Chapter 7 — The Demon Queen of Otonokizaka

The late afternoon sun dipped low behind the academy's rooftop, washing the sky in hues of honey and rose. The silhouettes of students thinned as Otonokizaka Academy's final bell rang out across the sleepy campus.

On the rooftop, a gentle wind stirred the curtains through the open door, tousling the ends of Honoka's short, chestnut-colored hair as she turned toward her friend, a soft concern darkening her normally bright expression.

"Kotori... ever since you came back from the chairman's office, you've looked like your heart's been carrying something heavy. You're not still worrying about that boy, are you?"

Kotori Minami stood by the railing, arms folded lightly, gazing out toward the city skyline. The way her brows pinched together made it clear that her thoughts weren't anywhere near this rooftop—or even this moment.

They were supposed to be practicing. Ever since yesterday, the girls had begun squeezing in dance sessions after school, driven by Honoka's dream of becoming school idols. But today, rehearsal hadn't even begun before Honoka noticed it—Kotori's mood had shifted the moment that mysterious boy vanished from sight.

Kotori's voice was barely more than a whisper. "I... I'm really worried about him, Honoka."

"Come on," Honoka said, trying to sound cheerful, "if he managed to leave on his own, it probably means he can take care of himself, right? Who knows, maybe fate will bring you two back together sooner than you think."

"That's not it... It's just..."

Kotori trailed off, unable to find the right words. She didn't even fully understand the feeling herself—why this particular boy, whom she'd only just met, had left such a hollow ache in her chest. It felt as though something precious had slipped through her fingers before she even knew what she was holding.

Honoka gave her a reassuring smile. "If he meant that much to you, I'm sure he'll come back. He owes you, after all. You might not realize it, but you saved him."

But would that really be enough?

Earlier that day, Kotori had caught a glimpse of a message online—just a few words that offered a bittersweet reassurance.

"Don't worry about me, Kotori. If fate allows, we'll meet again."

The first half had soothed her... but the second half felt like goodbye. And that was what hurt the most.

"Kotori," Honoka said gently, "maybe you should head home and get some rest today. Pushing through when your heart's not in it won't help any of us."

She wasn't wrong. Kotori had been off all day, her usual grace dimmed by uncertainty.

Watching from nearby, Umi Sonoda frowned slightly, her arms crossed. She didn't like how this boy—this stranger—had affected her friend so deeply. If someone could throw Kotori so off balance and then disappear without even a phone call, Umi found that hard to forgive. It felt irresponsible... maybe even cowardly.

Then, the rooftop door creaked open behind them.

Footsteps echoed up the final stair, sharp and deliberate.

Three girls turned to see a figure step into the sunlight: a tall, poised student in the academy's uniform, her long golden ponytail swaying with every step.

"So this is the great resolve of Otonokizaka's future idols?" she said coolly, her voice laced with amusement. "You all talk about never giving up, and yet the moment you hit a bump in the road, you crumble like this?"

Honoka blinked. "E-Eli...?"

"You call this training?" Eli Ayase continued, her words crisp and sharp. "It's half-baked at best. No amount of clumsy rehearsals will make you stars. Honestly, you'd save yourselves a lot of heartbreak if you just gave up now—before wasting any more effort."

There was no mistaking the edge in her tone. While it wore the shape of a lecture, her words dripped with condescension. It wasn't just criticism—it was a test.

Honoka opened her mouth to respond, but this time, Kotori stepped forward, her expression steeled by something new—conviction.

"We won't give up," she said. "And our training isn't half-baked. We found a method—one that works."

Without another word, she pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and turned the screen toward Eli.

"This," Kotori said, "is a routine one of my senpai gave me. With effort and heart, we will become school idols."

Eli leaned in, skeptical. But as the video began to play, her lips parted slightly—though she said nothing.

Seconds passed. Then Eli scoffed, reaching for a different line of attack.

"So what?" she said. "You're Kotori Minami, daughter of the academy chairwoman. And yet you took it upon yourself to shelter a male trespasser inside our all-girls school? Do you have any idea how damaging that could've been to our reputation?"

Her words struck like flint.

"If the board hadn't handled the situation quickly, there'd be rumors flying before long—people saying the school had given up, or worse, that it was letting boys sneak into the dorms."

Kotori's eyes flared. "You don't get to talk about him like that. He's not just some stranger. He's my friend—and I invited him here. He helped me because I asked him to."

The others froze. Even Honoka and Umi stared at her, stunned. Kotori had always been the gentle one—the soft-spoken heart of their trio. Seeing her stand her ground like this... it felt like watching a flower bloom in a storm.

Eli raised an eyebrow. "A friend... who's going to help you become an idol? What, did you think you stumbled into a talent scout?"

"He gave me that video," Kotori replied firmly. "And even if he wasn't a scout, that doesn't give you the right to insult him."

Her voice carried strength now—not loud, but unyielding.

Honoka leaned in and waved a hand in front of Kotori's face. "Hey, just checking—do you still know who I am?"

Kotori blinked. "Huh? Of course, Honoka. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine! I just... thought maybe I was imagining things," she said with a grin.

Kotori finally cracked a small smile. The tension ebbed just enough for her to breathe again.

She turned back to Eli, more composed this time.

"Until we say we're giving up, please stop interfering with our efforts."

"Hmph." Eli gave a dismissive grunt and turned on her heel. Her twin-tailed companion, Nozomi Tojo, lingered a moment, offering the girls a knowing smile before following Eli down the stairs.

"Nozomi," Eli said as they descended, her tone quieter now. "Did you see what was in that video?"

Nozomi nodded. As Eli's longtime friend—and vice president of the student council—she knew Eli's thoughts often before Eli herself voiced them.

"You were going to dismiss it, weren't you? Use it to disprove their claim," Nozomi said.

"But you didn't. So... what did you see?"

Eli's reply came softly, like something she was still trying to admit even to herself.

"A performance that made me feel... completely outclassed."

Nozomi's eyes widened slightly. For Eli to say that—Eli, who had competed in professional competitions—meant this was no ordinary video.

Unlike Honoka, who admired the stage presence, Eli had seen something deeper. The girl in the footage—grey-haired, green-eyed, adorned with jade clips and a red silk charm at her waist—hadn't just performed. She had embodied the essence of an idol.

"She was born for it," Eli murmured.

Nozomi smiled, intrigued. "Looks like Kotori's found herself one heck of a mentor."

"What are you going to do now, Eli?" she teased. "Feeling a bit of heat?"

Eli folded her arms. "Even if they have a professional guiding them, that doesn't mean they'll succeed. Becoming an idol isn't about luck or shortcuts—it's about consistency. Discipline."

"Ah~ You are worried about them!" Nozomi sang.

"I am not! I'm just being responsible. They're second-years. They should be focusing on things that matter."

"Uh-huh. Sure, sure. Tsundere Eli in full form."

"I am not—! Nozomi!"

But even as she protested, a faint blush bloomed on Eli's cheeks.

Nozomi decided not to push further—at least not for now. She already knew the truth.

Eli Ayase wasn't just interested.

She was invested.

___________________

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