9. Noble Chemistry

By the time I was leaving the student council room with Rin’s unwarranted delusion, I saw a male student entering. And… that was it. Nothing else necessary.

Shiro and I went back to the library. She seated me down and immediately started talking.

"Ah mou~ Big sis is so unbelievable!" she said, pouting.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame her for saying that.

Rin was clearly responsible for that part, and her clumsiness wasn’t exactly trivial.

I glanced at the window, sunlight hitting the air molecules, particles shimmering faintly...

while Shiro couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

"If only she had been considerate, things wouldn’t have ended up like this…"

"Well, it’s fifty-fifty."

Shiro fixed me with a stern look.

"What do you mean by fifty-fifty? If anything, it’s like uh…"

Wait, are you kidding me? You’re actually counting her mistake?

Her fingers started moving one by one.

"Something… like…"

Hey, can you stop? You don’t have to use the exact percentage—it’s just an analogy!

How would you even measure that kind of mistake? 

Shake my head. This was unbelievable.

"Seventy-seven twenty-three! Yeah!"

Oh no…

This kind of stupidity never seemed to cease. I couldn’t help but facepalm.

"You actually did the percentage…"

"I know, right? I’m a genius, huh?"

The fact you wanted acknowledgment for that speaks volumes about your intelligence than anything else.

Anyway… there was something I should ask.

"Shiro."

"Did you see that student walking into the council room? Who is he?"

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she leaned forward slightly.

Shiro’s prideful expression suddenly shifted into seriousness.

"Kasegawa Yuuta," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly in a dry tone.

"Wait… how did you not know? Where have you even been?"

"They’re from the same grade as us!"

Well… I had been wondering that too. 

And no, it’s not like I wasn't bothered. I’m just… bad with names.

I may recognize some students by their role or helpfulness, but names? 

They stick only if they leave an impression.

Honestly, I avoid flooding my brain with mundane information that might even reduce 1% of my memory for something useful. Any knowledge, if anything—no matter how difficult, I take it for granted.

"You really love daydreaming, don’t you?"

I wouldn’t call it daydreaming.

I ignored her question to stay on topic.

"What is he doing?"

"Ugh, you’re so unbelievable."

"Okay, listen, Kamiya Akira-kun."

"He’s our current vice president!"

Oh… that explains why he seemed familiar.

During the school ceremony, he appeared along with Hanashi-san.

"Do you get it now? Why are you curious about him anyway? Hmph!"

Maybe stop acting like a damsel in distress for once, can’t you?

I crossed my arm in begrudging frustrations.

"No, it’s not like that. I don’t have those kinds of feelings, really."

Wait... why did I even have to clarify that?

Of course, my words had the exact effect I didn’t want—Shiro leaning back, crossing her arms like a cliché from some romcom.

"Heh, disgusting. Do you really think I’d imagine you two dating?"

"You were mistaken, you glasses idiot."

Hey, I get it. But can you not mash "glasses" and "idiot" together like that? That combo's awkward.

The clock’s second hand dragged slightly; I figured it was as inaccurate as its owner claimed.

"I mean… why are you so curious?"

Not sure why, but my first impression could easily be mistaken. 

Misunderstood. Strayed away from what seemed accurate.

And yet… it couldn’t have been more off. 

That sense of air when he walked by—something about it.

In a glance, I noticed a certain confidence, though I couldn’t grasp exactly what it was.

A glint in his eye made me register a confidence I couldn’t quantify

His dark blue hair was well-combed, leaving no trace of messiness.

“Did you just imagine something about him? You’re so disgusting.”

“No, I wasn’t.” My eyes narrowed slightly.

"Liar." She rolled her eyes in disbelief.

To be fair… I wasn’t imagining him. 

My mind simply noticed patterns—confidence, posture, hair… all the things that screamed “He’s someone worth observing.” So yeah, I just... paid attention. That's it.

Not that she’d believe me, of course.

"Are you both perhaps talking about me?"

Wait, how—

That all of a sudden intrusion came out of nowhere. I could barely detect it.

Is this guy a ninja or something?

"Uh no, Kasegawa-san! We are just talking about some random. Yeah! A student from the same class. That's it."

Shiro—there’s no use lying now. He wouldn’t—

"I see." He nodded thoughtfully, eyes flicking as if suspecting her.

"Alright! Forget about it then!"

Wait, did he just buy it?!

No, no, no,... wait. 

A person like him cannot be that stupid, right?

"May I join with you guys? It seems fun."

Shiro just nodded, along with that signature smile on her face.

"Oh, sure! We have just finished studying."

Yet another 'convincing' lie, I guess.

Now that he had joined with us... 

And with him settled at the table, the air shifted. Something told me this was only the beginning.