Part 7 — The Fake Love Strategy and the Sibling Zone
(POV: Renji)
Disgusting. Everything is disgusting.
Behind the quiet school building, Himeno Karen stared at the pile of colorful envelopes in her hands as if they were radioactive waste.
"What else is there?" I asked, leaning against the wall, drinking canned coffee. I had been his "assistant" for several weeks now, and I was starting to get used to his mood swings.
"Five," Himeno whispered. "Five men confessed their love to me today alone. Before lunch!"
She crumpled the letters with her delicate hands.
"They say, 'I love you, Himeno-san.' Nonsense! They don't even know my favorite color. They just like my face, my father's status, or my legs. Love is the most hypocritical and inefficient concept ever created by humans."
I raised my eyebrows. "You... anti-romance?"
"Very much so," he replied sharply. "Love makes people stupid. It makes their judgment biased. I don't need that. I need peace of mind to focus on my grades and my future."
Suddenly, he stopped crumpling the letter. He slowly turned toward me. His blue eyes sparkled, as if he had just found the solution to a complicated mathematical equation.
Something bad is going to happen. My instincts are screaming.
"Itsuki," she called out in a dangerously sweet tone. "I have a brilliant idea to stop these pests from coming near me."
"I don't want to hear it," I quickly refused.
"You're going to be my boyfriend."
I spit out my coffee. "Ahem! Huh?!"
Himeno walked closer, cornering me against the wall. "Fake boyfriend, you idiot. If people knew that 'Himeno Karen' already belonged to someone, they would stop sending these junk letters. My image is safe because you're obedient, and I can live peacefully."
"No way! I refuse!" I said firmly. "That's the worst idea ever! If Aina finds out, she'll—"
"Why do you care so much about Aina?" Himeno interrupted, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Do you like her? As a woman?"
I paused for a moment. Like Aina?
Aina who drools while sleeping? Aina who always asks to be fed? Aina who cries when watching sad cartoons?
"No," I answered honestly. "We grew up together since we were babies. She... she's like my own sister. Family. There are no romantic feelings."
Himeno's smile widened. A smile of victory.
"Good. If she's just his 'little sister', then it's okay for her 'big brother' to have a girlfriend, right? A good little sister should support her big brother."
"But—"
Himeno took out her cell phone and tapped its black screen with her fingernail.
Itsuki Renji. Choose. Be my fake boyfriend and all your secrets will be safe... Or tomorrow morning the whole school will know the color of my underwear, and you'll be known as the pervert who peeked in the storage room and get expelled from school?
My blood ran cold. He really was a devil. He used that 'Ace Card' again. I had no chance. I needed this school.
I clenched my fists and stared at him in frustration.
"There's one condition," I said in a deep voice. "Don't tell anyone this is a pretense. Including Aina and Yuuki."
"Agreed. And one more thing," Himeno pointed at my chest. "Starting today, you're not allowed to go home from school with Aina. Boyfriends should go home with their girlfriends. You have to take me home every day."
"Are you kidding? Our houses are in opposite directions!"
That's not my problem.
I bowed my head and sighed deeply. I'm sorry, Aina.
-
The bell rang. As usual, my class became noisy.
I was putting the book into my bag slowly, trying to delay the moment. But fate had other plans.
Renji! Let's go home!
Aina's cheerful voice could be heard from the classroom door. She entered with a big smile, ignoring the stares of my classmates. She immediately approached me and, as if by reflex, hugged my left arm.
"There's a sale at the supermarket near the station today, let's buy some ice cream!" he said, his eyes sparkling.
The warmth of her body in my arms made my guilt even more piercing.
Suddenly, the room temperature dropped dramatically.
"Let him go."
The voice was calm, but it had absolute authority. Aina turned her head in surprise.
Himeno Karen stood beside our table, her expensive leather bag slung over her shoulder. She stared at Aina's hand wrapped around my arm with a cold gaze.
