With the task done, Fei-yu started doodling in the empty space on the paper. Without thinking, he drew a simple pig's head—a big circle with a smaller circle inside.
He looked at the cute pig and had a mischievous thought. He wanted to show it to Yui-shin and ask if it looked like her. But then he remembered he owed her a favor from the bet. If he annoyed her, she might use that favor to make his life difficult. He decided to play it safe.
Yui-shin had stopped looking at Saki's masterpiece and was now intensely focused on fixing her own "bird." After seeing the peacock, she realized how bad her drawing was. She was determined to make it look less like a chicken.
Wait... she thought. Does it really look like a chicken? She looked at Saki again. Saki had hesitated before answering. She had looked at Fei-yu first.
That bastard... Yui-shin realized Fei-yu had probably signaled Saki to lie. She bit her lip to hide a smile. Her heart felt like it was melting in honey.
Fei-yu turned to look at her. He was captivated by her profile. Her eyes were as clear as mountain lakes, reflecting everything good in the world. Her long lashes fluttered as she worked. Her nose would scrunch up when she was frustrated, and her moist lips were pressed together in concentration. She was the picture of innocence.
He felt the weight of his responsibility again. He had to protect this sweetness from the darkness of this world.
"Fei-yu... why are you... staring at me like that?"
Yui-shin turned her head, and their eyes locked. It was like two magnets snapping together. Both of their hearts raced. For a moment, it felt like the rest of the classroom didn't exist. Yui-shin was the first to look away, her voice trembling and sweet.
"Cough... I just wanted you to see my painting."
"Is that so? Mmh." Yui-shin moved her stool closer to him until their shoulders touched.
"I painted a little duck."
"A duck? Wow, Fei-yu, you're good too!"
Fei-yu barely heard her. He was hyper-aware of her body pressed against his. He could smell her scent—a mix of shampoo and her own natural sweetness. He looked at her pale neck and gulped.
Yui-shin didn't move. She stayed pressed against him, looking at the duck, but her cheeks were glowing like a sunset. She had heard him gulp.
Neither of them spoke.
Then, Fei-yu felt a small, soft hand slide into his. He froze, a wave of heat rushing through him. He could feel the warmth of her palm and the silkiness of her fingers. He knew her face must be bright red right now.
He slowly opened his fingers, and she laced hers through his.
Since they were in the back of the room, no one saw their intertwined hands. In a world like this, if someone caught them, they'd take a photo and use it for blackmail.
Fei-yu almost wished someone would try. He would squeeze every bit of value out of them before making them suffer in ways they couldn't imagine. Like the fat pervert who tried to assault Yui-shin—he was now fused with a tree, conscious but unable to move, feeling the pain of the insects and rot.
He looked forward to gaining "Gold Experience Requiem" one day. Then every predator and blackmailer could experience an eternity of suffering between life and death.
At noon, the three of them sat on the vast rooftop to rest. Fei-yu rubbed his full belly, staring at the blue sky and cotton-candy clouds.
"Burp... so full. Big Radish, tell your girlfriend to pack more sushi tomorrow," a voice echoed in his head.
Fei-yu's mouth twitched. Hanako the ghost really made herself at home.
Tomorrow is Sunday. No school, he reminded her.
"Ah?! Is it Sunday already? Fine... Monday then."
Fei-yu was lying with his head in Minato's lap, while Hanako (invisible to others) was sprawled across his chest. As a ghost, she had long since lost track of time.