"...Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be very appropriate."
Karuizawa Kei's voice dropped a few tones, but she quickly recovered her usual calm.
"But I heard that fortune-teller is really good at love-related readings. If you have time, maybe you could go with Hiyori-san and check it out?"
"Sure."
Kitagawa Ryo nodded, turning his gaze forward.
Perhaps both of them were secretly grateful that they were sitting side by side rather than face-to-face. If they sat properly and looked straight ahead, they wouldn't catch a glimpse of each other in their line of sight—just like two parallel lines that never intersect.
"Hm? So you actually do have a girlfriend, Kitagawa?"
Kiryuin Fuka broke the awkward silence. Holding her cup in one hand and resting the other on the backrest of the sofa, she raised an eyebrow.
"Is she in the same class?"
"Yes."
"Want me to teach you some dating tips?"
Hearing that unexpectedly mature offer, Ryo blinked in surprise and asked,
"Senpai, don't tell me you have a lot of dating experience?"
"Of course—not. I haven't had a boyfriend yet."
Speaking the most detached answer in the most confident tone, Kiryuin laughed heartily without the slightest concern.
"If your personality were a bit cuter, I don't think you'd have trouble finding one."
"I am cute. Just no guy has managed to bring it out of me yet."
Ryo let out a deep sigh at her response. Though she was undeniably attractive and capable, her personality was bound to bring nothing but trouble if noticed too closely.
He pressed his lips together and glanced at Kei, who sat beside him with her head down. Her long bangs obscured her eyes, making it hard to read her expression.
Erasing his imprint on her completely would take time.
His phone lit up with an incoming call. The name displayed on the screen:
[Hiyori]
He picked it up and stood, saying goodbye to the two girls.
"I'll head out now."
"Don't forget to pay the bill."
Kiryuin lazily leaned back and gave instructions.
Kei still had her eyes lowered. She responded with a faint hum and took a deep breath. Then, finally, her voice came out louder, no longer just a strained hum forced from her throat.
"Alright."
Once Ryo and the cat were long gone, Kei stiffly stood up. Her legs felt numb, and she stumbled a little trying to step out from the inside of the booth.
Though Kiryuin, seated on the outer side, quickly grabbed her arm to help, Kei's hand still knocked over a glass on the table.
Fortunately, it was already empty except for some remaining ice cubes, which scattered with a clatter. Kei hurriedly picked them up with her hands and threw them into the nearby trash bin.
"Sorry about that. We can handle it from here."
One of the staff members came over, offering her a napkin and apologizing as they swept the ice away.
"It's fine."
Kei responded quietly, then suddenly asked an odd question:
"The boy who sat here earlier, he ordered his drink with extra ice, didn't he?"
"Ah... yes."
The employee blinked in surprise but quickly answered.
As Kiryuin watched the exchange, she grew curious and asked with interest:
"Did you deduce that from the leftover ice?"
"Standard ice cubes are around a hundred grams, and..."
Just as Kiryuin was about to admire the younger girl's observational skills, Kei cut her off.
"No."
Kei wiped the melting water from her hands with a napkin, the lingering chill still present.
"Ryo always orders that way. I just wanted to check if his taste had changed."
Kiryuin found the answer dull, and Kei didn't seem to want to elaborate further. She gave a polite bow and left the shop.
Outside, she rejoined three others waiting for her. Her smile returned to the usual warm one, and her white dress swayed gently in the wind.
It was the dress she felt most confident wearing.
-------------------------------------
Sakayanagi Arisu's room welcomed an unexpected yet unsurprising guest today.
"I once heard a saying," Sakayanagi began. "When you love someone to your bones, you can't help but want to find out everything about them. You check their social media, read every post, even that isn't enough. You want to learn about everyone close to them, their friends, their family."
On her way back from the café after her negotiation with Ryuuen Kakeru, she had anticipated this visit. And as expected, Shiina Hiyori was waiting at her door.
There was no need to ask her purpose. Sakayanagi naturally opened the door, and Shiina stepped inside. Her room was filled with various teas. Though Sakayanagi initially intended to brew the tea herself, Shiina insisted on doing it instead.
With the air conditioner humming, the warmth of the tea cups didn't feel uncomfortable, even in summer. Sakayanagi continued, "You dig through the tiniest details, searching for secrets that belong only to him. It's the most direct way to feel close to someone, even if it's just an illusion. Boys don't dislike such sentiments."
