One busy early morning, Mr. Nakamura begN distributing the students' midterm results. He called each name one by one, his voice steady as students walked to the front, received their papers, and returned with either relief, disappointment, or a mix of both.
At the back row, Renjiro sat frozen in place. His eyelids pressed shut, as if refusing to face fate itself. He had studied for this exam—burning nights—but the thought if seeing his actual score made his stomach twist.
His legs bounced uncontrollably, shaking the desk. His hands were clasped tightly together in prayer as he mumbled in his head. Please... please, just let me pass. I don't care what it is... just don't let me fail.
When Nakamura-sensei reached his name list, he suddenly paused. His sharp gaze traveled across the classroom before landing on the boy at the very back—Renjiro, who looked like he might collapse from nerves.
Clearing his throat, Nakamura said at last, "Ahem... well then. Next—Koizumi."
Renjiro's eyes snapped open. Me? Already?! He practically jumped out of his chair and marched forward, though his legs wobbled like jelly.
Nakamura handed him the paper with an unusual curve tugging at his lips. "Well. Congratulations. You passed the midterm."
Renjiro blinked in confusion. Passed? Then his gaze darted to the paper in his hand—
And froze.
"... Ninety?!" His voice cracked as he shouted across the room. His eyes shook, sparkling with disbelief. "N-Ninety?! Are you serious?!"
Gasps spread like wildfire. A chorus of shocked whispers filled the room.
"Wait, did I hear that right?"
"He got a ninety?? Him?"
"That's insane! Just the other day, he was chasing the council president, begging for help."
Another voice cut in. "I heard Kawaguchi-san tutored him after class too."
"No way! That secretary, tutoring Koizumi? Are you joking?"
Doubtful murmurs filled the air, but none could deny the truth stamped on Renjiro's paper.
As he strutted back to his seat, Renjiro couldn't help but smirk smugly, chin tilted high. He plopped into his chair and crossed his arms with exaggerated pride.
"Hmph..." He snickered, basking in his classmates' disbelief. "What can I say? I let out the genius in me."
At lunch break, Renjiro sprinted through the hallway, his shoes clattering against the floor. His face was glowing with excitement as he clutched the test paper like a treasure map.
He slammed the door open with a loud BANG!
"Yugen!!" He hollered, beaming from ear to ear.
Jolted, Yugen turned from across the room, brows furrowing. "Renjiro? Again, how many times do I have to tell you to knock—"
But before he could finish, Renjiro stomped forward and shoved the paper right up against his face.
"LOOK!!"
"Ugh—!" Yugen staggered back, swatting Renjiro's hand away and rubbing his nose. "What is this supposed to—" his eyes caught the bold red number on the page. His words froze. "... Ninety?"
Renjiro puffed his chest proudly. "Surprised, are you?"
Yugen blinked at the score, then glanced at Renjiro suspiciously. "... This... is this real?"
"Of course it is!" Renjiro barked.
"... Are you sure this wasn't a mistake?" Yugen muttered under his breath.
"Eh?!" Renjiro exploded, stomping his foot. "No way Nakamura-sensei would lie to me! You think I forged this?!"
Yugen smirked faintly, clearly enjoying winding him up.
Renjiro posted, arms crossed. "Hmph."
Yugen lifted his palms in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry for doubting you. Really." His expression softened. "Great work, Renjiro. You did your best. You even came here just to tell me this, huh?"
Renjiro's eyes sparkled, but instead of answering, he suddenly turned his head toward the side—where Yukio sat quietly, flipping through a notebook.
"Actually," Renjiro grinned, walking over to him, "I came here to thank you, Yukio."
"Eh?" Yukio blinked in surprise as Renjiro grabbed his hand and clasped it tightly with both of his own.
"It's all thanks to your splendid explanations and teachings that I passed this exam! You worked so hard, even when you were busy, and you still have me your time. I'm really glad it was you who helped me!"
Yukio's cheeks warmed faintly. "I-I'm happy for you Koizumi-san. Congrats."
"HEY." Yugen cut in sharply, walking closer. His brows twitched. "What about me, huh?"
Renjiro ignored him, still locked in gis heartfelt moment with Yukio.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Yugen snapped. "I always stayed up late to help you too, y'know. Despite my insane schedule. And this is the thanks I get? Nothing? Not even a single word?"
Renjiro rolled his eyes. "All you did was sigh at me the whole time! You barely explained anything and acted like I was hopeless from the start! And you call yourself the council president? More like the useless president!"
"Useless?!" Yugen's jaw dropped. His voice rose in outrage. "After all the all-nighthers I pulled for you?! I lost sleep for your sake!"
