The story takes place in volume 12.5 of the second year, but with some changes.
Sakayanagi didn't drop out of school. Ryuuen refused to accept defeat her and canceled the bet. He was too proud to accept victory with Ayanokouji's help, so Sakayanagi was able to stay. However, the farewell conversation between her and Ayanokouji happened before she knew about it.
Horikita has some "intrusive" thoughts. You'll understand more as the chapter progresses.
Ayanokouji and Kei are still dating. The reason? The author of the fanfic they're reacting to is a sadist (;-;). He asked me to keep them together for now, but don't worry, there's a good reason for that... I think (lol).
Ayanokouji hasn't transferred classes yet. And, like everything else in this story, you'll find out why over time.
Ayanokouji didn't have sex with Ichinose. But she stole a kiss from him, even though she knew he was still with Kei.
I think that was the most important thing that changed, otherwise everything happened the same, of course Ayanokouji's conversation with Horikita wanting to see how he was after the breakup changed a little, taking the focus off the breakup their conversation was almost the same.
I finally finished this chapter, I've been writing this chapter on commission for about 8 or 9 days so it took a lot of work since I like to create a lot of reactions hahahaha
I hope you like it and if you can share it to increase the reach it will be of great help since it took a lot of work to make this first part.
I hope you like it and have fun and remember to read the original story that they are reacting to, it is very good so I recommend that you read it, here is the link:https://archiveofourown.org/works/59303896/chapters/151245739
Just a heads up that React is more expensive than other stories, well, this chapter is self-explanatory, creating React is much more work than creating a normal story like the ones about the zombie and the time-traveling Ayanokoujis.
Ryota smiled calmly as he looked at the students. With a serene tone, he explained that they would be analyzing three possible futures.
- You will be facing three possible futures. Their names are Unrestrained Feelings, The Reason Why, and finally, A Beautiful Dream or a Long-Forgotten Memory.
He paused briefly, paying special attention to Ayanokouji and Horikita, though he tried to disguise his focus on them. With a subtle smile, he added:
- I'm excited to see how you all will react to these possible futures.
Still smiling, he announced:
- Let's start with Unrestrained Feelings. I hope you're prepared.
And so, the react began.
Chapter 1: Honesty
"What a weird title for the first part of our future being shown." - Kei commented, hugging Ayanokouji's arm and snuggling against him. Her boyfriend sighed lightly, already used to her clingy attitude.
"It's probably related to the class. Maybe someone discovered an important secret or got involved in some conflict and now has to decide whether to tell Ayanokouji or not. The title makes sense in that context." - Horikita analyzed, casting a fleeting glance at Kei, who kept a firm grip on his arm.
She narrowed her eyes, questioning internally:
"Do you really have to hold onto him like that in front of everyone?"
Of course, it wasn't jealousy. Absolutely not. She just found it inappropriate to display so much intimacy here, surrounded by other students. Yes, that was the only reason. No doubt. It wasn't like she wanted to do the same. Who would even suggest something so ridiculous? As if she would ever want to feel those strong arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her close, only to throw her onto the bed and-
"Horikita, are you okay?" - Ayanokouji asked, his voice calm but tinged with slight curiosity.
She blinked a few times, realizing her face was slightly flushed.
"I'm perfectly fine, Ayanokouji-kun." - She replied quickly, shaking her head to clear away the absurd thoughts that had just invaded her mind. She adjusted her hair and maintained an impassive expression as if nothing had happened.
"Man, if Suzune is right, I really hope it wasn't me making some mistake in the future." - Sudou commented, crossing his arms and casting a nervous glance at the screen.
"Relax, Sudou. You've improved a lot over these two years, have more faith in yourself!" - Onodera smiled before giving him a light punch on the arm.
Sudou let out a small chuckle at her gesture but still shook his head. "Yeah, but I still hope I didn't mess up."
On the other side of the room, Kushida watched the main couple with an analytical look, her suspicions taking shape.
"Or maybe the problem has nothing to do with the class. It could be something more... personal. The title is blatantly bolded as HONESTY. If anyone needs to be honest in a relationship, it's couples. Which means..."
She discreetly rolled her eyes, staring at Kei and Ayanokouji.
"What if one of them cheated on the other?"
The thought deepened as her eyes remained fixed on the couple.
"That bitch wouldn't dare cheat on him. She's completely obsessed with that emotionless guy. So what's left? Him. That bastard. I don't trust him one bit."
Her fingers tapped lightly on her leg as a new thought emerged.
"Well... if he did cheat, it obviously had to be with someone better. Which isn't exactly difficult."
A strange sensation ran through her body as the next idea surfaced in her mind uninvited.
"And who better than me?"
Her heart sped up slightly, and her gaze became distant.
"I have connections, the trust of many students, I'm the best person for gathering information-the school's network of communication and secrets. Not to mention, I'm way more useful than she'll ever be. It makes sense, doesn't it? If there was cheating, it could only have been with me."
She closed her eyes, satisfied with her flawless logic.
...Until her face suddenly burned with the realization of what she was actually thinking.
"What the hell am I imagining?! How can I even think about wanting to be the one he cheats with? What kind of idiot thinks like this?!"
She felt her face grow even hotter, and her expression twisted between shock and frustration. That was when a voice snapped her back to reality.
"Kushida-san, are you okay?" - Sato asked hesitantly, staring at the blushing and confused girl.
Kushida blinked a few times, still processing her own unwanted thoughts.
"Yeah, yeah, Sato-san. I just... got distracted and ended up thinking about some weird things." - She quickly replied, forcing a small smile to dispel any suspicion.
Sato frowned but didn't press further. Meanwhile, Kushida mentally scolded herself.
"Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT!"
On the other side of the room, Sakayanagi Arisu observed the screen with an intrigued smile.
"Interesting... It seems Kiyotaka-kun made some mistakes in the future. I wonder what he did to his poor girlfriend? Fufufu..." - She thought, laughing softly, her mischievous expression reflecting the amusement she felt imagining the possibilities.
Beside her, Kamuro Masumi sighed, crossing her arms while looking at Sakayanagi with an exasperated expression.
"I can't believe you still have that stupid laugh."
She rolled her eyes, but to her own surprise, a part of her felt a strangely comforting familiarity.
"I can't believe I actually missed that annoying laugh." - She thought, though she would never admit it out loud.
Sakayanagi, always perceptive, smirked slightly and cast an amused glance at her friend.
"As I've already said, I missed you too, Masumi."
Kamuro looked away, scoffing. "Tsk."
"Oh, come on, Masumi... You missed us at least a little, didn't you?" - Hashimoto intervened, smiling teasingly.
The next second, a dull thud echoed through the room.
"GUHHH-!!!"
Hashimoto dropped to his knees, clutching between his legs with a look of pure agony. Kamuro's well-placed kick had struck without mercy.
The nearby students turned to look, some already used to this kind of scene whenever Hashimoto opened his mouth at the wrong time.
