An Infraction

KAGAYAKI

Why did something so infuriatingly small get a reaction out of her? Why? Why?

WHY?!

Something in Naomi’s brain short-circuited when she felt Riku’s hand grip hers. It was just so confident. So... headstrong. Just like...

Oh, no. It was definitely her subconsciously remembering those kinds of scenes.

Those scenes from the shoujo visual novels she used to consume daily, back when she wasn’t allowed to leave the K-Pop Boot Camp for weeks at a time.

She always wondered what being in that state of bliss felt like.

Which made Riku’s attempt so dangerous.

Her swatting it away was an acceptable reaction; doubtlessly, it had followed Mother’s plan to the letter: "make Yuuji’s entrance exceptional."

Mom wouldn’t question it. But if she allowed Riku to get any closer—if he looked at her like that again—she wasn’t sure her heart could take it.

Stop it. She must remind herself: Riku’s life would be ruined by her mother in more creative ways than she thought of to get Naomi to the top of the charts.

Game face on, girl.

Naomi’s eyes, which had been wide and watery, narrowed. The blush on her cheeks felt like a burn, but she let it freeze over.

It’s time to make Riku hate me and for Yuuji to do his thing.

Then… finally, he can be rid of a no-good girl like me.

For good.

Naomi felt like she could cry.

\\

RIKU

Riku watched as Kagayaki, with a hand hovering over her mouth, stepped toward Yuuji… and...

"Ohohoho~"

Was she doing a nobleman’s laugh?! What kind of sick game was Kagayaki playing with Yuuji here? 

“You transferred to the same school as me?" she questioned Yuuji, tilting her head, one finger on her chin. "One may think it’d be an act bordering on obsession. We’re rivals…”

Rivals. Right. It was true.

STRIVEEE vs. COMEDOWN. Yuuji’s Montagues to Kagayaki’s Capulets.

For years, these two groups had been battling it out for the top charts. But the electrical current running between their disputes had been undeniable.

And now, it was playing out in his homeroom.

“What can I say? The circumstantial evidence is pretty damning, isn't it?" Yuuji grinned, and the class swooned. "Being the impulsive guy I am, I'll just lay it all out. You… intrigue me, Miss Kagayaki.”

Kagayaki circled a strand of hair around her finger. “Oh…?”

“I want to see what makes you tick. I want to see what makes me tick. I want to discover why I can't get you out of my head... when I am clearly the better artist.”

Gasps from the crowd rippled throughout the classroom.

Kagayaki rolled her eyes. “Pfft. Good luck with that.”

Riku swallowed. The purpose of all these dramatics and fantastical dialogue must have had a purpose... 

He’s seen this kind of relationship dynamic in other media before. The bad boy obsessed with the perfect girl; the girl having to ‘fix’ his behavior… it all just made too much sense!

With all the cameras recording this... they were trying to replicate reality TV.

Case closed, then. He just had to put his hands in his pockets and walk away. So why did it bother me so much? 

Seeing her play along... seeing her blush at Yuuji's lines...

Stop it, he told himself. You hate this industry, you hate what she stands for, you miss when K-Pop was young and budding and didn’t have its slimy corporate fingers shoved down people's throats.

But his eyes wouldn't leave her.

Every time she looked at him, his heart did a stupid, traitorous flip.

Did I like the idea of Naomi doing these things, or did I like the idea of Naomi doing these things because of me?

“But first and foremost…” Yuuji’s charming face dropped, snapping Riku back to reality. “How does this… friend of yours… come into the equation?”

The crowd’s reaction bordered on scandalous. Riku didn't move, just kept kneeling, looking up at the unfolding play.

“He’s… someone I used to know,” Kagayaki replied, her voice wavering for just a second.

“Really?” Yuuji tilted his head. “From the commotion I saw, one could be mistaken for that relationship being of an abusive nature.”

Yuuji strode over, stopping just in front of Riku. He bent down, his handsome face just inches from Riku's own.

“So what are you? Friend…?” Yuuji jabbed a finger straight onto Riku’s forehead, pushing his head back slightly. “Or foe?”