"It's not like I asked you to!" Renjiro shot back. "Yukio was tutoring me just fine until you stuck your nose in where it didn't belong!"
"I stuck my nose in because Yukio collapsed from overwork, remember?!"
"Yeah? And? We could've just rescheduled! But nooo, Mister Perfect President had to play hero! Show-off!"
The two glared at each other, sparks flying in the air.
Finally, Yukio sighed and stood, stepping between them. His calm voice cut through their bickering.
"Okay, let's calm down..."
Renjiro and Yugen froze, then looked away from each other with synchronized hmphs.
A tense silence... until Renjiro casually leaned in Yukio's shoulder as if nothing happened.
"Anyway, Yukio. I'll treat you to soda after school as thanks!"
"Good idea," Yugen chimed in at the same time, arms crossed. "We should celebrate."
The two glanced at each other—then immediately looked away.
Yukio exhaled, exasperated but amused. Just like always, within seconds, they were back to normal... like nothing happened.
A few minutes later, Renjiro strolled over to the vending machine standing outside the academy building. Just before heading back in, a long sigh slipped from his lips.
The thrill from his exam result had already worn off, replaced by frustration as he recalled the latest chapter of the BL manga he'd binges last night.
"No progress between the protagonists at all..." Renjiro muttered, frowning. "And I can already tell what's coming next for the uke. Ugh, how disappointing."
The machine rattled, and with a small clunk, a cold oranges juice rolled out. Renjiro crouched down, picked it up, and gripped the bottle firmly as if squeezing out his irritation.
"Seriously, all that's happening to them is giving me déjà vu," he sighed aloud.
"Um... excuse me?"
The voice startled him. Reniiro twisted around, one brow raised. His eyes narrowed in curiosity.
Behind him stood a boy. His hair was cut awkwardly short, just enough to reveal a small forehead. The style made his head look a little bare, as though the barber's scissors had been too eager.
His shoulders hunched, and his gaze stayed glued to the ground—too timid to make eye contact.
Déjà vu indeed, Renjiro thought, squinting as he studied the boy's nervous movements. The awkward posture, the hesitant mouth, the darting eye—it reminded him almost painfully of Sato, back when they first met.
"Can I help you?" Renjiro asked gently, softening his expression so as not to scare the boy further.
"I... um... I—" the boy stammered, his voice trembling. His lips opened, closed, opened again, but the words refused to come out. His eyes flickered around, wary as if someone might overhear.
Renjiro furrowed his brows, curiosity pricking him. What's he trying to say?
The silence was unbearable, so Renjiro broke it with a smile. "I don't know why you suddenly came to me, but if you need anything, I'll be happy to help!"
That warm grin made the boy's eyes widen, a tiny sparkle lighting in them. For a second, it was as if Renjiro's words unlocked the dam.
"A-Actually..." the boy whispered, lips tightening, "I have someone I like!"
Renjiro's ears practically twitched. His interest shot up instantly.
"... For a very long time now. He and I knew each other because he was my tutor... and a friend of my older brother."
"Oh? So they're older?" Renjiro murmured under his breath, already analyzing the setting like a reader sniffing out a romance trope.
The boy shuffled his feet. "S-So... I was wondering if you could—"
"Yeah?" Renjiro leaned forward, grinning, ready for the punchline.
"—please listen to me and help me with my crush!"
"Of course!!" Renjiro blurted out without hesitation.
A smirk curled on his lips. Guess I'll be busy with something else.
Since his BL manga wasn't giving him progress, fate had delivered a fresh love story right into his hands.
Renjiro clasped the boy's hand firmly, eyes shining. "I'll gladly help you! No fee—just tell me exactly what you're struggling with."
The boy flushed. "O-Oh, I see... thank—"
"Shhh." Renjiro pressed a finger near the boy's lips, silencing him. "You're thanking me too early."
The boy's breath caught.
Renjiro's smile turned mischievous. "Now, why don't we go somewhere quiet? That way I can hear every single detail."
"O-Okay...!" The boy nodded eagerly.
"Great," Renjiro said, grinning wide, as though he'd just stumbled into the opening chapter of a brand-new BL manga.
Renjiro listened intently, like every word spilling the boy's lips was music to his ears. He leaned in just slightly, his expression warm, a gentle smile tugging at his mouth as if the boy's story was some kind of secret treasure only he had the privilege to hear. Even when the boy hesitated, stammering or glancing nervously around, Renjiro's gaze never wavered—it was patient, encouraging, almost like he was reading the pages of a manga that had him completely hooked.
When the bell chime echoed faintly across the campus, Renjiro straightened up and stepped down the stairs.
"I guess that's our cue now," he said lightly.
He shifted his gaze back to the boy, his smile still present. "Anyways, thanks for telling me your story, Nagisa."
