Alone

"Kanade," Kiyona turned sideways and lightly nudged Hoshino Kanade in the back with her elbow, lowering her voice to ask, "Why did Chabashira-sensei suddenly call us over? What could it be about?"

Hoshino Kanade turned his head and met Kiyona's seemingly clear yet foolish gaze. "Maybe... she saw through your 'act.'"

He unconsciously tapped his fingers against the desk. "After all, Chabashira-sensei herself seems very eager to get promoted to Class A. She wouldn't tolerate anyone in her class slacking off."

Kiyona's slender fingers absently twirled a lock of hair that fell over her shoulder. She tilted her head, her cool eyes narrowing slightly as she displayed just the right amount of confusion and girlish innocence. "Oh~ Is that so?"

Her toe gently touched Hoshino Kanade's heel beneath the desk. "I've been a 'diligent student' this whole time, you know. Don't go accusing people without cause, Kanade."

"Yeah, yeah, I accused you unfairly." Kiyona rarely hid what she really thought from Hoshino Kanade, but she had never admitted it outright.

All he could do was go along with her.

Just as he'd expected, Chabashira Sae wasn't in the staff room. The only one there was Class B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie.

"Um... is Chabashira-sensei here?" Hoshino Kanade asked.

"Hm? Little Sae? Well—she was here just a moment ago." Hoshinomiya-sensei turned at the sound of his voice.

She had medium-length, slightly wavy hair, and her demeanor combined a teacher's efficiency with an easygoing warmth.

Turning to Hoshino Kanade and the others, she introduced herself with a natural, open manner. "I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, Class B's homeroom teacher."

She smiled and added casually, "Come to think of it, Chabashira-sensei and I have been close friends since high school. We still call each other 'Little Sae' and 'Little Chie.'"

As soon as she finished speaking, she leaned toward Hoshino Kanade with a familiar smile, raising a hand and playfully pointing at him with her fingertips, as if she were about to poke his arm.

At almost the same moment, a figure stepped between them—Kiyona lifted her arm and precisely blocked Hoshinomiya, keeping her at a distance.

Kiyona's gaze was calm but cold, carrying an almost instinctive scrutiny.

The deliberately contrived air of intimacy around Hoshinomiya stirred a natural aversion in her.

This woman's no good.

"Ehh~?" She tilted her head, her interested gaze shifting to the way Kiyona shielded Hoshino Kanade. "You've already got such a protective little girlfriend?"

Kiyona's lashes didn't so much as flutter, as if she hadn't heard the teasing remark.

She simply lowered the arm she'd held in front of Hoshino Kanade, letting it fall naturally. Her fingers still absentmindedly pinched the fabric of his sleeve—a habitual gesture to confirm he was there, as instinctive as checking the position of a piano key.

Hoshino Kanade's voice was steady as he broke the awkward silence. "What did you want to talk to us about, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

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

But she immediately put on an even brighter smile, as if she hadn't noticed his question at all, and leaned forward with a hint of excited curiosity.

"Ehh—what reason did Little Sae have for calling you out here?" Her syrupy voice pressed the question into the silence. "Huh? Why?"

Having Hoshinomiya-sensei deal with Chabashira Sae seemed like a good idea.

Hoshino Kanade met Hoshinomiya's searching gaze, but the words caught in his throat. A draft swept through the empty hallway, and his voice dropped. "Chabashira-sensei... seems to have some special expectations for Class D's future."

The smile on Hoshinomiya Chie's face froze instantly.

She didn't react dramatically, but her body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment—a subtle response that revealed her keen instincts.

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

Just then, Chabashira-sensei suddenly appeared. Without a word, she raised the clipboard in her hand and smacked it against Hoshinomiya Chie's head.

"Ow—That hurt!" Hoshinomiya-sensei yelped, immediately crouching down and clutching her head, wincing in pain. "What was that for~!"

Chabashira frowned slightly and looked at her coldly.

"Because you wouldn't stop pestering my students."

"He said he was coming to see you," Hoshinomiya Chie explained lightly. "I was only keeping them company while you were gone."

"Next time, ignore him." After saying that, Chabashira turned to Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, her tone softening a little. "Ayanokoji, Hoshino, sorry for the wait. This isn't a good place to talk. Let's go to the Counseling Room."

Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona nodded in agreement.

Hoshinomiya seemed to want to follow them inside, but Chabashira gave her a cold glance that carried an unmistakable warning.

Just then, Ichinose happened to come looking for Hoshinomiya-sensei.

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

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

Hoshino Kanade had some vague suspicions, but he still wore an inquisitive expression.

He paused, then looked at Chabashira, his tone just curious enough. "Sensei, did you want to talk to us about something?"

Chabashira didn't answer right away. She quickly glanced up at the round clock on the wall, then turned and walked to a door in the corner of the Counseling Room. A small adjoining pantry was clearly behind it; a stove and kettle were visible inside.

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

After they stepped inside, Chabashira stood at the doorway. Her tone was flat but left no room for argument.

"All right. You don't need to do anything now. Just stay quietly inside. Don't come out until I tell you that you can, and try not to make a sound. Understood?"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over their faces as if to make sure they understood.

"If you disobey, the consequences will be serious. That could even include expulsion."

With that, she casually closed the pantry door. The lock gave a faint click.

She'd skipped the explanation entirely. That was so typical of Chabashira-sensei.

The pantry was cramped, but there was just enough room for two people.

In the dense darkness, Kiyona rested her forehead lightly against Hoshino Kanade's shoulder blade. Her warm breath seeped through the fibers of his shirt and onto his skin, winding around his spine like a vine.

"What are you thinking about?" She suddenly rose on her toes, her lips almost brushing his ear. Her breathy chuckle tickled his eardrum.

"If we make a sound, we'll get expelled~" Her curled fingers tugged at his sleeve, her voice turning sweet and drawn out. "I'm so scared~"

Hoshino Kanade's thoughts abruptly scattered. His palm instinctively covered the hand that was teasing him, touching her cool knuckles. "...Behave."

"What's Chabashira-sensei up to?" Her whisper slipped into his ear, and her lips brushed the skin at the side of his neck.

Their mingled breaths hung a hair's breadth apart. In the darkness, only their restrained breathing remained.

Hoshino Kanade felt his heartbeat slipping out of control. A thin sheen of sweat gathered on the palm covering the back of her hand. "We'll find out soon. If you keep fooling around..." He lowered his voice. "You might really get expelled."

In the darkness, his sense of smell grew sharper. The orchid scent in her hair mingled with the sweet warmth of her breath, weaving a net that held him in place.

Kiyona suddenly tilted her face up, her nose brushing his jawline. "Really?" Before the words were out, her cool fingers had already pried between his. Their fingers interlaced, and their knuckles gave a faint crack.

Hoshino Kanade tightened his fingers. "Don't move." His palm pressed against the roots of her hair at the nape of her neck. "...I hear footsteps."

Kiyona went rigid at once.

The crisp click of heels against the tiled floor drew closer from afar, each step landing precisely in time with the rhythm of their racing hearts.

Kiyona instinctively shrank into Hoshino Kanade's arms. Her temple accidentally touched the raised curve of his collarbone, and the slight bump made both of them stop breathing.

When the girl's soft, warm body collided with his, the heartbeat in his chest suddenly grew heavier, and the heat he'd tamped down began to spread beyond his control.

Hoshino Kanade lowered his eyes to the girl in his arms—the way Kiyona had just teased him came back to him.

He tightened his arms around her, the faintest hint of a smile crossing his lips.

The tables had turned.

Heh heh heh.