Kamuro looked down at him, arms crossed, her expression completely impassive.
"You deserved that second kick for using my first name without permission. And in case you forgot, I'm still mad at you for betraying our class."
Still writhing on the ground, Hashimoto raised a trembling thumbs-up in surrender.
"T-Took me a while, but... I got the message..."
Sakayanagi simply laughed again, bringing a hand to her lips.
"Fufufu... Time has passed, but some things never change."
It had already been a year since Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, now a third-year student at the prestigious Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, started dating his classmate, Karuizawa Kei.
In the two years he had spent at this elite school, many events had occurred that very few people would consider "normal" for an average student. Of course, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji could be called anything but normal.
After staring at the screen for a while, Ike discreetly leaned closer to Sudou, trying to keep the conversation between them.
"After analyzing everything he's done over the years... He's not normal. Of all the students in our class who got expelled, he was responsible for every single one of them," he murmured reluctantly, aware that bringing up this topic was never comfortable.
Sudou sighed, already tired of this kind of conversation.
"Man, we've already talked about this with the whole class. He had reasons for what he did. In the end, it was all to help the class, and most of us have accepted that."
Ike frowned, clearly still unsettled.
"You can't blame me, man. It's just really weird! And, in my defense, even some of the girls are scared of him."
He discreetly pointed at Mori and Nazuna, who were whispering while glancing at Ayanokōji.
Ayanokōji, who could hear everything clearly, sighed and cast an apathetic look at the group.
"Could you at least try to actually whisper? It would be easier to pretend I'm not listening."
Kei, clinging to his arm, huffed and looked directly at Ike.
"Are you kidding me? After all this, you're still on this?"
She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"If it weren't for Kiyotaka, half of our class would've been expelled for stupidity. Or do you really think we would've made it this far on our own?"
Ike hesitated, averting his gaze.
"I know, but still..."
Before he could continue, a cold and authoritative voice cut into the conversation.
"Ike, what is the purpose of bringing this up now?" Horikita intervened, her sharp gaze falling on him.
Ike felt a chill run down his spine.
"I-I just..."
"If you're going to question what has already been decided, at least have something useful to add. If not, I suggest you change the subject."
Sudou tried to hold back a laugh as he saw Ike shrink back.
"Hah, nice one, Suzune."
Kei smirked, satisfied.
"Exactly! You know, you should spend your energy thinking about how to improve as a person instead of wasting time doubting Kiyotaka."
Ike sighed in defeat.
"Okay, okay... You win. But I still think he's scary sometimes."
Horikita crossed her arms and looked directly at him.
"The only scary thing here is your lack of common sense."
Silence filled the group for a few seconds before Sudou burst out laughing.
Ayanokōji simply watched the scene, showing no reaction, while Kei and Horikita unexpectedly took similar roles.
"Hmph." Horikita scoffed softly, averting her gaze from Ayanokōji, who looked at her for a brief moment before giving a subtle nod of acknowledgment.
She blushed slightly and turned away completely, trying to ignore how that impassive gaze seemed to hold a silent recognition.
"No need to thank me, idiot. I just did what any rational friend and class leader would do..." she thought, maintaining a serious expression.
"It's not like I want praise, hugs, or anything like that."
Across the room, Ryuuen rolled his eyes while gripping his own leg, his jaw clenched in barely contained irritation.
"If that apathetic bastard were normal, I'd believe in the power of friendship and have wings," he scoffed, impatience evident in his voice.
Ibuki, who was nearby, smirked mockingly at his irritated expression. As someone who knew Ryuuen well, she was aware that he would never admit it, but the fact was clear-he owed his continued presence at the school to Ayanokōji. Twice.
And that was too good to ignore.
"What's wrong?" she teased, crossing her arms and tilting her head slightly. "Still pissed that he had to save you again so you wouldn't get expelled?"
The atmosphere tensed instantly. Ishizaki widened his eyes, surprised by her boldness, while Albert remained expressionless... though internally, he was just as impressed.
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes, giving Ibuki a dark look.
"Tsk. Funny coming from you, Ibuki. The only reason you're still here, running your annoying mouth, is because I decided you were useful."
Ibuki scoffed.
"Oh, sure, as if I were so hard to replace, right? But let's be real, Ryuuen..."-she stepped a little closer, smiling provocatively-"no matter how much you struggle, Ayanokōji saved your ass twice. You can pretend all you want, but without him, you'd have been out of this school a long time ago."
Ryuuen's eyes flickered with anger for a brief second. He hated to admit it, but it was an undeniable fact.
"Hah. You really think I asked that bastard for help?" His tone was sharp.
"No. But who said you needed to? He helped you anyway." Ibuki countered quickly, her challenging smile never wavering. "And let's be honest... If I were you, I'd stop talking about the 'apathetic bastard,' because, at this point, he's basically your personal babysitter."
Ryuuen's expression darkened, his grip on his leg tightening, but before he could snap back, Ishizaki nervously intervened.
"H-Hey, guys, let's calm down..."
Ryuuen let out a low, dangerous chuckle, relaxing back into his seat.
"Heh... If you want to play, Ibuki, play properly. Just don't complain when it's your turn to be put in your place."
Ibuki simply rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
"I'm waiting."
On the other side of the room, Ichinose smiled slightly, a faint blush appearing on her face as her thoughts drifted.
"He may not be the 100% good or normal person I imagined..." she reflected, her fingers lightly touching her chin. "But he helped me a lot, even when he didn't have to. Even knowing everything I was hiding... he never truly judged me."
Her smile grew a little wider, her gaze softening.
"In the end, no matter what I learn about him... I just can't hate him."
Mako, observing closely, narrowed her eyes with a mischievous grin as she noticed her friend's dreamy expression.
"Hmm? What are you thinking about, Honami~?" she asked, leaning in slightly.
Ichinose blinked and backed away a little, startled by her teasing tone.
"N-Nothing much, Mako-chan!" she tried to deflect, but her cheeks turned a shade pinker.
Mako crossed her arms, still wearing a playful smile.
"Ohh, does it have something to do with our dear friend Ayanokōji?"
Ichinose choked slightly on her own saliva, waving her hands hurriedly.
"No! It's not like that! I was just... just thinking about how he helped the class and-"
Mako chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the reaction.
"Really? Because, you know, your face is telling me something else, Honami."
Ichinose averted her gaze, biting her lip slightly, trying to contain her embarrassment.
"You're exaggerating..."
Mako smirked even more, satisfied with her small victory.
"Alright, alright, I believe you~."
But from her expression, Ichinose knew the teasing wasn't going to stop anytime soon.
As a result of a highly classified government project, he was born and raised in a place known as the "White Room" with the sole purpose of becoming the "perfect human" after enduring countless inhumane trials in that place. He acquired knowledge far beyond that of any young person his age, as well as physical abilities that any pentathlete could only dream of possessing. He witnessed countless of his peers die and saw many others discarded. In that hostile environment, there was no room for mercy...