"Himeno-san?" Aina was confused. "Why?"
"Because Itsuki-kun is going home with me," Himeno said, then turned to look at me. "Right, Renji?"
He called my first name without an honorific. The whole class fell silent. All eyes were on us.
I felt Aina's grip on my arm tighten. She looked at me, begging for an explanation.
I didn't dare look Aina in the eye. I stared at the floor.
"I'm sorry, Aina," my voice was hoarse. "I... I have to go home with Himeno."
"But..." Aina's voice trembled. Her logic kicked in. "But Himeno-san's house is in the elite neighborhood in the West, and our house is in the East. That's in the opposite direction, Renji! Why would you go home with her? That doesn't make sense!"
"There's... something we need to talk about. I'm sorry."
Slowly, I pulled my arm out of Aina's embrace. It felt like letting go of a life preserver while drowning.
"Come on, Renji," Himeno commanded.
He turned and walked out of the classroom. I followed him like a buffalo with a ring through its nose, leaving Aina frozen in the middle of the classroom, surrounded by the whispers of her classmates.
(Point of view: Yuuki)
I sat at my desk, twirling my pen casually, observing the cheap drama that had just unfolded before my eyes.
The class, which had been quiet, now exploded with gossip. "Hey, Himeno called him Renji?" "Did they go home together?" "Poor Aina-chan..."
I glanced at Aina. She was still standing there, staring at the empty classroom door with a face that was... well, sad. She wasn't crying, but she looked like a puppy that had been abandoned by its owner on the side of the highway.
And Renji... ah, that stupid genius.
I sighed, sipping the last of my bottled tea.
"He said Aina is his sister? Ugh. Men are so insensitive," I thought to myself.
Anyone with eyes—except Renji—could see that Aina loved him more than just as a brother. And now, she was letting herself be dragged away by that 'Ice Queen'.
Renji may be good at math and physics, but when it comes to feelings, he scores zero.
He thought he was protecting Aina by obeying Himeno's wishes? It was his indecisiveness that hurt the most.
"Interesting," I muttered softly, the corners of my lips lifting slightly.
I stood up and approached Aina, who was still daydreaming. The drama was getting more exciting, but it seemed like I had to intervene a little so that the female lead wouldn't be completely destroyed.
"Aina-chan," I called out. "Would you like to go home with me? I'm heading east anyway."
Aina turned slowly, her eyes blank. "Yuuki-kun... why did Renji..."
"I don't know. Men are a strange species," I replied casually. "Come on, don't stand here. You're blocking the way for the people on duty."
Renji, you idiot. You just lit a dangerous fire. Let's see how long you can survive between these two girls before you explode.
Part 8 — Neglected Anger and Motherly Advice
(POV: Renji)
The train car that afternoon wasn't too crowded, but the air around me felt stifling.
I sat next to Himeno. She sat gracefully, legs crossed, reading an e-book on her phone as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn't just broken someone's heart at school earlier.
My anger is boiling. I can't take it anymore.
"You're out of line," I whispered softly, holding back my voice so the other passengers wouldn't hear.
Himeno didn't turn around. "What is it?"
"Aina. You saw her face earlier, right? She was sad. She was confused. You don't have to be so cold in front of your classmates. You're making me look like a jerk who abandoned his childhood friend for a popular girl."
Himeno finally turned her head. She closed her phone screen, then looked at me with a bored expression.
"Why? That's good," he replied casually. "The more you look like my obedient 'property', the more people will believe we're dating. A little drama is necessary to convince the audience."
"This isn't about drama! It's about Aina's feelings!" I snapped. "She's sensitive. She must think she did something wrong to me."
"You're so noisy, Renji."
Suddenly, Himeno shifted her seat. She moved closer to me. Our shoulders touched. The scent of her expensive vanilla perfume assaulted my sense of smell. Without warning, she rested her head on my shoulder.
My body went stiff. "What are you doing?"