Riku simply stared daggers into Yuuji.

“Oh…” Yuuji stood up, laughing. “You are the Kkondae type, aren’t you? A confident, mysterious guy who doesn’t take shit from anyone?” He looked around at the student body ‘audience.’ "It's a classic archetype. But you need the accomplishments to back up the antisocial behavior, don’t you? So what's his claim to fame, Kagayaki?"

“We have been friends since childhood,” Kagayaki clarified. “I don’t think that perception of our relationship is mutual anymore.”

Another knife straight to the heart! Riku felt it, but he let the feeling wash over.

For now… he kept silent.

“So why keep trying when he’s clearly being a dick?” Yuuji said. “We are on this Earth for so little time. You shouldn’t waste it on lost causes. The bridge has been burned to a crisp, clearly.”

Yuuji gestured to the other side of the room. “Where are you sitting?” he asked Kagayaki.

Kagayaki gestured toward the empty table beside Riku’s.

“Ah. I see.” Yuuji’s smile was kind. “Well, you don't have to.” He didn't grab her. He held out his hand. A perfect gentleman. “Come join me on my side of the classroom. It’s less… complicated.”

“I…” Kagayaki started, her eyes flickering—just for a microsecond—toward Riku.

When she closed her eyes and her head bowed down, Kagayaki looked the least like Naomi Riku had ever seen her.

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Riku must find out why his emotions feel so tangled. Why couldn’t he just leave Kagayaki to run wild in this charade of a spectacle?

Because he needed to know why Kagayaki’s actions made him feel so good inside.

“You!” Riku shouted.

“Me?” Yuuji pointed toward himself.

"Yes, you. You have no right to assume anything about our relationship.”

“Given the circumstances…”

“Let me finish. Unless your only way of winning arguments is by cutting people off and making your voice louder.”

The crowd, on cue, reacted like the petulant children they were. “Ooooooooooh!!”

“Fact is,” Riku continued, “you came in with the expectation that you can take what you want.”

“I am asking her, though. Very politely, I might add!”

“Stop twisting my words with semantics. We both know you came in here expecting an outcome.”

For some reason, Yuuji, the creep that he is, started to smile.

“I am sorry,” Yuuji said eventually. “You are right. I often act with my heart more than my head. I got too eager. But be that as it may, Kagayaki-san… the offer is still on the table. And it’d be wiser in the long run that you—”

“Riku’s right.”

Yuuji blinked, turning towards Kagayaki. “I am sorry?”

“I said that Riku was right,” Kagayaki replied. “I chose this seat. Irrespective of me sitting next to… a pest… the Ice Princess can handle her own problems herself. I won’t let myself be compromised by anyone, least of all a talentless hack like STRIVEEE’s frontman.”

Yuuji didn't look angry at her response, even if the crowd audibly winced.

In fact… Yuuji looked... delighted.

“Ha…” He tossed his head back and laughed. “Hahaha!”

Riku raised an eyebrow. What on earth…?

Yuuji held his hands up in surrender, a brilliant, shit-eating grin on his face. “Fine, fine. As you wish, Miss Kagayaki. Though… there still lies the problem of your former friend’s rotten and needlessly hostile attitude.”

He pointed from Riku to Kagayaki, and then back to himself.

“So I propose a… challenge of sorts.”

Riku clenched his fists. The class only leaned in further. 

What was Yuuji’s game here…?

From Naomi’s expression, all this didn’t seem like news to her. Rather… she looked…

Resigned.

Well, whatever it is, I am not known as Naomi’s ‘pest’ for nothing. Yuuji is probably going to propose a challenge that I can easily make myself look like an ass.

And just like when I was young, and when I grew older… I will keep trying.

This time, to get to the bottom of whatever the hell was affecting Naomi.

\\

KAGAYAKI

Kagayaki steeled herself. She had to steel herself, otherwise things would just go from bad to worse.

I wasn’t supposed to say all those things to Yuuji…

Why can’t I just mute my feelings and stick to the plan…?