Because of this, and his insatiable curiosity, Kiyotaka decided to experience a feeling he had never been able to know in that sterile place. Little did he know that to experience it, simply learning about it was not enough-it had to be felt. Unfortunately, the partner he had chosen for this purpose... was not the right one.
As the words appeared on the screen, a heavy silence took over the room. No one dared to speak, as if they were processing the terrifying information they had just received.
Many students' eyes widened, while others, incredulous, furrowed their brows.
Kei, who was holding Ayanokouji's arm, felt a chill run down her spine. Her fingers instinctively clenched his sleeve.
"This... is this serious...?" - her voice was weak, almost trembling. She turned to face him, but he, as always, remained impassive.
She couldn't understand how this was possible. She understood that some people had suffered in the past, but this? This was something from another world, almost fictional.
Horikita pursed her lips, crossing her arms.
"White Room... so that's where you came from?" - she murmured, her piercing gaze trying to find any hesitation on his face. But, as always, Ayanokouji showed nothing.
Now she understood why he never talked about his past and never wanted to.
Chiaki's surprise was palpable.
"A government project to create the perfect human...? Isn't that something you'd find in a dystopian novel?"
Chiaki knew Ayanokouji was different, but hearing it like this, directly, made it all even more surreal.
Ryuuen, who had been observing everything with a mocking smile, this time couldn't hide the seriousness in his eyes.
"Tsk... so that's why you're a monster." - he said, clenching his teeth. "Not because you were born that way, but because they made you that way... and you can still live normally after going through all that." - Ryuuen laughed lightly, a mix of disgust and surprise. "Freaking monster."
Ibuki crossed her arms, her expression clouded.
"This is just... sick."
Her gaze fell on Ayanokouji.
"You saw other kids die? Be discarded? And even so... you kept surviving?"
She didn't know if she felt pity or fear.
Kushida clenched her hands on her thighs, her usual smile completely absent.
"This is so absurd it's terrifying..." - her voice was lower than usual, almost a whisper.
Sakayanagi closed her eyes while discreetly gripping the armrest of her chair with slight anger.
"That place should not exist. No one should go through that."
I'm sorry your past is being exposed like this, Kiyotaka-kun. - Sakayanagi thought with her eyes closed.
The weight of the revelation was crushing, but there was one last sentence that made a girl's heart tighten even more.
"Unfortunately, the partner he had chosen for this purpose... was not the right one."
Kei swallowed hard.
"Partner...? What does that mean, not the right one?" - she murmured, a bitter taste in her mouth.
Ichinose bit her lip, her heart tightening.
Horikita averted her eyes for a brief moment.
"He... tried to experience a feeling he had never known?"
She felt something strange in her chest.
Ayanokouji remained silent, his gaze empty, as if he were detached from all the reactions around him.
But the truth was that he was absorbing everything. Watching each one of them.
And, perhaps, wondering...
If he would ever feel something different.
"Yes... you chose wrong, Kiyotaka-kun." - Ichinose thought, a soft smile appearing on her lips as she tried to ignore the weight of what she had just discovered about the White Room. "But one day, you'll understand... that I'm the one who should be by your side."
The blonde known as Karuizawa Kei was truly the most energetic and lively person possible, something that contrasted sharply with Kiyotaka. Her excessively cheerful gyaru aura was her most striking trait. Being the leader of the girls for almost two consecutive years, she was incredibly beautiful and sociable.
Of course, Kiyotaka surprised everyone when he revealed he was dating her. But what no one knew were Kiyotaka's real motives behind that relationship. Kiyotaka intended to understand and unravel the mysteries of what people call love.
For that reason, and other less important circumstances, they ended up dating...
As soon as the words disappeared from the screen, a heavy silence filled the room. All eyes turned to the couple in question: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Karuizawa Kei.
Kei felt her heart race but kept her expression firm. She knew her relationship with Kiyotaka had never been completely normal, but reading those words... made a bitter insecurity try to invade her mind.
"I already knew this..." - she thought, clenching her fists. "He almost broke up with me recently, but I decided to improve. I'll keep trying... for us."
Before anyone could speak, a low laugh echoed through the room.
"Fufufu... so that's it? A mere experiment?" - Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, elegantly bringing a hand to her lips. "How cruel of you, Kiyotaka-kun. You took our naive girls' leader and used her as a simple lab rat to test your emotions?"
Kei felt her gaze burn in her direction but refused to lower her head.
"He didn't use me!" - Kei snapped, clenching her fists. "Our relationship is real! And even if it started in a strange way... it's not like that now!"
"How cute to hear." - Ryuuen commented, a mocking grin appearing on his lips. "So basically, the apathetic guy there chose to date you just because he wanted to understand what the hell love is?"
He then turned to Ayanokouji, his eyes shining with pure malice.
"So, Ayanokouji, how's your experiment going? Have you figured out what love means, or is your test subject not performing well enough?"
Kei turned red with rage, ready to retort, but before she could open her mouth, Sato stepped forward.
"Shut up, Ryuuen!" - she said angrily. "Ayanokouji-kun and Kei are a real couple! You have no right to talk about them like that!"
Ryuuen raised his hands, feigning innocence.
"Relax, I'm just asking. After all, if he chose wrong, maybe it's better to change test subjects, don't you think?" - He cast a sideways glance at Ichinose, who just smiled, laughing lightly.
"Tsk..." Kei gritted her teeth, feeling insecurity gnaw at her chest.
But before she could say anything, a calm voice cut through the room.
"This is going too far."
Everyone turned to Horikita, who crossed her arms, her sharp gaze piercing Ryuuen.
"Ayanokouji-kun doesn't need to explain himself to you or anyone. What he feels or doesn't feel is none of your business. If his relationship with Karuizawa-san started in an unusual way, that doesn't mean it's fake."
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow, a curious glint in his eyes.
"Hoh... and since when did you become the defender of our apathetic friend here?"
Horikita scoffed, averting her gaze briefly before looking at him again.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just stating the obvious."
She then glanced at Kei, who was clenching her fists.
"If Karuizawa-san wants to believe in him and stay by his side, that's her decision. You have nothing to do with it."
Kei widened her eyes for a moment, surprised by Horikita's unexpected support.
"Horikita-san..."
Ayanokouji, as always, remained silent. His cold, analytical eyes scanned the room, observing everyone's reactions.
The truth was... he had already manipulated Kei enough for her to believe in him. He knew how to reassure her, how to make her trust that everything between them was real, even though his initial and current intentions were purely rational.
And, as expected, it worked.
Kei took a deep breath and lifted her chin, trying to regain her confidence.
"Ryuuen, say whatever you want, but I know Ayanokouji-kun better than any of you."
She grabbed Kiyotaka's arm, squeezing it lightly.
"He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone."