"Be quiet. The person in front of us is watching. Be a good boyfriend and let me lean on you," she whispered, then closed her eyes. "Besides, I don't care if he's sad or not. All I know is that you're here with me now. That's the main point."
Those words... were so selfish. But the tone of his voice sounded strange. It wasn't just an order, but more like... satisfaction?
I clenched my hands on my knees. I couldn't fight it now. But I swore to myself.
Just wait. Once I drop this spoiled princess off at her palace gate, I'll run home. I'll go straight to Aina's house. I'll invite her over for dinner, or just to play games. I have to fix this. I won't let Aina go to sleep feeling sad.
(POV: Aina)
The way home felt twice as long as usual. The purplish-orange sky somehow looked gloomy to my eyes.
I'm tired...
This is my hundredth breath.
Next to me, Yuuki walked casually with his hands in his pockets. He was the only reason I wasn't crying on the street right now.
"Heartbroken, huh?" Yuuki asked suddenly. Straight to the point.
I gasped, then looked down at my shoes. "It hurts... and I'm confused. Why did Renji change? Why did he choose Himeno-san? He used to say he hated complicated rich girls."
"People change, Aina-chan," Yuuki replied. He stopped walking, forcing me to stop too. He looked at me seriously. "The problem isn't that Renji has changed. The problem is you."
"Me?"
"You're too soft," Yuuki said sharply. "You're always there for him. You always forgive him. You're always available. To Renji, you're like... air. Important, but his presence goes unnoticed because it's always there."
Those words pierced my heart.
"If you want him to see you..." Yuuki leaned her face closer, her eyes staring intently into mine. "You have to be firm. You have to stop being his 'little sister' or 'childhood friend'. You have to be a woman."
My face was burning up.
"Yuuki-kun... what are you talking about..."
"Don't play dumb," Yuuki interrupted. A mischievous smile appeared on his lips. "You like him, don't you? Not as a friend. Not as a brother. But as a man."
My heart was pounding. I wanted to deny it. I wanted to say, "No, we're just friends." But in front of Yuuki's gaze, which seemed to be able to read my mind, it felt pointless to lie.
I gripped the straps of my bag tightly. My face must have been bright red by now.
"Yes..." I whispered softly, almost inaudibly.
"What? I can't hear you~" Yuuki teased.
"Yes! I like him!" I exclaimed a little louder, then covered my face with both hands in embarrassment. "I... I love Renji. I want him to only have eyes for me. I'm jealous seeing him with Himeno-san."
Yuuki laughed heartily. She patted my head gently.
"Well, that's right. Honesty is the first step. Now go home and plan your strategy. Don't let the Ice Princess win so easily."
When I got home, my defenses crumbled again.
Thank you very much...
"Welcome back, Aina. Renji, you're here—"
Before Mom could finish her sentence, I was already running and hugging her waist tightly. I buried my face in her apron, which smelled of fried onions.
My body felt weak. It felt like all my energy had been drained by today's events.
"What? What? Aina? Why, dear?" Mom panicked, her hand still holding the spatula as she stroked my head.
"Renji..." My voice was muffled in my mother's stomach. "Renji doesn't want to come home with me anymore... He went home with Himeno-san... He left me, Mom..."
Mom paused for a moment, then sighed deeply with understanding. She put her spoon down on the table, then hugged me back warmly. Mom's embrace was always the safest place in the world.
"Oh dear, boys can be so stupid sometimes," Mom muttered softly. "They can't tell the difference between diamonds and pebbles."
"I'm a pebble..." I sobbed.
"Hush! Don't be silly!" Mom pinched my cheek gently. "Listen to me, Aina. I've known Renji since he was a baby who could only pee. I know the look in his eyes."
Mom lifted my face, wiping away the remaining tears from the corners of my eyes with her thumb.
"Renji loves you very much. More than anyone else. Maybe right now he's lost or confused, or there's something he's hiding. But believe me, his home is here. Near you."
