The Unyielding Quiet

Ethan walked to his fourth class on the first day of school, quietly relieved to find neither Rika nor Emma in this one. The absence of their chatter gave him a rare chance to enjoy the silence. As he took his seat near the back, the classroom buzzed with the sound of students talking and laughing, their conversations lively. It was, after all, the first day of fourth period, and the excitement of the new school year was still fresh.

"Hey, did you hear about the new rules the Student Council put in place this year?" one student asked his friend, leaning over his desk.

"Yeah, totally! I mean, who even cares about stricter dress codes?" the other replied with a roll of his eyes.

A third student chimed in, "Well, you know Kaede Takahara doesn't mess around. She's been running the Student Council like a pro since last year."

Ethan's ears perked up slightly at the name: Kaede Takahara. The name suited the confident, poised girl who had caught his attention earlier. As if on cue, Kaede herself walked into the room, her presence commanding immediate respect from the students.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," Kaede said, her voice cutting through the noise with ease. "Class is starting soon, so make sure you're ready."

"Yes, President Takahara," one student said mockingly but quietly, earning a glare from another classmate.

"You'd better not let her hear that," the classmate whispered. "She'll definitely make you regret it."

Kaede ignored the whispers, addressing a small group of students gathered near the front. "Make sure you've submitted your proposals for the upcoming festival by the end of the week. We won't have time to accommodate late submissions."

"Got it, President," one of the students replied, nodding seriously.

Ethan listened quietly, observing Kaede's interactions while keeping his thoughts to himself. *She's… different. Definitely someone who knows how to take control,* he thought, noting her authoritative yet composed demeanor.

As the class began to settle down, Ethan rested his head on his desk, looking out the window. The calmness of the view outside helped him tune out the noise around him. But the moment of peace didn't last long.

"Excuse me," a sharp voice cut through the air. Ethan didn't move, but he realized the voice was directed at him.

"Are you planning to sleep during class?" Kaede asked, her tone carrying a mix of authority and irritation.

Ethan didn't respond, keeping his gaze fixed on the window. Kaede's eyes narrowed as she approached his desk.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. "You can't just ignore the rules and do whatever you want."

Still, Ethan said nothing. Instead, he gave a small nod, acknowledging her without looking directly at her. His lack of reaction only seemed to irritate her more.

"I'm talking to you," she said firmly. "At least have the decency to respond when someone is addressing you."

Ethan turned his head slightly, his expression neutral, and simply glanced at her before looking back out the window. His silence left her visibly frustrated.

*What is with this guy?* Kaede thought, her irritation spilling into her thoughts. *Does he think he's too good to talk to me? Or is he just that lazy?* Her mind raced with annoyance as she crossed her arms, standing stiffly beside his desk.

*Fine. Let him be difficult. I'll make sure he pays attention,* she thought, determined to get through to him somehow. But as the first day of fourth period continued, she found herself glancing at him occasionally, her frustration simmering but tempered by curiosity.

Ethan sat in his fourth-period class, his gaze fixed on the window despite it being the first day of school. The chatter and energy of the classroom barely registered in his mind. He found solace in the view outside, letting the noise fade into the background. But his moment of peace was interrupted when he glanced up and caught the Student Council President, Kaede Takahara, glaring at him with a mix of annoyance and anger.

*What is with this guy?* Kaede thought to herself, her irritation bubbling. *How can he be so disrespectful on the first day of school? Doesn't he care at all?* Her eyes narrowed, and she let out an audible sigh.

The class bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Ethan got up from his seat, ready to leave. However, as he stepped toward the door, Kaede stood in his path, her arms crossed and her expression stern.

"Hey," she said, her tone sharp. "Don't you have any respect? It's the first day, and you're already slacking off. You should at least answer when someone's talking to you."

Ethan simply nodded, avoiding her gaze, and stepped around her to leave. His silence only seemed to fuel her anger.

"I'm talking to you!" she snapped, raising her voice. "Do you think it's okay to just ignore me? Are you too good to speak to someone?"

Ethan didn't respond. Instead, he continued walking, his expression unchanged. Inside, his thoughts swirled. *Why does she care so much? I'm just trying to get through the day.*

Kaede's frustration boiled over as she followed him out into the hallway, her voice rising with every step. "You're being completely disrespectful! Do you even know who I am? I'm the Student Council President! You're supposed to show respect, not act like I don't exist!"

