Now we're back in our classroom, sitting through the final subject of the day.
The teacher stands at the front, back turned, scribbling words across the board. Chalk scrapes against the surface in uneven lines.
Around the room, students are either half-copying notes, staring blankly at the board, or whispering behind the teacher's back. A few are already mentally clocked out, waiting for the bell.
I open my notebook.
I'm writing too. Just… not about the lesson.
My pen moves fast, scratching across the page. After what happened in the gym, after what she did while she was in my uniform—I need to do something before my brain completely melts.
A contract.
Yes. A contract should be made for the safety of my conscience.
I cannot survive another surprise like that. Absolutely not.
Alright… let's see.
I scan through what I've written so far. It's basically a list. A list of things she absolutely cannot do while we're in this… whatever this is. This questionable relationship we secretly have that no one is supposed to know about.
*No entering my clothes.*No controlling any part of my body without my knowledge or consent.*No mind reading (if that's even possible).*No hurting other humans physically.*Be honest with me.*Don't let others know what you are… or what we are together....
The list just keeps going.
The list keeps going. All the possibilities I can imagine, even things she hasn't done yet, but might in the future.
Better safe than sorry.
I stop writing and stare at the page.
…Yeah. This should be good enough.
I'll call her out after school. Somewhere private. We need to talk properly about this.
Hmm. Maybe the school rooftop would be a good place.
Yeah—quiet, empty. That should work.
Class ends smoothly. I was about to call her when I noticed my classmates crowding her, eager to hang out.
Dang it. They got dibs faster than I did. How am I supposed to get her to the rooftop now?
While she talks with the others, her gaze drifts toward me. She smiles softly. I flinch. Somehow, I feel like she'd meet me anyway… without me even asking.
How can I be so sure about that?
Well… an alien who sincerely likes you would follow you around, right? She's been close to me all day, unnoticed by anyone.
That's good… I guess?
She might notice that I don't go home right away. Maybe I'll just wait for her on the rooftop while she talks to the others. It's probably good for her to communicate with other humans anyway. Not just me.
I grab my bag and head for the door.. And suddenly bump into someone. Hard.
"Ow—" I rub my nose and look up. "Hey…! Why are you—"
"Oh, hey, Mayumi," Ian says, like he wasn't just blocking my way just now.
He looks at me for a moment, then his gaze shifts past me, straight toward Elena.
"Excuse me, Mayumi," he says, already slipping past.
I freeze, confused. I thought Faye and the others already left?
"Hey… Elena, was it?" Ian says without hesitation.
"Can I talk to you for a moment—Just the two of us?"
The group goes silent.
Everyone looked stunned… because Ian, of all people, who never cared about high school romance or anything bothersome, was suddenly talking to the new, pretty transfer student.
Elena wears a blank expression I can't read… then smiles.
"Sorry, guys. I'll see you tomorrow," she says lightly.
She grabs her bag, stands up, and faces Ian. The two of them walk together toward the opposite exit.
I stand frozen. …Did that really just happen?
My classmates immediately explode with reactions.
"Wow, dude—he really took his chance, didn't he?" "What's up with Ian? First time seeing that."
"No way—do you think he's asking her out?"
Meanwhile, the girls whisper excitedly.
"Is this the ice-cold prince finally melting because of Elena?"
"No way! Ian always rejects confessions!"
"Well now he's asking her out privately—this is new tea!"
Speculation flew everywhere. Everyone talks at once, shocked by what just happened.
Honestly… I'm shocked too.
Because they're right.
I've known Ian for a long time, through Faye and the others. And I've never seen him do something like that.
Why the heck does Ian want to talk to her in private, just the two of them…? Wait. Don't tell me he has a thing for Elena too, like most of the guys here?
It hasn't even been a day, though.
Is he really that blunt—just outright confessing to a girl he barely knows?
…Then again.
That's literally how Elena confessed to me.
The thought makes my chest tighten a little, and I don't like that. At all.
But then again… logically speaking, the two of them actually make sense. Ian's smart, calm, accomplished. The type teachers secretly adore. If Elena were to end up with someone like that, it'd be a match made in heaven.
And honestly?
That's… not bad.
If Elena finds someone more… put together. Someone with direction. Someone with an actual future and achievements and a life that makes sense, then yeah. That's a great romantic match.
Definitely better than me.
….
So why does my stomach twist when I imagine them walking side by side?
Tch. Whatever.
I should follow them.
Whatever Ian wants to talk about with her, I hope it goes well. And maybe—finally—I can be free from this whole mess and happily dump all of this nonsense onto Ian instead.
…
So why am I already clenching my bag this hard?
I slipped out into the hallway and spotted the two of them from a distance, walking side by side. I immediately slowed my pace so they wouldn't notice me.
They turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
Crap—
I quickened my steps before I lost them completely. When I peeked around the corner, I saw them heading up the stairs.
…Upstairs? Are they going to the rooftop?
I stopped myself before following right away. If I went up now, they'd definitely notice me on the stairs. This school's four stories tall, sound echoes way too easily.
Okay. New plan.
I waited, holding my breath, counting the seconds in my head.
Any moment now, I should hear it.
And then— Creeeak.
The unmistakable metallic echo of the rooftop door opening rang down the stairwell.
Yep. They're up there.
I started climbing the stairs, my legs already protesting halfway through. Why did I think following them was a good idea again…?
By the time I reached the top, my breathing was uneven. I pushed the rooftop door open just a crack—
And sunlight flooded in. Golden, warm, blinding.
I squinted, blinking rapidly until my vision cleared. Carefully, I leaned to the side and peeked through the gap.
