Morning sunlight filtered through mottled leaves, dappling the path to school in shifting light and shadow.
Mouri Kogoro strolled beside Hayashi Shuichi.
Eri walked with a spring in her step, a smile she couldn't suppress lighting her face—she was clearly in high spirits.
Kogoro nudged his friend, tilting his chin toward Eri and whispering, "Hey, why's Eri in such a great mood today?"
"Is she…" Hayashi Shuichi yawned hugely, voice thick with exhaustion.
Kogoro frowned, eyeing him up and down. "Those massive dark circles—what'd you do, not sleep?"
Hayashi Shuichi shot him a flat look. "Do I look like I slept?"
"No way. What were you up to all night?" Kogoro's eyes widened.
Hayashi Shuichi glanced at Eri—cheeks faintly pink—and drawled, "What else? Studying real hard."
Weird. Eri had maybe an hour or two more sleep than him—how was she so chipper?
Guess the old saying's true: no tired fields, only dead oxen.
"You expect me to buy that? You could fool Eri, maybe," Kogoro hissed, yanking him close. "New gravure mag drop?"
"Ever since Reiko moved in, you think I'd dare?" Hayashi Shuichi rolled his eyes.
"Fair. That little watchdog's rough on you," Kogoro said, clapping his shoulder sympathetically.
Need your pity…
Hayashi Shuichi gave him a deadpan stare.
…
The entire morning at school, Hayashi Shuichi was a zombie—drained, listless.
In class, the teacher's drone became a lullaby. His eyes glazed, head dipping, threatening to crash onto the desk.
Normally, Eri would've snapped upright, brows furrowed, scolding him for slacking.
Today? Guilt kept her quiet. When he dozed off right under the teacher's nose, she straightened, scanning for danger. A soft cough or a nudge with her textbook—she covered for him.
Between classes, anyone approaching Hayashi Shuichi got shooed away by Eri.
By lunch, he was done. Scarfed his food, then bolted to the infirmary for a nap.
Eri, drowsy herself, trailed after him.
The infirmary smelled faintly of antiseptic. Two beds—one occupied by a sleeping girl.
"She's not feeling well. Just lay down," Nurse Kobayashi said. "One bed left. Decide who rests—I'm off to the cafeteria."
Door closed. Hayashi Shuichi and Eri shared a look, drew the curtain in sync, and climbed onto the single bed together.
After last night, sharing a bed was hardly awkward.
Eri set an alarm, then snuggled into his shoulder like a docile kitten, drifting off fast.
Hayashi Shuichi, though? The warmth of her body, her faint scent—his foggy brain snapped alert.
He squeezed his eyes shut, willing sleep. Instead, his mind replayed last night's highlights on loop.
Just as frustration built, the door creaked open.
He reached for the blanket to cover Eri—then felt her shift lower, burrowing deeper.
So you're awake too, huh?
He smirked, tucking the blanket—just as the curtain whipped back.
Takahashi Yuka, Yukiko's best friend, stood there, face stern.
"Sorry, occupied."
"I'm here for you," Yuka said flatly.
"Me?" Hayashi Shuichi blinked.
"Yes, you," she huffed. "Tried talking to you after class—got chased off by that glasses girl before I could open my mouth."
"Lin-kun, you're with Yukiko now, yet you're still tangled up with your childhood sweetheart? Isn't that a bit much?"
Before he could reply, a sharp twist at his waist made him hiss—Eri's jealous pinch.
Here we go.
"My business. Nothing to do with you," Hayashi Shuichi said coolly.
"Yukiko's my best friend. She's off filming, but before she left, she asked me to watch you," Yuka sneered. "Keep the playboy from sniffing around other girls."
Another pinch. Hayashi Shuichi tensed. "You came to the infirmary just to lecture me?"
"You dropped Yukiko at the set yesterday, right?" Worry creased Yuka's face. "Heard on the news last night—earthquake in Gunma. Don't have the crew's contact. Wanted to ask if she's okay. Tried this morning—glasses girl shut me down."
"Yukiko's fine. The quake didn't hit their village," Hayashi Shuichi said quickly. "Happy? You can go."
"Good," Yuka rolled her eyes. "Not everyone's dying to chat with you like Yukiko."
She yanked the curtain shut and stormed out.
"Hmph. Yukiko's so worried about you," Eri grumbled, tossing the blanket off and glaring, eyes sour with vinegar.
Hayashi Shuichi rubbed his aching waist. "That's her doing, not mine…"
"That curly-haired fox…" Eri's face darkened. She'd planned to use last night to force a clean break with Fujimine Yukiko.
But the words died on her tongue.
As his lifelong childhood friend, Eri knew Hayashi Shuichi inside out. He responded to softness, not ultimatums. Threatening him with last night? It'd backfire.
Besides—using it felt like cheating.
In the battle for Hayashi Shuichi, she had full confidence she'd crush Fujimine Yukiko fair and square. No need for dirty tricks…
(End of Chapter)
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