Alone Together

"Kanade," Kiyona lightly tapped Hoshino Kanade on the back with her finger and lowered her voice. "Why would Chabashira suddenly call for us?"

Hoshino Kanade turned and met Kiyona's seemingly clear, yet slightly bewildered eyes. He answered softly, "Maybe... she found out about your 'disguise.'"

"After all, Chabashira seems to really want the class to make it to Class A. She wouldn't let anyone coast along without contributing."

Just the right amount of confusion showed in Kiyona's eyes, along with a hint of girlish puzzlement. "Huh, is that really it?"

She thought her disguise should have been practically perfect.

"Trying to fool me?"

"Mhm, I was just messing with you."

Chabashira Sae wasn't in the office. Only Hoshinomiya Chie, the newly appointed Class A homeroom teacher, was there.

"Um... is Chabashira here?" Hoshino Kanade asked politely.

"Ah, little Sae? Hmm... she was just here." Hoshinomiya turned at the sound of his voice.

She had shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair and a demeanor that was both capable and easygoing, with a welcoming warmth.

Turning to Hoshino Kanade and the others, she introduced herself with a smile. "I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher for Class A."

She smiled and added casually, "By the way, Chabashira and I have been friends since high school. We've always called each other 'little Sae' and 'little Chie.'"

As soon as she finished speaking, she wore a familiar, friendly smile and naturally edged closer to Hoshino Kanade, raising a hand in a playful gesture as if to poke his arm.

Almost at the same moment, someone stepped between them and blocked her.

Kiyona's gaze was calm, but tinged with coldness and a hint of scrutiny.

The deliberately intimate air Hoshinomiya projected stirred instinctive resistance in her.

"Oh?" Hoshinomiya tilted her head, looking with interest at Kiyona's protective stance beside Hoshino Kanade. "You've already got such a protective little girlfriend?"

Kiyona didn't so much as flutter her eyelashes, as if she hadn't heard the suggestive teasing at all.

"Was there something you wanted, Hoshinomiya?"

The blunt question made Hoshinomiya's smile falter for half a second.

But she immediately beamed even brighter, acting as if she hadn't noticed Hoshino Kanade's question at all. With a hint of gossipy excitement, she leaned closer.

"By the way, why did little Sae call you out here?"

Chabashira had gone out of her way to summon students to the office, and Hoshinomiya had sensed something unusual.

Having Hoshinomiya handle Chabashira might be a good idea. Hoshino Kanade met Hoshinomiya's searching gaze and lowered his voice.

"Chabashira... seems to have some special hopes for Class D's future."

The smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face froze.

She had always known that Chabashira Sae had never given up on her obsession with Class A, but for an ordinary student to see through that ambition with a single remark...

Just then, Chabashira suddenly appeared.

Without a word, she raised the clipboard in her hand and smacked it squarely against Hoshinomiya Chie's head with a sharp smack.

"Ow! That hurts!" Hoshinomiya cried, clutching her head as she crouched down, grimacing in pain. "What was that for~?"

Chabashira frowned slightly and looked at her coldly.

"You wouldn't stop pestering my students."

"But he said he was here to see you," Hoshinomiya Chie explained breezily. "I was just keeping them company until you got back."

"Next time, ignore him." After saying that, Chabashira turned to Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, her tone softening a little.

"Ayanokoji, Hoshino, sorry to keep you waiting. It's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to the Guidance Room."

Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona nodded in agreement.

Hoshinomiya seemed to want to follow them inside, but Chabashira shot her a cold look, the warning unmistakable.

Just then, Ichinose happened to come by to see Hoshinomiya.

Hoshinomiya had no choice but to give up reluctantly and leave with Ichinose.

Still, perhaps she could talk to "him" in private...

Chabashira led Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona into the quiet Guidance Room, and the door closed softly behind them.

Hoshino Kanade had a vague idea what this was about, but kept an inquisitive expression.

After a brief pause, he looked at Chabashira and asked in a mild tone, "Teacher, did you want to see us about something?"

Chabashira didn't answer.

She quickly glanced up at the round clock on the wall, then turned and walked toward a door in the corner of the Guidance Room.

Beyond it was a small adjoining kitchenette, where a stove and kettle were visible.

She opened the door and tersely nodded toward the inside, signaling for Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona to go in.

Once they were inside, Chabashira stood in the doorway and spoke in a flat but firm tone.

"All right. You don't need to do anything else. Just stay quietly in there. Don't come out or make a sound until I tell you that you can. Understood?"

She paused and looked over their faces, as if making sure they understood.

"If you disobey, the consequences will be serious. You could even face expulsion."

With that, she casually closed the kitchenette door. The lock clicked softly.

She'd even skipped the explanation. That was so like Chabashira.

The kitchenette wasn't very big, but there was enough room for two people.

In the thick darkness, Kiyona's forehead rested lightly against Hoshino Kanade's shoulder blade, her warm breath seeping into his skin.

"What are you thinking about?" She suddenly rose onto her tiptoes, her lips almost brushing Hoshino Kanade's earlobe.

"If you make a sound, you'll be expelled..." She curled her fingers and gently tugged at his sleeve. "Aren't you scared?"

Hoshino Kanade's thoughts were interrupted.

He instinctively covered her mischievous fingers with his palm. "...Be quiet."

"What is Chabashira planning?" Her breath warmed Hoshino Kanade's ear, making it hard for him to focus.

Their mingled breaths hovered barely an inch apart. In the darkness, only the sound of their breathing remained.

"We'll find out soon. If you keep fooling around..." He lowered his voice. "You might actually get expelled."

In the darkness, his sense of smell grew unusually sharp. He could clearly make out the faint fragrance on Kiyona, though it didn't smell like shampoo.

Or was it her natural scent?

Kiyona tilted her face up, the tip of her nose brushing lightly against his cheek. "Really? I don't believe you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she gently blew into his ear again.

"Don't move." Hoshino Kanade pressed his palm firmly against the back of her neck. "...Footsteps."

Kiyona froze instantly.

The crisp sound of heels tapping against the tiled floor drew closer from far away, each click falling perfectly in time with the pounding of their hearts.

Kiyona instinctively shrank into Hoshino Kanade's arms, her forehead against his collarbone. The intimate contact made them both freeze.

When the girl's soft, warm body collided with his chest, the heartbeat beneath it suddenly quickened. The heat he'd suppressed began to spread uncontrollably.

Hoshino Kanade lowered his eyes to look at the person in his arms, and all the ways Kiyona had teased him moments ago suddenly came back to him.

He gently put his arms around her, the faintest smile brushing his lips.

It seemed the tables had quietly turned.