Chapter 8.4

After lunch, we headed back to the classroom. This time, we were separated again.

Finally. Some peace.

Maybe now she'd let me rest?

Damn, thanks for that!

I slipped back into my seat, the sweet embrace of normalcy settling in. No more stares. No more whispers. Just another nameless student blending into the background—a true NPC in the grand storyline of campus life. The chaotic main-character energy from earlier had finally died down.

The usual classroom hum filled the air—chairs scraping, books thudding onto desks, quiet conversations buzzing all around. A faint breeze drifted in from the open window, rustling the curtains lazily. Outside, the afternoon sun cast long, golden streaks across the floor.

Yeah. This was good. This was normal.

But then—

Damn.

I forgot my scientific calculator.

The moment that realization hit, my stomach sank.

Of course. Because life just loved messing with me.

I patted my pockets, checked my bag, flipped through my notebooks—nothing. I could already hear the physics professor's voice in my head, reminding everyone to have their calculators ready.

Crap.

I had two choices: accept my fate and look like an idiot in class… or borrow one.

But there was a problem.

I had no friends to borrow from.

The reality hit me like a slap. My social circle was nonexistent, and I wasn't exactly on good enough terms with anyone else to casually ask for a favor.

That left me with one option.

Kaori.

The girl who had everything.

Rich. Popular. The kind of person who probably had a spare calculator just because. And, well… beautiful—damn.

Wait, no. Focus.

I wasn't here to contemplate her existence. I needed a calculator. That was all.

I took a deep breath. Just walk up, ask, and leave. No extra conversation. No weird thoughts. No overthinking.

Just a simple transaction.

Right?

…Right?

...

"Uhmm, Kaori, can I borrow your scientific calculator?"

I asked casually, glancing at her from my seat. The classroom was buzzing with the usual pre-lecture noise—chairs scraping against the tiled floor, laughter echoing from different corners, the occasional clatter of a dropped pen. The air smelled faintly of chalk dust and cheap cologne, a scent unique to every high school classroom.

But then—

Kaori turned her back to me.

Completely ignored me.

Huh?

What?

WHAT?!

Excuse me, ma'am?!

I just stood there, blinking like an absolute idiot, my brain short-circuiting on the spot. Did she not hear me? No, impossible. I wasn't exactly whispering. In fact, I was sure my voice had carried just fine over the usual classroom chaos.

One second, she had been fine—laughing, teasing me, making sure my reputation as a semi-respectable human being was reduced to nothing in front of our classmates. But now? This? A complete and utter shutdown? Was this some kind of revenge prank? Some psychological warfare technique designed to break me down, piece by piece?

I suddenly felt like a lost child in a grocery store, staring at my so-called guardian, who had just decided to disown me in real-time. Was this how it felt to be abandoned? Left to fend for myself in the cruel, calculator-less world?

"K-Kaori?" I tried again, hesitantly. My voice cracked just a little, my pride suffering a minor fracture.

Still no response.

She didn't even flinch.

No acknowledgment, no side glance, nothing.

She really was ignoring me.

My heart clenched. Was this my villain origin story? Had I unknowingly triggered some tragic anime protagonist backstory event? What had I done? What mistake had I committed to deserve this cold shoulder treatment?

Fine. Be like that.

I exhaled sharply, turning back to my seat, though I made sure to move slowly—dramatically, even. I wasn't about to beg. I had my dignity, thank you very much.

But seriously…

What was her problem now?

...

Kaori's POV – Earlier Before That Happened.

Girl. What are you doing?

No, seriously. What am I doing?

I buried my burning face into my hands, groaning internally as my stomach churned with regret. This was so embarrassing. I couldn't even look at Yuto after everything that had happened at lunch.

He probably hated me now.

This was not how today was supposed to go.

We weren't even supposed to be talking this much. We weren't supposed to be eating together. And yet, I had completely thrown all of that out the window, let my teasing go way too far, and now—now he probably thought I was some kind of lunatic.

The worst part?

He's probably done with me now.

That thought sent a strange, uneasy feeling through my chest, a tight, uncomfortable squeeze I couldn't shake off.

I imagined the worst.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Kaori."

"I'm done with your jokes. Not everyone enjoys being messed with."

Nooo! Nooooo!

I gritted my teeth, gripping the sides of my desk. The sheer humiliation of it all made me want to phase out of existence. How did I let myself go this far? I was supposed to be effortlessly cool, the untouchable class tease, the queen of well-timed banter!

