Chapter 8: Strange behavior

"I feel like I had a very weird dream last night," Hayato muttered as he sat up, the haze of sleep slowly lifting from his mind. "Strange... I can't recall a single thing about it." He shook his head, dismissing the thought. "It's probably not worth thinking about anyway."

After getting ready, Hayato left for school. However, the moment he stepped into the classroom, an unsettling silence fell over the room. He could feel something was off but brushed it off and walked to his desk.

As he sat down, faint whispers reached his ears.

"Did you hear? Apparently, a bunch of people saw him stalking Takahashi even after school."

"For real? That's creepy." "Isn't he going way too far?"

"Should we report it to the teachers?" "What if he does something to her?"

The murmurs weren't even subtle, and Hayato could hear every word clearly—or perhaps they weren't even trying to hide it. Either way, what could he say to defend himself in this kind of setuation?

Hayato remained seated, silent and unmoved. Their remarks rolled off him like water on a stone—he was long past the point of letting such things bother him. Still, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of guys approaching. Judging by their expressions, they weren't coming over for a friendly chat.

"Oi," a voice called out sharply.

The speaker was the guy in the middle—Hajime Sudo. In this class, he was the type who always stood out, popular among the girls for his good looks and wealthy background. It wasn't surprising, really. But in Hayato's eyes, Sudo was nothing more than an attention-seeker, the kind of person who thought he was the main character of every story, with everyone else cast as extras beneath him.

Hayato barely acknowledged them, glancing at the group from the corner of his eye without bothering to turn his head. "What?" he asked flatly, his tone dripping with disinterest.

The irritation on their faces was immediate and obvious, but Hayato couldn't care less. It wasn't as if they had approached him with any good intentions—why should he waste his respect on them?

Sudou raised his hand slightly, halting his friends—his underlings, really—as if they were about to lunge at Hayato. The gesture was almost laughable. Trying to look composed, Sudou fixed his gaze on Hayato and spoke with a self-righteous tone.

"For the past couple of days, we've all seen how you've been stalking Takahashi. It's obvious she's uncomfortable with it. At first, we laughed it off, but your behavior has gone too far. You even followed her after school yesterday."

Hayato blinked, staring at him with thinly veiled disdain. Look at this guy, he thought. Acting like some kind of hero swooping in to protect a damsel in distress. Laughable. Absolutely laughable. This guy was nothing more than an attention-seeking clown, desperate to bask in the spotlight.

"I had my reasons. What does that have to do with you?" Hayato raised an eyebrow, his tone as disinterested as ever.

Sudo smirked, as if he'd been waiting for Hayato to ask that. "She's our classmate and friend. It's only natural to protect our friends from bad people or help them in their time of need," he declared loudly, his voice carrying through the room.

Hayato noticed several classmates nodding in agreement, their expressions ranging from approval to self-righteousness. Meanwhile, Misaki's panicked face stood out, her worry for Hayato almost palpable.

This Sudo guy really knew how to put on a show, Hayato will give him that. He was expertly crafting the narrative, painting himself as the noble hero and Hayato as the villain. It was almost amusing—if it weren't so pathetic. Did he even bother talking to the person he was supposedly defending? And "friends"? Heck, Yuka wouldn't even recognize Sudo's face if she passed him in the hall.

Seeing Hayato remain silent, Sudo's grin widened triumphantly, as if he believed he had cornered his prey. Placing a hand on Hayato's shoulder in what he likely thought was a commanding gesture, he spoke with faux magnanimity.

"So, let's be civilized and end this matter peacefully. From now on, don't approach Takahashi anymore."

"Get... me," Hayato muttered, his voice low, not even bothering to look directly at Sudou.

"What? What did you say?" Sudo asked, leaning closer, his smug confidence unwavering.

Hayato's glare sharpened, and this time, he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "Get your fucking hand off me."

The words sliced through the room like a blade. Sudo froze, his smug grin faltering for a brief moment.

"You bastard!" one of Sudo's underlings barked, his voice dripping with anger. "Sudo was being kind to you!"

"Yeah!" another chimed in, his tone equally heated. "He was being generous, trying to handle this quietly so it didn't get to the teachers and get you suspended! And this is how you act?"

"They're right! You did something wrong, and you still have the nerve to act like that?" some girls chimed in, their voices carrying the indignation of those who admired Sudo.

Other guys joined the chorus—some to support Sudo, others driven by their own feelings. Yuka was a beautiful girl, after all, and it wasn't hard to guess that she had her share of admirers. For them, the thought of some random guy following her around was infuriating.

