—"Good morning, Endo-kun!" Matsushita greeted with a smile, dropping into her seat with the grace of someone who firmly believes the world revolves around her.
—"Good morning, Matsushita. Early today? How strange... did your alarm finally work or was it a divine miracle?"
—"Hey! I'm always early! I'm a responsible girl," she protested, puffing her cheeks like an offended hamster.
—"Sure, sure... responsible. Like that time you said, 'I wasn't late, my bed hugged me too tightly and I couldn't let go.'"
—"I never said that!" she exclaimed before smacking me on the head with her notebook. It didn't hurt as much as it humiliated me.
Just then Sato arrived, radiant as if she'd slept ten hours and had unicorn-and-rainbow-flavored breakfast.
We'd barely started talking about completely irrelevant things —as if teachers graded gossip knowledge and new juice flavors at the store— when the inevitable happened.
The person who could turn my life into a modern Greek tragedy if she wanted made her appearance.
—"Good morning, Endo-kun. And to you too, Matsushita-san, Sato-san," greeted Kushida, in her fallen-angel voice straight out of a fabric softener commercial.
—"Oh, good morning, Kushida-chan!" Matsushita and Sato replied almost in unison, like they were part of her fan club.
—"Yes... good morning, Kushida," I answered, trying to sound casual though my tone was about as natural as smiling during a tax audit.
—"Endo-kun, we'll talk later about what we agreed, alright?" she added with that sweet little face she'd use to offer you a cookie... laced with poison.
—"Sure, fine," I nodded, swallowing discreetly.
And as if nothing had happened, she went to her seat, leaving behind a trail of floral scent and passive-aggressive menace.
—"Heeeh? Since when are you and Kushida-chan so close?" Sato asked, eyebrow raised and a smile that said, this is getting interesting.
—"Yeah, yeah. What's that 'agreement'? Don't tell me it's... a date?" Matsushita added, with an expression so exaggerated it looked like she'd uncovered a school-mag scandal.
—"A date!?" Sato repeated, hands to her face. "What kind of romance novel are we living in and why wasn't I informed?! Where's my ticket to the drama?"
—"It's not a date," I replied resignedly. "It's more... a mandatory meeting with a taste of emotional blackmail."
They both looked confused, but before they could ask more I went quiet. When it comes to Kushida, sometimes it's better to say less... especially if you don't want to end up buried on a metaphorical beach wearing a smile.
...
—Kabedon!
The slam against the wall reverberated so hard even the windows seemed to shudder.
—"Kabedon...? Is that a real kabedon!? " I thought, frozen as if I'd wandered into a romantic anime, but one with dangerous subplots.
Responsible, of course, was Kushida Kikyou. Her angelic smile hid a sharp intent, like a knife wrapped in velvet.
—"I hope you've not told anyone about... that," she said quietly, her face dangerously close to mine.
—"You mean about you sitting on people's stomachs like a queen sunbathing? Don't worry, I haven't told anyone... yet—"
Before I could finish, her hand shot to my face and squeezed my cheeks like I was a mochi dumpling.
—"Endo-kun, don't play innocent. You know exactly what I'm talking about," she murmured with an artificially perfected sweetness that gave me chills.
—"Okay, okay, you can let go. And, you know, move away a little," I said, trying to keep my composure.
I mean, we were way too close. Dangerously close. Her breath felt warm against my neck, which is odd considering we're at school... and this felt less like a student conflict and more like an adult novel scene.
—"A boy asking me to move away...? How odd. Most people beg me to get closer," she said, with a smile that I couldn't tell if it was flirtatious or sadistic.
—"Well, I'm not 'most people,'" I replied, trying not to sound nervous.
—"Oh, of course not. You're special. Always surrounded by girls. Matsushita, Sato... and the others you talk to. That makes you quite the playboy, don't you think?"
—"Playboy? Me? I can barely hold a conversation without you interrupting or making baseless accusations!"
—"Ah~ but it's not just my impression, you know? There are interesting rumors. Like the one that says you, Matsushita, and Sato are in a... polyamorous relationship," she whispered that last word as if revealing some dark family secret.
—"What? Where did that nonsense come from!?"
