The space was silent. About ten meters away stood two familiar girls, wide-eyed. As Mamoru registered their expressions, he took a step back and objectively assessed how this situation must look from the outside.
A boy, stopped on his way home, being tugged by the hem of his shirt by an older girl.
(…That's not a great look, is it?)
From a distance, it might've seemed like a flirtatious couple scene.
Of course, that was far from the truth.
If it were just a random classmate catching them, he could've calmly cleared up the misunderstanding. But this wasn't just anyone. This was Sakayanagi Arisu—and explaining things to her wouldn't be so simple.
Mamoru hadn't been spending much time with Arisu since exam season began, but they still interacted often during school hours. And she probably knew he didn't have many connections with upperclassmen.
Given Arisu's insight, a poorly crafted excuse would likely be seen through immediately.
While he was still deciding how to handle it, Arisu picked up her cane—retrieved by Kamuro—and approached.
"Heading home already, Mamoru-kun?"
Her voice was light, her smile familiar.
But Mamoru noticed something was... off. Subtle, but present.
"Yeah. I've got some errands to take care of."
Getting flustered would only make things worse, so Mamoru forced himself to stay calm despite the discomfort creeping in.
"What kind of errands? Does it have something to do with her?"
Her tone had a quiet edge. Not outright hostility, but certainly interrogative.
(...So she's annoyed.)
Her polite exterior didn't fool him—she was irritated. Normally, Arisu would find a situation like this amusing and tease him with a knowing smile. But today, something was different.
(Oh, i get it… she's upset someone took her toy.)
Mamoru didn't believe Arisu felt jealousy in the conventional sense, but if you framed it as possessiveness, then maybe it fit.
Trying to defuse the tension, he opened his mouth.
"Well, actually—"
"I was the one who called him."
Fuka voice cut cleanly through his sentence.
Turning, Mamoru caught her calm, confident smile. One that seemed to say, "Leave it to me."
(Yeah... I'm getting nervous.)
She wasn't dumb enough to mention anything about jujutsu, but her tendency to enjoy chaos made Mamoru uneasy in a different way.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Kiryuuin Fuuka, Class 2-B. And you two are Sakayanagi and Kamuro from Class 1-A, right?"
She knew their names. Not surprising—she'd probably picked them up when she looked into Mamoru.
Even as Kaede stepped in, Arisu maintained her smile, but there was a subtle shift in her gaze—analytical now.
"Oh, you're a senpai. I'm sorry, but may I ask how you know about us?"
"Well, word about the first-year classes has spread among the upperclassmen. I got curious and did a little digging. You two stood out—key players in your class."
So far, so good. That laid the groundwork for Kaede and Mamoru's connection—no contradictions yet.
"I see. And I assume you met Mamoru-kun through that 'research'?"
"Exactly. Though it may have looked like something else earlier, that was a misunderstanding."
Mamoru internally sighed in relief. It sounded like she was going to clear things up.
But it was too early to relax.
"I confessed to him. But he turned me down."
(What the hell are you saying!?)
Mamoru didn't let it show—he kept his expression composed. But inside, he was silently screaming. Even Arisu's smile twitched slightly.
"A… confession?"
Arisu looked genuinely taken aback—an unusual sight.
Kaede continued, unbothered and poised.
"As you may have guessed, I became interested in him while researching Class 1-A. It was the first time I'd ever felt that way about someone, and I was caught off guard. I acted on impulse and wrote him a letter, asking him to meet me… where I confessed."
(That was not a love letter. That was borderline blackmail.)
Still, technically not a lie. Just… creative framing.
But Arisu wasn't going to accept that so easily.
"I see. But… if you were rejected, why are you still close now?"
"Because I was persistent. He said he wasn't interested in dating anyone right now, but eventually agreed to treat me as a friend."
A little forced, but not implausible.
Mamoru kept his mouth shut, knowing that any interruption would only make things worse.
"…Is what she said true, Mamoru-kun?"
Apparently unconvinced, Arisu turned to him directly. Mamoru gave a neutral nod.
"Yeah. More or less."
At the very least, being labeled as 'just friends' helped him avoid messier rumors. Meeting Kaede on school grounds wouldn't seem strange anymore.
"I see. So, you're not dating."
"That's right."
"Then what was that scene earlier? Kiryuuin-senpai said she called you, but it looked more like you were trying to leave—and she stopped you."
Mamoru glanced at Kaede again, silently begging her not to stir the pot.
