Chapter 16: Unseen motives

The days after Rei's return to school were a blur. The shadows of Mei's betrayal lingered, and the weight of the rumors continued to pull at him. No matter how much he tried to hide, the whispers followed him everywhere. But it was in the quiet moments, the fleeting encounters, that his mind began to twist itself into knots.

Rei had grown accustomed to the routine—avoidance, isolation, and keeping his thoughts buried deep. But as fate would have it, some things couldn't be avoided.

It was during the lunch break when he first saw her again. The girl from the classroom who talked to him, the one who had approached him with a smile that felt too casual to be innocent. She sat by herself at a table, occasionally glancing his way, and each time their eyes met, she smiled as if they shared a secret. But Rei wasn't fooled.

Why is she looking at me like that? Rei wondered, his mind immediately racing through possibilities. He had long stopped trusting anything that seemed too good to be true. Her intentions were unclear, and he wasn't about to let his guard down just because of a few fleeting glances.

But before he could push the thought further, a familiar voice interrupted his inner turmoil.

"Rei, mind if I sit?" Yuuto.

Yuuto's presence was always… different. Despite Rei's growing distrust, he couldn't quite shake off the faint sense of familiarity Yuuto carried with him. There was a strange comfort in Yuuto's straightforwardness, yet Rei couldn't ignore the possibility that even he might have motives lurking behind that friendly façade.

"Sure," Rei said, motioning to the seat across from him.

Yuuto set his tray down and glanced toward the girl. Rei could see his expression shift ever so slightly, his usual carefree smile dimming for just a moment.

"She's been staring at you a lot lately," Yuuto said, his tone almost neutral but laced with something Rei couldn't pinpoint.

Rei's thoughts spiraled immediately. Does he know something? But instead of responding with suspicion, he forced himself to appear casual.

"I don't think she's really interested in talking," Rei muttered, taking a bite from his meal, his gaze never leaving Yuuto's eyes. "Probably just bored."

"Hmm," Yuuto said nonchalantly, but Rei noticed the subtle flicker in his eyes—was it curiosity? Concern? Or something else entirely?

Rei could feel Yuuto studying him, measuring him, as if waiting for a response. But Rei remained silent, letting the unease settle between them.

It wasn't until after lunch that Rei had the chance to observe her more closely. She was still by herself, but now her eyes followed him with an intensity that made his skin crawl. There was no longer any pretense of casual interest—she was waiting for something. Waiting for him.

But what did she want? That was the question Rei kept asking himself. And as if on cue, she stood up and began walking toward him, her movements deliberate.

His heart skipped a beat. The old Rei would have tried to hide, to run. But the new Rei? He stood there, calculating her every step, mentally measuring the distance between them, the intentions behind each of her movements.

She reached his table, a hesitant smile forming on her lips. "Rei, right?"

He didn't respond immediately, keeping his eyes locked onto hers. His mind raced as he analyzed every possible reason she could have to approach him. Was this part of some new scheme? Was it a game? A trap?

"Yeah," he replied coolly, keeping his voice steady. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," she said, her voice soft but insistent. "I just… I saw you around school and thought maybe we could talk sometime."

Her words were simple enough, but they carried a weight that Rei couldn't ignore. Talk? Or… use me?

Rei's eyes flickered toward Yuuto, who had stepped away from the table, giving them some space but still watching from afar. Yuuto's gaze was unreadable, though there was a faint tension in his posture.

"Why would you want to talk to me?" Rei asked, his tone flat.

The girl blinked, clearly taken aback by his directness. "I don't know… I just thought you seemed interesting. I know we don't know each other, but—"

"I don't trust people who try to get close too quickly," Rei interrupted, his voice barely above a whisper but sharp enough to make her pause.

The girl blinked again, her smile faltering just slightly. "I… I wasn't trying to rush anything. I just thought…"

Rei's gaze hardened. "I don't need anyone's pity, especially not from strangers."

The girl's expression faltered for a moment, before she nodded, retreating from his table without a word.

Rei's heart pounded in his chest, but he couldn't tell if it was from the unease of the interaction or the way his mind kept analyzing the situation. She was probably just trying to be friendly… but could she be like everyone else?

Yuuto came back over after she left, his smile as relaxed as ever. "You know," he said, sitting down again, "You don't have to be so harsh. She's not that bad."

Rei didn't respond immediately, his thoughts tangled with his growing distrust. He turned to Yuuto and studied him for a long moment, his mind now calculating, weighing, considering what Yuuto's presence meant. What does he want from me?

"Yeah," Rei finally said, forcing his words out with an effort, "I'll keep that in mind."

But he didn't feel any lighter. The girl, Yuuto… everyone had their own agenda. He was beginning to realize that even the smallest act of kindness could have a darker intention beneath it.

Trust had become a luxury he couldn't afford.