Morning light slipped through the large classroom windows like soft blades of pale gold, scattering gentle reflections across the light wooden desks.
The room carried that familiar silence of a lecture—
the steady rhythm of chalk gliding across the board,the occasional turning of pages,the faint creak of chairs shifting.
At the front, Sasaki-sensei spoke about classical literature, her calm voice echoing evenly through the room.
But very few were actually paying attention.
At the back of the class, Aoi sat completely still.
Not because she was focused—
but because her mind wouldn't stop.
Her eyes kept moving.
From one side of the room…to the other.
From Souma…to Misaki.
And back again.
Her pen touched the page, but she wasn't really writing—just tracing crooked, restless lines without meaning.
…Did she like Souma?
The question kept echoing inside her.
Again.
And again.
Aoi lifted her gaze once more.
Misaki sat two seats ahead.
Perfect posture.Controlled movements.Carefully organizing each item with almost excessive precision.
On the other side of the room, Souma rested his face on his hand, staring at the board with a sleepy expression.
Nothing looked different.
And yet…
everything felt different.
Aoi looked again.
And again—
tap
A small paper ball lightly hit her head.
She blinked, surprised, and turned.
Mio leaned over her desk, wearing a mischievous grin.
"What?" Aoi whispered.
Mio leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"You keep staring at them."
Aoi froze.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
"S-sorry…"
She quickly turned forward.
But at that same moment—
a few rows ahead, something else was happening.
Yamada glanced back.
His eyes met Hina's.
They stayed like that… for a few seconds.
Not blinking.
Barely breathing.
Silence.
Then, as if caught doing something forbidden, Yamada quickly turned back around.
Mio noticed.
Her eyebrow lifted slightly.
…What was that?
She subtly glanced over.
Hina was stiff.
Staring at the board with exaggerated focus.
Holding her breath.
Rigid posture.
Mio narrowed her eyes.
"Hina…"
Hina turned slowly.
"Hmm?"
"Why are you nervous?"
Hina blinked.
"M-me?"
A forced laugh slipped out.
"I'm not nervous."
But she clearly was.
Mio didn't push further.
She just watched.
Lunch Break
The bell echoed through the building.
And, as always, silence shattered instantly.
Chairs scraping.Voices rising.The smell of bentos filling the air.
Mio watched Hina stand up.
But something felt off.
Her movements were too controlled.
Too careful.
As she passed Yamada's desk—
she didn't look.
Not even once.
Aoi opened her bag.
"Did you bring a bento, Mio?"
But Mio was already on her feet.
"I'll be back."
And she left.
Aoi blinked, confused—
but didn't have time to think.
Someone sat beside her.
She turned.
Souma.
Holding a bento.
Aoi's eyes widened.
"Ah… S-Souma-kun… you brought lunch today?"
He opened the lid.
"Yeah. I actually remembered today."
A small laugh.
"…Also so I could spend more time with you—I mean—with you guys—YOU GUYS."
Silence.
Aoi's face turned slightly red.
Souma looked away, starting to eat.
Aoi watched him quietly.
Then—
"Did you make it?"
"Hm?"
"The bento."
She pointed with her chopsticks.
"You made it?"
Souma nodded.
"Yeah."
A faint smile.
"I usually forget."
Aoi looked down at her own lunch.
"I always cook dinner at home…"
Her voice was soft.
"But my mom still makes my bento… even though she doesn't need to."
Souma smiled gently.
"She really cares about you."
Aoi gave a small smile.
"Yeah…"
Silence.
They ate quietly.
Calm.
Nearby, Matsuda glanced at Misaki, subtly clenching his fists. He stood for a moment—then sat back down, running a hand through his hair and staring at the table.
Then—
at the same time:
"Aoi-chan…""Souma-kun…"
They looked at each other.
Flustered.
Souma looked away first.
"Y-you go first."
Aoi shook her head.
"No… you."
"Ladies first."
She smiled.
But then…
her expression changed.
Serious.
She stirred her food lightly.
And asked:
"What did you say to Misaki?"
Souma frowned.
"Huh?"
"About… her confession."
Silence.
He looked down at his bento.
"I just said I didn't expect it."
He took a breath.
"It caught me off guard."
Aoi swallowed.
"…But do you like her?"
From behind, Matsuda subtly looked back, stunned by what he heard.
Souma shook his head.
"She's nice."
He looked up.
"But not like that."
Aoi watched him from the corner of her eye.