"Is that true?"
"Of course. Who always finishes your leftover carrots? Who willingly braves the rain to buy you medicine when you have a fever? That's not just a friend, kid."
Mom's words were like cold ointment on a burn. The pain subsided. My faith, which had been shaken, slowly began to rebuild.
Renji loves me. Renji is just... stupid. Yes, Renji is stupid when it comes to feelings.
"Come on, don't frown. You'll lose your beauty, and Renji will run away," teased Mother. "Go take a warm bath. I'll make your favorite food. When you smell good and feel refreshed, your mind will be clear again."
I nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
I walked toward the bathroom with a slightly lighter step. Yuuki said I had to be firm. Mom said Renji loved me.
All right.
I'll take a shower, freshen up, and wait. If Renji doesn't come to me, I'll drag him back myself.
--
Part 9 — Memories of Ramen and a Broken Kiss
(POV: Renji)
"Come in for a moment, Renji. The maid just made macaroons. We can eat them while discussing tomorrow's schedule."
Himeno stood behind her iron gate, staring at me with an unreadable expression.
I clutched my stomach, putting on the most pained expression I could muster. "Ouch... I'm sorry, Himeno. My stomach suddenly hurts so much. I think I ate something bad. I have to go home to the bathroom right away."
Himeno raised one eyebrow. She knew I was lying. She knew I just wanted to run away. But strangely, she didn't stop me.
"Go," he said briefly, the corners of his lips lifting into a mysterious smile. "Don't die on the road."
Without hesitation, I turned and ran. Not slowly, but at full speed. Not because I was afraid of Himeno, but because there was something I had to do.
I ran through a shortcut, jumped over the garden fence, ignoring my uniform that was getting wet with sweat.
When I arrived in front of Aina's house, I was out of breath. Without knocking, I shouted.
"Aina!"
The door opened almost immediately. Aina was standing there. She had already taken a shower and was wearing a pastel yellow house dress, her hair fragrant with shampoo. She looked at me in surprise, her eyes widening at my disheveled state.
"Renji? Why are you running around?"
"Aina," I took a deep breath. "Let's go eat ramen. Now. At Uncle Goro's shop."
Aina's mouth fell open. "Huh? But... dinner at home..."
She looked back. Her mother appeared in the hallway, smiling meaningfully and winking. "Go ahead, Aina. We can heat up some food at home tomorrow. Renji ran all this way to see you, you know."
Getting the green light, Aina's face immediately lit up like the rising sun.
RENJII!
He jumped off the terrace and tackled me with a big hug.
"Let's go! Let's go! I love you, Renji! I love you so much!" she exclaimed happily.
"Hey! Get off!" I panicked, trying to gently push his shoulder away. "I smell like sweat! It's sticky! Don't stick to me!"
"Whatever! Renji smells good!"
"How strange!"
I finally managed to get rid of him. "Wait a minute, I have to change my clothes at home and tell Auntie. You wait here."
I went into the house next door. Aunt Saeko was sitting on the sofa wearing a face mask.
"Aunt Saeko! I'm not cooking tonight!" I shouted as I ran to my room, grabbing a T-shirt and jeans. "I want to eat ramen with Aina. I'll bring you a takeout box later!"
When I came out of the room, Aunt Saeko was standing with her hands on her hips, her face mask cracked because she was grinning widely.
"Hoo... dinner for two? Outside? At night?" he teased, his tone rising and falling. "That's called a date, Renji-kun~"
My face flushed. "It's not a date! Just dinner!"
"Yes, yes, just eat. Be careful not to come home too late, or you'll make a mistake," Aunt Saeko laughed loudly.
I left the house with a bright red face. Aina, who was waiting outside, had also heard Aunt Saeko's scream. Her face was as red as mine.
"It's not a date," Aina muttered, playing with the hem of her shirt.