Ethan didn't break stride, his mind elsewhere. *This is pointless. She's just another person trying to control everything.*

Kaede clenched her fists, her voice trembling with rage. "If you keep ignoring me, I'll make sure you regret it," she threatened. "Do you understand me? You can't just treat people this way!"

Students in the hallway began to stop and watch the scene unfold.

"Whoa, the Student Council President is seriously yelling at that guy," one student whispered.

"Who is he?" another asked. "He's just walking away like he doesn't care."

"I don't think I've ever seen her this mad before," a third said, wide-eyed.

Ethan entered his next class and took his usual seat near the window. Kaede stormed in after him, standing directly in front of his desk, her arms crossed.

"You're seriously unbelievable," she said, glaring down at him. "Do you think you can just act however you want? You're not above everyone else, and you need to start showing some respect. If you don't, I'll make sure you learn your lesson."

Ethan glanced at her briefly, then turned his attention back to the window, resting his head on his desk. His lack of reaction only pushed Kaede further into her rage.

"You think this is funny?" she yelled. "I'm the Student Council President. You're supposed to respect me, not treat me like I'm invisible! You're going to regret this if you keep acting like a spoiled child!"

Before Ethan could react, a voice cut through the tension. "Who are you to talk to my brother like that?"

Kaede and Ethan both turned to see Emma standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and her expression fierce. Behind her were Rika, Ryan, Claire, and Maya, all glaring at Kaede.

"Twin brother?" Kaede repeated, her tone wavering as the realization dawned on her.

Emma stepped forward, her tone sharp. "Yes, my twin brother. And you have no right to yell at him like that."

"He was completely ignoring me," Kaede said defensively. "I'm the Student Council President. I was just trying to hold him accountable."

"That doesn't give you the right to talk down to him," Rika interjected, flipping her hair. "Seriously, what's your deal? It's, like, sooo not okay to act like you're above everyone else."

"Ethan's been through a lot," Claire added softly, her eyes narrowing. "You should think about that before jumping to conclusions."

"And if you want respect, you should try giving it first," Maya said, her tone sharp and unwavering.

Ryan finally stepped forward, crossing his arms. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be in charge, you're pretty bad at handling things calmly," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe you should work on that before lecturing other people."

Kaede's face flushed with anger and embarrassment as the group continued to defend Ethan. "Fine," she said, her voice tight. "But don't think I'll forget this." She turned on her heel and left the classroom, her steps quick and furious.

As the tension in the room eased, Emma and the others took seats near Ethan. The group began talking among themselves.

"Who does she think she is?" Ryan asked, leaning back in his chair. "Yelling at Ethan like that on the first day? What a power trip."

"Seriously," Rika agreed, her voice filled with annoyance. "She's got, like, some major control issues."

"It's not right," Claire said quietly. "Ethan doesn't deserve to be treated that way."

Maya nodded. "She's lucky we didn't do more. Next time, she'll get an earful."

Ethan, still looking out the window, stayed silent. The group's voices softened as they turned their attention back to him, unsure of how to comfort him.

Finally, Ethan's voice broke the silence. "Thanks," he said quietly.

The entire group stared at him in shock. It was the first time any of them had heard him speak that day, and for Rika, it was the first time ever.

"Oh my god," Rika said, her cheeks flushing. "Your voice is, like, sooo nice. You should talk more, y'know?"

Emma blinked, stunned. "Wait, did you just… talk?" she asked, her tone filled with surprise.

"I almost forgot what your voice sounded like," Ryan said, scratching his head with a sheepish grin. "Guess miracles do happen."

"It's good to hear you, Ethan," Claire added softly, smiling.

Maya smirked. "Took you long enough."

Ethan glanced briefly at the group, then turned his gaze back to the window, his expression unreadable.

Rika leaned forward, her grin widening. "You know, with a voice like that, you could totally sweep girls off their feet," she teased, her tone playful. "Maybe you should say my name next. Just for practice."

Ethan didn't respond, but his ears turned slightly red as he continued to stare out the window. The group exchanged knowing smiles, Rika laughing softly as she sat back in her chair.