Chapter 26: The Standoff at Desk 3-B

The air in the classroom is so thick, you could cut it with a protractor.

Which I am seriously considering.

My entire class is frozen. Toujo looks like his brain has been replaced by a "Loading" icon. Rika is hiding behind her textbook.

And at my desk, we have this.

On my left: Fuji Kenji. The School Prince. Standing tall, his eyes narrowed, radiating pure, icy "I am Rank #2 and I own this place" energy.

On my right: Daiki Hanata. The Arcade King. Leaning against the doorframe, black hoodie, headphones, looking bored... and holding my stupid cat wallet like it's some kind of trophy.

"Yo, Twilight-chan," Daiki repeats, because he loves to make me suffer. "You dropped this."

Fuji does not look at Daiki. He looks at me.

"Isuzu-san," Fuji says, his voice dangerously smooth. "Who is this... person?"

Oh, he knows who he is. I can see it.

"He's a... jerk," I hiss, my face burning.

"I'm her friend," Daiki says, pushing off the doorframe. He strolls right into the classroom.

The girls in the front row gasp.

Daiki Hanata. "Deception." In our classroom.

Fuji takes a small, precise step to the side. He is now blocking Daiki's path to my desk.

This is a territorial move. Like two cats in an alley.

My alley.

"Hanata-san, I presume," Fuji says, his voice dropping ten degrees. "I must inform you that outsiders are not permitted on school grounds during class hours. It's a security risk."

Daiki stops. He looks Fuji up and down.

"Prince-kun, right?" Daiki smirks. "I heard about you. 'Rank #2'."

Fuji's eye twitches.

Oh, no. He went there.

"I'm just returning lost property," Daiki says, waving my wallet. "Being a good citizen. You're welcome, Twilight-chan."

He tries to step around Fuji.

Fuji moves again. Still blocking.

"You can hand it to me," Fuji says, holding out a perfect, princely hand. "I will ensure it gets to Isuzu-san. Now, please, leave."

"Nah," Daiki says, his lazy smile getting wider. "I want to give it to her myself. She looks so cute when she's flustered."

"I AM NOT FLUSTERED!" I explode, slamming my hands on my desk.

WHAM.

The entire class jumps.

Fuji and Daiki both freeze, their 'alpha male' stare-down broken.

They both look at me.

Finally.

I stand up.

My 'Bloody Twilight' aura is back. And it is pissed.

"Give. Me. My. Wallet." I growl at Daiki.

He, infuriatingly, just looks amused. "Say 'please'."

"I'm going to break your arm."

"So cool," he whispers.

"Isuzu-san," Fuji says, his voice stern. "This is exactly the kind of delinquent behavior I was warning you about."

"AND YOU!" I spin on Fuji. "Stop gatekeeping my desk! You're not my bodyguard!"

"I am merely-"

ENOUGH.

I shove Fuji aside. (He stumbles. His perfect balance is gone. Ha.)

I stomp up to Daiki.

I snatch my wallet out of his hand.

"Thank you. Goodbye."

I grab the sleeve of his stupid, expensive hoodie.

"OW- hey, wait-"

I start dragging him. Out of the classroom.

"AND YOU!" I yell back at Fuji, not stopping.

"DON'T. YOU. DARE. FOLLOW ME."

I drag the "King of the Arcade" out of the room, leaving behind a silent classroom, a furious-looking Prince, and a fainted Toujo.

My peaceful life is so over.