The door to the empty classroom was gently closed by Margo, the latch emitting a crisp "click."
"...Why did you lock the door?"
Hikigaya had a bad feeling.
Margo tilted her head.
"Obviously, it's to prevent anyone from disturbing us."
She walked past him, her wide kimono sleeves brushing lightly against the back of his hand. She went to the window and pulled the curtains shut. The classroom plunged into darkness, save for a single sliver of light leaking in through the gap in the door.
"Margo, what exactly are you trying to do?" Hikigaya felt his throat go dry.
Margo turned around, her purple pupils shimring in the dim light.
"Darling, are you scared?"
"Scared of what? Scared you're going to sell off?" Hikigaya tried to make his voice sound normal.
'Who would buy a gloomy guy with dead fish eyes? Buy him to ward off evil spirits?'
Margo ignored his self-deprecation. She walked over, her geta making soft sounds on the floor—one step, two steps—stopping only half a step away from him.
The distance was too close.
Hikigaya could sll the faint fragrance on her, see the tremor of her eyelashes, and feel the warmth of her breath.
She raised her hand and placed it gently on his chest.
Hikigaya's body froze.
"Your heart is beating really fast."
Margo smiled. Her fingers trailed upward from his chest and gently looped around his neck. Her sleeves slid down, revealing her fair arms. Hikigaya had nowhere to look, so he was forced to stare at the light on the ceiling.
"Darling, why are you afraid to look at ?"
"I'm looking at the light. This light isn't working, you know? This indicates a serious problem with school facility maintenance. We should report this to the administration; it's not a small matter. What if one day..."
"When you lie, your eyes still wander all over the place," Margo interrupted him.
"I'm not lying; I'm just concerned about the school's infrastructure." Hikigaya's voice sounded a bit brittle. "As a student of this school, caring for the campus environnt is my duty and obligation."
"Oh." Margo nodded, moving her face a little closer. "Then is your heart beating this fast right now also a duty and obligation?"
"I told you, that's just a physiological reaction." Hikigaya's ears burned. "And with you leaning in this close, anyone's heart would beat fast. If you don't believe , try it with soone else. Swap in Tanaka from our class, and I bet his would beat even faster than mine."
"No." Margo stood on her tiptoes, bringing her face even closer. "I only want Darling."
Hikigaya tilted his head to the side, and her lips brushed against his cheek.
"Darling."
She called him, her voice muffled.
"Did you think I was going to kiss you just now?"
"No, my neck was sore, so I was loosening up my cervical vertebrae. Keeping one posture for too long can cause stiffness, and in serious cases, it leads to cervical spondylosis. Do you know how painful that is? Dizziness, nausea, numbness in the hands..."
"Darling." She interrupted him.
"Hm?"
"You talk too much."
Hikigaya shut his mouth. He realized his tongue was like a tangled knot; every excuse he had felt like a balloon in front of her—popping the mont it was touched.
Ti flowed slowly in the gloom.
Margo's body pressed tightly against him, her soft breasts against his chest, rising and falling slightly with her breathing. He could clearly feel that plump sensation, separated by only two thin layers of fabric—warm and resilient. Every breath brought a subtle friction.
Her heartbeat was so close, thumping against his chest, gradually mixing with his own until it was impossible to tell them apart.
Margo's breath fell against the side of his neck, warm and moist, carrying her unique, faint scent. Her hair brushed against his chin, causing a slight itch.
Hikigaya's hands, which had been hanging at his sides, raised hesitatingly and hovered in mid-air, eventually landing gently on her back. Through the silk fabric, he could feel the contours of her body—her slender waist and back, her slightly trembling shoulders.
The classroom was very quiet, with only the sound of two people's breathing, intertwined and gradually synchronizing. Margo's body was soft, clinging to him like so small animal seeking shelter. Her face was buried in the hollow of his shoulder, and her breathing gradually steadied.
Hikigaya's thoughts slowly relaxed in this ambiguous and comforting atmosphere. The tension and awkwardness faded, replaced by a strange sense of peace.
"So, was it really necessary to go that far and force yourself to play the villain?"
After an unknown amount of ti, Hikigaya spoke up.
Margo's body trembled slightly.
"It was necessary." Her voice was muffled. "Because I don't like seeing Darling being kidnapped by them like that."
"Actually, it's fine," Hikigaya said. "Nikaido-san and Sakuraba-san... they don't really have bad intentions."
"No bad intentions?" Margo lifted her head, her gaze carrying a hint of warning.
"Darling, you aren't actually enjoying this situation, are you? Having an 'Ice Queen' as a fake girlfriend, and a gentle, thoughtful Sakuraba-san by your side doting on you..."
"No." Hikigaya denied it imdiately. "I just think... there's no need to make things so tense."
"No need?" A dangerous smile hung on Margo's face.
"Darling, do you know that what Nikaido Hiro said today really pissed off?"
Hikigaya remained silent; he still rembered the line.
"She said you changed," Margo said, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible grievance. "She said you have a girlfriend now, you have friends, you have things you want to do. You aren't the person I knew as a child anymore."
Her arms wrapped around him tighter.
"She made it sound like... like I don't know you anymore."
Hikigaya felt his chest blocked by sothing.
"Margo..."
"But never mind." Margo said suddenly, letting go. "Since Darling thinks it's fine, I won't say anything more."
She took a step back, inadvertently wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Who told you to be such a bleeding heart, Darling."
Margo turned around, her back to him, and walked to the window. She reached out and pulled back the curtains. Sunlight poured in all at once, illuminating the entire classroom.
Hikigaya watched her silhouette standing in the sunlight, her wide kimono sleeves looking exceptionally vibrant in the light.
"Margo."
"Hm?"
"Why did you co to this high school?"
She turned around, wearing a perfect smile on her face.
"Because I wanted to see Darling."
"Really?"
"Of course it's real. Don't you believe , Darling?"
Hikigaya looked at her—at her purple pupils and the perfect arc of her lips.
Then, he shook his head.
"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just..."
"Just what?"
"It's just that it feels a bit sudden. Given the situation at your ho... why would they allow you to attend this school?"
"Is Darling worried about ?"
"...I suppose."
"Then can I interpret that as Darling missing too?"
"I am asking you a question."
"And I answered it—I missed you, Darling."
Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, Hikigaya didn't push.
"Then how did you know about Nikaido and Sakuraba? You just returned to school; it's impossible for you to know such details."
"Darling, it's been so many years, and now that we finally have so ti alone, do you really have to keep ntioning other girls' nas? If you do that, I'll get jealous."
"This isn't a matter of jealousy."
"To , it is, Darling. Why do you care about this so much? Are they that important to you?"
Margo chuckled, but there wasn't much laughter in her eyes.
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