Satoru and Sakura stepped out of the classroom, one after the other.
Behind them, Rena and Arisa followed, their faces noticeably grim compared to the calm duo ahead.
"…What're you staring at?!" Arisa roared as gazes shifted from Sakura to Rena. "Scram!"
Rena stayed composed, silently watching Satoru's back, her silver teeth clenched.
A strange sense of defeat hit her—like she'd lost to him, or rather, to Sakura.
The feeling was odd.
After all, she had rejected him with disdain, and she still didn't think he was worthy. If anything, Sakura's taste was just abysmal. Yet, seeing Satoru and Sakura walk side by side, completely ignoring her, sparked a flicker of humiliated rage in Rena.
"I'm not interested in you anymore." Maybe she sensed Satoru meant it.
"Tch." Rena clicked her tongue, ruffling her blonde hair, glaring daggers at his back. About to leave with Arisa—
"K-Kobayashi-kun."
A soft voice called that irritating name. Rena looked up, uninterested, then her lips parted in surprise.
A sporty girl with a ponytail stood awkwardly before Satoru and Sakura.
"Oh, Yotsumoto? Looking for Matsubara? He bolted already," Satoru said.
"Yotsumoto-san, nice to see you again," Sakura greeted warmly.
"…Yotsumoto Ryoka?" Arisa muttered, stunned.
The karate club captain, dubbed the "karate club idol," a high-tier figure at Shirahama High, was speaking to Satoru… nervously?
"How's this guy suddenly so connected?!" Arisa blurted. He used to be a nobody, gloomy as hell, yet now he's tight with multiple school-famous beauties?
"N-No…" Ryoka shook her head, then nodded. "I see… Ayumu's gone."
"Yeah, he dipped fast after class," Satoru said. "Didn't tell you? Gotta scold him next time."
"…Right." Ryoka nodded, glancing at Sakura.
Miyajima-senpai, still so beautiful, she thought.
She hadn't come for Ayumu. Ryoka knew her childhood friend had already left. Heading to karate club, she'd passed Class F and thought to say hi to Satoru. She hadn't expected a crowd—or Satoru with Sakura.
Well, not unexpected. Satoru was in kendo club, and she'd seen their "date" on Sunday…
But still.
Ryoka mustered her courage and stepped forward. "Um, after club, want to walk home together?"
She ignored Sakura while asking, only afterward checking her senpai's reaction. Regret hit—What if Miyajima-senpai gets mad? We don't even know if they're… y'know, a couple yet…
Was that too bold?
But Sakura showed no anger, calm as ever. Ryoka sighed in relief. Miyajima-senpai, always so poised.
Or… did Sakura not see her as a threat at all?
Comparing herself to Sakura—looks, figure, grace—Ryoka felt outclassed.
"Sorry, got plans…" Satoru started.
Realizing she'd been rejected, Ryoka bowed instantly. "S-Sorry! My bad! Please don't mind me!"
Too reckless, thinking I could compete with Miyajima-senpai…
She bolted through the crowd, mortified.
Satoru sensed something off with Ryoka. "She okay?"
"No idea," Sakura said, tilting her head, puzzled but smiling sweetly. "So, Kobayashi-kun, off to kendo club?"
"Actually, got something to do," Satoru rejected again, on the spot.
"Oh." Sakura's face fell slightly, not too surprised.
She'd agreed Satoru didn't need to attend daily. She'd come to confirm his plans but forgot to ask earlier. His answer wasn't ideal, but it was an answer. She nodded. "Well, you're always welcome… We share part of the way to the club. Mind if I join you?"
"No biggie," Satoru said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. They started walking, chatting. "I was gonna hit kendo, but something came up—at the bookstore…"
"I see…" Sakura listened quietly, nodding along.
Ignoring the crowd's burning stares, they strolled out of the encirclement like it was nothing.
Rena and Arisa exchanged glances, their eyes screaming disbelief.
When did this guy get so popular?!
The crowd voiced their thoughts aloud.
"He rejected her?!"
"Two rejections in a row?!"
"I thought Yotsumoto was gonna be the losing dog, but both got shut down!"
"There's not a third, is there?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"That's ten seconds of my life wasted."
"Totally possible. A third beauty's lurking, waiting for Kobayashi."
"Dammit, is he possessed by some stallion spirit? He's a different man!"
"Trust science, not nonsense! Maybe he's got a pickup cheat code. Let's ask him later…"
At the hall's end, Nanao Akane hid behind a wall, clutching Satoru's borrowed jacket.
I can't get a word in! Akane trembled. She'd come to return the jacket, planning to catch Satoru alone to avoid rumors. But him leaving with Sakura? What's that about? Are they close?
Ryoka was probably looking for Ayumu…
And Rena—what was she doing here?!
Too far to hear details, Akane pieced it together with her imagination.
…
…