Chapter 13: First Signs of Jealousy

Sena Aikawa walked into class like she was stepping onto a stage.Everyone noticed. They always did.
She had that easy confidence that made people turn their heads whether they wanted to or not. Ren didn’t turn his head—he dropped his pencil. It bounced off the desk, rolled, and hit his shoe.
Sena laughed. “Cute reaction.”
Ren blinked. “To… what? Gravity?”
She leaned closer. “You’re fun.”
Yuki, at the window seat, pretended the outside world was the most fascinating thing ever created. She didn’t turn around. Not once. But her grip on her pen tightened until it looked like she was trying to snap it with human determination alone.

---
During group work, Sena ignored her assigned team and walked straight to Ren.
“Mind if I join you?” she asked, even though she’d already sat down.
Ren gave a polite smile. “Isn’t your group over there?”
“They’ll survive,” she said, waving a hand. “Besides, you’re more interesting.”
Yuki coughed. Loudly. More like a controlled explosion.
Haru leaned toward her with the subtlety of a whispering elephant.“Yuki… your eye is twitching.”
“It is not.”
“It really is.”He pointed. “It’s like a dying cicada.”
“Shut up.”
Mina watched them with her arms crossed, a slow grin spreading on her face.“Oh, this is great,” she murmured.“Love triangles. Jealousy. Slow burn tension exploding in real time. I should bring popcorn.”

---
Ren, oblivious as always, tried to continue the worksheet.
“So… we list three causes of—”
Sena rested her chin on her hand. “Ren, can I ask you something?”
He hesitated. “Uh, sure?”
“Do you have someone you like?”
Yuki’s pen snapped.
Everyone in the group froze.Even the air paused.
Ren tilted his head. “Someone I like…?”He looked genuinely puzzled, as if the concept required a loading screen.
“I mean,” Sena continued, smiling sweetly, “you’re the type people fall for easily. Quiet. Kind. A little clueless.”
Haru nudged Yuki. “You’re breathing faster. Should I worry?”
“No.”
“Because it sounds like worry.”
“Shut. Up.”
Mina put a hand on Haru’s head and pushed him down like a misbehaving pet. “Let her suffer in peace.”

---
Ren rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t really think about that stuff.”
Sena leaned a bit closer. “Maybe you should.”
Ren slowly slid his chair an inch away. “Maybe I shouldn’t.”
Yuki let out a tiny exhale. Not relief. Something closer to: Thank God he’s still slow.
Mina caught it and smirked. “Interesting.”

---
Class ended. Students packed up. Sena lingered.
“Oh, Ren,” she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Want to walk together?”
Ren blinked. “Like… out of the classroom?”
“Unless you plan to stay here forever,” she teased.
Before he could answer, Yuki stood and spoke faster than she meant to.
“He’s coming with us.”
Ren looked surprised. Haru looked thrilled.Mina looked like she was watching live drama unfold.
Sena tilted her head. “Us?”
Yuki froze. Then cleared her throat. “Class group. Project stuff.”
There was no project.
Ren nodded. “Right. Project stuff.”
Haru whispered, “Smooth save.”
Mina whispered back, “Smooth panic.”
Sena smiled politely. “Another time then.”
As she left, Yuki stared at her desk, ears a little red.
Haru leaned in. “So. You don’t care, right?”
Yuki didn’t answer.
Her silence was the loudest thing in the room.