"Yes, Aunt Saeko is noisy. Let's go," I said, trying to act cool even though my heart was beating strangely.
(POV: Aina)
Uncle Goro's ramen shop was always warm and noisy, the perfect place to forget your troubles. Steam from the broth rose between us. Renji was blowing on his noodles intently.
Seeing it like this, my heart feels full. The sadness I felt this afternoon just evaporated.
"Hey, Renji," I called out while stirring my ramen.
"What?"
Do you remember when we were in third grade? When I got chickenpox and couldn't leave the house for a week?
Renji stopped eating. He stared at me from behind the steam. "Remember. Why?"
"Back then, you came to my window every day. You brought your comics and read them aloud from outside the window so I wouldn't get bored. Even though your mother—Aunt Mayumi at the time—forbade you from coming near me because she was afraid of catching something."
Renji looked away, his cheeks slightly flushed. "That's... that's because you keep crying loudly. I can't concentrate on playing games when the neighbor next door is crying."
"Liar," I giggled. "Then in junior high. When we went to the waterpark. I got lost chasing an ice cream vendor."
Renji snorted. "Ah, that stupid incident."
"You searched for me at the information desk, at the wave pool, at the parking lot. When you found me at the security guard post, you were soaked with sweat and pool water, out of breath, and you scolded the security guard for kidnapping me."
"The security guard was suspicious," Renji quickly defended himself. "And you're so stupid you got lost in such a small place."
"But you found me," I said softly, staring intently into his eyes. "You always find me, Renji. No matter how far I stray, you always come."
Renji fell silent. He couldn't return my gaze. He put a piece of narutomaki in his mouth to hide his embarrassment.
"Eat quickly. The noodles will get soggy," she muttered.
Such a tsundere. But I know, her red ears are proof that she also cherishes that memory.
---
After finishing our meal, we didn't go home right away. We sat for a while on a park bench near the housing complex. The night breeze was cool. The street lights flickered faintly.
Renji sat patting his full stomach. I sat next to him, only ten centimeters away.
Silence. But not an awkward silence.
Suddenly, Yuuki's voice echoed in my head. "You have to be firm. You have to stop being the 'little sister'. You have to be a woman."
I swallowed hard. My heart began to race again. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Now is the time, Aina. Renji is already here. The atmosphere is right. Himeno isn't here. There's no school. It's just the two of us.
I have to be brave. I have to show him that I'm not just a little sister who needs to be looked after.
Rings
"Hm?" Renji turned his head.
I stood up, then moved to stand right in front of him. Renji looked up at me, confused.
"What's wrong? Is there a stain on my face?" she asked innocently.
I didn't answer. I slowly bent down. My face drew closer to his. My eyes were half-closed.
Renji froze. His eyes widened as he realized how close our faces were getting. He didn't back away. He just stood there, frozen in shock.
"A-Aina?" her voice trembled.
Our breaths mingled. Five more inches. Three more inches. I could smell the fresh scent of her bath soap mixed with the aroma of ramen.
Just a little more...
DRTTTTT! DRTTTTTT!"THE PHONE IS RINGING! HEY, ANSWER THE PHONE! IT'S IMPORTANT!"
The ridiculous ringtone of Renji's cell phone broke the silence of the night.
I was startled, my head almost hitting Renji's forehead. That romantic moment shattered like a windowpane hit by a rock.
Renji stammered, frantically reaching into his pants pocket. His face was bright red, as red as mine.
"H-hello?!" Renji replied quickly.
Aunt Saeko's screams could be heard loudly even without a loudspeaker.
"RENJI, YOU IDIOT! WHERE'S MY FOOD?! I'M STARVING TO DEATH HERE! YOU SAID IT WOULD ONLY TAKE A MINUTE?! IT'S BEEN AN HOUR! WERE YOU DOING SOMETHING PERVERTED IN THE PARK, HUH?!"
Aunt Saeko's voice echoed through the quiet park.