Kaede just grinned and replied lightly.
"My, such an imagination. Do you really think we were doing something indecent in the school after hours?"
She said it with complete composure, tone teasing.
Arisu responded with a smile just as polite.
"Not at all. I know you're not that kind of person. Still, as a friend, I worry. He might've been forced into something."
"Well, there's no need for concern. I invited him out, and he agreed. He even waited until I finished my errands."
"Is that so? From where I stood, it looked like you were stopping him from escaping."
"Did it seem that way? I heard guys like it when girls act like this, so I figured I'd give it a try.
What do you think, Mamoru—did you not like it?"
(Are you seriously throwing me under the bus right now?!)
It was a killer pass—completely out of left field. When Mamoru glanced at Fuka face, she was smiling, the corners of her mouth curled in obvious amusement.
Just from that look, he knew.
(She's clearly enjoying this.)
Their back-and-forth felt more like provocation than actual conversation.
Mamoru could understand Arisu's reaction. She was sharp, proud, and not the type to overlook anything suspicious. Her probing questions came from a place of curiosity and control, not jealousy.
But Fuka? She wasn't helping at all.
(I want to punch her...)
The situation called for tact and subtlety. Instead, she was actively stirring the pot—almost like she wanted things to spiral into chaos just for the fun of it.
Mamoru's earlier unease was completely justified. Leaving this to Fuka had been a mistake.
And unfortunately for him, the chaos wasn't over yet.
"I see, like romcom harem protag… In that case, I'm curious too. Mamoru-kun, do you actually like this kind of thing?"
With that, Arisu stepped closer, lightly tugging on the hem of his shirt and looking up at him with a sidelong glance.
(You're getting in on it too?!)
She'd been skeptical just moments ago, but now that the conversation had turned entertaining, she shifted gears without hesitation.
(These two… they're weirdly in sync.)
Mamoru had expected friction between them. He'd assumed their personalities would clash. But instead, they were vibing in a completely different—and equally troubling—way.
Not wanting to get pulled any further into their pace, Mamoru spoke up.
"Ah, yeah. Super cute, both of you. So could you let me go now?"
If he tried to deny or dodge, they'd only tease him harder. By responding casually, he hoped to signal that messing with him wouldn't be fun anymore.
"Hmph. I wish you said it with more heart," Fuka pouted.
"Exactly. If you're going to compliment someone, be sincere about it, Mamoru," Arisu chimed in.
(Why are they suddenly bonding over criticizing me?)
They were getting along disturbingly well for two people who had just been at each other's throats. For a moment, Mamoru seriously considered just walking away and leaving them to their weird chemistry.
But he knew Fuka would probably spin some wild tale in his absence, so he stayed put.
Then, the sound of approaching footsteps and lively voices echoed from the stairwell.
"Not the best place to hang out and talk," Fuka said, brushing her hair back.
"Why don't we all go to karaoke instead?"
"Sure," Arisu agreed smoothly.
"I was hoping to talk a bit more anyway."
Their exchange was all smiles on the surface, but Mamoru could feel the quiet intensity underneath. Watching this unfold, Kamuro—who had been quietly observing from the sidelines—finally broke his silence.
"I'll pass. If Gojo's going, he doesn't need me tagging along."
Kamuro stepped forward to hand Arisu her bag, clearly trying to excuse herself from what was shaping up to be a mess.
Even though it was her first time meeting Kaede, Kamuro had known Arisu long enough to sense that Kaede was… problematic.
Her body language screamed, "Please let me go home in peace."
"That's not very respectful, Masumi.
It's rude to turn down an invitation from your upperclassman, you know?"
Arisu released Mamoru's shirt and grabbed Kamuro's instead. Her tone remained sweet, but the firm grip on Kamuro's sleeve made it clear she wasn't letting go.
And considering how delicate Arisu looked, there was no way Kamuro could forcibly shake her off.
(Help me.)
Kamuro's eyes pleaded silently, but Mamoru just shook his head with a solemn expression.
(Sorry. You're on your own.)
Mamoru even clasped his hands together in mock-prayer, sealing Kamuro's fate. Kamuro scowled at him in betrayal but gave up with a sigh.
And so, the four of them headed off to karaoke, changed their shoes, and left the building.
"Speaking of karaoke—Mamoru-kun, how about that duet you and Masumi-san promised?" Arisu teased.
"Huh? What duet?"