And yet, here I was, spiraling into a bottomless pit of delusion and regret.

I shook my head violently, trying to banish the ridiculous thoughts clawing at my brain.

And then—

"Uhmm, Kaori, can I borrow your scientific calculator?"

His voice was casual. Normal. Way too normal.

My body reacted before my brain could even process the request.

I turned my back to him.

…Girl?

What the hell was that?!

I didn't even mean to ignore him! My body just did it! Reflexively. Like some kind of defense mechanism had been activated. Like my brain had gone into full emergency shutdown mode to prevent further embarrassment.

K-Kaori, what is wrong with you?!

"K-Kaori?"

I heard the hesitation in his voice. Felt it. The way he lingered for a second too long behind me, confused, probably wondering what kind of alternate reality he had just stepped into.

God. I was making this worse, wasn't I?

But I couldn't turn back now.

Nope. Not happening. This was way too embarrassing.

So I sat there, stiff as a rock, pretending I had suddenly lost all hearing capabilities.

Yuto… I swear… Just take the hint and go away before I explode.

...

Back to Yuto's POV.

Man.

It was physics time. And I still didn't have a calculator.

So yeah. I was officially screwed.

The classroom was already settling down, the chatter fading as everyone pulled out their materials. The fluorescent lights hummed softly above, casting a dull glow over the sea of students preparing to suffer through another physics session.

Meanwhile, I sat there, staring at my empty desk like it could magically produce a calculator for me.

No luck.

I sneaked a glance at Kaori. She was still facing away, stiff as a board, pretending I didn't exist.

Seriously, what was her problem?!

But whatever. I wasn't going to beg. I would just—

Accept my fate.

That was it. I would just sit here, calculator-less, watch my grade drop, and perish.

But then—

A soft voice called out.

"Here, Yuto."

I blinked. Looked up.

Hoshino Chi stood beside my desk, holding out a calculator.

Hoshino Chi, class secretary, the epitome of responsibility, the girl who always had extra pens, extra notebooks, probably extra life insurance just in case. She was that kind of person.

"We can share if you want," she said, sliding into the seat next to me without hesitation.

Oh. Ohhh.

Hoshino Chi was sitting next to me.

Dang.

So close.

Like, really close.

My brain short-circuited for a second.

You know, a boy might start thinking things if you keep doing this. If a girl sits this close, talks to you this gently, helps you out so casually… how is a guy not supposed to overthink it?

I cleared my throat, suddenly hyper-aware of everything.

The warmth of her presence. The light scent of whatever shampoo she used—something faintly floral but clean, refreshing. The soft sound of her pen scratching against the paper as she jotted down numbers like some kind of physics goddess.

I shifted in my seat, trying to focus on the worksheet in front of me.

"Uh, thanks," I muttered, grabbing the calculator.

We started working on the problems together.

And damn.

This was dangerous.

I could feel her shoulder lightly brushing against mine every now and then, and every single time, my brain screamed at me to calm down.

I glanced at her. She was focused, completely unaware of the internal crisis she was causing.

Numbers. Formulas. Calculations.

Not the fact that a cute girl was basically breathing the same air as me.

Yeah. Totally normal.

...

Kaori's POV – Watching from Afar.

From my seat, I watched them.

Chi, sitting so close. Too close.

She leaned in toward him, her expression calm and composed as she explained something on the worksheet. Yuto nodded, a slight smile tugging at his lips, his posture relaxed—like this was normal. Like this was fine.

He even laughed a little.

My fingers curled around my pen. Too tightly.

I tore my gaze away, forcing myself to look down at my notebook.

The words I had been writing just moments ago looked different now—stiff, uneven, like my hand had lost its usual control.

What was this feeling?

I wasn't watching them.

Not really.

I was just—just… noticing. That's all.

Click.

I tapped my pen against the desk. Once. Twice. The small, repetitive noise did nothing to distract me.

I told myself I didn't care. That it didn't matter. That it was just Chi.

Chi, the class secretary. Chi, the perfect student. Chi, who helped everyone—not just Yuto.

But then, why did it feel like something inside me was twisting?

Why did he look so comfortable around her?

My chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped invisible strings around it and was pulling, little by little.

I shouldn't care.

I don't care.

…Do I?

My grip on the pen tightened.

And then, before I could stop myself—

Am I jealous?