Ayanokouji simply watched, allowing her to speak. In the end, it was better this way.
Or so he preferred to believe, rather than thinking he had wasted a year of his school life on a failed experiment.
.
.
.
"Thank you for today..." the blonde girl said cheerfully.
"I enjoyed today as well," he replied without much enthusiasm.
Ayanokouji wasn't lying when he returned the sentiment. He had genuinely liked the newly released movie, as, due to his time in captivity at the White Room, there was still a lot of entertainment that remained unknown to him. He also enjoyed the small meal, as it was much needed after sitting for over two hours in the cinema.
But... the company was a bit... irritating?
As the words faded from the screen, the room fell silent again. What was supposed to be a romantic scene carried a strange weight, especially after the previous revelation.
The first to react was Sakayanagi, who chuckled softly.
"Fufufu... That's a little cruel, isn't it?" She brought a hand to her mouth, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Even after all this time together, Kiyotaka-kun still finds Karuizawa-san's company annoying?"
Kei felt her face heat up.
"W-What's wrong with that?!" She turned to Ayanokouji, trying to force a confident smile. "You don't find my company annoying, right, Kiyotaka?"
He looked at her for a brief second, not answering immediately.
Kei swallowed hard.
Before Ayanokouji could say anything, Ryuuen joined the conversation, laughing mockingly.
"Hah! This is hilarious." He leaned forward, staring directly at Kei. "So, basically, he liked the movie, he liked the food... but he didn't like you, Karuizawa?"
"That's not true!" Kei retorted, clenching her fists.
"Are you sure?" Ryuuen smirked maliciously. "Because from what I saw, it looks like our dear Ayanokouji is just tolerating you more than anything."
Kei bit her lower lip, feeling her insecurity grow.
"Kei-chan, don't let this guy get to you!" Sato intervened, glaring at Ryuuen. "Ayanokouji-kun isn't the type to express emotions normally. That doesn't mean he doesn't like Kei's company!"
"Exactly." Horikita agreed, crossing her arms. "He has never been an emotional person. If we took every word or expression of his literally, he would hate interacting with any of us."
She then glanced at Ayanokouji, noticing that he was simply watching the situation unfold.
"Can you at least say something to end this argument?" Horikita sighed.
Ayanokouji's eyes shifted to Kei. He noticed how she clasped her hands on her knees, clearly nervous.
Then, with his usual neutral expression, he opened his mouth.
"Kei, you are annoying."
Kei's eyes widened.
"W-What?!"
"But that's not necessarily a bad thing." He continued calmly. "Your energetic nature and ability to express emotions freely are traits I lack. So, even though I find your company exhausting at times... I wouldn't say it's a negative thing."
The room fell silent for a moment. Kei blinked, processing his words.
Then, slowly, a smile formed on her face.
"Hmph! Of course, I'm annoying, but you like that, don't you?" She grinned victoriously, grabbing his arm again.
"Whatever." Ayanokouji replied, not resisting the contact.
-Okay, even I felt the insincerity in his words.- Horikita thought, feeling a little sorry for Kei... just a little.
"Pff..." Ichinose chuckled slightly but quickly disguised it when Kei looked at her.
She rested her face on her hand, watching Ayanokouji with a curious glint in her eyes.
"You really made the wrong choice, Kiyotaka-kun..." She thought to herself. "But that's okay... I still have time to make you realize it."
Ryuuen, seeing that his provocation hadn't had the expected impact, clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. How boring. I was at least hoping for some tears."
He then leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Eventually, he'll get tired of you, Karuizawa. And when that happens, I'll have a good laugh."
Kei glared at him angrily but chose not to respond. She had already won this argument.
And deep down, even without saying anything directly, Ayanokouji had made her feel better.
-Scary, Kiyo called her annoying to her face and still made it sound like a compliment, and she accepted it with a smile, feeling better. Scary.- Ryota thought calmly, looking at the couple with a slight smirk.
"Kiyotaka!!!... What do you want to do now?" the blonde shouted after throwing herself onto him. He tried to endure her overly cheerful and clingy attitude, which, even after a year of dating, he still couldn't fully get used to.
The few seconds Kiyotaka took to respond were quickly misinterpreted by the blonde, who panicked when she didn't get an immediate reply from her boyfriend.
"A-Ah! Don't worry, if you want to end the date here, I understand. After all, you must be tired of spending the whole day with me... See you later, Kiyotaka!... Goodbye!" she said, waving with a big smile.
As the scene played out, a strange silence filled the room.
Kei watched herself on screen, feeling her face quickly heat up.
"A-Ah..." She murmured, feeling a lump form in her throat as she saw her own insecurity overflow in those words.
The first to break the silence was Ryuuen, who laughed mockingly.
"Hah! That's pathetic, Karuizawa." He leaned forward, looking at her with a malicious grin. "Look at this scene... desperate to hold onto a guy who doesn't even really care about you. He didn't say anything, and you were already saying goodbye as if he was going to dump you right there."
"W-Who's desperate here?! Shut up, Ryuuen!" Kei snapped immediately, but her voice wavered slightly.
She knew he was just provoking her, but... it hurt.
"Pff... This is funnier than I expected." Ryuuen continued, completely ignoring her reaction. "I wonder how long you'll last before realizing you're wasting your efforts."
Kei felt her stomach churn.
Before she could say anything, Sato slammed her hand on the table, clearly irritated.
"Stop talking nonsense, Ryuuen!" She looked at Kei with an encouraging smile. "Kei-chan, you're trying to improve, right? Don't let this guy get to you!"
Kei blinked, surprised by the unexpected support.
"W-What...? Ah, of course I am!"
"That's a fact." Horikita intervened, crossing her arms. "Ryuuen, if you can only see this scene negatively, it's because you've never been in a relationship to understand."
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow, a challenging smile forming.
"Oh? Are you calling me a virgin, Horikita?"
She rolled her eyes.
"What I'm saying is that relationships aren't simple. And considering who Kiyotaka is and what he's been through, it's natural that he doesn't know how to express his feelings properly."
Her eyes then shifted to Ayanokouji, who was calmly watching the entire argument.
"And you?" She asked directly. "Why did you take so long to respond? Didn't you realize your hesitation would make Kei feel that way?"
Kei looked at Ayanokouji, anxiously waiting for his answer.
Ayanokouji blinked slowly before opening his mouth.
"I was probably just thinking about how to respond. Since this is the future, I can't say with certainty why I took so long, but I assume that's all it was."
Kei widened her eyes.
"J-Just that?"
"Yes." - He affirmed. "You interpreted my delay as a sign of rejection, but that wasn't the case."
Kei remained silent for a moment. Then, she let out a sigh and smiled.
"Hmph! See, Ryuuen? Kiyotaka is just slow; it's not like he wanted to dump me!"
Ryuuen chuckled.
"If you say so..."
