Even though she had long seen it coming, having it spoken out loud still left a bitter taste in Momo's mouth.
She felt that Rukia shouldn't have handled it that way—especially not as her closest friend.
She knew perfectly well I liked the president.
Momo had believed that she and the president were already just a step away from becoming something official. She thought that after telling Rukia, her friend would gradually come to accept it.
She didn't see herself as presumptuous or overconfident.
After all, if someone couldn't even bring themselves to confess their feelings, then wasn't it only natural that they suffer the pain of unrequited love?
If, when she had first confided in Rukia about liking the president, Rukia had just come out and said she liked him too—Momo would've accepted that. She would've said they could compete fairly.
She wouldn't have been angry or upset. The president was such a wonderful person. It was only natural that others liked him too. Rukia was just a normal girl, after all.
But—she'd misjudged Rukia.
To keep silent then, and only say something now… Was it because she'd entered the Kuchiki family, and her pride had grown with her status?
What Rukia didn't know was that Momo's relationship with the president had already taken a real step forward. Things weren't the same as before.
If she found out the truth… how heartbroken would she be?
Before afternoon classes began, Rukia entered the classroom and immediately spotted Momo sitting at her desk.
She walked over silently and sat beside her.
"Momo," Rukia said softly.
"…"
Momo didn't respond. She glanced at Rukia out of the corner of her eye, lips pressed tight, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
She didn't know what would happen to their friendship from here on out.
In her heart, she didn't want things to end with them becoming strangers. But she was still angry—angry at the things Rukia had said to her.
Calling her out directly for trying to set her up with Renji—like she'd done something underhanded or shameful.
Renji's a great guy. Aside from Kidō, he was solid across the board. Didn't she know Renji had always liked her?
So what was so wrong about trying to bring them together?
Still, the more Momo thought about it, the more conflicted she felt. She couldn't deny she had her own motives—but if it had worked out, wouldn't that have been a win-win?
Seeing that Momo refused to respond, Rukia looked disheartened. She bit her lower lip, eyes beginning to redden.
And so, the two once-inseparable best friends sat through the entire class without exchanging a single word.
When the bell rang, Rukia quietly packed up her books and left the room.
"Rukia?" Renji called out to her.
She didn't answer.
Renji was left scratching his head in confusion.
Kira walked over to Momo. "What happened with Kuchiki-san?"
Momo didn't respond.
Kira frowned. "Wait… did you two get into a fight?"
Renji immediately leaned in. "You two fought?"
Momo glared at them both, her eyes now rimmed red too. She turned to Renji.
"This is your fault!"
Renji was stunned. "Huh? What'd I do?!"
"It's because you're too dense! Get lost!"
Momo stormed out of her seat, leaving the two boys standing there, completely bewildered.
"I think Momo's really lost it," Renji muttered.
"What did they fight about?" Kira asked.
"How should I know?"
...
Student Council Headquarters
Most members were gathered, catching up on unfinished work from the previous day.
"Rukia and Momo aren't here?" Nobu asked as he scanned the room, noting the absence of two familiar faces.
Those two were usually the most reliable—they never missed work or events.
Kira stepped up quietly and said, "I think… they had a falling out."
Nobu blinked in surprise.
A fight?
Momo and Rukia were always so close it was like they shared a brain. They fought?
Could it be… because of me?
He opened his favorability list.
[Rukia: 82]
[Momo: 85]
He fell into thought. It was possible their conflict was somehow tied to him—but Momo didn't know that he'd once told Rukia he liked her. And Rukia didn't know that he'd kissed Momo.
I'm a sinner, he sighed to himself.
...
The following day, Rukia took a leave of absence and didn't attend class.
Momo sat beside the empty seat, the space beside her making her feel even more unsettled.
Kira and Renji approached her.
"Momo, what really happened between you and Kuchiki-san?"
Renji chimed in too. "If it's nothing serious, just make up already. You girls are always like this. Me and Kira? We never fight."
Kira kept quiet but silently disagreed—Every time we train, Renji hits way too hard. I've definitely wanted to strangle him a few times…
Momo shot them a glare. "You two don't understand anything, so stop talking nonsense!"
Then she looked at Renji and snapped, "Let me ask you—how would you feel if Kira liked Rukia?"
Renji froze. Then, in a flash, he grabbed Kira by the collar. "What?! You like Rukia?!"
Kira looked deeply unimpressed. "She said if, you idiot."
"…Oh." Renji let go, a little sheepish.
Momo realized this wasn't going anywhere and left the classroom altogether.
"Momo, class is about to start! Where are you going?"
"None of your business!"
Kira sighed. "She's probably just upset. Give it a day or two, she'll calm down."
Renji scratched his head. "So what did they fight about? Something about you liking Rukia?"
Kira hesitated, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It's probably… a love triangle thing."
Renji's face suddenly went pale.
"Kira."
"Hm?"
"You don't think… Momo's fallen for me, do you?"
"…"
Renji went on in a dead-serious tone. "Think about it—yesterday she said this was all my fault, and that I was too dense. And then just now, she brought up something about me and Rukia. So doesn't that mean… they're fighting because of me?!"
Kira replied flatly, "You're overthinking it."
"I'm serious! Rukia might be… well, let's leave that aside. But if Momo does like me, then it totally makes sense that they'd fall out—Momo thinks I like Rukia, and so—bam! Friendship over!"
"There's literally zero chance of that."
"…Kira?"
Kira Izuru gave Renji a long look, the kind reserved for talking to a particularly slow child, and let out a heavy sigh.
Momo likes the president.
Everyone in the student council knew that.
And based on what Momo said earlier, it sounded like Rukia might have feelings for him too.
Which meant…
Renji—who'd always secretly liked Rukia—was the odd one out.
Kira patted Renji on the shoulder with an air of finality.
"Forget it, Renji. This one's got nothing to do with you."