Airi sat alone in a quiet café near the school, staring at her phone. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were cold. After weeks of pretending, smiling, and gaining everyone's trust, she had finally decided it was time.
That evening, she met three senior boys who had been suspended before for causing trouble. They gathered in an empty park, away from people's eyes.
"I need your help," Airi said softly.
One of the boys laughed. "Why should we help you?"
She looked at them without fear. "Because you hate Tenkei. And I hate that girl who protects him."
They became silent.
Airi slowly explained her plan. How she would make Tenkei look guilty. How Miko would see everything with her own eyes. How no one would believe him after that.
The boys exchanged glances.
"…You're scary," one of them muttered.
Airi smiled.
"I'm just in love."
The next day, everything looked normal.
The sun was bright. Students laughed. Teachers walked calmly through the halls. Nothing showed that something terrible was about to happen.
During lunch break, Miko was busy in the student council room, helping prepare documents for an upcoming event. She told Tenkei earlier that she would be late.
"Eat without me today, okay?" she had said with a smile.
"H-Okay…" he replied.
So Tenkei went to the cafeteria alone.
That was when Airi approached him.
"Tenkei," she said gently. "Do you want to eat together today?"
He hesitated. "E-Eh…? But Miko…"
"She's busy," Airi replied. "You shouldn't wait hungry."
He nodded slowly.
"O-Okay…"
They sat at a quiet table near the window. Airi placed her lunch beside his.
"You look tired," she said. "Did you sleep well?"
"N-Not really…" he admitted.
She smiled softly. "Then eat properly. It'll help."
While Tenkei wasn't looking, Airi quickly added something small and colorless into his drink. Her hands didn't shake.
They talked about school, homework, and small things. Tenkei slowly relaxed. He didn't notice anything strange at first.
Then his vision blurred.
"Huh…?" he whispered.
The room began spinning.
His head felt heavy.
His hands weakened.
"A-Airi… I feel… strange…"
Before he could finish, his body leaned forward.
He collapsed.
Students nearby gasped.
"A student fainted!"
"Call the nurse!"
Airi stood up quickly.
"I'll take him!" she said urgently.
With help from a teacher, she carried Tenkei to the nurse's room. Her face looked worried, her voice shaky, her acting perfect.
Inside the quiet room, she gently laid him on the bed. The nurse went out to get medicine.
Airi stayed behind.
She looked at Tenkei's pale face.
Still unconscious.
Still helpless.
She sat beside him and leaned close.
"You trusted me," she whispered.
Her lips curved slightly.
"That was your mistake."
She gently held his hand and leaned forward, giving him a brief kiss while he was unconscious. It was not gentle. It was not loving. It was part of her plan.
"I'll make her hate you," she murmured. "Then you'll have no one but me."
Minutes later, she quickly messed up her uniform slightly and rubbed her eyes until they became red. When she heard footsteps, she immediately lay beside the bed and began crying softly.
At the same time, the three boys ran to the student council room.
"Miko!" one of them shouted. "Tenkei collapsed! He's in the nurse's room with Airi!"
Miko's heart dropped.
"Collapsed?!"
She ran without thinking.
Her footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Her breathing became fast.
"Tenkei… please be okay…" she whispered.
When she opened the nurse's room door, the scene in front of her froze her.
Tenkei was lying on the bed.
Airi was sitting close to him.
Crying.
Holding his hand.
Her uniform messy.
Her face full of tears.
"Airi…?" Miko whispered.
Airi looked up in shock.
"M-Miko…?"
She began crying harder.
"Why… why did you do this, Tenkei…?" Airi sobbed. "I thought… I thought we were friends… Why would you treat me like that…?"
Miko's brain stopped working.
"T-Treat you… how…?" she asked weakly.
Airi covered her face.
"He… he touched me… he kissed me… I tried to stop him… but he was dizzy… I was scared…" she cried.
Miko felt her stomach twist.
Her hands trembled.
Her vision blurred.
"Tenkei…?" she whispered.
At that moment, Tenkei slowly opened his eyes.
"M-Miko…?" he murmured weakly.
He looked around, confused.
"Airi…? W-Why am I here…?"
Miko stared at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
Her heart broke.
Her body shook.
She suddenly turned away and vomited.
Then she walked back toward him.
Her face full of pain and anger.
"Why…?" she whispered.
Before he could speak, she slapped him.
The sound echoed.
"Why did you do this, Tenkei?!" she cried.
"Huh…?" he whispered.
His mind was blank.
"I… I didn't… I don't know… I just… felt dizzy…"
"Stop lying!" she shouted. "I saw everything!"
Airi cried louder.
"Please don't fight… it's my fault for trusting him…" she said weakly.
Tenkei's heart shattered.
"I… I swear… I didn't do anything…" he said desperately. "Please believe me… Miko… one-chan…"
But her eyes were cold.
"I trusted you," she whispered. "And you betrayed me."
Those words crushed him.
"I… I didn't…" his voice broke.
No one listened.
No one believed.
He stood up weakly.
Tears poured down his face.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I'm sorry for being alive…"
Then he ran.
Out of the nurse's room.
Out of the hallway.
Out of her life.
Leaving behind silence, lies, and a broken heart.