Meanwhile, Ichinose, who had remained quiet until then, let out a small, discreet laugh.
"He really is hopeless... But that's fine. I'll teach him over time." - She thought to herself, convinced that Ayanokouji would eventually realize he was with the wrong person.
-This is getting a bit weird, Honami.- Mako-chan thought as she looked at Ichinose, noticing the strange expression on her friend's face.
Ryuuen's provocation had been cut short. Kei felt more relieved with the support of Sato and Horikita, and even though Ayanokouji hadn't said anything particularly special, just the fact that he clarified the situation was enough to calm her heart.
-This is going to be troublesome, may God help me.- Ayanokouji thought, sighing internally, knowing that this wasn't the real reason for his delay.
-No, I'm not going to help you, figure it out yourself, Kiyo-chan. I'm busy right now.- Ryota thought, smiling calmly while lying in the air, playing Digimon Omega Ruby on his Nintendo 3DS.
The reality was that Kiyotaka had already been in a situation where he almost broke up with Kei. However, on a mere whim, he decided to keep the relationship alive. Because of this, the blonde's attitude had become somewhat withdrawn and overly "understanding" with him, if you could even call it that. She didn't want to burden him more than usual and was giving him space.
Kiyotaka couldn't even respond to her farewell; she quickly disappeared from his field of vision, leaving the brown-haired boy completely alone. This action left a bad taste in his mouth. It was true that he appreciated the new rhythm of his relationship with Karuizawa Kei, but there was something he still didn't quite understand. All this time, he hadn't felt anything for her, and he couldn't help but think that everything he experienced with her had been nothing but a waste of time...
Everything was going from bad to worse...
As soon as the words appeared on the screen, a chill ran down Karuizawa Kei's spine. Her fingers trembled slightly, and her heart pounded.
"H-He never... felt anything for me?"
Kei felt an involuntary shiver crawl up her skin. Since this was set in the future, it meant that the Ayanokouji beside her now didn't love her either.
The weight of this reality fell on her like a stone.
"No... This can't be...!"
She already knew their relationship was strange, that Ayanokouji was hard to understand, that he almost broke up with her... But hearing it this directly left her speechless.
Kei involuntarily shrank, trying to cling to any positive thought.
Sato, beside her, sighed heavily.
She had already suspected that their relationship was going through difficulties, but... reading it was different from just sensing that something was wrong.
"Kei-chan...!" - She thought, worried. Even so, she didn't lose hope. She still believed that the two could understand each other.
Horikita, who had been ready to defend Ayanokouji from any attack, ran a hand over her forehead, sighing deeply.
"Tsk... I won't be able to defend you this time, Ayanokouji."
She already knew that Ayanokouji's way of dealing with emotions was complicated, but this... this was going to cause him serious trouble now.
Then, the sound of a soft, discreet laugh came.
Kushida Kikyo brought a hand to her lips, smiling maliciously.
"And to think that the great and mysterious Ayanokouji-kun was just playing at dating~ How cruel, how cold..."
She knew this would further damage his image in the class, and she loved it. After all, it meant that only she would remain close to him when everyone else hated him.
Across the room, Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled slightly, a sharp glint in her eyes.
"Fufu~... I always knew you were a heartless individual, but this brutal honesty is truly fascinating. How cruel, Ayanokouji-kun."
Ryuuen, who had only been watching until then, broke into a wide grin of pure amusement.
"Hah! So you never loved her?" - He laughed, leaning forward. "And yet she keeps desperately trying... Karuizawa, you're more pathetic than I thought."
Kei clenched her fists tightly, trembling even more.
"S-Shut up, Ryuuen!" - Her voice faltered slightly, her insecurity showing through.
Ryuuen scoffed in amusement.
"And here I thought only Ichinose's class fools believed in the power of love." - He laughed. "But you, Karuizawa... You're practically begging for the love of a guy who doesn't even truly care. What a sad sight."
Kei felt her stomach churn.
Ichinose, who had been quiet until now, calmly looked at the screen.
"So that's it... He really doesn't feel anything for her."
Her gaze gleamed with a calculated thought.
"If things are like this, then it's only a matter of time before they break up."
She smiled slightly, hiding her satisfaction well.
Meanwhile, Ayanokouji remained impassive, observing the commotion around him.
He saw Kei trembling. He saw Sato sighing. He saw Horikita giving up on trying to help him. He saw Kushida and Sakayanagi laughing. He saw Ryuuen provoking.
He saw Ichinose watching everything... with an expression that didn't match her gentle smile.
He knew this would happen.
And yet, he wasn't bothered.
Not yet.
But deep down... he knew Kei would be.
And that, more than anything else, would be a problem for him since it would compromise the situation in Horikita's class.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. The stares were fixed on Ayanokouji, each carrying a different judgment.
Kei continued trembling slightly, her eyes fixed on the screen, lips slightly parted as if trying to find words that wouldn't come.
"He never... loved me..."
That single phrase echoed in her mind, leaving an emptiness in her chest.
The silence was broken by an irritating sound.
"Hah! What a pathetic sight."
Ryuuen's amused and cruel tone cut through the air like a blade. He leaned forward, resting an arm on his knee, his eyes full of scorn.
"And to think that the great Karuizawa Kei, the little leader of the girls, was just being used as an experiment for our robotic monster." - A sharp grin appeared on his face. "How sad, huh?"
Kei clenched her fists, her breathing unsteady.
"S-shut up, Ryuuen!" - She said, her voice trembling slightly.
But he only laughed more.
"What's wrong? The truth hurts?" - He then looked directly at Ayanokouji. "And you? Are you just going to stand there like a lifeless doll and say nothing? Or will you admit you were just playing with her this whole time?"
Ayanokouji closed his eyes for a moment, sighing lightly.
"I'm not playing with her."
The response was calm, without hesitation.
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? So you care about her?"
Ayanokouji remained neutral.
"I never said that."
Ryuuen laughed loudly, satisfied.
"Kukuku... What a wonderful boyfriend you are, Ayanokouji."
Kei bit her lip, her eyes trembling.
"He's not rejecting me... but he's not defending me either."
Sakayanagi, who had only been observing until now, finally let out a delicate laugh.
- "Fufu~... What an interesting dilemma. On one hand, we have our dear Karuizawa, who seems willing to humiliate herself for an unrequited love... and on the other, we have Ayanokouji-kun, who remains as impassive as ever."
She smiled mischievously.
- "Truly fascinating."
"How cruel you are, Ayanokouji-kun," Sakayanagi thought, chuckling softly.
Ichinose, who had been silent until now, looked away from the screen for a moment.
She had already suspected that their relationship wasn't based on real feelings, having overheard some things from Ayanokouji and deduced as much the night she kissed him. But seeing it so clearly exposed like this... was something else.
"This just confirms what I already knew... they won't last much longer."
She lightly grasped the hem of her skirt, blushing as she smiled.
"And when they break up... it'll be my turn. He'll be mine."
