After meeting Airi near the vending machine, Tenkei couldn't stop thinking about her. She hadn't done anything wrong, yet something about her presence made him uneasy. Still, he convinced himself that he was just overthinking, like always.
Over the next few days, Airi started appearing more often around him. Sometimes she sat behind him in class. Sometimes she stood near his desk during breaks. Sometimes he noticed her walking a few steps behind him after school. Each time, she acted natural, as if it was just a coincidence.
Miko noticed it too.
"Tenkei, do you know that girl?" she asked one afternoon.
"W-Which girl…?"
"The one with black hair. She keeps looking at you."
He froze for a moment. "N-No… I don't really know her…"
Miko frowned slightly but didn't say anything more.
One day, Airi finally gathered the courage to talk to him again. She approached him in the library while he was reading alone.
"Hatsuhinode-kun… may I sit here?"
"S-Sure…"
She sat beside him, leaving only a small space between them. Her shoulder almost touched his.
"You always read alone," she said softly.
"I… I like quiet places…"
"I like them too," she replied. "That's why… I like being near you."
He didn't know how to respond. His face turned red, and he looked down at his book.
From that day on, Airi started helping him with homework, sharing snacks, and walking with him sometimes when Miko was busy. Little by little, she entered his daily life.
Tenkei didn't realize it.
But every step she took closer to him was part of a plan.
And somewhere in her heart, something dark was growing.