Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – "Why That Flat-Chested Little Witch Can Know, But I Don't?!"

The rooftop door clicked shut behind them with a quiet creak, its echo swallowed by the stairwell.

Kazumi and Rino walked side by side down the narrow steps, their footsteps light against the smooth floor. Neither said much, but silence didn't mean peace when Rino was around. For every pause, there was always another unexpected question waiting around the corner.

"Senpai," she began casually, tilting her head toward him as they reached a landing. "Do you prefer cats or dogs?"

Kazumi didn't glance at her. "Dogs," he replied without hesitation. "They don't judge you when you waste three hours grinding XP."

"Cats don't judge either," she added flatly. "They just ignore you."

"I'm already used to that."

"Ah. Because you're unpopular?"

"Thanks for the reminder," he muttered dryly.

Rino hadn't said it to tease him. That much was clear. Her expression hadn't changed even a millimeter, as if she were simply inputting facts into some invisible data log titled "Senpai Preferences."

They walked another few steps before the questions resumed.

"Do you like spicy food?"

"Not really."

"What about sweet food?"

"In moderation."

"Pancakes or waffles?"

"Waffles. More texture."

"Do you sleep with socks?"

"Only if I hate myself."

"Have you ever—"

"Rino," Kazumi cut her off with a sigh, "I'm not a search engine."

"But you're more reliable than Google," she replied coolly. "And cuter."

He glanced at her sideways, narrowing his eyes. "Stop talking like you're trying to break my firewall."

The questioning ceased—temporarily—as they reached the second floor. The hum of school life began to creep into the quiet, with students gathered in small clusters, chatting, munching on snacks, or hurrying to squeeze in conversations before the bell rang.

As they entered the corridor, Kazumi felt it—those subtle stares.

Just a few eyes. A whisper here. A glance there.

Nothing direct. But noticeable.

It made sense, he supposed. A tall, aloof second-year like himself walking through the halls with a petite, poker-faced first-year girl wasn't exactly a daily sight. Rino, as always, didn't seem to care. She kept walking, blank as ever.

They reached the door to Kazumi's classroom, and he came to a stop.

"Well," he said, slipping his hands into his pockets, "this is me."

Rino looked up at him. "Okay."

"...So."

"...So?"

"...You gonna say bye or just stare at me until I dissolve into mist?"

"Goodbye, Senpai."

He chuckled under his breath. "Later, Rino."

She gave him a tiny wave—more like a twitch of her fingers—before turning on her heel and walking off, her steps light and unconcerned.

Kazumi sighed through his nose, turned the doorknob, and stepped into the room.

The moment he entered, he knew.

He felt it before he saw it.

Two figures near his desk.

Again.

It wasn't their presence that made him sigh.

It was the familiarity of it.

He already knew exactly who they were.

"Oh boy," he muttered.

Minami Inatsu and Hanami Kanegaya—standing at his desk like they were part of the furniture.

Minami's short blue hair bounced with her every motion, her expression already shifting gears from pouty to indignant. Her whole aura screamed explosive energy, like a soda can that had been shaken and dropped.

Next to her stood Hanami—tall, beach-tanned, and graceful. She had long, chestnut hair that cascaded down her back like she was ready for a swimsuit commercial at any moment. Compared to Minami, Hanami radiated calm... until she opened her mouth.

Both were undeniably attractive.

Both were in his class.

Both were way too comfortable hanging around his desk.

And worst of all…

Both liked him.

"Here we go again," Kazumi muttered under his breath as he approached.

He barely had time to pull out his chair before Minami whirled on him like a storm cloud.

"There you are, Kazumi-kun!" she snapped, arms crossed tightly under her chest. "Where were you during second lunch?!"

He sat down smoothly, resting his elbow on the desk and offering a cool sigh. "Playing games."

"Games?! Where?!"

He turned to her, lips twitching into a half-smirk. "At a quiet place."

Minami puffed her cheeks so hard she looked like she might float. "That's not fair! Tell me where!"

"It's a secret."

"That's even more unfair!" she flailed dramatically. "If that flat-chested kouhai knows where it is, then I should too!"

Kazumi paused, halfway through a laugh. "…Wait, what?"

He turned fully to her now, genuinely amused. "Why would you assume Rino knows where I go?"

Minami jabbed a finger at him like she'd uncovered a scandal. "Because you were walking back here with her!"

"Could've just bumped into her in the hallway."

"…Tch."

Minami's mouth opened again to argue… but she hesitated. It was technically a plausible excuse. Maybe it had just been a hallway coincidence. Maybe she was just overthinking it.

But the look on Kazumi's face—that smug, knowing smirk—made her blood boil.

"You're annoying."

"And you're predictable."

Minami stomped a foot and turned away with a pout. "Your face is so punchable sometimes..."

Across the desk, Hanami finally spoke for the first time, her voice teasing and musical.

"Aww, don't get so jealous, Minami-chan. It's not like he's dating the kouhai yet."

Kazumi raised an eyebrow. "Yo, Hanami. You were awfully quiet today."

"I was observing," she replied, resting her elbow on the desk and leaning in. "Gotta let Minami have the spotlight now and then~"

Hanami Kanegaya was a different kind of dangerous. Subtle, graceful, and wickedly sharp. She knew exactly how to rile people up with just the right amount of innocent mischief.

She tilted her head, smiling. "So? What's the deal with the blonde first-year? New girlfriend? New project? New pet?"

Kazumi gave her a flat look. "Not dating her. Not training her. Definitely not adopting her."

"But she's kinda cute," Hanami said with a hum. "In that dry cracker kind of way."

Minami spun back into the conversation like a cyclone. "She's so bland! Like talking to an answering machine with no batteries!"

"You're being harsh," Kazumi chuckled.

"She's trying to steal your quiet place!" Minami accused.

"You don't even know where it is."

"Exactly! That's why it's unfair!"

Kazumi just shook his head. "You girls really have too much free time."

Hanami twirled her pen between her fingers. "And you're way too calm about having a girl war near your desk every week."

Without a word, Kazumi pulled his console from his bag, setting it gently on his desk like a trophy.

"Can't fight if I ignore both of you."

Minami smacked her palm on the table. "Oi!"

Hanami laughed. "He's hopeless."

The bell rang softly in the distance, signaling the end of second lunch. Students shuffled back to their seats, filling the room with idle chatter and sliding chairs.

Kazumi leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes for a brief moment.

A kouhai who bombards him with questions. Two classmates who squabble over attention. And a boss fight he still hadn't finished.

So much noise.

So many complications.

And yet, he didn't mind it today.

Maybe Rino's lap had healing properties.

"Alright, take your seats!" came the teacher's voice from the hallway.

Hanami winked as she walked to her desk. "Try not to daydream about your first-year fangirl, okay?"

Minami glared over her shoulder. "Cheh. Just don't forget who sat next to you first!"

Kazumi raised a hand lazily, his tone casual. "Yes, yes. You're both loud. Can we learn math in peace now?"

He slid his console into the desk, rested his chin in his palm, and stared out the window as the class settled down.

From this angle, he could still see the rooftop in the distance.

His quiet little sanctuary.

It wasn't a secret anymore, was it?

But maybe—just maybe—that wasn't such a bad thing.