Beside Kei, Sato took a deep breath and clenched her fist, trying to hold back her frustration.
- "You all talk as if you know everything, but are you forgetting that Kei is right here, hearing all of this?!" - She shot an irritated glare at Ryuuen and Sakayanagi.
Ryuuen shrugged, amused.
- "So what? It's better for her to hear the truth than to keep living in this illusion."
Kei lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Horikita, who had been silently observing everything, finally decided to step in.
- "Enough."
Her voice was firm, enough to silence the provocations.
She then looked directly at Ryuuen.
- "Whatever the truth may be, it's none of your business or anyone else's."
- "Oh?" - Ryuuen raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his face. "So you're taking his side?"
- "I don't need to take anyone's side to see that you're just enjoying the situation and doing nothing but making things worse."
She then turned to Kei.
- "And you."
Kei looked at her with scared eyes.
- "You don't have to accept this kind of provocation."
Kei bit her lip, still uncertain.
Horikita sighed.
- "Ayanokouji."
He looked at her, expressionless.
- "Do you have anything to say about this?"
Ayanokouji took a deep breath and finally broke his silence.
- "What do you want me to say?"
He then looked directly at Kei, his sharp eyes analyzing her every reaction.
- "Kei, you know the truth better than anyone."
Horikita's eyes widened slightly as she now perfectly noticed Ayanokouji's tactic.
"He's manipulating the situation. He wanted me to speak first so he could respond after someone gave him an opening."
Ayanokouji then turned to the rest of the room.
- "If I truly didn't care about her, our relationship would have ended a long time ago."
That sentence, spoken with perfect calm, was enough to make Kei swallow dryly.
"He always says just enough to keep me by his side. It's always been like this, so it must always be like this..."
Ryuuen observed everything with a sharp gaze.
- "Hah... heh! So you're saying you care about her?"
Ayanokouji looked away.
- "I'm saying that our relationship is more complicated than you think, and even if you tried, you wouldn't be able to understand."
That answer was enough to make Kei feel a small relief in her chest.
"He didn't deny it..."
But deep down, she knew.
He didn't say he loved her.
And that... hurt more than any of Ryuuen's provocations.
"You're cruel, Ayanokouji-kun," Horikita whispered, sitting down next to him as he calmly closed his eyes.
"Things will probably get much worse." - Ayanokouji whispered calmly, only loud enough for Horikita and Kushida to hear.
"I hope you're wrong. It'll be really hard to help you if this gets much worse," Horikita whispered back.
"Well, now I'm 99% sure we're either going to see Ayanokouji-kun cheating on Kei or being honest with her and breaking up." - Kushida thought calmly. "It's pretty obvious what's going to happen and which scenario will play out." - Kushida thought, smiling discreetly.
Ayanokouji spent most of his walk back to his room thinking about his current relationship with Kei. He was beginning to reconsider whether to keep it alive or end it once and for all.
Kei was still the same, but who could blame her? The fear of being abandoned by the person you love is no small thing... It didn't help that Ayanokouji had been distant and cold with her lately.
The silence in the room grew heavier. Each new revelation only deepened the uncomfortable situation between Ayanokouji and Kei.
Horikita sighed softly, her gaze remaining on the screen.
"So he really is thinking about breaking up..."
She knew better than anyone how logical and calculating Ayanokouji was. If he was already reconsidering the relationship, then it was only a matter of time.
"Kei... is still the same, huh?"
The phrase echoed in her mind.
Horikita glanced at Kei, who was staring intently at the screen, her expression pale and tense.
Kei felt a shiver run down her spine.
- "I'm still the same...?"
She gripped the hem of her skirt, her fingers trembling.
"Does that mean I haven't changed enough?"
She knew Ayanokouji was distant. She knew their relationship was hanging by a thread. But... was it her fault?
"I tried to give him space... tried to understand him more..."
Kei felt her heart clench.
"But was that not enough?"
On the other side of the room, Kushida chuckled softly, discreetly covering her mouth with her hand.
- "Haha~... Ah, what a wonderful scene."
She cast an amused glance at Kei, who was clearly breaking down inside.
- "The great Karuizawa Kei, the leader of the girls, completely lost and powerless in her own relationship."
Kushida smiled maliciously in thought.
"In the end, she's just a desperate bitch trying to cling to someone who never loved her, someone who will leave her soon enough..."
Meanwhile, Ichinose looked away from the screen for a moment, a glimmer of certainty in her eyes.
"So he really is considering breaking up..."
She clenched her hands slightly.
"That means I just have to wait a little longer."
Kei swallowed dryly, forcing herself not to look away from the screen.
She was afraid.
"If I don't change... he'll leave me."
Ryuuen, who had been silent until now, scoffed.
- "Hah... So that's it? Karuizawa, you tried so hard to hold onto this relationship, and in the end, the robot only stayed because he wanted to play with you a little longer?"
He looked directly at Ayanokouji, a cruel smile on his face.
- "And you? Have you decided when you're going to throw her away?"
Ayanokouji stared at him with no visible emotion but didn't respond immediately.
- "..."
The silence was enough to make Kei feel a cold pit in her stomach.
Sato, who was beside her friend, bit her lip and spoke irritably to those judging the relationship.
"Kei is not a toy! And even if their relationship is going through difficulties, that doesn't mean it can't get better!"
Kei looked at Sato with trembling eyes.
"S-Sato..."
Sato held her hand.
"You love him, don't you?"
Kei felt a lump in her throat but nodded slightly.
Sato forced an encouraging smile.
"Then you just need to show him that."
Kei felt her eyes water slightly but quickly blinked to push away any signs of weakness.
"If I don't change... he will leave me."
She knew that now.
And she couldn't let that happen.
Man, what a tragedy. And to think she's going to suffer even more. The creator of that world is a sadist. Ryota thought calmly, watching the situation while looking at his Nintendo. His gaze shifted to Sato. "She looks like the fandom of the Kiyotaka x Kei ship, acting as if there's still hope for something that should never have started in the first place. How sad." Ryota thought, smiling softly while playing his game.
But that wasn't the main issue. What bothered the brown-haired boy the most was the conclusion he had reached about romantic relationships. After more than a year, he still knew almost nothing about them, except for the basics—like the fact that a person needs to feel sexual attraction to their partner for other reactions to occur. He thought he had that attraction for the blonde, but after several experiences and events, he came to the conclusion that maybe that wasn't the case.
The silence in the room was interrupted only by the sound of images changing on the screen. But no one could really focus on them. The weight of Ayanokouji's words still lingered over everyone.
Kei felt her body tremble.
"He... he never felt attracted to me?"
She bit her lip, feeling a suffocating tightness in her chest.
"Does that mean that... all this time... he never really desired me? And all those times we... I don't want to think about this..."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she held onto her own arm. She tried to take a deep breath, tried to calm down, but the words kept echoing in her mind nonstop.
