silence.
At school, their wet shoes squeaked across the tile floor. Kaito walked them to class as usual, but a low murmur followed them this time. A few students glanced over. Some whispered.
Elira noticed, her fingers tightening on her bag. Elena's expression flattened.
Kaito gave no sign of noticing. He just smiled and held the classroom door open for them.
The day passed slower than usual. Something subtle had shifted. The kindness they'd begun to feel felt fragile today, like a thread being stretched too thin.
In the afternoon, as the clouds cleared and golden light seeped through the windows, a name began circulating.
Mika Kawahara.
She returned that day.
A student from their class, gone for a month due to family travel. Elegant, well-liked, outspoken. Her return brought a ripple through the school's social currents, like a stone dropped into a still pond.
She entered the classroom during break, hair perfectly styled, blazer neatly pressed. Her eyes scanned the room—and landed on Kaito.
She walked over instantly.
"Kaito-kun," she greeted sweetly. "It's been ages."
Kaito turned from his desk. "Mika. Welcome back."
Mika smiled, then paused, noticing the twins nearby. Her gaze swept over them, slow and sharp that it intimidating them both.
"And these are…?"
"Elena and Elira. New students. They transferred a few days ago."
Mika tilted her head, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Oh? You've been busy."
Elira offered a polite nod. Elena remained silent.
Kaito's tone remained friendly. "I've been helping them settle in. They're pretty talented."
"Talented," Mika echoed. "That's… nice."
During lunch, Mika sat with Kaito again. It was her old spot, after all. She talked animatedly about her trip, showing photos on her phone, laughing softly at private jokes they once shared.
Elira sat two rows away, her lunch barely touched.
"Should we leave?" she whispered to Elena.
"No," Elena replied. "We were here first."
Elira nodded but kept her eyes on her food.
Later, in the hallway, whispers floated around them.
"Those twins think they're close to Kaito-kun now?"
"Did you see how Mika looked at them?"
"She'll put them in their place soon."
Elira heard every word. Elena did too.
After school, Kaito waited outside the gate as usual. Elira approached slowly. Elena hung back.
"You alright?" Kaito asked.
Elira hesitated. "Is she… an old friend?"
Kaito blinked. "Mika? Yeah, kind of. We were in the same club back in middle school. Why?"
"She doesn't like us."
Kaito frowned. "Don't let her get to you. She just needs time."
Elira looked down. "I'm used to being disliked."
"Well," he said gently, "get used to being liked, then. Because I'm not going anywhere."
Elira looked up, and something in her chest fluttered.
The next day, Mika cornered Elira near the stairwell.
"You're a writer, right?" Mika asked, arms crossed.
Elira nodded slowly.
"I read what you submitted to the club. It's… imaginative."
Elira blinked. "Thank you."
"But it's very amateur. You might want to stick to diaries."
The words hit like a slap. Mika's smile was cold.
"I'm just being honest," she said, then walked away.
Elira stood there, notebook in hand, her heart thudding in her ears.
Elena found her sister in the art room that afternoon. Elira sat in a corner, notebook closed, eyes distant.
"She said I was amateur."
Elena didn't ask who. She already knew.
"She's just insecure," Elena said. "You're better than her."
Elira looked at her sister. "You always say that."
"Because it's true."
That evening, Kaito messaged Elira.
Kaito: Heard there was some tension today. You okay?
Elira: I don't know. I feel like I'm back in middle school again.
Kaito: Then let's do something new. Wanna meet early tomorrow? Before school?
Elira: Just us?
Kaito: Just us. There's a bookstore café near the station. My treat.
Elira stared at the screen for a long time. Then typed:
Elira: Okay.
...
The next morning, they met under a sky still dusted with gray. Kaito was waiting outside the café, a warm drink in each hand.
"Vanilla latte," he said, handing her one. "Figured writers like sweet things."
Elira smiled for the first time that day. "Thank you."
They sat by the window, the café quiet at that hour. Books lined the walls, and soft jazz played from hidden speakers.
"Don't listen to Mika," Kaito said. "She's sharp-tongued. Always has been. But she doesn't define you."
Elira looked down at her drink. "She made me feel small."
Kaito leaned forward. "Then write about it. Turn her into a villain, or a trial your heroine overcomes. Don't let her silence you."
Elira blinked. "You sound like a writer."
Kaito smiled. "Maybe I've read too much manga."
They laughed quietly, steam rising from their drinks.
For a moment, the world felt safe again.
Back at school, Mika saw them arrive together and said nothing—but her eyes narrowed slightly.
Elira walked into class with her head a little higher. Elena met her gaze and nodded.
They weren't alone.
And even if the petals around them had thorns—
They had each other.
To be continued...