By now, nearly the entire class stood against Hayato. The faint grin on Sudo's face spoke volumes—he was reveling in the support, silently boasting that everyone was on his side. The commotion even drew the attention of students from other classes, who gathered at the doorway, curious about the spectacle.

Yet, amidst the chaos, Hayato remained calm. He sat quietly, watching it all unfold, his expression unreadable. He had been waiting for something ever since it began. 'It's almost time,' he thought.

And just as he predicted, a voice suddenly cut through the noise like a knife.

"What is going on here?"

The room fell silent, heads turning toward the source. Standing in the doorway was none other than Yuka.

Yuka stepped through the crowd, her presence commanding attention as she made her way to the center of the commotion where Hayato and Sudo stood. She stopped between them, her sharp gaze flickering between the two.

"As the class representative, it's my responsibility to address any commotion disrupting the harmony of this class or disturbing other students," she declared, her tone calm but firm. "So, someone better start explaining what's going on here before I report this to the class teacher."

Her words carried an air of authority, silencing any lingering murmurs.

"Oh, Takahashi, it's nothing serious," Sudo said, flashing a confident smile. "We were just trying to correct this guy's behavior. We all know how much he's been troubling you, so we were just helping you out."

Yuka listened quietly, but her expression remained completely unimpressed. She crossed her arms, her gaze steady as she spoke. "What's your name?"

The question made Sudo freeze for a moment. His confident smile faltered, cracking under the realization that someone—especially a girl—didn't know who he was. He quickly cleared his throat, forcing a broader smile, one he thought was both charming and confident.

"I'm Hajime Sudo," he said, his tone polished as though introducing himself to an admirer. In his mind, Yuka would be no different from the other girls who swooned over him.

But Yuka didn't even flinch. Her expression remained neutral as she responded. "So, Hajime, I appreciate your willingness to help me. But let me make one thing clear—I never asked for anyone's help."

Her words struck Sudou like a hammer, and Hayato couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the sight of Sudou's baffled expression. It was almost too entertaining to watch the self-proclaimed hero get completely thrown off his pedestal.

Don't misunderstand Yuka, though—she wasn't being ungrateful. That's just how she was. Yuka Takahashi wasn't some damsel in distress waiting for a knight to come to her rescue. She was a judo black belt, fully capable of protecting herself. In fact, this was precisely why Hayato had always kept a respectful distance when approaching her in the past.

And there was more to Yuka than her strength. Do you know why she's so serious about her studies? It's because her dream is to become truly independent—to stand on her own two feet without relying on anyone, especially men, apart from her family. She wanted to become a respected elite in society, someone who could carve her own path and live life on her own terms.

So, why was Yuka so grateful when Hayato saved her, then? It wasn't because she saw him as someone she could rely on. It was because, in that particular moment, Hayato had stepped in to save her from something that was beyond her control—something that, despite all her strength and resolve, she couldn't handle.

Yuka wasn't the type to accept help unless absolutely necessary. She recognized it, and now she was determined to pay her debt to him. It wasn't about being weak; it was about repaying someone who had done something for her that she couldn't have done herself at that moment. And knowing Yuka, she'd make sure to return the favor, and more, as soon as possible.

Sudo clenched his fist, feeling the sting of his own miscalculation. He had never considered this outcome—now he just looked like a hypocrite, acting on his own accord without truly understanding the situation.

"And you", Yuka turned her gaze towards Hayato. Sudo felt a moment of relief. At least he wasn't going to be the only one caught in the crossfire. But his hope quickly dissipated as Yuka reached into her bag, completely disregarding Sudou's presence.

"Here," she said, her tone soft. "Grandma was worried about your lunch, so she sent this." She pulled out a traditional Japanese lunch box, holding it out to Hayato with an almost casual air.

"And don't forget our plan after school," Yuka added, her words leaving a mark of finality.

The room erupted in stunned silence, with exaggerated expressions painted across every face including Misaki. It was clear that everyone was thinking the same thing: 'When did they become this close?'

Just yesterday, they had all seen Yuka's cold indifference towards Hayato, how she seemed irritated by his presence. But now, here she was, bringing him a lunch box like it was the most natural thing in the world—and, even more surprising, mentioning plans with him after school.

The shift was so sudden, so unexpected.

Finishing what she wanted to say, Yuka turned and walked back to her desk, leaving the room in a heavy silence. Hayato glanced down at the lunch box in his hand, then slowly shifted his gaze to Yuka's retreating back. He let his eyes drift across the rest of the class—those same students who had been shouting at him just moments ago, including Sudo.