Beside her, Sato closed her eyes and sighed softly.
"Kei..."
She knew her best friend was suffering, but she didn't know what to say to help her.
Kushida, on the other hand, smirked slightly.
"Fufu~... Well, well. It seems our dear Ayanokouji-kun was never really interested in you, Karuizawa."
She spoke casually, as if just commenting on the weather, but the malicious amusement in her gaze was unmistakable.
Kei didn't react immediately, but her hands clenched into fists.
"Shut up, Kushida."
Her voice came out weaker than she wanted, but it still carried a threat.
Kushida chuckled softly but didn't insist.
Across the room, Ichinose kept a neutral expression, but internally, she felt a chill in her stomach.
"So... he never felt anything for her?"
She bit her lip discreetly.
"That means that... if he breaks up with her... he might feel something for someone else?"
She tried to ignore the thought, but it had already taken root in her mind.
It was as if she had two consciences fighting for control.
Sakayanagi smiled slightly, her sharp eyes analyzing every detail of the situation.
"Oh my... it seems that, in the end, our prodigy's heart was never truly touched."
She chuckled softly, enjoying the irony.
Ryuuen, on the other hand, burst into a provocative laugh.
"Hah! So that's it? You spent an entire year playing boyfriend without even feeling lust for the girl?"
He crossed his arms, looking directly at Ayanokouji with a cruel smile.
"That's hilarious. But it also makes sense. In the end, you only stayed with her because you needed to understand human emotions, right? Must be frustrating to realize that it didn't change you at all."
Ayanokouji maintained his neutral expression, but Horikita noticed the small sigh he let out.
She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, speaking before Ryuuen's provocations could go too far.
"Ryuuen, your voice is already annoying me."
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"What? Trying to defend your 'friend,' Horikita?"
"That's not it." - She replied coldly. - "I just find it funny how you always act like you know everything about him, but in the end, you're just another curious fool trying to understand someone beyond your reach."
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes.
"Hoh...? And you think you understand him better?"
Horikita glanced at Ayanokouji, then at Kei.
"No." - She admitted. - "But unlike you, I don't need to fully understand him to know that he's not as simple as you all think."
Kei looked at Horikita with a confused but also hopeful gaze.
"Is she... trying to help me?"
"No, she's trying to help Kiyo-chan, not you." Ryota thought calmly, playing on his Nintendo.
Ayanokouji, who had remained silent until then, closed his eyes for a moment and then spoke calmly.
"Ryuuen... if you're done talking nonsense, can we get back to what really matters and see the full future?"
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes but smirked slightly.
"Tsk... whatever. But don't worry, Ayanokouji. I'll still enjoy watching your 'emotional journey' crumble."
Kei bit her lip hard.
"I can't let this end like this."
She knew there was still a chance. But for that... she needed to act.
But now wasn't the time to think about those things...
"Welcome home," a feminine voice greeted, with a touch of mischief and nervousness in her tone.
Someone had welcomed him into his own room. The strange thing about the situation was that this "someone" was a very familiar person to the brown-haired boy.
Yes, it was a certain black-haired girl he had met on his first day at this school, and with whom his relationship had improved to the point that they had become very close recently. She was the girl who had bothered him during his first months at the institution but had recently become a regular presence in his daily life.
Horikita Suzune.
Silence filled the room for a moment as everyone absorbed the unexpected scene.
Horikita's eyes widened slightly, surprised to see herself in Ayanokouji's room.
"What am I doing there?"
She hadn't expected to be involved in his future at all, much less in his room.
Beside her, Ayanokouji kept a neutral expression, but his eyes showed slight interest in the scene.
"Horikita in my room...?"
He frowned slightly, wondering why she was there.
Kushida, on the other hand, did the math in her head in an instant.
The chapter title... Honesty.
His confession that he didn't love Kei...
Now Horikita in his room...
Her mind stopped for a moment.
"Wait a minute... No fucking way."
She had to hold back from laughing out loud and drawing attention to herself. The scene was too funny to be true.
"Ayanokouji can't be cheating on Kei with Horikita in the future... right?"
The thought almost made her burst into laughter, but she controlled herself.
Meanwhile, Ichinose furrowed her brows at the new scene.
"Why is Horikita there? What exactly happened after he practically admitted he doesn't love Kei?"
She bit her lip discreetly, feeling a strange discomfort in her chest.
Sakayanagi smiled slightly, analyzing every detail.
"Oh... this just got very interesting."
Ryuuen crossed his arms, an amused smile appearing on his face.
"Hah? So after telling your little girlfriend you don't feel anything for her, you already have another one in your room?"
He laughed quietly, watching Ayanokouji with pure entertainment.
Kei stared at the screen, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Why is Horikita in his room...?"
Her stomach churned, and her hands unconsciously gripped her skirt.
The worst part wasn't just Horikita being there. The worst part was that Ayanokouji seemed... completely calm about it.
"Hmph..." – Horikita huffed lightly, trying to disguise the slight tension she felt upon seeing the scene.
She knew this would cause confusion in the class.
— "Don't jump to conclusions. We still don't know the context."
But deep inside, even she wanted to understand what was happening.
Ayanokouji sighed softly, maintaining his calm demeanor.
— "Indeed. Let's see how this unfolds before making any judgments."
However, deep down, even he was curious to find out exactly what led Horikita to be there, waiting for him in his own room.
Now this is getting interesting. – Manabu thought calmly, looking at the screen with interest. Before, nothing significant had been shown from his perspective, but now it was different. It involved his sister along with the boy he respected the most.
— "Horikita..." he responded, unsure of what was happening.
— "I expected more surprise from you."
— "I am surprised..." he admitted, turning completely to face her. "What are you doing here, and how did you get in?"
The mentioned girl was leaning against the door that the brown-haired boy had just closed, wearing her usual expression. But this time, a slight smile adorned her lips—something that unsettled the room's owner a little.
Kushida analyzed the screen carefully.
— "Hmm... So it looks like he's still not cheating on Kei."
She sighed internally, seeing that Ayanokouji seemed genuinely surprised to see Horikita there.
Well, that could still change... depending on what happens next.
She kept her usual smile, but her mind was already creating multiple possibilities for where this situation could lead.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, looked at the screen with even more interest.
— "This is unexpected."
He never imagined that Horikita would take such an action, much less display a smile like that.
What exactly happened for her to be in my room with that expression...?
His eyes scanned every detail, trying to understand the missing context.
Horikita also looked at the screen, surprised and intrigued by her own actions.
— "Did I really do that?"
She couldn't imagine a situation where she would enter his room like that, with that kind of smile.
There's a lot of missing context here.
Her gaze fixed on the screen with even more interest.
Sakayanagi smiled slightly.
— "Oh, how charming... Miss Horikita seems quite comfortable in Ayanokouji-kun's presence, doesn't she?"
She spoke in a teasing tone, not hiding her amusement at the scene.