—"Oh, you know how rumors are. They pop out of nowhere... or because someone gives them a little push," she said as she slowly walked away, index finger to her lips as if guarding a juicy secret.
I froze. Her tone had been sweet, but the threat hung there, floating like a black cloud over my reputation.
—"You wouldn't be... spreading them, would you?"
Kushida turned one last time before returning to the classroom. She smiled, that textbook smile that would fool anyone but me, and said:
—"That depends, Endo-kun. You know me. Sometimes I can't help sharing interesting things with people... especially when someone makes me feel uncomfortable. It would be a shame if that rumor became even more popular, wouldn't it?"
And with that she disappeared into the classroom, like a passing storm leaving a clear sky... and a sense of danger in the air.
—"I'm living in a psychological novel, right?" I murmured to myself, contemplating my existence and the fact that, apparently, my reputation hung on the mood of a girl who earns her school-life by playing angel.
...
—"No! I absolutely refuse," I said with conviction, crossing my arms as if that could shield me from Matsushita's madness.
—"Eh? But why?" she looked at me like a wronged victim.
—"Why? Seriously, you're asking that?!" I replied, almost bursting into incredulous laughter.
—"I don't get why you're so upset, it's just for reference," she said, like she were borrowing an eraser and not asking me to pose half-naked as a Renaissance model.
—"Reference?! Posing half-naked for you counts as 'reference'?! " I asked, voice torn between nervous laughter and real panic.
—"Obviously, duh... I want to draw the male anatomy. And since you're the only guy I talk to without wanting to rip out my ears, you're clearly my only valid choice. Should I ask Sudou? Ike? No thanks."
—"Whatever, my answer is still no," I said, trying to sound firm. Key word: trying.
—"Alright then, Endo-kun," she said with a mischievous smile, chin propped on her hand. "What do you want in exchange for modeling for me?"
That tone... that glint in her eyes... that's the Matsushita who gets what she wants!
—"Now I'm a stripper or what? Are you going to throw bills at me while I dance?" I tried to joke, though my voice sounded purely resigned.
—"Depends—do you accept tips in the form of kisses or bentos?" she tossed out as casually as saying "want more rice?" How can she be so nonchalant about that?!
—"Look, let me be very clear, Matsushita: there's no way in the world you'll convince me to do this—"
.
.
.
—"Can you move your right arm a little higher?" she asked, sharpening her pencil.
—"Sure," I answered without thinking, obeying like a trained puppy.
...How did we get to this point?
Oh right... because this girl knows exactly how to manipulate me. Too well, I'd say.
My Achilles heel... food.
Yes, this young lady, even though she hides it behind a "cool girl" image, cooks like she's possessed by the spirit of all Michelin chefs combined. I once tried her homemade croquettes and since then I don't want to look at the school cafeteria menu ever again.
The problem is she's lazy and rarely cooks.
But this time... she offered me dinner every day for two weeks in exchange for posing as her art model. Two whole weeks eating like a king! I only had to stay half-naked while she stared at me with suspiciously intense concentration. Embarrassing? Maybe. Worthy? Not really. Worth it?
Yes. Absolutely yes.
And if anyone asks... I'm a martyr for art.
Or at least I tell myself that while trying to ignore the fact she asked me to tense my abs "for better shading."
Just as Matsushita was sharpening her pencil and muttering something like "let's start the pelvic lines," the classroom door flew open.
—"Endo-kun! Why the hell are you shirtless and posing like a Greek statue?!" Sato shouted, utterly confused, drink halfway to her mouth.
—"It's art! You wouldn't understand!" Matsushita shouted like she was defending the Mona Lisa from a terrorist attack.
—"Looks like a low-budget doujin!" Sato replied, cheeks still flushed.
At that moment silence thickened. The three of us froze in a scandal-cover-worthy scene. And that's when Kushida appeared behind Sato... with her usual smile.
—"Well, well... looks like the polyamorous relationship is getting more believable, huh?"
That's when I knew I was doomed.
That was the end. Not of the drawing... but of my reputation.
And as the cherry on top, Matsushita murmured while still drawing:
—"Don't move, Endo-kun. If this comes out well... I will immortalize you as the boy who posed for curry."