Shiina remained silent, calm and detached, in contrast to Sakayanagi's sharp demeanor.
"Would you like to play chess?" Shiina asked, glancing at the chessboard on the table.
It was an unexpected offer, but Sakayanagi didn't refuse. As they set the pieces, she asked, "You like chess?"
"I just learned a month ago. It's for relaxation. I'm not good."
Shiina began with the white pieces, her movements fluid and elegant. Her slightly furrowed brows gave her an air of grace, making her seem naturally suited for the game.
"For a beginner, you're doing quite well," Sakayanagi commented as they began the match.
Sakayanagi Arisu played chess very slowly, as if deliberately adapting to the rhythm of Shiina Hiyori, a beginner.
"You seem to be dissatisfied with me?"
"No, maybe I should thank you."
Although they were organizing their words, their consciousness was still focused on this chess game, and they gradually became serious.
It was as if if this game was lost, something else would be lost as well.
"You don't have to be grateful to me, after all, I just thought it was fun at the time."
Then Sakayanagi made an unexpected move into Shiina's side of the board.
"Then let me ask you something," Shiina said, shifting to a more aggressive play. "Why didn't Karuizawa testify in court?"
"She lost the memory of the event and couldn't testify. Her parents were against her getting involved too. You already knew that, didn't you?"
Sakayanagi easily countered Shiina's offense and began surrounding her pieces.
The chessboard was slowly collapsing under Sakayanagi's swift and relentless attacks.
"Are you really dating him now?" Sakayanagi suddenly stopped and asked.
The last time they had faced each other like this was back at Kitagawa's room at the beginning of the term. That was when Sakayanagi took his homemade blueberry pie, sparking conflict between Class A and Class C.
"Yes, I'm dating Ryo," Shiina said.
Although she had just received some hints from Ryuuen Kakeru, after confirming it from Shiina Hiyori, Sakayanagi Arisu still felt a little unbelievable and shook her head.
"Did he confess to you first?"
"I don't think I need to answer that in such detail."
"Being vague only makes me think this relationship is fake, just to deal with Karuizawa. Ryo is quite good at that kind of thing."
"It's not like that," Shiina replied firmly. "There's no need for elaborate plans anymore. Ryo simply chose to be with me. That's all."
She tilted her head slightly, her expression innocent and confused. "Why do you care so much about Karuizawa? Ryo's life doesn't revolve around her. Right now, she's just a spy he planted in Class D. Their relationship is purely strategic."
"Maybe Karuizawa is even relieved to be free of his control. She's Class D's leader now and just got a huge amount of personal points."
Sakayanagi picked up a black chess piece, her fingers spinning it lightly. "Not necessarily."
Shiina noticed something and asked, "Why not?"
"Because Karuizawa isn't someone who gives up easily. Her psychological issues run deeper than you think."
Sakayanagi smiled and moved a piece forward. "Checkmate."
Shiina stared at the board. "It's not over yet. I'm at a disadvantage, but you can't say it's lost."
"No," Sakayanagi replied, confident. "This is a dead end. No matter what move you make next, you can't win."
She poured herself another cup of tea and relaxed.
"In a few more turns, you'll be trapped. I'm not interested in garbage time."
Shiina couldn't see the checkmate. She had only studied chess for a month, after all. Her interest had sparked when she learned Kitagawa used to play.
Taking out her phone, she called someone.
Sakayanagi raised a brow as Shiina placed the call.
"Ryo."
"Yeah, I'm here. What's up?"
His voice came through easily on speakerphone.
Sakayanagi felt an unexpected irritation. She glanced around, searching for something to distract herself, and realized the white cat that often lay at her feet was gone, leaving only a cane propped in its place.
"I'm playing chess with Sakayanagi, but she says I'm at a dead end. Can you take a look?"
"Sure. Start a video call. Between you and me, I usually win against Sakayanagi."
"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing, alright?"
Their back-and-forth was effortless and warm.
Shiina turned the board toward the camera and waited.
Even Sakayanagi seemed slightly anxious, having just declared the game over.
"Oh, there's still room to play."
A minute later, Ryo's relaxed voice returned.
"Move the queen... if Sakayanagi..."
He spoke clearly and strategically. Shiina quickly put on her earphones to avoid revealing the move.
The room fell silent as she made her move, and Sakayanagi watched, a soft smile on her lips, waiting for her turn.
His voice, just now, had spoken directly into her ear.
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