Morishita Ai's fingers were cool to the touch.
They felt slender and soft.
Once she sat up straight, Chihaya Rei plopped down right where Morishita Ai's head had been resting.
Then he tilted his head toward her and teased:
"See that, Morishita? Someone might have sat on the spot where you were just resting your head."
"Just like I am now."
Even Morishita Ai, who rarely showed much expression, couldn't help parting her lips slightly at that. She seemed to shudder all over.
She stared at Chihaya Rei and said in a cool voice:
"Chihaya Rei, you're so mean. Why would you tell me something like that?"
"If you hadn't said anything, I never would have known."
"Doesn't it make you feel a little uncomfortable?"
Chihaya Rei spoke casually, the corners of his mouth lifting with amusement.
Anyone would feel a little uneasy knowing that the spot they'd just rested their face on might have had someone else's butt on it a moment ago.
"So, you shouldn't sleep on benches in public places, especially not face down like you were."
Morishita Ai suddenly folded her arms across her chest, shot Chihaya Rei a sidelong glance, and declared with great authority:
"I'm free to sleep wherever I want."
"Suit yourself."
Chihaya Rei smiled as if he didn't really care.
He hadn't expected to persuade Morishita Ai, that oddball. He'd already gotten his Torture Points.
Morishita, I don't need you for now.
Then he shifted into a more comfortable position and leaned back against the chair.
He picked up the still-warm oden, opened the package, and decided to enjoy it right there.
When Chihaya Rei fell silent, Morishita Ai fixed her bright purple eyes on him.
She tried hard to think of a way to get back at him.
She hadn't expected someone as remarkable as Morishita Ai to run into such a difficult opponent today.
Usually, in Class A, everyone else was the one running away in fear of her.
Yet Chihaya Rei, from lowly Class D, had invaded her territory.
By then, Chihaya Rei had opened the oden. He held the tall bowl in one hand, and steam kept rising from it.
The mix of vegetables and meat skewers, steeped in the rich, savory broth, sent a mouthwatering aroma drifting through the air.
"Nom, nom~"
He picked up a skewer of fish cake rolls and ate with a look of contentment.
Morishita Ai smelled the delicious aroma wafting toward her and watched Chihaya Rei enjoy his food.
Without thinking, she reached down to touch her stomach and realized she was hungry too.
Chihaya Rei was practically tempting her on purpose.
She stepped closer, fixing him with an even more intense stare.
But Chihaya Rei seemed not to notice. He was completely focused on eating.
Before long, Morishita Ai calmly said, "I haven't eaten yet, either."
"Go ahead."
Chihaya Rei held the oden out toward Morishita Ai.
His gesture took her by surprise. Was it really going to be that easy?
Naturally, she didn't hesitate. She reached out her little hand, picked up a skewer, and chose one that was bigger than she was and filled with her favorites.
"Nom, nom~" Morishita Ai ate with an equally satisfied expression.
"Are you with the Sakayanagi Faction or the Katsuragi Faction?"
They couldn't just keep eating without saying a word, so Chihaya Rei asked, curious.
He remembered that Morishita Ai had someone in Class A she could talk to, Yamamura Miki.
And Yamamura Miki was with the Sakayanagi Faction.
Morishita had also just said that she knew him because of Sakayanagi.
So Chihaya Rei guessed that she might be more inclined to support Sakayanagi Arisu.
At his question, Morishita Ai deliberately leaned back a little. After swallowing her food, she answered coolly:
"So you want to fish for information about Class A from me. Did you think a few measly skewers of oden would buy me off?"
Chihaya Rei really thought too little of her.
"This isn't exactly important information."
Chihaya Rei found that amusing and retorted.
If he really wanted information, he'd go to the little thief.
It had been a while since he'd seen Kamuro Masumi's disdainful face, and he was starting to miss it.
"That's right." Morishita Ai nodded again. "I'm with neither faction. I won't side with anyone."
"Then why not start your own faction and lead Class A forward?"
Chihaya Rei asked with an easy smile.
Morishita Ai picked up another skewer, this one with a carrot, and began chewing. Her voice came out a little muffled.
"Chihaya Rei, you're really despicable. No wonder Sakayanagi Arisu cares so much about you."
"You actually came up with a scheme like this to split up Class A. I won't let your plan succeed."
"I just think that, compared to Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kohei..."
Chihaya Rei tilted his head toward Morishita Ai, her cheeks puffed out as she ate, and declared with righteous conviction:
"Morishita Ai, you're the one everyone would rally behind."
"You're right."
Morishita Ai gave Chihaya Rei an approving look, then spoke with confidence. "But Class A doesn't need me to step in yet."
"If you wait until you do, it'll be too late."
Chihaya Rei sighed with some regret.
He wanted to see another leader emerge in Class A. Then the class would have three factions sharing power.
But Morishita Ai clearly wasn't going to be fooled.
Besides, she knew herself well enough to realize that her personality wasn't suited to being a class leader.
After that, the two of them had a few more bizarre exchanges.
They only decided to call it a draw and fight again another day when they noticed it was getting late.
Before you continue