I looked up at the sky, letting the soft breeze cool my face as I pretended to sleep. The late afternoon sun broke through the leaves overhead, creating dancing patterns of light and shadow. My head rested comfortably on Yumeko's lap - a prize won fair and square from our last little game.
"Toshi, your... 'girlfriend' is here."
Girlfriend. Such a needlessly complicated word. I closed my eyes. Yumeko's fingers continued their lazy path through my hair. Her nails occasionally scraped against my scalp, sending pleasant shivers down my spine.
"He's resting," Yumeko said. "Basketball practice was so demanding this week."
I kept my breathing even, savoring the warmth of Yumeko's thighs through her uniform skirt. The fabric was soft against my cheek, carrying her scent - something floral with sharp undertones that reminded me of nightshade.
Honestly, this was the superior way to spend an afternoon. Yumeko had bet that she could beat me in Baccarat. She'd lost, so she owed me a week of lap pillows whenever I demanded.
"Nishida-kun," came Ichinose's voice. "I know you're awake."
I remained motionless. Maybe if I played dead, she would leave.
"It's important," Ichinose pressed, her voice closer now. "It's about Sudo-kun from Class D."
I mentally rolled my eyes. Of course. Another tedious crusade for the terminally altruistic. The Girl Scout of Advanced Nurturing High School never approached me for anything self-serving. It was always to save puppies or collect canned goods for the homeless or stop some moron from Class D from getting himself expelled.
A slight vibration against my thigh made me tense. My phone. Clever girl.
I cracked one eye open to see Ichinose standing over us, phone in hand, those bright blue eyes full of determination. Her strawberry-blonde hair caught the sunlight, giving her an almost angelic glow that was completely at odds with her devious tactics.
"Really?" I muttered. "You're interrupting the best nap of my academic career for Ken Sudo?"
As I started to sit up, Yumeko's hand moved from my hair to my forehead, holding me in place.
"Shiro-kun is still resting," Yumeko said, her crimson eyes locking with Ichinose's blue ones. The temperature around us seemed to drop several degrees. "Perhaps you could come back... later?"
Ichinose shifted uncomfortably, her gaze darting between us. The gentle breeze picked up, rustling through the leaves and making her hair sway. She tucked a strand behind her ear.
"I wouldn't interrupt if it wasn't urgent," she said, addressing Yumeko with polite formality. "Ryuen is involved."
At Ryuen's name, Yumeko's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly. I sighed and forced myself to sit up, breaking her hold.
"What did he do now?" I asked, stretching my arms overhead.
Ichinose's shoulders slumped with relief when I finally acknowledged her. She sat down on the grass across from us, smoothing her skirt.
"Sudo-kun had an… altercation with three of your classmates. I was hoping you had some information on what happened."
I leaned back against the tree trunk. "So? Not my problem. Not your problem either, for that matter. Why does Class B's resident saint care about a Class D delinquent?"
"Because Kushida-san asked for my help," she replied simply, as if that explained everything.
I snorted. "And naturally, you couldn't say no. Your pathological need to be everyone's hero is truly fascinating, Ichinose."
She flushed slightly but continued. "I was hoping you could talk to Ryuen. He respects you, in his way."
"Respects me?" I laughed. "He's looking for ways to destroy me."
Yumeko giggled. "That is how Ryuen shows respect, isn't it? By trying to devour what interests him." Her crimson eyes gleamed. "It's quite admirable, in a savage sort of way."
Ichinose looked between us, clearly uncomfortable with our casual discussion of Ryuen's predatory nature. She leaned forward, her expression earnest.
"Can't you just look into it because your cute girlfriend is asking you to?" She gave me her best pleading look, the one that probably melted the hearts of teachers and classmates alike.
"Mmm… what's in it for me?"
"I'll, uh... buy you lunch?" she offered weakly.
"Pass." I closed my eyes again, leaning my head back against the tree. A school lunch in exchange for dealing with Ryuen? The math didn't add up.
She moved closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Well... you still owe me for when you ki-"
My eyes snapped open. "Fine," I cut her off sharply, heart suddenly hammering against my ribs. "Fine! I'll do it."
Yumeko's eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch - the equivalent of shocked disbelief from anyone else. Her eyes darted between Ichinose and me.
"Oh my," she murmured. "What could Ichinose-san possibly know that would make our unflappable Shiro-kun so... flappable?"
I ignored her, fixing my gaze on Ichinose. "So. You want me to talk to Ryuen." I ran a hand over my face, already regretting my decision.
"Explain what you want from me."
As Ichinose launched into the full story, my mind drifted back to when this all started.
I met this girl exactly two months ago.
Right before I even stepped foot on this godforsaken campus.