Quick heads up:
( ) = Kaze's inner monologue
<" "> = Whispers
"Huh?"
Takuya Kaze lowers his gaze to the surface of his desk.
Nothing.
He opens the drawer beneath it, rummaging through nothing but the usual debris — pens, notes, things that exist only because he bothered to remove them. Lazy.
Still nothing.
With a frown, he unzips his bag and searches again — carefully this time, as if the missing item might materialize if he shows enough sincerity.
It doesn't.
(…Perchance, I forgot to bring it?)
The realization lands quietly, yet the weight of it presses down on his shoulders.
"What's the matter, Takuya-kun?" Sato Itsuki suddenly speaks.
(Tch — ! Why is it always her who notices me first?)
"I think… I forgot to bring my math textbook."
The words come out reluctantly, as if admitting the truth alone might summon disaster.
Class is about to begin. And being scolded on the first day of the semester is the last thing he wants.
The worst part?
Their math teacher.
Takeshi-sensei — an infamous name among students. A man whose voice alone can shake windows, whose scolding can be heard clearly even from neighboring classrooms.
(Great. Of all teachers… why him?)
Kaze runs a hand through his hair, frustration seeping into his movements.
Hopeless. Helpless.
"If you don't mind…"
Itsuki tilts her head slightly.
"How about we share a textbook?"
"Huh?" Kaze said.
"Hm?" Itsuki replied.
(Wait.)
For a brief moment, Kaze's thoughts accelerate.
(The teacher will definitely be lenient toward the new student. If I share with her, there's a high probability — no, at least 90% — that I'll survive unscathed.)
"Y-You're… okay with that?" Kaze asks again, to confirm.
"Yeah."
"I mean… sure. I can't exactly refuse, can I?"
A small smile appears on Itsuki's face — subtle, restrained, but unmistakably genuine.
"Thank you, Takuya-kun…"
"I should be the one thanking you…"
Kaze drags his desk slightly closer, aligning it with hers. Their desks connect with a faint scrape against the floor.
Moments later, the classroom door slides open.
Takeshi-sensei enters.
His sharp gaze sweeps across the room, methodical and unforgiving, as though he's actively searching for a reason to scold someone, splitting hairs.
And naturally, his eyes land on Kaze.
But then — he notices the girl beside him.
The new student.
Izumi-sensei's words echo faintly in his mind: Be easy on her today.
With visible restraint, Takeshi-sensei exhales and lets it pass.
(Yes. The plan worked.)
"Takuya-kun," the teacher says calmly, though the tone carries a dangerous edge.
"Remember to bring your textbook next time. I'm not in the mood to scold students today. You're lucky."
Lucky.
(Note: It's calculated.)
The word feels ominous.
(How does he keep such a calm face while possessing a voice that sounds like divine punishment?)
Lost in thought, Kaze suddenly feels a gentle tug on his sleeve.
"Huh? What now?"
Itsuki leans slightly closer.
"Hey, Takuya-kun…"
"You smell nice."
(Aaaahhh — !)
(Sato-san! That's not how you start a conversation with a guy!)
(If I were a zombie like the others, I would've fallen for that on the spot. If I reacted the way she expected, I'd become indistinguishable from the rest...)
"Uh… thanks. I guess."
He glances down.
Her fingers are still gripping his sleeve.
"…Could you move your hand away now? I'm not a zombie."
(Sometimes being straightforward is better than suffering silently.)
"Zom… bie…?"
She stares at him with wide, pale-violet eyes, genuinely confused.
(Gah — ! don't look at me like that! Just let go!)
"Both of you — pay attention to the lesson!"
"S-Sorry, Sensei!"
Kaze straightens instantly.
<"Hey… when are you going to let go of my sleeve?">
<"What's the answer for number nine? It's difficult…">
<"Don't change the topic! And I wasn't even listening — why would I know?">
He glances down.
(It's 3xy + 9y / 8x. This isn't that hard…)
<"So… can you move your hand now?">
<"Is it wrong to praise how you smell?">
She's pouting.
Kaze turns away.
(This is what happens when people speak without purpose.)
Itsuki pauses, then leans closer — too close.
<"Don't ignore me —">
"I SAID PAY ATTENTION!"
"E-eh?!"
The sudden shout startles Itsuki. She flinches and instinctively clings to Kaze's arm.
The classroom freezes.
(Here it comes...)
"…Did she just grab Takuya-kun?"
"I knew it! Something's been going on since yesterday!"
"They're kind of alike, though…"
Whispers erupt.
(Zombie girls, as expected...)
Then what he didn't expect is —
"Can you all stop already?"
The voice cuts through the noise.
Masakami Kento.
Everyone turns to him.
"She was startled by the teacher's voice," he says calmly.
"Grabbing onto the nearest person was just a reflex. That person happened to be Takuya-kun."
Silence.
No one expected him to speak.
"…Is that correct?"
Kento looks at Kaze.
(Logic actually sounds noble when spoken by someone admired, very indeed.)
"Y-Yeah. That's right. Wait —
Why am I the one being asked? I'm the victim here."
(Why is he defending her? And why was he glaring at me, with his eyes narrowed, with that slightly scowled face? Just now?)
"Alright. Enough," Takeshi-sensei sighs.
"Sato-san, sorry about that."
The tension dissolves.
And class resumes.
But Itsuki is still holding his arm.
"…Can you let go now?"
"Can we stay like this —"
"No."
"…Fine, it's comfy, though. What's wrong with bridging the gap?"
(Everything. But I guess the best answer for this is because gaps exist for a reason.)
(Gosh, it's too much for today... If this was the beginning of something, then it was already a mistake...)
...
End of Chapter