I immediately covered my face with both hands and crouched down on the ground. How embarrassing! So embarrassing! I just want to disappear!
Renji stood stiffly, his face pale. "Y-yes, Auntie! This is the way home! Be patient! Don't eat the sofa!"
He turned off the phone, then looked at me, who was still crouching.
"Come on, let's go home, Aina. Aunt Saeko can turn into Godzilla when she's hungry," Renji said awkwardly.
I nodded slowly, standing without daring to look him in the eye.
I-I'm sorry...
We walked home side by side. The distance between us grew again. But deep down, even though I was mortified, I was a little happy.
Renji didn't resist when I approached him earlier. He didn't push me away.
Maybe... just maybe... he feels the same way?
---
Part 10 — The Touched Thigh and the Killing Gaze of One School
(POV: Renji)
This morning began with a level of awkwardness akin to a natural disaster.
After last night's "near kiss," I couldn't sleep well. Every time I closed my eyes, Aina's flushed face and her approaching lips appeared again. I spent breakfast with my head down, avoiding eye contact with Aunt Saeko, who was smiling to herself as if she knew everything.
"I'm leaving," I said quickly, wanting to escape from the strange atmosphere in the house.
"Careful, Romeo! Don't forget to breathe!" teased Aunt Saeko.
I ignored him and opened the front door.
However, instead of the asphalt road of the housing complex that I usually saw, my view was blocked by a shiny black wall.
A black luxury sedan limousine was parked right in front of my dilapidated fence. Its engine purred softly. The rear window slowly rolled down, revealing the beautiful face I most wanted to avoid this morning.
Karen Himeno.
"Good morning, Renji," he said casually, wearing sunglasses. "Come in."
"Huh? What are you doing in the—"
"Come in. Don't make me repeat myself. We're going to school together. Remember the plan?" he cut in sharply.
Aunt Saeko appeared behind me, carrying her work bag. Her eyes widened, her mouth gaped open so wide it almost touched the floor. "I-is that... a luxury car? Whose? Your boyfriend's? RENJI, ARE YOU PLAYING BOTH SIDES?!"
"That's not it, Auntie! It's... argh, never mind!"
The car door opened automatically. Himeno patted the leather seat next to her. I had no choice. Rather than make a scene in the early morning, I stepped into the luxury car.
When the door closed, I glanced at Aina's house next door.
The curtains in Aina's room were slightly open. There, I saw a familiar figure. Aina was standing still, watching me get into Himeno's car. We were far apart, but I could feel the disappointment radiating from her.
Damn. This is a bad start.
"Drive on, sir," Himeno ordered the driver in front.
The car drove smoothly. The interior was cool and smelled of expensive leather. It was very different from the crowded train carriages I usually rode.
"Why did you pick me up? You want to make Aina misunderstand again?" I protested immediately.
Himeno took off her sunglasses and looked at me with a crooked smile. "What misunderstanding? I already told you, from now on you're mine in public. A good boyfriend should leave and come home together."
Suddenly, Himeno's hand moved.
He placed his palm on my right thigh. He didn't just place it there, but his fingers began to move slowly, tracing the fabric of my uniform pants.
My body tensed instantly. "Hey! What are you doing?!"
"Practice," he replied casually, his fingers moving higher. "Lovers must be accustomed to physical touch. You're as stiff as a board. Relax a little, Renji."
My face flushed. The sensation of his touch made my brain short circuit. "Stop! We're in the car! There's a driver!"
I tried to push her hand away, but Himeno pinched my inner thigh instead. It hurt, but it also felt... strange.
"Uhuk! Uhuk!"
A loud, exaggerated cough came from the front seat.
The large bodyguard driving the car glanced at us through the rearview mirror. His gaze was sharp, as if to say: "Young lady, please mind your manners, or I'll have to pretend to be deaf."
Himeno gasped softly, then pulled her hand away. "The driver was so stiff. I only touched him a little."