Mamoru searched his memory, but Kamuro immediately spoke up, clearly irritated.
"I never promised anything. And besides, wasn't it your turn to pay for everything, Arisu-san?"
Being made to sing a duet of Arisu's choosing, with her paying, sounded like a trap. Mamoru wanted no part of it.
That's when Fuka jumped in.
"Oh, that? I'll treat this time. So Mamoru, sing with me instead."
Given her supposed feelings for Mamoru, that kind of invitation made sense… on paper. But Mamoru knew Fuka well enough to suspect she was just amused by the situation.
He paused to consider the right response. Accept or decline?
No matter what he said, his words would be twisted.
So instead, he just gave an honest, neutral reply.
"I don't mind singing, just don't pick anything too weird. I'm not really up to date on popular songs."
Mamoru didn't mind singing with someone. In fact, singing solo in this particular group would probably be more awkward.
"Oh, so you can be honest, Mamoru-kun.
How about singing with me too, then?"
"With you, Arisu-san?"
"Yes. It's my first time doing karaoke.
I'd feel a little awkward singing alone."
She gave him a surprisingly earnest look, tinged with playful mischief.
Mamoru was more surprised she was serious about singing than by the invitation itself.
Of everyone here, none of them—himself included—seemed like the type who'd enjoy karaoke just for fun.
Something about this felt off. But since he'd already agreed to Kaede's invite, turning Arisu down felt wrong.
After a moment's thought, Mamoru nodded.
"Alright, sure."
"Hehe, I'm looking forward to it. What about you, Masumi? Want to join us too?"
"Nah, I'm good. Too much trouble. You three go have fun without me."
Honestly, Mamoru understood. Karaoke with this group would be… anything but relaxing.
He imagined Kamuro sitting alone, awkwardly holding a mic in silence. It was a depressing image.
(Come to think of it, karaoke really doesn't suit this group.)
Still, Arisu wasn't about to let Kamuro off the hook that easily.
"No, Masumi-san. I heard proper karaoke etiquette is for everyone to sing one song each."
"Who the hell told you that nonsense?"
Kamuro shot Mamoru a reproachful look.
Considering Arisu's circle of friends, it wasn't strange for someone to suspect him—but this time, it was a false accusation. Mamoru quickly denied it, waving his hands in front of him in protest.
"We can't just leave Masumi out and go have fun. It's rare for all of us to be free, so let's make the most of it together."
Though Arisu's words seemed considerate, to Mamoru, the whole situation oddly reminded him of a boss forcing an employee to perform some party trick.
Kamuro hesitated, clearly reluctant, but she couldn't bring herself to oppose Arisu directly. As Mamoru observed the exchange, knowing Kamuro would likely give in, a quiet voice whispered in his ear.
It was Fuka, who had sidled up beside him unnoticed.
"Mamoru, once we get to the karaoke place, leave the room for about ten minutes."
It was likely she'd taken advantage of Arisu's attention being focused on Kamuro. The serious tone in her voice, so different from her usual playful self, made Mamoru pause. But after a moment's thought, he nodded silently. He'd trust her—for now.
After some time, the four of them arrived at the karaoke bar.
After checking in and settling into the room, Mamoru remembered Kaede's instructions.
"I'm gonna wash my hands. Can you guys just order whatever?" he said casually, placing his bag down.
"Don't worry about it. This is just going to be girl talk anyway—so take your time."
Fuka smiled at him, her tone light. Mamoru raised an eyebrow slightly. What kind of "girl talk" is this? But judging from her earlier seriousness, it didn't feel like she was joking around. With a quiet sigh, he left the room.
◆◇◆
"So, is there something you'd like to ask?"
Fuka voice was light, but Arisu could sense it—an unfamiliar tension in the air.
"I see you've been… quite considerate."
"And what exactly are you referring to?"
Kaede played dumb, as always. Kamuro looked puzzled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, but Arisu already had her suspicions. She was almost certain Mamoru's timely exit had been planned.
"I waited until Mamoru-kun left the room before bringing this up. I trust that means we can speak a bit more directly now?"
"That depends on your question. Though I wonder—was that drawn-out intro really necessary?"
"Then I'll get straight to it." Arisu's eyes narrowed slightly. "The confession you made to Mamoru—that was a lie, wasn't it?"
Her tone was calm, but resolute.
Fuka chuckled softly, amused more than offended.
"You don't hold back, do you? Accusing someone's confession of being a lie—that's pretty bold. Even I might get hurt by that."
