Let's the game begin!

"Say, ahh~" Aiko said playfully, trying to feed Kai a bite of her food.

Kai blushed slightly but opened his mouth to take a bite.

"Hey, you two, we're in the cafeteria, you know," I scolded them, trying to keep a straight face. "And we're sitting with this girl too." 

"Ohh~ sorry, was that inconvenient?" Aiko asked Suko, her tone light.

"Nay, I do not mind," Suko replied, looking up from her food with a calm expression. "However, it may be deemed rude. Yesterday, as I was making my way home, I chanced upon your boyfriend in the company of another girl," she stated, her voice steady and firm.

*** 

"Hey, hey!! What are you saying?! And at this timing?!!" I thought, my heart racing as I processed Suko's words.

"Eh? W-Wh-What did you just say? Can you tell me again...?" Aiko stammered, her eyes wide with shock. Kai looked equally stunned; no, the entire cafeteria seemed to hold its breath, caught in the tension of the moment.

"Just as I have stated, your boyfriend may be engaging in infidelity," Suko replied, her tone unwavering. How could she say something so bluntly? It felt like a punch to the gut.

"M-May-Maybe the girl just confessed to him... um, Kai is popular, so it could happen," Aiko said, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to rationalize the situation.

"To my observation, he was blushing when the girl embraced him," Suko added, her gaze piercing.

"Wh-What? It could have been his sister, right? Kai?" Aiko turned to him, desperation creeping into her voice.

"Y-Yeah, she came by yesterday," Kai replied, his voice barely above a whisper, his face pale. The weight of Suko's words hung in the air, thick and suffocating, as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

"Ohh, then I must apologize for uttering such unreasonable things," Suko said, her voice still unwavering.

Is she trying to create doubts among them? I thought, frustration bubbling inside me. I never asked for her help, and I certainly didn't want her meddling in my way and Kai's. I would figure this out on my own, no matter what it took. And how did she know what Kai's was doing? Is she a stalker or just saying nonsense?

"*Sigh* G-Guys, let's move to another place. We are causing problems," I suggested, forcing a small smile to ease the atmosphere.

"Y-Yeah, you're right. Let's go somewhere else," Aiko agreed, glancing nervously at Suko. I could tell she was trying to remember her name.

"Suko Frost," Suko said, introducing herself with a hint of pride.

"Um, then Frost, we're going to head out for now," Aiko said, her voice laced with uncertainty.

***

*Thud*

As I opened the door of the rooftop, I found it empty. 

After taking a few steps inside, Aiko turned to Kai and began to say the things she had been holding back.

"Kai!! Is she telling the truth?!" Aiko shouted, her anger directed at Kai, who instinctively took a step back.

"No, how could I even cheat? I'm telling the truth!" Kai insisted, trying to defuse the situation.

We were now on the rooftop, the sun casting long shadows as we discussed the incident that had just unfolded. Aiko and Kai were arguing, but to me, it felt like Aiko was simply venting her frustration at Kai.

"*Sigh* How long is this going to take?" I muttered myself, resting my arms against the fences of the roof, thinking about what I should do. From this incident, I can tell breaking both of them will not be easy, and it may cause many problems. So I need to do something that does not cause problems, and I can break both of them. So kill two birds with one stone, huh? If I can tell my suitation to them, it may solve, but—

I can never trust anyone, even if it's one of my close friends. And for sure, if I tell them my situation, they will think that I'm just joking to calm them down. I want some rest from this... I want to close this world. As I think, I slowly close my eyes.

***

Ding!Dong!

Finally, the last bell rang. After saying goodbye to the teacher, everyone started packing their things.

"B-bye, see you later," said Kei, waving to Aiko as she left with her friends. But she didn't look back, which was not typical for her.

After the misunderstanding during recess between Kai and Aiko, nothing had happened between them, but it seems they were both avoiding each other.

"Hey, cheer up, man!" I said, giving a smash at his back. Most of the time, the three of us would walk home together, but today it seemed like Aiko had plans with her friends. No, it felt like she didn't want to go with us at all.

"Ye-yeah, sorry about that,"

Kai replied, forcing a sad smile.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"You were worried about us..."

"Of course, I will be worried, but this is not your fault, so don't say sorry."

"Yeah, you're right. By the way, should I go home alone today?" He picked up his bag with his right arm.

"Yeah, I've got some plans with someone."

"Okay, then, bye," said Kei, waving at me. Normally, he would tease me with something like, "Ohh, another proposal!" But today, it seemed like he didn't have the energy to joke around.

***

Almost 10 minutes have passed; most of the students had returned home or were in their clubroom.

*Whoosh*

"Master Ren, I come as you requested," Suko said, opening the door with a graceful sweep as she entered the classroom.

As I turned away from the window, I replied, "Why are you calling "master"? I had not even agreed with what you had said." 

"Indeed, I understand that you may not require my assistance at this moment, but should the day arise when you find yourself in need, I stand ever ready to offer my aid in whatever manner you may request."

"ohh, confident."

"By the way, what class are you in? I have never seen you before," I added.

"Indeed, it is quite possible that you shall not find me in any other place, for I do not pursue my studies here."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"As I have previously stated, I come to this institution solely to offer my assistance to you."

"Then how is it that you are here without being officially admitted?"

"It is by my power that all are led to believe I am a student of this esteemed institution."

"Huh? Powers? Do you have?"

"Indeed, I have, and one day, Master shall be able to wield it as well."

"Okay, but why do you speak like a royal? Are you some kind of princess or something?"

"Nay, it is merely the manner in which we all converse in our homeland."

"Where?"

"I cannot say, but it is indeed much farther removed than you might expect."

"Okay, but why have you come so far to help me? Is it not troublesome to journey from such a distant land?"

"Nay, I come solely to offer my assistance to you; there exists no other motive."

"Okay then, I'm going now," I said, turning to leave. As I walked away, I felt like I had gotten more answers than I thought I would. She had been unclear before, saying, "I cannot say," but with the right questions, I found out what I needed to know.

Still, I felt a little guilty. I didn't like that she had come from so far to help me.

"*Sigh* Now I don't have time for like this; I just need to focus on how to break them," I muttered to myself while walking home.

***

"I'm losing my old self," I said, trying to figure things out. I lay down on my wide bed, feeling completely drained of energy.

"I, who was like a death fish, started moving again... *Sigh* Should I stay to my old self or try to change? I wonder which is better."

Just then, my mom called out, "Hey, Ren! One of your friends is here to see you." She paused before adding, "She said she wants to talk about Kei."

Oh, Aiko? Is she feeling guilty or something? I shook my head, trying to stop overthinking. Never mind; I would just ask her what she wanted to talk about.

***

"Yo, Aiko. What you—" As I came to ask what she wanted to talk about, Aiko looked like she was about to cry. "What happened?!"

"Re-Ren, *Sob*... Kei said he wants *Sniff*..."

"Tell me slowly, calm down, and tell me..."

Aiko's breath hitched, her voice trembling as she struggled to form the words. "He... he wants to break up, Re-Ren. *Sniff* I don't understand why... sobs It's like he's not himself."

What? Kei wants to break up?! No way! He could never do something like that! Even though he's popular, he's always been shy about relationships. I know him well. This is complicated; I can't break them up like this. Is someone interfering with my plan?

Then a thought crossed my mind... Is he being possessed...?

"Correct!" Suddenly, a voice chimed in, one I recognized all too well.

***