"…Are you going to tell her that?"
Souma sighed.
"I don't know yet."
He looked at Aoi.
"What do you think I should do?"
Aoi tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
"Be honest."
Souma looked away.
"She just went through all that…"
His voice lowered.
"The girls who were bullying her…"
He exhaled.
"And now I'm the one who's going to hurt her?"
Aoi clenched her fists.
"But what if… by accepting…"
She hesitated.
"…you end up losing someone close to you?"
BAM
Matsuda slammed his desk and stood up abruptly, his heavy breathing echoing through the room.
Silence fell again.
Souma looked at him.
"Matsuda… are you okay?"
Without answering, Matsuda walked toward the door.
Yamada stood up.
"Ren? What's wrong, man?"
Matsuda replied sharply:
"Stay here, Riku. I'll be back."
And left.
Aoi frowned.
"What was that about?"
"No idea…"
Then—
they both realized.
They were closer now.
Very close.
Their eyes met.
Directly.
Too close.
Their hearts pounded so loudly…
it almost felt audible.
Souma loosened his tie.
Swallowed.
Aoi placed her hands on the desk.
They leaned in—
closer…
and closer…
Drawn in.
Then—
"Can I eat with you guys?"
Hanae pulled out a chair and sat down.
Both of them jumped.
"R-representative?!"
Hanae calmly started eating.
"What were you two doing?"
Souma panicked.
"N-nothing! We were just talking—"
Aoi blurted:
"A-about cosplay!"
Souma froze.
"…Yeah. Cosplay."
Hanae stopped.
Slowly.
Her eyes widened.
"Cos… play?"
Silence.
She suddenly stood up.
Hands on the desk.
Eyes shining.
"YOU GUYS LIKE COSPLAY?!"
Aoi shrank slightly.
"Y-yeah…"
Souma nodded.
"We do…"
Hanae clasped her hands.
"Really?!"
"There's an event next month! You're going, right?!"
Souma started sweating.
"Uh… yeah…"
"THEN LET'S GO TOGETHER!"
She launched into excited rambling—
about authors, characters, events—
until she stopped.
Because—
Aoi and Souma were smiling at her.
Hanae blinked.
Aoi spoke softly:
"I didn't know you liked it that much."
Souma laughed.
"Me neither."
Hanae blushed slightly.
Then looked across the room.
"Did you invite Misaki?"
Souma froze.
"Y-yeah…"
"She wants to go."
Hanae smiled.
"Great."
She waved.
"Misaki-chan! Come here!"
Misaki had been watching.
She quickly looked away.
But still—
stood up.
Walked over.
Sat down.
Only a small portion of her lunch open.
Hanae smiled gently.
"You don't have to eat alone."
Aoi nodded.
"You can stay with us."
Souma added:
"Anytime."
Misaki looked directly at Aoi.
"…Like yesterday?"
Aoi opened her mouth—
but said nothing.
"When you left me in the party?"
Hanae tilted her head.
"Party?"
Souma quickly answered:
"Online game."
Misaki kept her eyes on Aoi.
"Why did you leave?"
Aoi replied quickly:
"Sorry… Hina was showing me something."
Misaki exhaled.
"…It's fine."
Aoi looked at Souma.
Smiled.
He smiled back.
Hallway
Mio leaned against the wall.
Waiting.
Hina appeared, holding an anpan.
"Hina."
She stopped.
"You and Yamada are acting weird."
Hina froze.
Mio sighed.
"I just want to understand."
Hina looked away.
"I'm fine."
She tried to smile.
"Don't worry."
"…Didn't you go eat?"
Mio ignored that.
"What's the guy from your date like?"
Hina started walking.
Said quietly:
"…He's nice."
Mio just hummed.
"Hm."
Back in the classroom
Hina entered—
and stopped.
Aoi.Souma.Misaki.Hanae.
All together.
Eating.
"…What's going on here?"
As she spoke—
her eyes met Yamada's.
He looked back.
For a few seconds.
Silence.
Then Hina smiled.
"Hi, Yamamoto-kun…"
"…Hey."
She walked past.
Cold sweat running down her back.
Didn't look back.
Sat down.
Watching the group.
"…It's weird seeing you all together."
Hanae turned, excited.
"Is it true you're the leader of Eternal Aegis?"
Hina blinked.
"…Yeah."
Hanae raised her hand.
"I want to join!"
Hina tilted her head.
"…Huh?"