"You don't look hurt. In fact, your attitude toward Mamoru-kun doesn't feel like someone in love. Even when I was getting close to him, you didn't show a hint of jealousy."
Her bubbly demeanor at school. The casual way she invited them out. Arisu had done all of it intentionally—to test Kaede's reaction.
"Love comes in all forms, Arisu-san. If that's what he wants from me, I wouldn't mind going along with it."
"So you're not denying it. Meaning you didn't confess first—like you claimed."
Fuka smiled. It wasn't a slip. She knew Arisu had caught on and didn't see the point in lying any further.
"I'll admit she's interested in him. But if Mamoru didn't deny the confession, then maybe there's something the two of them are hiding. Some secret. Isn't that the real issue here?"
"Speculation, not deduction." Arisu crossed her arms. "Still, digging through someone else's secrets like this… is that your hobby?"
"I'd call it natural curiosity about one's friends."
"Is it really 'friendly' to pry into what someone doesn't want to share?"
"Then why are you, who only met him recently, diving headfirst into that territory?"
That made Arisu pause for a moment. She wasn't just curious about the secret—what unsettled her more was the distance between them.
Mamoru kept his walls high and hard to see. Even Arisu, who prided herself on reading others, had never been able to scale them.
But with Fuka, it felt… different.
("How did she get in?")
During one of their school conversations, Mamoru must have assumed Arisu and the others couldn't hear him. But Arisu had caught fragments.
And from what she observed, the wall Mamoru kept between himself and others didn't seem to exist between him and Fuka.
A woman he'd only known for a short while had achieved something Arisu hadn't, despite spending over a month with him.
When she thought back to that memory—the one where her cane had suddenly slipped from her hand and clattered at her feet—a strange, uncomfortable feeling twisted in her chest.
Even now, she didn't fully understand what that emotion was.
Still, she smiled and said:
"Just so we're clear, I don't plan to force Mamoru-kun's secrets out of you."
Even if she did hear them, it wouldn't be satisfying.
More importantly, Arisu had the odd sense that she didn't want to learn them from Fuka.
"Then what do you want to know?" Fuka asked.
Arisu hesitated briefly, choosing her words carefully.
"What did you see in Mamoru-kun?"
Fuka blinked once, then smiled again—but this time, her gaze grew sharp.
"That's an insightful question. It almost sounds like you're implying there's something… abnormal about him."
"Let me ask it in reverse—do you think Mamoru-kun is normal?"
"Ah, that's true. I don't have enough free time to waste on an ordinary guy. But before I answer that, let me ask you something in return. What do you all think of this guy, Gojo Mamoru? Hey—Kamuro Masumi."
"Eh? Me?"
Caught off guard, Kamuro looked bewildered. Up until now, she'd been completely out of the loop, and suddenly the spotlight was on her.
"It's just for reference. Before I ask Sakayanagi, I want to hear from another classmate."
Kaedeka's tone was light, but Arisu quickly grasped her intention.
By having Kamuro speak first, she was naturally steering the conversation toward Arisu's own response—softening her resistance.
"W-Well… he seems like a good student. Honest, polite..."
Speaking respectfully to her upperclassman, Kamuro gave the safest answer she could manage.
"Makes sense. And you, Sakayanagi? What's your impression?"
Kaedeka's question came as if it were the next logical step, effortlessly shifting the focus to Arisu.
Slightly annoyed at being played, Arisu nonetheless gave her answer, deciding it wasn't worth dragging things out.
"...A child who only sees ideals, perhaps?"
"A child? Him?"
Kamuro blinked in confusion, the image not aligning with her own impression of Mamoru. Meanwhile, Kaedeka's smile deepened, clearly intrigued.
"If I had to put it into words… I don't think I have the right ones."
"And yet you just did. Why that impression?"
"I've answered your question. Isn't it your turn now?"
"Relax. It's not like we made a deal to take turns. But alright, I'll share—on one condition: I want you to understand what I tell you, not just hear it. Then tell me what you think."
"...Fine."
Arisu leaned back slightly, sorting through her thoughts and emotions as she recalled her impression of Mamoru.
"Once, I saw a boy who grew up without knowing parental love."
Her voice quieted, colored with memory. A boy, behind glass, in a white room her father once showed her.
"Mamoru's eyes remind me of his… but they're not the same."
