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Title: He Doesn't Know I Know He Knows I Like Him
Episode 3: "The Spark, the Spy, and the Smooth Liar"
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Minami had one goal for the morning: avoid Kaito Riku at all costs.
Her new Dare Week strategy involved speed-walking into school five minutes early, ducking into her seat, and pretending to study like her life depended on it.
But of course, Kaito arrived just one minute later—dragging his chair with that infuriating squeak—and dropped into the desk beside hers like gravity was personally invested in ruining her life.
"Morning, girlfriend," he said, way too cheerfully.
Minami's eyes didn't leave her notebook. "Morning, stranger."
Kaito laughed. "Ouch. The cold shoulder already? And here I was thinking we'd hold fake hands by Thursday."
"I'm filing for fake divorce."
"You'll miss me when I'm gone."
She finally looked up. "Are you leaving?"
"Nope."
> This boy was sent from the universe specifically to test her patience. And maybe her heart rate.
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📚 A Very Suspicious History Class
Third period was history, and Mr. Kanzaki had apparently decided today was "Group Presentation Surprise Day." Minami groaned internally.
"Pick a partner," the teacher said, "and prepare a two-minute analysis on the fall of the Taira clan. You have ten minutes."
Before she could even blink, Kaito slid his chair closer.
"Historical tragedy and emotionally unavailable girls. My specialty."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's ace this, Aoi-chan."
Minami considered throwing her pencil at him. Instead, she tried to focus. Key word: tried.
"I'll write the intro," she said quickly. "You can—"
"Already drawing samurai stick figures," he said, holding up her notebook, which he had somehow stolen.
"Give that back!"
"Wait, wait—look, this one's you. You're the grumpy warlord. Fierce. Mysterious. Probably hiding a tragic backstory."
"I'm not the warlord!"
"You're totally the warlord."
> Somehow, in the middle of her flustered scolding, she forgot that she had a crush on him.
For a few seconds, she was just... laughing.
And so was he.
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💌 The Third Note
After lunch, Minami returned to her locker—and there it was again. Folded perfectly. Neat handwriting. No name.
She glanced over her shoulder before opening it.
> "Be careful who you trust. He's not being honest with you."
This time, her hands went cold.
She looked around. The hallway was filled with noise, laughter, rushing students—but she felt completely alone.
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🧠 Inner Spiral, Hour Six
Back in her seat, Minami couldn't concentrate. Kaito was doodling nonsense in the margins of his notebook like nothing was wrong.
What did the note mean?
Was Kaito hiding something? He had been acting strange lately… remembering things she never told him, showing up at weird moments, knowing she'd be at her locker—
> No. Stop it. she told herself.
It's just a prank. Some troll playing games.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling crawling down her spine.
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📱 That Night
Minami texted Yuka.
Minami:
> Do you think someone is watching me?
Yuka:
> What? Like... emotionally or physically?
Minami:
> Physically. I keep getting these notes in my locker. Weird ones.
Yuka:
> OMG. Like a stalker? Or a secret admirer?
Minami:
> I don't know. One of them said not to trust Kaito.
Yuka:
> Girl. This is either a love triangle or the start of a crime drama. Either way, I'm INVESTED.
Yuka:
> Do NOT delete those notes.
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🕵️♂️ Meanwhile, in a different part of the school…
Someone—unseen—tapped their pen against a journal filled with Minami's name.
> "Let's see how long you keep pretending not to know, Kaito."
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