Passing the Buck on the Flames of Romance

The breeze in the hallway carried the crisp, chilled air from the vending machines, leaving one feeling refreshed.

Shangguan Che had just stepped out of the library when he saw Ayanokoji being clung to by Ike like a koala, with Sudo and Yamauchi surrounding them. The group was chatting so intensely that they didn't even notice him approaching.

"Tell me, you guys, what are you talking about that's so fun?" Shangguan Che leaned in with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Ayanokoji's expressionless face.

In truth, he had always been a bit puzzled: he and Ayanokoji had known each other since the start of the school year and had even eaten together once, but beyond that, their relationship was limited to nods and greetings—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them "the most superficial of superficial friends."

On the other hand, Ayanokoji, who always seemed uninterested in everything, could somehow always hit it off with Ike and the others, which was truly baffling.

"Sakura is shy and doesn't like crowds, and Ayanokoji is always diving into the thick of things; it seems I can only categorize Ayanokoji as a 'regular classmate' for now," Shangguan Che calculated silently, not forgetting to give Ayanokoji—who was trapped by Ike—a look that said, Sorry, brother.

But the next second, he saw Ayanokoji's gaze drift past Ike's shoulder and point ever so slightly in his direction.

Immediately, the eyes of Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo snapped toward him, the fire of gossip in their gazes almost burning a hole right through him.

"Well, that settles the debt." Shangguan Che felt an instant sense of balance, even wanting to laugh. "Ayanokoji, you're something else, drawing the fire onto me just like that?"

"Shangguan! Are you and Sakura dating?!" Ike took the lead, his voice loud enough for the entire hallway to hear, as if he were terrified someone might miss it.

Yamauchi chimed in: "Yeah, yeah! You two eat together every day, go to the library together, and I even saw you carrying her bag last time!"

Shangguan Che's mouth twitched, and he inwardly exclaimed, Good grief. "No way, are you guys trying to bait my ultimate with a basic attack? Good thing I was prepared." He caught a glimpse of Sakura standing nearby; her cheeks were already flushed to the roots of her hair, and she was clutching her bag straps nervously, looking like she was about to cry.

"Sakura, could you head back to the classroom first?" Shangguan Che quickly turned his head, trying to keep his tone as gentle as possible. "I have a few things to discuss with Ike and the others, and I'll come find you in a moment."

"O-okay!" Sakura nodded like a startled rabbit and turned to run toward the classroom, her pace so fast it looked like she was being chased by a dog, her hair fluttering behind her.

Watching Sakura's retreating figure, Shangguan Che finally let out a sigh of relief. He turned to Ike and Yamauchi, crossed his arms, and said with feigned seriousness, "Do you two not have any female friends? Just because Sakura and I study and eat together, you think we're a couple?"

"What else could it be?" Ike wore an "I know you're faking it" expression and leaned into Shangguan Che's space. "You're with Sakura every single day; who in the class doesn't know that?"

"And, and! I saw you and Sakura sitting at the cafe by the school gate last weekend!" Yamauchi added quickly, afraid of missing any crucial information. "You guys must be dating!"

Shangguan Che was taken aback by their claims, suddenly looking at these two with newfound respect. "No way, you guys observe that closely? How come I never see you being this diligent in class?"

He had intended to deny it outright, but seeing their gossiping faces, he suddenly found it amusing and decided to play coy. "Don't overthink it. Sakura and I are just normal friends, or at most... friends with shared interests."

"What kind of interests?" Ike pressed immediately, his eyes wide, his lack of personal boundaries almost forcing Shangguan Che to take a step back.

"Secret." Shangguan Che smiled mysteriously, already calculating how to slip away. "I have things to do, I'm heading off."

But the moment he turned, he was grabbed by the arms by Yamauchi and Sudo. Yamauchi raised an eyebrow: "You aren't going anywhere until you explain yourself!"

Sudo nodded along; though he didn't speak, the curiosity in his eyes was no different from Ike's or Yamauchi's.

Shangguan Che sighed helplessly and had to change the subject: "Forget about me. Weren't you guys having a great time talking just now? What were you discussing?"

"Oh, right! I almost forgot about Ayanokoji!" Ike slapped his forehead, finally remembering the Ayanokoji he had "abandoned." He quickly let go of Shangguan Che and ran to Ayanokoji's side. "Ayanokoji, are you really not secretly dating Horikita? It's the talk of the class!"

