Cold droplets traced a path down smooth, delicate skin, a few strands of hair clinging to slender shoulders.
Riplets of water streamed over full, rounded curves as a small hand unconsciously brushed against a slightly taut abdomen, fingers encountering a jagged ridge that disrupted the body's graceful contours.
Nearly two years had passed, yet her heart still twinged faintly.
Flashes of shifting images flickered before her eyes—like an old, dust-covered film reel cast in chilling hues of horror.
Karuizawa Kei touched her own cheek.
Despite the cold shower, her body felt feverish, as if burning up.
He had seen this scar—not just seen it, but touched it too.
Yet she couldn't quite recall his expression at the time.
Of course, he had been doing something bad back then.
Even now, the memory made Kei's face flush.
How could she have possibly observed his expression properly when she had been so overwhelmed with shame and indignation?
Still, judging by his reaction afterward, he hadn't seemed particularly disgusted.
If anything, Kei had sensed a suppressed fury.
After enduring middle school bullying and rising to become the leader of the girls in Class D, she had grown acutely sensitive to shifts in mood—or perhaps she was just skilled at reading people.
If he had been angry… what had angered him?
Kei turned off the shower and slowly toweled herself dry before facing the mirror and switching on the hair dryer.
Warm air evaporated the lingering moisture.
Come to think of it, she had never even properly held a boy's hand before.
Yet there she was, lifting her own shirt in front of him, letting him touch her—
No, no, no! It wasn't like she had wanted to!
He had forced her!
She couldn't understand what went through his mind.
Didn't he already have a girlfriend?
And yet, he had gone and touched another girl's chest.
It made no sense.
What's more, he looked so proper on the surface.
At first, she had even thought he might be the type to be indifferent to such things.
Plenty of girls in class were interested in him—only to find out he was the kind of guy who'd do that to a girl.
Wasn't that just awful?
The more she dwelled on it, the redder her face grew—because she had said far worse things to Kaoru.
She had practically acted like some shameless, indecent woman.
"Kushida, Ichinose, Sakayanagi, Kamuro…"
Even someone as terrible as him had so many girls around him.
The thought made Kei's chest tighten, her stomach constricting as if bound by an invisible rope, leaving her breathless.
At first, she had assumed Kushida was his real girlfriend and had secretly competed with her—until Kaoru himself confirmed it was Ichinose Honami.
Kei hadn't paid much attention to Class B's so-called "popularity queen" before.
The girl hadn't seemed like the type to date, let alone date someone like Kaoru.
But now… things were different.
In the past, Kei had believed she could overcome the darkness on her own.
Later, she realized she was wrong.
The only things that could truly shatter darkness were either the sun—or an even more terrifying darkness.
A single person could never accomplish anything alone.
It was only natural to weakly beg for his help.
Though Kaoru had said certain things to her—about deals, about love and affection—none of it had dissuaded her.
If anything, it had only strengthened her resolve.
Lust was Kaoru's flaw, and also his weakness.
Kei keenly perceived the essence of this guy—only a relationship where both parties satisfied each other could last.
As for whether she would regret it in the future...
Heh, there were no correct choices in this world.
The only thing one could do was strive to make the choice they had made absolutely right.
Karuizawa Kei patted her cheeks.
She needed to work hard from now on—at the very least, to secure a place for herself.
And then, make him fall for her.
...
The student dormitory was quiet at night.
The occasional rustle of wind drifted in through the window.
The thick clouds obscured the moonlight, and the evening chill seemed to seep into one's entire body.
Kaoru had just finished reading the message from Kiriyama and was about to take a break when he suddenly heard the doorbell.
Ding—
Strange.
Was it Ichinose?
With that thought, Kaoru quickly walked to the entrance and was met with an unexpected sight—a girl he hadn't anticipated.
"Yoohoo~ Surprised?"
Karuizawa Kei stood before him, her pretty face adorned with a radiant smile.
Her chest was slightly more pronounced than usual, and instead of her usual high ponytail, she had let her long hair cascade naturally down her shoulders.
She seemed to have just taken a bath, as a faint, pleasant fragrance lingered around her.
Kaoru's gaze drifted downward.
Beneath her skirt were a pair of pristine, slender thighs.
Her calves, bare and devoid of stockings, glowed with a delicate, translucent sheen.
More importantly, she was holding a few books in her arms.
"Honestly, yeah, you did surprise me," Kaoru chuckled. "Showing up at my room dressed like this—never mind if anyone saw you, aren't you worried I might do something to you?"
"I came to ask for your help with studying," Karuizawa said, her cheeks slightly flushed, though her tone was earnest.
Since they had previously agreed on tutoring, she had a ready excuse even if someone found out.
"You could've at least given me a heads-up. What if I wasn't in my room?" Kaoru let her step inside before closing the door behind her.
"That's the whole point of a surprise," she said, glancing around his room.
As if she wouldn't know whether he was here or not.
"Besides, I'm your backup girlfriend, right? Or… were you planning to do something with Ichinose?"
"I haven't told Honami about you yet," Kaoru said, clearing the table.
"Want something to drink?"
Karuizawa seemed to pause for a moment before sitting on his bed, her gaze fixed on his face as she asked, puzzled.
"Why would you tell her?"
Kaoru hesitated briefly, then smiled.
"Because that's just the kind of person I am. There's no need to keep hiding things forever."
"No girl would agree to something like that," Karuizawa said with absolute certainty.
"I'm working on it," Kaoru replied, taking the books from her hands—textbooks and notes.
"Wait, you seriously want me to tutor you?"
"What else? Do I look like a genius student to you?" Karuizawa felt a pang of displeasure.
When he said "working on it," did that include her too?
"First time I've heard someone admit they're not smart," Kaoru remarked as he flipped through her textbooks and notes, realizing she hadn't been taking them seriously at all.
"What's the problem? I'm not particularly good at studying anyway, so it's normal for me not to understand these things."
Karuizawa Kei puffed out her cheeks.
"Besides, this is your chance to curry favor with me."
A real girlfriend only needs to focus on dates, while a backup girlfriend has to consider so many things—like not disturbing them, restraining her own feelings, and maintaining a smile.
"Fine, I'll tutor you."
"What's with that tone? Did I upset you?"
"Because I was wondering if Kei would give me a reward later."
"R-reward?!"
Although she knew Kaoru was a lecherous guy, Karuizawa Kei still felt a hint of shyness.
Shouldn't topics like this be brought up casually by her instead?
Or perhaps teased out with the ease of an older sister playfully provoking Kaoru.
This way just made her seem too foolish, didn't it?