They were there.
Standing a short distance apart. Facing each other.
My heart skipped.
From this angle, with the sun behind them and the wind brushing past… This scene looked straight out of one of those manga panels I stayed up late at night reading.
Wait.
Oh my god.
Am I…
Am I watching a real-life confession right now?!
I wonder… What are they even talking about? I can barely hear their murmurs.
…
I feel weird, just watching this unfold.
What if Elena suddenly does what she did with me? Reveals herself out of nowhere?
No, no, I'm overthinking it.
She promised she wouldn't do anything crazy like that… not out of nowhere, at least.
And then… Ian steps closer. He reaches out and grabs her right hand. My brain… blank.
WOAH, WOAH…!
Hey—!
I did not expect him to be that forward!
What the—what is happening right now?!
I hide behind the door, both hands covering my face, flustered. I can't… I can't watch my friend—well, I don't even know if I can call him that—but someone I know doing something like that…!
Yeah… this is kind of embarrassing to watch.
Then—suddenly—a knock.
I snap my head toward the sound.
"Hey, Mayumi… You waiting long?"
Ah—
It's Elena.
Wait… what does she mean by that? Did she know I was following them? I mean… she's an alien. What if she has some kind of echolocation or something I don't even know about and can sense me hiding?
Awkwardly, I wave at her.
"H-heyy… what's up?"
She smiles softly.
Then she reaches her hand out.
"C'mon, let's go home together."
I reach out instinctively… then realize Ian is still out there.
"Eh? But… how about—" I can't finish my sentence before she gently drags me down the stairs.
"Don't mind him. He said he'll stay behind and think about something," she says casually.
Wait… did she—
Did she just… reject Ian?
Oh my god… for some reason, it's kind of funny—but also… that means Elena's still by my side.
I don't know if I should feel relieved or what… But my chest does feel a little lighter knowing she didn't go with him.
I wonder what Ian's face looks like right now… serves him right! After all, he's rejected all kinds of beauties in this school… and now, it's biting him back.
We step out of the school, the late afternoon sun warming the pavement. My bag feels heavier than usual, but I barely notice.
As we walk, my bag shifts against my shoulder, and suddenly I remember… the list. The contract I scribbled in my notebook for Elena.
I fumble with the zipper of my bag, trying not to make it obvious, and pull out the notebook. It's right there—pages full of rules, demands, and my panicked thoughts about what she's allowed and not allowed to do.
"Elena… um…" I stammer, holding it awkwardly.
"I… I wrote something. For… you. Well, technically it's for us."
She looks at the notebook, then at me, eyebrows raised, curious but calm.
"Oh? A… contract?"
"Y-yeah… just… a list. Of… stuff."
"…Safety for my… consciousness!" I wave my hands, embarrassed.
She blinks, tilts her head slightly, and then her lips curve into the tiniest smirk.
"Safety for your… consciousness?"
"Yes! Exactly! That! So if you… do alien things… or stick to me… you have to follow this!"
She laughs softly, teasing.
"Alright. Let's see." She takes the notebook gently from my hands, flipping through the pages with calm, deliberate motions.
I can feel my stomach knotting tighter with every page she reads.
"You really covered everything," she says, eyes flicking up at me, warm but amused.
"Of course! It's… important!"
She smiles again, folding the notebook closed and tucking it under her arm.
"Don't worry. I'll remember. But… it's cute that you think I'd try to break it."
I blink. "…Cute?"
She laughs softly, just enough to make me want to melt into the pavement.
"Yes. Cute. And don't worry, Mayumi. I'll follow your rules… mostly."
"Mostly…?!" My voice cracks. "…Elena!"
Her smile deepened, and she paused for a moment, eyes thoughtful.
"…You know, contracts aren't meant to be one-sided. Maybe I should add a few things too."
I froze. Add her own rules?
"…Uh… w-wait… you wanna add something…?"
"Yes," she said, calm but gentle, "a proper contract is an agreement between two people. It wouldn't be fair if you only wrote rules for me without me adding anything for you."
I faltered, hesitant, nervous and unsure… but she had a point. If this was a real agreement… maybe I should hear her out.
"…O-okay… I… I guess…You're right," I muttered, almost stumbling over my words.
Her eyes glinted softly as she thought for a moment.
"Alright… it's simple. Only three things, I promise."
My stomach twisted in nervous anticipation. Three things… How bad could it be?
"First," she said, "we can go out on a date… once a week."
I nearly choked. "…A date?!"
"Yes," she said, tilting her head, serene as ever.
"Once a week, just the two of us."
"…And the other two?" My voice cracked.
She smiled faintly. "During every date… I can do physical skinship with you. But don't worry, nothing you're uncomfortable with. It could be a hug… holding hands… whatever you feel safe with."
My brain went blank. My heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest. I opened my mouth, then closed it.
"…That… that's… okay," I stammered, unsure if this is even good for my heart and soul.
"…And third," she said, tilting her head, her expression softening, "I'll always make sure you're safe. No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
"Eh?…Y-you… will? Ok.. That's good to know at least."
I let out a shaky breath, half-relieved, half-freaking-out, but… it did feel fair. Her rules were clear, concise… and maybe a little daring, but not outside my comfort zone. Somehow, it felt… balanced.
I nodded slowly, feeling a strange warmth spread through me.
"O-okay… I… agree," I whispered, still gripping the notebook like it was my lifeline.
Elena smiled again, a gentle, satisfied curve of her lips, and took my hand lightly.
"Good. Then it's official."
Official… My chest tightened again, but this time… it was a strange, weird kind of feeling.