Satoru trailed behind Hisagi Arisa and Kurashiki Rena, winding back to Class F.
A few classmates lingered, chatting about shared hobbies, but one look at Arisa and Rena's piercing glare sent them scurrying with a collective "Eep!"
The classroom emptied, leaving just the two girls and Satoru.
Satoru wasn't sure why Rena dragged him here. It didn't seem just about the hallway incident—Higashi's meddling aside, she'd have cornered him anyway.
His mind was on the Alpaca Princess BD. He'd planned to bolt, but Rena's unyielding stare made him stay. If he didn't let her vent, she'd hound him endlessly.
Satoru figured Rena had that kind of tenacity.
Plus, he had things to clear up with her.
The classroom was empty, but the hallway, windows, and door were packed with gawking students.
"Whoa, first Miyajima Sakura, now Kurashiki Rena?"
"Kobayashi's got game! What else is he hiding?"
"Is Rena bullying him? She looks fierce."
"Fierce and stacked… Bullying? I'd take a beating to be alone with her."
"You're not a masochist, are you?"
"Listen, I'm not a masochist. Her scornful eyes are just chef's kiss. Again, not a masochist. If it was me, I'd let her step on me willingly. One last time—not a masochist…"
"Shut up, you maso—"
Bang!
The door slammed shut, cutting off the chatter. Arisa had sealed the windows too.
Back in the day, Satoru might've worried about two girls ganging up on his frail self. Now? If they tried anything, he'd poke them senseless with his great sword!
"…You're gross," Rena said, perching her shapely hips on a desk. Her height and poise amplified her presence.
She tilted her snowy chin, dripping with haughty disdain.
"Huh?" Satoru rubbed his nose, clueless.
Rena's gaze fixed on his sharp nose—the culprit under her skirt earlier.
She shoved that nauseating memory aside.
Rena fell silent, passing the mic to Arisa.
"You're good at playing dumb…" Arisa sized Satoru up. Shorter than him, her glare was fierce but lacked Rena's edge. "You were all talk in front of your class."
"…What're you on about?" Satoru blinked.
"Someone snitched," Arisa snapped. "You chased Rena, got rejected, and spread rumors! Saying you 'lost interest after seeing her true colors,' that she's 'just a shiny whore,' or 'been with tons of rich hot guys.' That's all from you, right?!"
Arisa bared her fangs.
Satoru froze.
Rena twirled her blonde hair, green eyes darkening. "Do you know what you're saying?"
Her stare could've killed him a hundred times over.
"Trash! Spreading lies after rejection! What a pathetic man! Absolute scum!" Arisa roared. Her earlier words were hushed, but these were loud enough for the crowd outside to catch hints.
She ranted, but Satoru stayed silent.
When she paused, Arisa smirked, thinking, This coward only talks big behind backs. Face-to-face? Not a peep!
Then Satoru spoke.
"…You believe that?"
"Huh? What?"
"'Rena's a whore,' 'been with rich guys'—you believe that?" Satoru asked.
"Of course not!" Arisa snapped.
"Then there you go," Satoru said, spreading his hands with a grin. "If someone with your shaky IQ doesn't buy it, why would I spread it? To be a laughingstock?"
Arisa's pupils shook. She realized he was shading her.
Before she could snap back, Satoru pulled crumpled bills from his pocket.
"Huh? Trying to bribe… or beg?" Arisa scoffed, looking at him like he was an idiot.
Satoru's gaze was even more withering—like he was eyeing a frog. "My winnings. From the snitch."
He stuffed the cash back. "If your brain's bigger than his balls, you wouldn't fall for it."
"…" Arisa choked, speechless.
His logic made sense, but his insults stung too much to admit it.
"One thing he got right, though."
Satoru ignored Arisa, turning to Rena. "Kurashiki, I'm really not into you anymore. That's why I came—to clear that up. Let's leave the past behind. Life's stormy enough."
Rena bit her silver teeth, fingers twisting her blonde hair. She sneered, "Acting cool, huh? Don't forget I rejected you! Stop pretending you moved on! A creepy, gloomy guy like you will never get a girl's—"
She didn't finish "favor."
The classroom door swung open.
Arisa turned to chew out the intruder but froze, mouth closing.
A senpai stood gracefully in the doorway.
"I'm here to pick you up, Kobayashi-kun."
Miyajima Sakura smiled softly, brushing hair behind her ear. Her gaze flicked over Arisa, then locked on Rena.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Friendly chat," Satoru said with a shy grin.
…
…