Ryuuen chuckled lowly, crossing his arms.
— "Hah, this just keeps getting better."
He shot an amused look at Ayanokouji.
— "So, Ayanokouji? Looks like your leader is starting to enjoy getting too involved with you."
Kei, already feeling uneasy, felt a chill run down her spine.
— "What exactly is happening...?!"
Her eyes locked onto the screen, her mind racing with countless possibilities.
Ichinose furrowed her brows, absorbing the scene attentively.
— "First, he says he doesn't love Kei, and now this...?"
She bit her lip slightly, trying to understand what this situation truly meant. She couldn't comprehend it—it was supposed to be her there. Why wasn't she there?! He was supposed to break up with Kei and be hers!
Sato glanced at Kei with a worried expression.
— "Kei... Are you okay?"
Kei didn't respond immediately, her eyes still glued to the screen.
That smile on Horikita... That atmosphere... Why is this bothering me so much?
She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her optimism.
— "There's still a lot we haven't seen. This doesn't mean anything... right?"
But deep inside, she couldn't shake off the tightness in her chest.
Looks like you're making decisions that are making me proud. If I'm right, you're doing very well, sister. – Manabu thought calmly, adjusting his glasses while looking at the screen seriously. Bring Kiyotaka into our family, Suzune.
How can he think like that with such a serious look? – Ryota thought, glancing at Manabu.
— "I was taking a walk... and thought about visiting you. It's been a while since I last came to your room," she replied casually.
Her answer didn't make much sense. She wasn't the type of person to visit someone just because, much less sneak into a guy's room near curfew.
— "And as for how I got in, it was thanks to Kushida-san," she said, holding a copy of his keys, referring to the girl who had blackmailed him a long time ago and was now friends with Horikita.
The room fell silent for a second... and then:
— "PFFT—"
Ryuuen burst into laughter, leaning forward.
— "Hah! This keeps getting better! So Suzune has a key to your room, Ayanokouji?!"
He shot a provocative glance at Kei, who had gone slightly pale.
— "And it wasn't even you who gave it to her—it was your 'dear friend' Kushida! Looks like someone's been using the right resources, huh?"
Kei completely froze.
— "S-She... has a key to his room...?!"
She felt a shiver run down her spine.
Since when? Why didn't he ever tell me this?! Has she... Has she been there before without me knowing?!
Her thoughts were racing, but she tried to take a deep breath and calm herself. She trusted Kiyotaka... right?
Ayanokouji, for his part, shifted his gaze to Horikita, then to Kushida.
He focused his eyes mainly on Kushida, his expression unreadable.
— "You gave a copy of my key to Horikita?"
Kushida smiled innocently while nodding.
Horikita then nodded calmly, as if just now recalling it.
— "Yes... I had that key."
She looked at him naturally, but inside, she felt a slight discomfort at how that sounded.
Logically, I'd only use it if it were truly important... It's not like I wanted access to his room. Logically, that's not the reason.
Ayanokouji slightly furrowed his brows and asked:
— "Do you still have that key now?"
Horikita responded quickly, trying to end the subject.
— "No, I returned it."
But before the conversation could move on, Kushida smiled and was honest:
— "Yes, she still has it."
Ayanokouji sighed softly.
Before he could say anything, Horikita turned and pinched Kushida's thigh, who suppressed a small gasp of pain.
— "You could have stayed quiet."
Kushida smiled, rubbing the spot where she was pinched.
— "What can I say? Honesty is a virtue, Suzune-chan."
Sakayanagi chuckled lightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
— "So, Horikita-san, you visit his room unannounced? How bold..."
Horikita took a deep breath and crossed her arms.
— "Don't jump to conclusions. I only entered because it was important, probably."
Ichinose furrowed her brows, looking at the screen.
— "Horikita doesn't seem like the type to invade rooms randomly... But even so, this doesn't seem normal."
She tried to ignore the slight discomfort growing inside her. This isn't how things were supposed to happen.
Sato glanced at Kei, worried about her reaction.
— "Kei... are you okay?"
Kei swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the screen.
— "Yes... I'm fine..."
But the truth was, she didn't know what to think.
She was up to something... And Kiyotaka knew that very well.
— "I see..." he pretended to believe her. "Would you like something to drink?"
— "No," she refused, losing her slight smile. "First, I'd like to ask about your relationship with Karuizawa-san."
"Eh?" he was surprised. "Since when do you care about other people's relationships?"
It was true that she had previously suggested he fix his relationship with Kei to maintain a good classroom environment. That might have been Kiyotaka's main reason at the time, which is why he still hadn't ended his relationship with Kei.
The room fell silent for a few moments, absorbing what had just appeared on the screen.
Kei blinked a few times, completely surprised.
"W-Wait... Horikita... wants to help with my relationship?"
She looked at the black-haired girl with a mix of confusion and distrust.
"Are you... helping me in the future?"
Horikita crossed her arms, slightly averting her gaze.
"I can't confirm or deny anything. But considering what we've seen so far... it seems like I am."
Kei frowned slightly.
"Why would you do that?"
Horikita let out a small sigh.
"I just... don't want the class to become unstable. I've said this before, haven't I?"
Sato, who had been watching the interaction, smiled optimistically.
"See, Kei? That means Horikita will still be supporting you in the future. If she helped you before, it's because she really wants you two to be together."
Kei bit her lower lip, thinking.
"She helped me before... and will try to help me in the future too?"
She didn't know how to feel about that.
On the other hand, Ryuuen chuckled lowly, breaking the tension.
"Tsk... this is getting more and more interesting. So, in the end, you're only with Karuizawa for convenience, Ayanokouji?"
He shot a sharp glance at the protagonist.
"And now even Horikita is involved? Hah... what a delightful mess."
Ayanokouji remained expressionless, but inside, he was already analyzing all the implications of this strange new information.
-This doesn't make sense. Something is wrong with this line of thought. She shouldn't be there to help with my relationship. Horikita wouldn't do that. She doesn't care enough about relationships for that. She must be there for another reason.-
Sakayanagi, who had remained silent until then, smiled slightly.
"Well... that means their relationship still survives in the future. Even if its foundation is unstable."
Ichinose furrowed her brows slightly, her gaze fixed on the screen.
"Why is Horikita getting so involved in their relationship...? Could it be that she...?"
She shook her head discreetly, pushing the thought away.
Kushida, meanwhile, chuckled softly to herself.
"Looks like, in the end, the bitch still needs help to keep her boyfriend. But I still think something's off. Horikita wouldn't get involved like that just to help. She's there for another reason."
She murmured in a tone low enough for only herself to hear.
-My God, Kei's fans are going to want to kill my creator. In the name of my creator, I apologize. He's just doing what he was paid to do. Please don't kill him.-
Ryota thought, slightly desperate as he saw what was about to happen in the rest of the chapter—something that was very sad for Kei's fans.