Hinamori slipped into the Student Council office during class, not finding the President there. She figured he was off training again.
A sudden flare of anger surged through her.
She and Rukia had fallen out because of him, and he was off pretending like nothing had happened?
But the thought didn't last.
None of this was the President's fault. It was her own failure to handle things.
Rukia had said those words yesterday, and even then she still showed that she wanted to remain friends. Hinamori had been the petty one, stewing in her own resentnt.
Rukia had been the bigger person. Even knowing they liked the sa man, she hadn't turned bitter or cruel.
Now all Hinamori felt was regret.
She should've talked with Rukia again. Tried to fix things.
She didn't want to lose that friendship.
Sitting in Shin's chair, Hinamori suddenly felt her face grow hot. She reached up, touched her cheek—and realized she was crying.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Startled, Hinamori quickly wiped her eyes and stood up, expecting it to be Shin.
But it wasn't.
It was Kaizawa.
She paused when she saw Hinamori sitting in Shin's seat and frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"I... ca to see the President."
Kaizawa's gaze flicked to the dried streaks on Hinamori's face, but she didn't comnt. "It's class ti right now."
"And you're here too, aren't you?"
"I got permission from my instructor in advance." She held a thick stack of docunts. "Did you?"
"I did..." Hinamori's voice faltered.
Kaizawa, as expected of the Disciplinary Committee Captain, saw through her lie in an instant.
"I'll report your truancy to your horoom teacher."
Already feeling emotionally raw, Hinamori's temper snapped. "I'm a mber of the Student Council. I'm handling official business. What's wrong with that!?"
"Even so, you should inform your teacher beforehand. And the Council's duties never interfere with class ti. What duties, exactly, are you handling?"
"Then what about the President? He skips all the ti! Why don't you ever report him!?"
"He has permission from his horoom teacher."
"You—!" Hinamori's voice choked in fury.
Kaizawa stepped forward, placing her docunts on the table, then picked up another set. "I'll be informing your teacher of your behavior. You should return to class imdiately."
"I'm not going back!" Hinamori snapped, dropping back into Shin's chair. "You already said I'm skipping. What's the point now?"
Her tone lost its usual formality. She thought of her relationship with Shin. Then rembered Kaizawa's outrageous demand the other day—trying to force the President to kiss her. That shaful act!
Kaizawa's voice turned icy. "As head of the Disciplinary Committee, I have the authority to order you to return to class."
"I'm not going! What, you gonna drag there?"
"I won't use force," Kaizawa said coolly. "But I will report everything you've done today to the faculty."
Panic crept into Hinamori's chest. But pride wouldn't let her yield—not to Kaizawa.
Not her. Rukia was one thing—but this woman?
She grit her teeth, then suddenly gave a bitter little smile.
"Kaizawa-senpai, I know you like the President. But give it up. He's never going to like you back."
Kaizawa's face turned white in an instant.
"...What did you say?"
"I said," Hinamori seethed, "the President is never going to like you. You tried to use his promise as leverage, tried to force him to kiss you. That's pathetic."
Her words dripped with venom. All the rage she'd been holding back erupted.
Kaizawa's hand clenched around the docunts until they crumpled.
Her eyes turned cold—like shards of ice stabbing into Hinamori's chest.
For a mont, Hinamori's courage faltered.
But Kaizawa didn't speak. She turned away, walked to the door, and left without a word.
Once she was gone, Hinamori let out a long breath. Her chest rose and fell with the codown of adrenaline. She slapped her cheeks in frustration.
What the hell have I done?
If the President heard about this... what would he think?
She wanted to chase after Kaizawa. To apologize. But her legs didn't move.
Open-air training ground, Kidō class
The Student Council had a master list of class schedules. Shin knew exactly which rooms would be empty at what ti.
This one was free.
"Hadō #73: Twin Lotus Blue Fire Crash!"
A violent stream of Reiryoku surged from every limb into his hands. The Kidō's twin flas flared bright blue between his palms and hurled forward at the white target.
The target was forged from dense Sekkiseki stone. No matter how intense the spell appeared, it barely made a sound on impact.
Shin exhaled heavily.
How many tis had he tried now...?
Then, he felt soone approaching.
He turned toward the training ground's entrance.
"...What are you doing here?"
Kaizawa.
He rotated his shoulder, sore from repetition. "How'd you know I was here?"
"There's only one training space available right now," Kaizawa replied calmly. "If you weren't napping or bathing, you'd be here."
Shin chuckled. "You really know too well."
But the laughter faded quickly.
Sothing was off.
"...What's wrong?"
Kaizawa stepped forward, halting just a half-ter from him.
Her usually stern expression softened. There was a fragile vulnerability in her eyes.
"...Kaizawa, you..."
"Do you like ?" she asked abruptly.
The words hit him like a slap.
Not again...
He was still struggling to deal with the fight between Rukia and Hinamori—afraid their Affection stats might tank—now Kaizawa pulled this on him too?
What the hell happened?
She was staring at him, unwavering, waiting for an answer.
"...Kaizawa, I—"
"Don't say it," she interrupted, shutting her eyes.
Still holding the docunt file, she lowered her head and turned around.
"Forget I ca."
She didn't let him see her face.
But halfway to the exit, she paused... turned back... stood before him again.
Then, standing on her toes, she kissed his forehead.
"Returning it," she said quietly.
"...Kaizawa?" Shin blinked, completely lost.
She muttered, as if to herself:
"...I'm not pathetic anymore, right?"
And then, she walked away—for real this ti.
Reviews
All reviews (0)