14. My Chemical Romance

Upon hearing that, I startled for a moment.

All of a sudden, the pain in my stomach was gone, replaced instead by gut-wrenching emotions.

Those chemical reactions inside my brain. Oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin.

You name it. 

Oh wait, why am I talking about chemistry anyway? Wasn't this a romcom about physics?

I shook my head in a total disbelief. 

Imagine explaining chemical reactions instead of physical particles.

The transition between the rapid air shifting through the atmosphere and when it suddenly stopped was stark. As if such a commotion had been created for one specific moment of escalating tension. Or else, it almost seemed like the god of romantic comedy supported this absurdity.

After quite a moment of contemplation and sensing the atmosphere, I finally adjusted my position.

From that somehow dramatic half-crawling pose to this... sitting upright with my back straight.

Chin up, with the kind of strength one could say belonged to the posture of a model student.

I stood up immediately, despite no one asking me to.

Finally, I took a breath. A grin appeared, along with a glint in my eyes.

"I just want..."

All of a sudden, I felt a shudder from beside me.

So, both of them are staring at me now? Jeez.

As if they were waiting for an answer.

A climax after all that tension.

But—

"Both of you."

The sudden continuation was, at best, disappointing.

"What is it, do you want another one, huh?" Hanashi Shiro said, her fist more than ready.

No no no, not again. Don't do that.

Meanwhile, the almighty prez sighed. Her graceful face looked like she was so done with this.

"You are such a... hopeless individual, Akira-kun."

Her head lowered once more, both hands resting on her chin.

A reaction of disappointment, probably.

"Why do you even want both of us? What are you trying to prove this time, Akira-kun?"

Genuinely, I didn't know whether her questions should be answered or left hanging.

But given the current situation, which had already escalated, I could have improvised.

Or no. Not at all.

"That you are serious about this matter. What else?"

She lifted an eyebrow. Her lips showed intrigue.

"Still as charming and fascinating as always, huh. I see..."

"So, how would that go? The double date?"

I adjusted my glasses before explaining once more.

However, while doing so, I could feel a sharp, glaringly murderous stare beside me.

As if those eyes were a pair of radioactive laser pointers that could decay me at any moment.

"It will be quite easy."

Hearing that, Rin moved her head away slightly.

I could sense a silent, "What do you actually mean by that?" from her gesture alone.

"Whoever wins doesn't matter. What matters is the effort taken."

"Oh... that doesn't sound too bad. How does it work then?" Rin replied, her tone inquisitive.

"I will assess both of you during this double date, which will be held during the weekend."

"In secret, I will create my own requirements for the two of you to pass."

"You both don't need to guess—whoever is closer to the requirements I have will win."

"Requirements? Why?" Rin asked again, this time sounding slightly confused.

She really looks like she's trying so hard to dissect my mind.

"Because they hold more weight in terms of mass compared to the others, Rin."

"Fair enough. What about the consequences then?" she asked once more, this time sharper.

Consequences, huh... I had never really thought about them before.

"As for the consequence—or rather, the prize—it will be a surprise, but it will also determine my decision."

"Whether I will follow you or act independently on my own."

"Either way, it's already settled that I should join."

Soon after saying all of that, I was about to sit down again, but—

"……Hah?"

That voice was flat. A complete disbelief, as if what I said just shattered reality.

Nope, her own sense of reality.

Hanashi Shiro froze for exactly half a second.

"Are you kidding me?!"

Hanashi-san, or Shiro for the sake of simplicity, had already grabbed my collar.

And lifted it, quite highly so.

Meanwhile, while Rin was still stammering in confusion, Shiro probably did get it.

No, a bit too well, in fact.

"You nerdy glasses maniac!"

Her voice cracked halfway through, not from emotion—but from sheer disbelief.

Rin blinked.

Not just once.

But twice.

"Huh. Hold on, what did he actually propose, Shiro?" she suddenly asked.

"I'm so lost..." she added, as if confirming her own confusion.

Wait. Shiro, don't answer it!

"He wanted to observe both of us like freaking particles!"

Too late. She practically nuked the room already.

"‘Weight in terms of mass’?! Are we goddamn SUBJECTS NOW TO YOU?!"

You really made it sound way worse than it actually was...

"Alright, wait—so... he treated both of us like samples? Some kind of specimens?" Rin asked again.

Okay, now that sounds ten times worse.

These two... can you stop looking at me like I'm some kind of jerk? My proposal is totally sound.

These reactions were understandable, especially when applied as force.

Yet still, I noticed the push and pull from both of them to be quite abnormal.

Anyway... I tried to speak, but I was too speechless. The environmental conditions were hopeless.

She leaned in closer, eyes burning.

"You nerdy glasses maniac, I swear I’m going to—"

"OKAY, STOP! BOTH OF YOU!"

Rin suddenly screamed in the middle of the chaos.

That usual composure from earlier was gone, replaced by a sudden burst of assertiveness.

"—peer review your skull's logic with my fist..."

She muttered it as she let go of my collar.

You really revised your intention midway? What is this, a remedial test?

Either way, it shouldn't be questioned—how extremely confused they are.

As if both of these parti— I mean, participants were attempting to decide their own directions.

"Shiro was totally right."

"You really should just die at this point. Get a rope or something."

I guess that's the worst response I could ever receive.

I couldn't help but stare in silence.