A mocking grin spread across Hayato's face, one that made them growl in anger.

Sudo, in particular, could barely contain his embarrassment and rage. His teeth clenched tightly, fists balled up as if he were trying to suppress the urge to lash out. But the damage had been done. Hayato had just made him look like a fool in front of the entire class, and he wouldn't forget it.

In his mind, Sudo was already plotting his revenge—he would make sure to pay Hayato back for this insult, and Yuka would have her part in it too. He couldn't let this slide.

"What a bitch, Sudo was just trying to help her, and she acted like that to him," one of the girls muttered aloud from the front row after Yuka had returned to her desk. The words were spoken with such venom, and in the tense silence that followed the scene, they were loud enough for everyone to hear, including Yuka.

But Yuka remained composed, not even flinching as the whispers rippled around the room. She didn't care about petty remarks like that, too focused on her own goals to be bothered by small-minded opinions.

However, it was someone else who couldn't remain quiet.

"Oi! You, who lick Hajime's ass just because he's rich, shouldn't speak badly about others—especially to a girl like Takahashi. You can never dream of becoming like her," it was none other than Hayato, his voice cut through the silence.

He had always endured the insults and glares thrown at him. But when someone spoke so disdainfully of Yuka, something inside him snapped. An unexplainable fury surged within him, and his body moved before he even realized it.

The girl was momentarily stunned, her eyes widening in shock at Hayato's unexpected retort. But her embarrassment quickly turned to anger.

"Y-You! What did you just say?!" she shouted, her face flushing red with fury as she pointed a trembling finger at him.

Hayato didn't respond. He didn't need to. His calm expression and unwavering gaze only seemed to fuel her rage further.

Before the argument could escalate, the teacher suddenly entered the classroom.

"Everyone, to your seats!" the teacher commanded sharply, cutting through the heated atmosphere like a blade.

The students scrambled to obey. The girl gave Hayato one last seething glare, her eyes practically burning holes into him, before stomping back to her seat.

After finishing the attendance, the teacher clapped their hands to draw everyone's attention.

"Today, we'll be arranging a new seating plan," they announced, sparking a mix of excitement and groans from the class.

The process took some time as students drew lots to determine their new seats. Some were thrilled with their placements, while others complained about being separated from their friends.

Yuka still ended up in the first row but moved to the middle section, her usual composed expression unbothered by the change. While Hayato got the third desk in the right row, beside the window again—his favorite spot for zoning out.

When he reached his new desk, he noticed his desk neighbor to the right was Misaki. She turned to him with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with genuine friendliness.

"I guess we're neighbors for this year. Let's get along," she said cheerfully.

Hayato returned her smile with an appropriate nod. "Sure."

And just like that, the first period came to an end. During the free time before the next teacher arrived, Hayato sat quietly, his gaze shifting between his desk and the view outside the window. Suddenly, he felt a light poke at his side, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Turning, he saw Misaki leaning slightly toward him, her expression a mix of concern and frustration.

"I was really worried when everyone misunderstood you and said all sorts of things," she whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the chatter of the classroom.

"And that Sudo," she continued, her tone laced with irritation. "He caused all that just to get attention. Gosh, I really hate that guy."

"Well, there are people like him too," Hayato shrugged, his tone indifferent. "But thanks for worrying anyway."

Misaki frowned, "You're way too calm, like some mature guy."

'Well, duh, kid,' Hayato thought inwardly, suppressing the urge to smirk. Of course, he couldn't say that out loud for obvious reasons.

"Anyway, I really have to give it to you," Misaki began, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "How did you get close to her after all your failed attempts? From what she mentioned earlier, have you already won over her family? Are you dating her now?"

She fired off her questions in rapid succession, leaning in so close that her shoulder nearly brushed against Hayato's. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, as if she were unraveling some grand mystery.

"Wh-What? Dating?" Hayato stammered, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I already told you, I don't like her romantically. I just helped her a bit, and there's no way someone would date a guy like me. What's more, it's Takahashi we're talking about!"

His face flushed slightly, betraying his flustered state as he tried to brush off Misaki's assumptions.

Misaki blinked, tilting her head in genuine confusion. "Why? What's wrong with dating you? You're quite handsome, to be honest—easy to talk to, very mature for your age, and really sincere with what you do."

She paused for a moment. "Though, I have to admit, you do act weird sometimes... like when you talk to yourself."

Hayato froze, his mind instinctively filtering out the negative parts of Misaki's words, focusing entirely on the compliment.

"Ha-Handsome? You really think so?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine surprise.