That boy was a product of neglect. But Mamoru—Mamoru had clearly been raised with care. And that, paradoxically, made his demeanor feel even more unnatural.
"He doesn't expect anything from others."
A statement that hung in the air, heavy.
"Most people, when they help someone, expect something in return—whether it's gratitude, happiness, or even just the satisfaction of doing good. But Mamoru-kun doesn't seem to expect anything at all..."
Arisu knew the pattern well—having been helped and praised her whole life because of her disability. But she had also learned to see what others wanted behind their smiles.
"But with Mamoru… when he reaches out, there's no desire there. No ulterior motive. No reward sought. It's like he's doing what he believes is right—nothing more, nothing less"
She recalled the moment during the entrance ceremony, when Mamoru had said she'd never seen a true genius.
His eyes back then—
A whirl of emotions: admiration, awe, trust, envy, grief, resignation... all tangled together. And yet… not a single trace of expectation.
(That's when I realized… I was jealous.)
Once the thought came, it settled into place. The tension she'd felt toward Fuka earlier—it wasn't suspicion. It was envy.
"I think Mamoru-kun doesn't see people as they are—only the ideal versions he believes they should be.
Helping others is just a part of becoming the person he believes he should be. It's not about feeling. It's about belief."
She gave a small sigh, then added:
"...He's just a child. A child who blindly follows what he thinks is right. But a person like that—someone who lives only by duty—will eventually break. I just want to show him how to have fun."
Arisu Sakayanagi wasn't driven by control or power. What she hated most was boredom. Her actions, though often labeled manipulative, were driven by the need for challenge—for stimulation.
And Mamoru… was a puzzle unlike any other.
"I've said my piece. Your turn."
Her voice had lost its edge, now calm and even. Kaedeka smiled, a flicker of genuine amusement in her eyes.
"Hm. I'm honestly surprised. Your view of Mamoru is almost exactly the same as mine."
"'Almost'? So there's a difference?"
"Yeah. You say Mamoru's a child. But I see him as someone who was never allowed to be a child. Somewhere along the way, he left that part of himself behind."
Arisu nodded slowly. That perspective… didn't contradict her own.
"But that's still vague. What made you interested in him?"
"Sorry, but I can't say. I never promised Mamoru anything, but… there are too many complications. Even if I drop out of school tomorrow, I still wouldn't tell."
Arisu frowned at the evasive answer. After all she had shared, it felt one-sided. Fuka, sensing this, tilted her head slightly in thought—then offered something.
"But it was a meaningful conversation, so I'll give you a bit of advice in return."
"Advice?"
"Yeah. If this were just a regular high school friendship, I wouldn't say anything. But in your case… I think a warning is warranted."
Fuka expression hardened.
"If you're going to help him half-heartedly, then don't. You'll only regret it. It's better to stay away from him."
Her voice was firm. Serious. It made Arisu pause.
"That's… a bold thing to say. And I suppose you won't tell me why?"
"Let's just say this: you mentioned Mamoru believes in what's right. But 'right' isn't always the same as 'good.' If you want to walk beside him… be ready to walk through hell."
Her words were sincere. And they shook Arisu—partly because they revealed a Mamoru she didn't yet know.
"Hell, huh? Feels exaggerating... Are you ready for that?"
"Well, I don't even know what kind of hell it'll be."
"...Excuse me, what?" Kamuro blurted out, bewildered by the casual tone.
"But I figure… if Mamoru's there, challenging Enma himself, then it might not be so bad."
Fuka smiled again—relaxed, amused. Arisu returned it with a small one of her own.
"Thank you for the warning. But you seem to have misunderstood something, Kiryuuin-senpai."
"Misunderstood?"
"I'm not planning to go to hell with Mamoru. I just want to show him that what he sees isn't everything. I don't want him to fall for me—I want him to rise to where I am."
Fuka blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
"Hmph… like an angel guiding him to heaven?"
"Don't you think it suits me?"
Next to her, Kamuro gave a subtle nod. Arisu chose to ignore it and focused back on Kaedeka.
"Well, do as you like. Personally? I kind of like you, Sakayanagi."
"Fufu, I'll take that as a compliment."
Half joking, half sincere—they exchanged smiles. Two brilliant, sharp girls who had just danced around each other's hearts and minds.
From the outside, it looked like a pleasant chat between two beautiful friends.
But to those who knew better… it was more like two demons in angelic disguise.
"...How is she an angel," Kamuro muttered under her breath.