"R-Right." The boy named Nagisa stiffened a little, his face reddening at the unexpected intimacy of being called by his first name. He lowered his head, flustered, as if the simple sound of his name had shaken something inside him.
Renjiro chuckled softly in his throat. Such a polite kid. His smile lingered, warmer now, like an older brother amused by a younger siblings awkwardness.
Stepping out into the open, Renjiro closed his eyes for a moment and softly inhaled the fresh air. He held it in, savoring it like a sip of fine tea, before slowly exhaling. The world felt usually calm. The soft hum of cicadas filled the background, mixing with the distant chatter of students lingering in the hallways.
A faint breeze brushed against his skin, cool and refreshing, carrying with it the scent of grass and faint sakura petals that had yet to fully fall. The sky stretched endlessly above, a pale blue canvas without a single cloud to match its perfection.
It was rare for Renjiro to feel this at ease. His chest felt light, his steps unhurried. The weather, the atmosphere, even the way the sun gently embraced the school grounds—it was all too perfect, too peaceful, as though the world itself had decided to grant him a day of respite.
But unbeknownst to him, peace was always fleeting. There was no such as thing as forever when it came to moments like this.
The calm he savored now was destined to shatter—a storm creeping just out of sight, waiting to tear his little paradise into nothing but chaos.
Just as Renjiro was about to walk away, a sudden tug at his shoulder yanked him backward.
"Ugh...!" His balance nearly faltered, and he spun around sharply, eyes narrowing in alarm.
When his gaze landed on the figure before him, his eyes widened in disbelief. "You...?!"
Standing there was Haruyuki, smirking smugly, his expression practically dripping with satisfaction at being recognized so quickly.
Renjiro's lips parted, his words sharp and defensive. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh?" Haruyuki cocked his head, raising an eyebrow. "I'm a student here, y'know."
"Yeah, that's not exactly what I meant." Renjiro deadpanned, annoyance flaring in his voice. "I'm asking why you showed up again in front of me. Are you stalking me again?"
"Who's stalking who?!" Haruyuki barked back, his tone defensive, almost offended.
"I wasn't doing any of that creepy shit, okay!"
Renjiro folded his arms, leveling him with a pointed look. "Okay..." He drawled, unimpressed. He turned fully to face him.
"Then why are you here anyway?"
"Well..." Haruyuki shifted his weight awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. His gaze flickered away before sliding shyly back toward Renjiro, his usual cockiness dimmed with hesitation.
Renjiro blinked, his brows furrowing. What the hell is this guy doing, acting all shy like that?
The silence stretched, thick and awkward. Renjiro's irritation grew by the second, evident in the twitch of his brow and the exasperation lining his face.
Finally, Haruyuki took in a deep breath, as though steeling himself, before blurting out, "I was wondering if you're busy or free this weekend?"
Renjiro's frown deepened. "Well, I don't particularly have anything going on weekends. But I also have something to do that night, so..."
"The hell?" Haruyuki's frown mirrored his, incredulous. "Just say you're free, then."
"Like I said, I have something to do at night!"
"I'm not asking your weekend night."
"Huh? Then what is it?"
Haruyuki stepped closer, his eyes locking on Renjiro with intent. "I have a photoshoot in the morning this coming weekend. And I was told I could invite anyone I want to the studio."
Renjiro blinked, taken aback. "Eh? Is that even allowed?"
Haruyuki shrugged lazily, as though it was no big deal.
Renjiro sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I don't think I can put that into my schedule."
"Liar!" Haruyuki shot back immediately. "You just said you're free!"
"Ugh," Renjiro scoffed under his breath, clearly irritated. "Why are you even insisting I go with you?"
That question lit something in Haruyuki's eyes. He smirked, stepping closer once more, his voice lowering with a confidence that unsettled Renjiro.
"I already told you," Haruyuki said, the corner of his mouth tugging upward, "I'm going to make sure you get to know me personally."
Renjiro clicked his tongue, his face heating slightly as he recalled the embarrassing events lodged in his memory. He quickly shook his head, scowling to cover it.
"That's the first thing that came to your mind? I would've expected more."
[!!]
"Hey, I thought of this carefully before even considering to invite you! You heartless shrimp!"
Renjiro scowled. "What'd you call me?!"
Haruyuki barked back. "You should be grateful you get to witness a thing or two that celebrities do! Others would sure love to see me do a photoshoot."
"Then invite your crazy loyal fans!"
I really don't like this guy, Renjiro thought irritably, glaring at him.
Yet, beneath his irritation, a treacherous rhythm echoed in his chest—faster than before.
No way that ever moved me!
Renjiro stubbornly said, turning his head away from Haruyuki.