Jealousy, Fear, and Confusion in a Room

Following Seira’s provocation was a quick-fire, hard-fought rally that ultimately obliterated Ren’s class.

Her ferocious first strike had tipped the gym over. From there, it was a showdown. With both sides no longer abiding by the rules, the teacher tried to stop the game. But at that point, they were out of control.

“Stay out of this, you hear?!”

Seira's villainess-like laughter rang across the court. “Ohohoho! Play better, losers, and make me! Hurahhh!”

“Not again!”

“That’s so unfair!”

“What is wrong with you?!”

Kaien continued watching, astonished like everyone else.

Consequently, Seira paid the price for her disruptive actions. The student council got involved, and she was ordered to clean up the gym. However, Kaien refused to keep silent.

He went to talk with the only person he could convince of the truth.

“Miss Airin defended Miss Sakura from the girls in the other class…? That Miss Airin?”

At the student council president’s disbelieving reaction, Kaien only shrugged. “Didn’t hear from Airin yet, but I was watching her even before the match began, so…”

“Were you now?”

“Yeah… What?”

Nao held his chin, a knowing smirk on his face. “Weren’t the boys playing basketball? So, you had your eyes on her all the way from the other court the entire time?”

Kaien flinched, his cheeks heating up. “W-What does that have to do with this? Anyway, I’ll bring Airin back.”

“Right, I must also apologize for punishing her but not those in the wrong.” Nao’s gaze darkened. “They won’t get away from hurting Miss Sakura.”

“Airin sure taught them a lesson. It was insane.”

“How rare. You sound very amazed, Kinryuji.”

“Well, you should’ve seen it.” Kaien went red once more. “She carried the whole team, and it was really awesome. I didn’t think she could play like that.”

They arrived at the gym. Nao halted in his tracks, making Kaien turn to him.

“Since you’re saying that much, go ahead and see her on your own.”

His brows raised in surprise. “...You’re not coming?”

“I, of all people, should realize when someone wants to keep the girl he likes to himself even for just a moment.”

This time, he combusted.

Kaien became aware recently of how his attention always seemed to be on Seira. He used to believe it was out of apprehension or disgruntlement, but he now knew his true feelings toward her.

It was no quick realization either. It was slow and sudden yet intentional.

“I have no idea what you mean,” Kaien tried to deny, still unassured that this was what he, and now Nao, suspected it was.

“Why don’t you find out for yourself?”

While Nao said that, he was staring in the direction of the storage room. From the looks of it, Seira was cleaning that cramped place right now. Nao nodded at Kaien before taking his leave.

‘Find out what exactly?’ Kaien walked over and opened the door, only to pause. ‘...It's locked from the outside?’

There was a clicking sound from the doorknob when he turned it. If Seira were there, she wouldn't be able to go out. The thought of her stuck alone inside caused him immediate concern.

‘Airin could be dumb sometimes, but she wouldn't just lock herself in for no good reason.’ The memory of the volleyball match popped up in his head. ‘Those girls who bullied Sakura…’

It would be a stretch to accuse anyone this early on, especially when he had no evidence. For now, he needed to get Seira out of the room. The class was over an hour ago, which could mean she was trapped for as long.

Something crashed at that second. In a hurry, Kaien pushed the door open, then froze. A shocking scene came into view.

There were two people.

Seira was groaning in pain while backed into a corner. Ren had fallen forward with both arms against the wall. They stood face-to-face, with metal poles hanging precariously above them.

He sort of understood what happened. But at the same time, he did not. His chest tightened while his hands clenched into fists.

Ren, who was not supposed to be here, was with Seira for some reason—both so close that their faces were mere inches apart.

“Ah, Kinryuji Kaien! Help me!” Seira cried out, completely oblivious to the storm of emotions raging within Kaien at the moment. “This guy followed me here and demanded to know what's going on! Then, I asked him how he could not figure it out when it's always right in front of him—that bunch who's jealous of Sakura Yume, I mean! Just what did he expect those girls to do when he's giving her so much favor?!”

“Why did you have to tell him all that?!” Ren exclaimed.

Seira grumbled, “Should I tell how we ended up like this instead?”

“Shut it! T-This place was so dark, and the door closed by itself, then I panicked and thought there really were…”

“I already said there’s no ghost! Because of you, those things almost crushed us to death! We'll be the ghosts, then!”

“STOP! PLEASE STOP!”

No one would’ve ever imagined that Hanazono High School's biggest playboy was also this big of a coward.

Kaien would have found it hilarious, if it weren't for how close Seira and Ren still were. They did not talk much to each other before this. They should not have been this chummy.

Yet right now, they were fighting like they'd been doing it for so long. 

Suddenly, Kaien remembered Seira say, "He is a ladies' man." He knew that since the day he met him. He knew he could get what he wanted if he tried.

“I’m serious, Airin,” Ren hissed through gritted teeth. “If you tell Yume about this…”

“About you being a scaredy-cat?” Seira grinned playfully, taunting him more. “Why not? Girls like boys who’re true to themselves~”

Kaien, now irritated, could not help but growl, “Stop messing around in this situation.”

The two turned to him, taken aback.

---

‘W-What’s up with him?’

Seira felt her heart jump at the sight of Kaien pacing toward her with an inscrutable expression. His low voice had caught her off guard. She wondered if he was angry about something.

‘Don't he and Akamine Ren get along?’ was the first thought she had as Kaien glared at Ren and muttered, “Move already, Akamine.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Airin, you too.”

“Y-Yes…”

Fortunately, there was still some space between them and the metal poles.

Ren carefully stepped away before lending a hand to her. But then, another reached out. Kaien quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her.

“Hey, easy. That's not how you should treat a lady,” Ren chided teasingly, but Kaien was clearly unamused by this.

“So is pinning her down.”

“As if we had a choice.”

“You did, but you're too busy fooling around.”

“Hmm? What's this? Is the boyfriend jealous?”

“T-T-That’s wrong!” Seira chimed in, flustered. “We’re not a couple! T-That thing before… It's all an act!”

Ren whistled. “That's kinda hard to believe now that I'm seeing this.”

“...This?”

“Are you done yet? We can take this somewhere else,” Kaien glowered.

“This! He's for real, and I know since that's the face other boys make whenever I'm near their girls-”

“Akamine.”

Kaien was serious.

The room went silent, as though it stopped breathing along with Seira. Ren, meanwhile, appeared to be greatly entertained. After a long moment, Kaien took her hand and led her outside.

“By the way,” he spoke one last time, stopping briefly and glancing back at Ren. “I once heard someone died here.”

With that, Kaien shut the door.

Ren screamed. Seira gaped.

“Why did you do that? He really is afraid of that stuff,” she said, incredulous.

“The door is unlocked. He can get out if he wants to,” he replied nonchalantly.

“But he might get into another accident.”

“He won't. Why’re you so worried about that guy?”

“‘Cause he did get us into an accident!”

“...And yet, you were so eager to hit me with a chair before.”

Seira was stunned.

For whatever reason, Kaien was sulking. His brows curved down, and his mouth formed a small pout. It was absolutely endearing. Her breath caught at the sight while her knees started shaking.

‘S-S-So cute!’ she swooned inwardly. ‘What gives, Kinryuji Kaien?!’

She did not know what the reaction was for, but what she did know was that it could be bad for the heart.

In which case, she had no business getting this worked up. They were not in any special relationship. So, of course, she was not meant to feel anything.

Even still, Seira could not seem to take her eyes off of Kaien.