"You shameless person!" I whispered in frustration.
--
We arrived at the school gate ten minutes before the bell rang. It was prime time, when the gate was at its busiest.
The black car stopped right in front of the main gate. All the students stopped walking, staring curiously at the important person who had arrived.
The driver opened the door. Himeno got out first, her black hair fluttering dramatically. She looked perfect as always. Then she turned back to the car and held out her hand to me.
"Come on, honey," she said loudly enough for those nearby to hear.
I hesitantly stepped out, ignoring her outstretched hand. But Himeno didn't give up. As soon as I stood up straight, she grabbed my left arm, hugged it tightly, and pressed her body against mine.
The world seemed to stop spinning.
A moment of silence. Then...
BZZZZZTTTT!
Whispered voices erupted like a kicked beehive.
"That's Himeno-san, right?""Who's that guy? Itsuki Renji from the next class?""They're in the same car?""Holding hands? Hugging? Are they dating?!" NOOOOO! OUR GODDESS IS DEFILED!"
Himeno smiled sweetly at the crowd, but her lips whispered softly right into my ear, her breath making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
See? It worked. Starting today, there will be no more trashy love letters in my locker.
I swallowed hard, not daring to answer. I could feel thousands of needles piercing my skin.
Not the actual needle, but the gaze.
The stares from the male students. Stares full of malice, envy, and anger. If looks could kill, I would have been chopped into a thousand pieces of minced meat by now.
I looked down, trying to hide my face. "Himeno, can you let go? Everyone is looking at us."
"That's exactly the point. Hold on a little longer until the hallway."
As we walked through the gate, my eyes caught sight of another figure who had just gotten off the public bus.
Aina.
He stood near the security post, his school bag clutched tightly to his chest. He saw everything. He saw the luxury car. He saw Himeno clinging to me like a beautiful parasite. And he heard the whispers of the people around him confirming that we were "dating."
Our eyes met for a moment.
There was no anger in Aina's eyes. Only... deep sadness. Her shoulders slumped. The spark of excitement I had seen the night before when she tried to kiss me was now completely extinguished.
He broke eye contact, looked down deeply, and walked quickly around the crowd, trying to avoid me as much as possible.
My heart... it hurts so much to see him like that.
"Why stop?" Himeno asked, pulling my arm again.
"No..." I replied weakly. "Let's go."
I saved myself from getting expelled from school, but it feels like I just killed something very precious in my life.
--
Part 11 — The Literature Club and the Red-Haired Student Council President
"This place is boring."
I sighed deeply, leaning against a pile of dusty gym mats. "You're the one who brought me here again, Himeno. The school's back storage room is your 'secret base,' after all."
We returned to the old, dark gym. The afternoon sun barely filtered through the vents, creating lines of light on the dull wooden floor.
Himeno Karen stood in the middle of the room, hands on her hips. She looked around with a dissatisfied expression.
"That's the problem," he complained. "Look at this place. It's dirty, dusty, and dark. Besides, men and women alone together in a dark place like this... it's indecent. What will people say if they see us?"
My jaw almost dropped. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO THREATENED ME HERE FIRST!"
"Shh. Don't yell, Anjing-kun," Himeno waved her hand casually. "The point is, I'm tired of playing hide-and-seek in this rat warehouse. As the most popular couple in school, we need a proper 'palace'."
"The palace?" I began to feel uneasy.
"That's right. A place where we can be alone without the teachers suspecting anything, but still look elegant," Himeno's eyes sparkled slyly. "We'll start a club."
"Club?"
"The Literature Club," he concluded. "All they do is read books in silence. No sweat required, no big budget needed, and the room is usually quiet. Perfect for my retreat."
"Wait, you can't just start a club. There must be at least five members, there must be a proposal, and—"
"Who said I'm the one making it?" Himeno pointed at my chest. "You're the one who's going to make it. You're the leader."