Shangguan Che followed Ike's gaze to Ayanokoji, only to see him maintaining that same calm, unruffled expression, as if he weren't the one who had just shifted the topic onto him.

"So that's what they were talking about." Shangguan Che realized, rolling his eyes at Ayanokoji. Fine, Ayanokoji, you win. I'll take the loss this time.

He watched as Ayanokoji gently pushed Ike's hand away and said in a flat tone, "I am not dating her."

"For real?" Yamauchi looked skeptical. "I saw you two buying things together at the convenience store last time!"

"That was a coincidence. She was buying daily necessities, and I happened to be there too," Ayanokoji explained expressionlessly. "She and I have absolutely no such relationship."

Taking advantage of the moment Ike and Yamauchi were busy pestering Ayanokoji, Shangguan Che quietly stepped back a few paces and then strolled toward the classroom—he wasn't sneaking away, but leaving openly; after all, not interrupting Ayanokoji's "statement" was the greatest respect he could show him.

Do these two, Ike and Yamauchi, have nothing in their brains but women?

Shangguan Che muttered to himself as he walked. Oh wait, no, Yamauchi just bought a new game console a couple of days ago, so there should be a little room for games in there.

He truly couldn't understand the thought process of these two. They were high schoolers, yet they acted like elementary school students, gossiping about other people's love lives every single day.

As he walked, Shangguan Che suddenly remembered Sakura running back to the classroom and felt a bit worried. I wonder if Sakura was scared by what was said earlier. I should go check on her.

He activated his Clairvoyance and scanned the classroom, quickly locating Sakura.

She was slumped over her desk, her shoulders trembling slightly, though he couldn't tell what she was doing.

Did she really walk that fast? I've only been gone for a few minutes. Shangguan Che quickened his pace. As he reached the classroom door, he caught a glimpse of a pink envelope in Sakura's hand, trimmed with lace and looking exceptionally delicate.

Isn't that... a love letter? Shangguan Che's steps faltered, and he began to struggle internally. It's someone else's private information; should I really be looking at it?

Shangguan Che suddenly remembered the swimming race he'd had with Sakura, which he had won. At the time, he'd said he would make a request later. In this situation, could he use that request to make Sakura tell him voluntarily?

But then he shook his head. No, no, that's too deliberate. If I'm not careful, Sakura might misunderstand and think I have other intentions. Once a "heavy-woman field" forms, it'll be trouble. It's too heavy; I can't afford that.

That left only the option of "peeking or not peeking." Shangguan Che stared at the pink envelope, his mind at war: looking felt immoral, but not looking left him itching with curiosity about what was written inside.

Before he could decide, his feet had already carried him into the classroom. Forget it, I'll just play it by ear. If it comes to it, I'll just ask Sakura directly. Given her personality, she'll probably tell me the truth.

Hearing the sound of a desk and chair moving to her left, Sakura quickly looked up, her eyes meeting Shangguan Che's.

Her cheeks were still flushed, her eyes filled with a hint of panic. Seeing him look over, she quickly lowered her head and clutched the pink envelope tightly, terrified he might see it.

In truth, Sakura was also drumming her fingers. Could this be a love letter from Shangguan?

She had found the pink envelope in her shoe locker that morning; it had no signature, only a small heart drawn on it.

She had intended to open it during the break, but hadn't dared to. After the scene Ike caused earlier, she was even more nervous, her mind in a jumble, filled with nothing but thoughts of Shangguan Che.

When I get back to the dorm this afternoon, I have to open it and see! Sakura secretly made up her mind.

Shangguan Che looked at Sakura, who had her head buried low, and roughly guessed her thoughts. It seems she's still bothered by what Ike said.

He had wanted to explain a few things, to say they were just normal friends and tell her not to overthink it, but the words died on his lips.

Forget it, no point in explaining. The more you explain, the messier it gets. Let this blow over; given time, everyone will naturally forget.

Shangguan Che gently pulled out his chair and sat down. His peripheral vision caught the pink envelope in Sakura's hand, and his curiosity flared up again, but he resisted the urge to ask—after all, some things were better known only when the person involved was willing to share.