This wasn't his original face, but this is who he is now. While he knew logically that his appearance was attractive, hearing it from a girl stirred a strange mix of pride and bashfulness within him—a feeling he wasn't used to.

"Hmm... Someone's feeling shy," Misaki teased, poking Hayato's cheek playfully.

Hayato leaned away slightly, trying to escape her teasing. Though the faint redness on his face only encouraged Misaki further.

As he shifted away, his eyes unintentionally met Yuka's. She was looking directly at him, but the moment their gazes locked, she quickly averted her eyes.

Hayato blinked in surprise. 'She… she was looking at me? That's… unusual.'

Meanwhile, Yuka's grip on her pen tightened. 'Why was I staring at him like that?' she doesn't know the reason behind her behavior herself.

As the lunch bell rang, Hayato stretched his arms and stood up, planning to head to the canteen to buy something nice. After all, he wasn't exactly short on cash.

But then he remembered the lunchbox Yuka had given him earlier. He paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. 'Guess there's no need to splurge on the canteen today,' he thought.

Fast food was great and all, but it could never compete with the taste of homemade meals. And when it came to the Takahashi household, the food wasn't just good—it was on another level entirely. Just thinking about it made his stomach growl softly.

Sitting back down, Hayato carefully opened the lunchbox. A heavenly aroma wafted up, making his mouth water instantly. The presentation alone was enough to impress—neatly arranged rice, vibrant side dishes, and a perfectly portioned main dish.

Before he could dig in, Misaki leaned over, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Whoa, is that what Takahashi gave you earlier? It looks amazing!"

Hayato smirked slightly, grabbing his chopsticks. "Here, try it, it's even better than it looks." He hold out a piece of rolled omlet with his chopstick for Misaki.

Misaki blinked in surprise, her cheeks taking on a faint pink hue as she leaned back slightly. "W-Wait, you're feeding me? Isn't this a bit much?" she stammered, her tone caught between embarrassment and disbelief.

Hayato froze for a moment, realizing what he'd just done. 'Crap... that was too casual, wasn't it?'

Lost in the joy of the moment, he'd completely forgotten that Misaki was, after all, a girl. For some reason, being around her felt effortless, as though all the usual filters and walls he kept up around others simply didn't apply.

Was it because of her bright, cheerful, and extroverted nature? Or was it because, deep down, he didn't see her as a girl at all, but simply as his first real friend?

Whatever the reason, seeing her flustered like this stirred something within Hayato. All this time, he had been on the receiving end of her teasing, but now, it seemed like fate had handed him the perfect opportunity for payback. He gulped, feigning innocence as he leaned slightly closer. "W-What's wrong with it? We're just friends, aren't we?"

Misaki flinched, her eyes darting nervously. She could sense the mischievous glint in Hayato's gaze and knew he was doing this on purpose. To make matters worse, she could feel the weight of a few curious stares around the room, adding to her unease.

But backing out now would be tantamount to admitting that maybe—just maybe—she saw him as more than a friend.

Misaki steeled her maiden heart, her resolve unwavering despite the storm of embarrassment brewing within her. Closing her eyes tightly, she leaned forward and took the rolled omelet Hayato was holding in one swift bite. Her cheeks burned an even deeper shade of red as she chewed, inwardly crying, 'This is so embarrassing!'

Hayato, on the other hand, was struck by an unfamiliar sensation. A bead of sweat trailed down his temple as he watched Misaki's flustered state, her crimson cheeks and tightly shut eyes making the moment all the more surreal. 'What's this feeling?' he thought, his heart beating slightly faster.

A grin began to tug at his lips without himself knowing. 'Am I… enjoying this? Is this what it feels like to extract revenge?' The thought sent a strange thrill through him, one he couldn't quite put into words.

Misaki finally swallowed, her eyes cautiously opening to meet his, only to find Hayato smirking ever so slightly. That smirk— It was infuriating, she took note to return this embarrassment one day.

As Hayato relished his small victory, a sudden *thud* echoed through the classroom, jolting everyone out of the moment. The sound was sharp and abrupt, like someone striking their desk with force. Instinctively, many students flinched, including Hayato.

Turning his gaze toward the source, his eyes landed on Yuka. He can't see her face from where he is, but saw her fists clenched tightly as she stood by her desk. Without a word, she abruptly bolted out of the classroom, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

The atmosphere grew tense as everyone exchanged confused glances. "What was that about?" someone muttered, voicing the question that lingered in everyone's mind.

Hayato's brow furrowed. 'She is acting really weird today', he wondered.

On the other hand Misaki smirked, it seems she understood something—She already got the idea to get her revenge on him.