The following Monday, the tension in Room 404 had reached a fragile truce. They had agreed to go back to "Rule Number Two"—the invisible line—but the memory of the near-kiss over the parfaits hung in the air like an unsaid confession.
Ren sat in the university cafeteria, his laptop open, trying to focus on a security script. He was pulled out of his focus by a sudden tray slamming onto the table across from him.
"Ren-kun! I finally found you!"
He looked up to see Asuka, the Student Council President. She was beaming, her perfectly styled hair catching the light. She was the polar opposite of Shizuka's quiet elegance—she was loud, bright, and incredibly persistent.
"I missed you at the mixer on Friday," Asuka said, leaning forward until she was well within Ren's personal space. "You're so mysterious, Ren. Everyone wants to know why the top coder in the freshman class is always hiding."
"I'm just busy," Ren said, his voice flat.
"Too busy for the Autumn Gala?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. "I'm the lead organizer, and I'm short one partner for the opening dance. A genius like you would look great in a suit."
From across the cafeteria, Shizuka was sitting with several other faculty members. She was holding a cup of tea, but her gaze was fixed squarely on Ren and Asuka. Her knuckles were white from gripping her cup so hard.
"Is everything okay, Professor Ichinose?" Professor Ishii asked, following her line of sight. "You're staring at that freshman again. Kurosawa, isn't it? He seems to be quite popular with the Student Council."
"I... I was just concerned about his grades," Shizuka lied, her voice tight. "He seems distracted."
Inside, she was fuming. Why was Asuka touching his arm? And why wasn't Ren pulling away faster? She felt a sharp, ugly sting in her chest that she hadn't felt in years.
That night, the atmosphere in Room 404 was ice-cold.
Shizuka was grading papers with aggressive red pen marks. Ren was quietly setting up his bedding on the floor—the "Pillow Wall" had been moved back to the center of the mattress, a silent signal of her displeasure.
"So," Shizuka said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hear you're going to the Autumn Gala with the Student Council President. I suppose a 'genius coder' needs a flashy socialite to match his reputation."
Ren stopped what he was doing and looked up at her. He saw the way her lips were thinned and the way she wouldn't meet his eyes. A slow, knowing smirk played on his lips.
"Are you jealous, Professor?"
"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, finally looking at him. "I'm concerned about the optics. If my roommate is out dating the girl who is most likely to catch us, it's a security risk."
Ren stood up and walked over to her side of the line. He didn't stop until he was standing right in front of her desk. "I didn't say yes to her."
Shizuka blinked, her anger faltering. "You... you didn't?"
"I told her I already had someone in mind," Ren said, leaning down so his face was level with hers. "Someone who snores in her sleep and eats too many strawberry parfaits."
Shizuka's heart did a somersault. The red pen slipped from her hand, rolling across her grading. "Ren..."
"If you want me to stay away from her," he whispered, "all you have to do is ask."