Chapter 9 -The Distance Between Them

The next morning, Rei Hoshizaki woke up with one very annoying thought.

Kuro’s tail.

More specifically—

How it wrapped around his wrist yesterday like it belonged there.

Rei groaned and buried his face into his pillow.

“Why am I thinking about that…”

He quickly got dressed and headed to school.

But the moment he walked into the classroom—

His eyes immediately found her.

Kuro Akamine was already sitting at her desk near the window.

Quiet as usual.

Black hair falling neatly over her shoulders.

And behind her chair…

Her tail slowly swayed.

Rei sighed.

“…There it is again.”

He walked over and dropped into his seat beside her.

“Morning.”

Kuro glanced at him.

“…Morning.”

Her ears twitched slightly.

Rei noticed it immediately.

“You’re reacting again.”

“…I’m not.”

“Your ears moved.”

“They always move.”

“Only when I talk.”

“…Coincidence.”

Rei leaned back in his chair.

“You know, you're really bad at hiding it.”

“…Hiding what?”

Rei smirked.

“Your feelings.”

Kuro froze.

“…I don’t have feelings.”

The tail swished faster.

Rei pointed at it.

“That thing disagrees.”

Kuro grabbed her tail and pulled it into her lap again.

“…Stop observing it like it’s some science experiment.”

“It’s fascinating.”

“…You’re annoying.”

Rei grinned.

But before he could respond—

A voice suddenly interrupted.

“Hoshizaki!”

Rei looked up.

It was Takumi, one of the guys from his class.

“Come play soccer during lunch,” he said.

Rei scratched his head.

“…Maybe.”

“Don’t maybe me. Come.”

Rei laughed.

“Alright, alright.”

Takumi walked away.

Rei turned back toward Kuro.

But something felt different.

She was staring out the window again.

Quiet.

Her tail had stopped moving.

Rei leaned closer.

“…Hey.”

“…What.”

“You’re quiet.”

“…I’m always quiet.”

“Not this quiet.”

She didn’t answer.

Rei watched her for a moment.

Then he realized something.

“You don’t like soccer?”

“…It’s noisy.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Kuro sighed softly.

“…You’ll be surrounded by people.”

“…Yeah.”

“…Especially girls.”

Rei blinked.

“…Wait.”

He leaned closer.

“Are you jealous again?”

Her ears twitched sharply.

“…No.”

The tail flicked once.

Rei smiled.

“Your tail says yes.”

“…My tail lies.”

“Pretty sure it doesn’t.”

Kuro turned toward him slowly.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“…You seem very confident.”

“I am.”

“…Why?”

Rei shrugged.

“Because every time another girl talks to me—”

He tapped her desk lightly.

“Your tail starts attacking things.”

Kuro’s face turned slightly red.

“…Coincidence.”

“Very violent coincidence.”

She turned away again.

“…Go play soccer.”

Rei tilted his head.

“…You want me to?”

“…It’s your life.”

Her voice sounded calm.

But her tail had wrapped tightly around the leg of her chair.

Rei stared at it.

Then suddenly—

He stood up.

Kuro glanced at him.

“…Where are you going?”

Rei shrugged.

“To tell them I’m not playing.”

Kuro blinked.

“…Why?”

Rei looked at her.

“Because someone might get jealous.”

Her ears turned bright red.

“…I told you I’m not jealous.”

“Sure.”

Rei sat back down.

Kuro stared at him for a moment.

“…You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know.”

“…Then why?”

Rei leaned back casually.

“Because I’d rather sit here.”

“…With me?”

“Yeah.”

Silence filled the space between them.

Kuro looked down at her desk.

Her tail slowly started moving again.

This time—

Gently.

After a moment she muttered quietly,

“…Idiot.”

Rei smiled.

Rei was half asleep at his desk when something soft hit his shoulder.

He opened one eye.

Kuro was standing beside him.

“…What.”

She placed something on his desk.

A small lunch box.

Rei blinked.

“…What’s this?”

“…Food.”

“…I can see that.”

“…Then why are you asking.”

Rei opened the lid.

Inside were neatly arranged pieces of food.

Rice.

Egg.

Small sausages.

Rei looked up.

“…Did you make this?”

“…Maybe.”

“You definitely did.”

“…Maybe.”

Rei chuckled.

“So this is part of the mission?”

Kuro crossed her arms.

“…Yes.”

“To make me fall for you?”

“…Correct.”

Rei picked up his chopsticks.

“Well…”

He took a bite.

Then paused.

“…This is really good.”

Kuro looked away quickly.

“…Of course it is.”

“Are you trying to win with cooking?”

“…If it works.”

Rei laughed.

“You’re surprisingly aggressive about this mission.”

Kuro muttered,

“…You told me to try harder.”

Rei nodded slowly.

“…Fair point.”

Then something unexpected happened.

Kuro sat down in the chair beside him.

Close.

Very close.

Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

Rei blinked.

“…You’re sitting here?”

“…Yes.”

“You usually sit alone.”

“…Mission efficiency.”

Rei laughed again.

“Everything is mission efficiency with you.”

“…It is a mission.”

Rei kept eating.

But after a moment he noticed something strange.

Kuro’s tail had slowly moved again.

And this time—

It gently rested against his leg.

Rei froze.

“…Kuro.”

“…What.”

“…Your tail.”

“…What about it.”

“…It’s touching me.”

She glanced down.

Then looked away.

“…Accident.”

“…It’s still there.”

“…Coincidence.”

Rei sighed.

“You really like blaming coincidences.”

“…They are convenient.”

Rei leaned closer slightly.

“…If your tail stays there any longer…”

Kuro glanced at him.

“…What.”

“…I might start thinking you like me.”

Her ears twitched violently.

“…That is the goal.”

Rei blinked.

“…Wait.”

Kuro looked straight at him.

“…Isn’t that the mission?”

Rei suddenly realized something dangerous.

Kuro wasn’t just following the mission anymore.

She was getting better at teasing him.

And the worst part—

His heart was starting to react to i