Chapter 9

Chapter 9 - I Have Nothing To Say

"Remember to come to my house tomorrow, Kazumi-senpai."

Yuino's soft, expressionless voice carried through the quiet hallway as they walked beside each other. She didn't raise her tone, nor did she look directly at him....it was simply a statement. Steady, calm, and final.

Kazumi glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Yeah, yeah. Just remind me. Or better yet, show up at my class after school ends. Less thinking for me."

"Okay," she nodded with a slow, small movement, as if sealing a pact that had already been decided.

When they reached her classroom, she stopped before entering. There was a slight pause before she spoke again.

"…Bye, Kazumi-senpai."

"Yeah, see ya," he said with a low breath, his eyes drifting elsewhere.

Once Yuino stepped inside, he turned around, now walking alone down the corridor. The ambient noise of the school day was fading, leaving him in a quiet lull between classes.

He let out a slow breath.

"...Why is she so confident about her size?" he muttered, eyes narrowing faintly. "It's not even that big… It's like a limited edition mini-size. Not that I care, but come on…"

He kept walking at a steady pace, his tone more exasperated than judgmental. His bag shifted slightly on his shoulder with each step as he climbed the staircase, lost in idle thoughts he wouldn't dare say aloud if someone else were around.

But the moment of stillness didn't last.

When Kazumi reached the classroom door and pushed it open, his body stopped mid-step.

There was no need to ask what was happening.

Two familiar faces were already locked onto him from across the room.

Minami and Hanami.

They were seated at his desk, arms crossed, and expressions unusually still. There was no playfulness in their posture—just a quiet intensity that made it clear they'd been waiting.

"…Ah," Kazumi muttered. He didn't move, his hand still holding the edge of the door. Inside, something told him to turn back. Something told him this wasn't just a coincidence.

His gut told him: Run.

But it was already too late.

He heard it first—the sudden rhythm of shoes against the floor.

Then, he saw her—Minami, storming toward him.

"—Wait, waitwaitwait—!"

In an instant, she grabbed him by the arm, spun him around, and all but forced him into his chair. The motion was practiced. Controlled.

"Welcome back, criminal," Minami said, standing tall with a firm glare. Her stance made it clear: she wasn't playing around.

Kazumi exhaled, slouched slightly into the seat.

"Where were you during lunch break?" she asked sharply, her tone devoid of its usual teasing edge.

"…Eating," Kazumi answered plainly.

"With who?" Hanami's voice followed, calm but piercing as she leaned forward from behind.

Kazumi kept his eyes on the ceiling. "Alone."

"Liar," Minami snapped. "You're bad at it."

"Prove it," he responded, not bothering to defend himself further.

Without missing a beat, Minami pulled out her phone and turned the screen toward him.

Displayed was a clear photo—Kazumi walking alongside a girl.

Yuino.

The angle was just right. His posture, her expression, the hallway. It was undeniable.

Kazumi furrowed his brow slightly. "Where'd you get that?"

"Friend of mine saw you. Thought it was suspicious. I agreed."

Kazumi leaned back in the chair again, letting out a slow, controlled breath. "...False accusation."

Hanami propped her elbows on his desk, resting her chin in her hands as she studied his face.

"But the evidence is pretty clear, you know."

"It's not illegal to walk near a girl," Kazumi said without emotion.

"You were talking with her."

Kazumi glanced toward her. "Got proof?"

Hanami casually swiped to the next image.

A second photo. He was speaking mid-step, and Yuino was staring up at him—focused, intent.

"…Tch."

"The prosecution rests, Your Honor," Minami said, arms still folded across her chest.

Kazumi scratched his head, slightly irritated. "That could be anyone."

"Please," Hanami said. "She's obviously a first-year. That uniform's different."

Minami snapped her fingers, nodding. "Exactly. A cute little first-year."

Kazumi shrugged with indifference. "Still doesn't prove anything."

Hanami leaned in just a little more. "Then tell us who she is."

Kazumi didn't respond. He turned away, keeping his voice even.

"No."

"Oh? Stubborn now?" Minami asked, eyes narrowing.

Silence.

Kazumi's expression didn't change.

His mouth closed. His gaze leveled. His posture, while relaxed, was unmoving.

Minami tapped her foot against the floor. "So you're hiding her name?"

A faint grin touched Kazumi's lips. "I have nothing to say."

Hanami clicked her tongue, visibly annoyed. "Wahh, so cool and cold. Is this a new act?"

Still, Kazumi didn't speak.

There was a quiet stillness between them, filled with tension. He knew if he said anything—even a single word—it would only make things worse. It wasn't just about Yuino being clingy or awkward.

It was about protecting whatever fragile peace he had left.

If Minami and Hanami learned who she was, things would spiral.

"…Alright," Hanami said, stepping back. "So you won't talk."

Minami didn't hesitate. "Fine. We'll just find her ourselves."

Kazumi blinked.

"You'll what?"

"You heard her," Hanami replied, stretching her arms. "If she's a first-year, then we just need to visit the first-year floor."

"Yep," Minami added, voice light but serious. "We'll do some investigating."

"Interviewing witnesses."

"Cross-checking appearances."

"Chasing rumors."

Kazumi looked at them both. Their eyes held no doubt.

"You're not seriously going to go floor to floor?"

They both smiled.

"In the name of girl pride—yes," Minami said.

Kazumi closed his eyes and rubbed his face slowly.

They weren't bluffing.

They were actually going to do it.

Hanami tapped a finger gently on his forehead. "You could've saved her by just saying her name."

Minami's voice followed right after. "But now she's a target."

Kazumi's breath escaped through clenched teeth.

"…You two don't have anything better to do?" he muttered.

Hanami chuckled softly. "Nope."

Minami nodded once. "Nope."

Kazumi looked away, his eyes resting blankly on the back wall of the classroom.

He genuinely considered whether it was too late to transfer schools.

The class began to fill gradually, and the noise returned with it. Students filtered in, chatting, laughing, moving between desks. To anyone else, it seemed like a normal afternoon.

But for Kazumi, normal had already been shattered.

Minami was whispering to Hanami beside him. Even with the noise around them, he could still catch pieces of what they were saying.

"Long black hair"

"She using first year student uniform" Hanami say

"This is hard to find her, if we only got the photo of her back"

Kazumi remained silent, eyes forward, a single earbud in. He didn't even bother defending himself anymore.

It wouldn't matter. No matter what he said, they'd twist it. Misread it. Use it against him.

So he let them talk.

Let them guess. Let them chase shadows.

As long as no one else got pulled into it…

Then he froze.

His thoughts halted in place.

If Minami and Hanami actually went through with their search—

They'd run into Rino.

And Rino would say something bizarre.

Something off-handed.

Something dangerous.

And if they found Yuino directly?

That was an even worse outcome.

Kazumi didn't want to think about how that conversation would go.

"…I'm screwed," he murmured.

Minami leaned in. "What was that?"

Kazumi sat up a bit straighter. "Nothing."

Hanami poked his cheek playfully. "If it's nothing, then why do you look like you just saw your life flash before your eyes?"

He brushed her hand away with a quiet flick.

"Can I just play my game in peace?"

"No," Minami said, voice flat.

"You've lost that privilege," Hanami added.

Kazumi closed his eyes for a long moment, breathing deeply.

This was going to be a long week.