"WHAT?! I'm busy! I have to study, cook for Auntie, and deal with your craziness! I don't have time—"
Before I could finish my protest, Himeno grabbed the back of my uniform collar.
The discussion is over. Let's go to the student council room. Now.
He dragged my body out of the warehouse like a sack of rice. His strength was inhuman for a girl who looked so fragile.
--
The student council room is located on the third floor, at the end of a quiet corridor. The wooden door is large and intimidating, as if there is a boss battle aura behind it.
Brak!
Himeno opened the door without knocking.
"Excuse me~" she said in a tone that didn't sound like an excuse at all.
Inside the cold, air-conditioned room, a girl sat behind a large desk piled high with documents. She looked up, her eyebrows arching sharply at the sudden interruption.
I swallowed hard.
The girl had bright red hair tied in long twintails that hung down to her waist. Her eyes were sharp, ruby red, giving her a fierce yet charismatic look. Her uniform was immaculate, complete with armbands that read "Student Council President."
She is Kagurazaka Serina.
School legend. Known as the "Red Queen" who ruled the school with an iron fist. She was one year above us, in 3rd grade.
"Himeno Karen," Serina's voice sounded heavy and firm. "And... Itsuki Renji, if I'm not mistaken. Weren't you taught to knock on the door?"
Serina's gaze shifted to me. Her eyes narrowed, as if scanning my worth. My heart was pounding. She was terrifying.
"Excuse me, Kaichou (President)," Himeno smiled sweetly, completely unafraid. She nudged my back forward. "My boyfriend has an urgent request. He really, really wants to contribute to the school."
"Me?" my cousin asked, confused.
"That's right," Himeno pinched my waist hard. "Tell me, Renji."
"Oh no! I-yes!" I grimaced. "I-I... want to propose the creation of a new club. A Literature Club."
Serina Kagurazaka put down her pen. She folded her arms and leaned back in the leather chair.
"A Literature Club?" he repeated skeptically. "Our school already has a Manga Club, a Journalism Club, and a Debate Club. What's the urgency of a Literature Club? It's just a waste of classroom space for napping, right?"
"Exactly—I mean, of course not!" I corrected myself when I saw the sparkle in Serina's eyes. "The Literature Club... to preserve the culture of reading classic novels! To... improve student literacy!"
Serina stared at me intently for ten seconds. The longest ten seconds of my life. She seemed to be able to smell a lie.
"Hmph," Serina snorted. She took a document from the drawer and opened it. "Itsuki Renji. Class 2-A. Ranked first overall in the second grade. Perfect scores in Math and Modern Japanese."
He closed the document and looked at me again. This time, his gaze softened a little. Just a little.
"Honestly, I doubt your motivation. You seem like the type who likes to keep to yourself and avoid responsibility," Serina said pointedly. "But... I can't ignore your academic potential. If the smartest student in the second grade wants to create a study group, it would reflect badly on the student council to reject it."
Serina took a blank form and threw it at me.
Fill this out. Find a mentor. And make sure the club is active. If there are no activities within a month, I will disband it myself and turn the room into a broom closet. Understood?
I nodded quickly. "Understood, Kaichou!"
"Good," Serina picked up her pen again, gesturing for him to leave. "Now get out. I'm busy."
As we turned to leave, I caught Serina glancing at me once more from the corner of her eye. There was a hint of curiosity on her stern face before she returned to her documents.
"See?" Himeno whispered when we were outside, smiling smugly. "Easy, right? Your reputation as a genius comes in handy sometimes."
I rubbed my tired face. "You're adding to my burdens again..."
"Don't complain. Now we have an official headquarters. Tomorrow we'll find the key."
Himeno walked away with a spring in her step, leaving me standing limply in the hallway.
I just made a contract with two demons. One is a manipulative demon (Himeno), and the other is an authoritarian demon (Kagurazaka Serina).
Aina... it seems like we'll have less and less time to play together.
END OF CHAPTER 2