Conflict Erupts

The world in Shiomiya Yōha's eyes rapidly faded away.

His gaze fell on Kushida Kikyo, his voice cold.

"Kikyo, do you really want me to leave that badly?"

He knew he wasn't in a good state right now, that his emotions were getting the better of him.

So he kept reminding himself.

Enough. Don't keep going.

"Do you really want to get away from me that badly?"

Ahhh! Don't say any more!

"Do you really... hate me that much?"

The moment he finished speaking, Shiomiya Yōha regretted it.

He hadn't meant it that way at all, but he couldn't control himself. In the end, all he could do was fall silent.

The barrage of questions left Kushida at a loss. She looked at Shiomiya Yōha, and when she noticed the dejected look in his eyes, she knew—he was having another episode.

Kushida Kikyo sighed, remembering how he had acted on the bus earlier.

She stopped speaking in that affected, high-pitched voice and returned to her natural one.

"Yōha, calm down. Take a deep breath."

Hearing her words, Shiomiya Yōha began to steady his breathing.

Kushida Kikyo gently stroked his back, helping him catch his breath. She said nothing more, only looked at him with concern.

As he calmed himself, Shiomiya Yōha glanced at Kushida beside him.

She was the only splash of color in this black-and-white world, so vivid and captivating.

How did we end up like this?

Before long, Shiomiya Yōha's breathing grew steady, and his emotions settled.

"Thanks. I'm fine now."

Seeing that he had truly recovered, Kushida Kikyo returned to her fake, high-pitched voice to reassure him.

"Shinomiya-kun, are you feeling better? Do you want to go to the infirmary?"

Hearing that voice, Shiomiya Yōha sighed inwardly.

Kushida Kikyo's voice was gentle and approachable, but he just didn't like it.

He preferred Kushida Kikyo's natural voice, with its mature edge. Back then, what he'd liked most was hearing Kushida speak into his ear.

"I'm fine. I feel much better now."

Seeing that he was back to normal, Kushida Kikyo breathed a sigh of relief and said nothing more.

"Shinomiya-kun, you should still think carefully about my offer."

With that, Kushida Kikyo turned to leave.

"Wait!"

Shiomiya Yōha grabbed her wrist.

"I can answer you right now."

"I'm not dropping out!"

Kushida Kikyo couldn't help feeling annoyed, but she reined in her emotions and continued questioning him.

"Shinomiya-kun, can you tell me why? Wouldn't any school be the same for you?"

"This school has something I want," Shiomiya Yōha answered honestly.

Kushida Kikyo frowned slightly, clearly unconvinced.

There was no way Shiomiya Yōha could explain the situation.

Should I tell her I have a system quest to record people who are extraordinary?

I've got a few psychological problems as it is. I don't want to be treated like a mental patient with delusions.

Seeing Shiomiya Yōha keep silent, Kushida Kikyo assumed he had no answer.

Whenever he faced a question he wanted to avoid, he went quiet. She was already used to it.

Kushida Kikyo decided to stop taking the gentle approach and resort to stronger measures.

Her voice turned cold as she switched back to her natural tone.

She grabbed Shiomiya Yōha's hand and pressed it against her chest.

"Shiomiya Yōha, your fingerprints are already on my clothes."

"If you don't drop out, I'll report you to the school for sexually assaulting me."

Shiomiya Yōha's eyes widened at the sight. It wasn't the accusation itself that bothered him, but Kushida Kikyo's way of handling things.

It seemed his condition hadn't been the only one to worsen since middle school. Kushida Kikyo's had gotten worse, too.

She had become even more extreme.

But this is the Kushida Kikyo I know!

Seeing Shiomiya Yōha's widened eyes, Kushida Kikyo thought her plan had worked.

She secretly rejoiced. One problem solved. This time, she would earn everyone's approval at this school.

Shiomiya Yōha didn't pull away. Instead, he wrapped his other arm around Kushida Kikyo's waist and leaned close to her ear.

"Kushida-san, you know that won't work on me, right?"

"That flimsy evidence won't get me into trouble, even if you report me."

"Besides, that accusation is much lighter than the one you pinned on me in middle school, little Kikyo~"

The moment Shiomiya Yōha held her, Kushida Kikyo tried to break free, but she couldn't.

His words made her pause for a moment, but she immediately retorted.

"Of course I know who you are. But this is enough to make you a pariah at school."

This was a country where people were good at reading the room. Anyone who stood out too much couldn't fit in at school.

That was Kushida Kikyo's real goal!

Shiomiya Yōha was at a loss for words. Kushida Kikyo was judging him by her own way of surviving.

She wasn't wrong, of course. Her methods worked on most people.

But Shiomiya Yōha wasn't normal!

He didn't care what other people thought of him, just like Koenji.

He mocked Koenji for being a narcissist, but he was even more self-obsessed himself.

How different could two people who'd grown up together really be?

One reason he'd transferred in middle school was that he really couldn't keep up with Koenji in sports. He'd already reached his limit.

So he'd simply transferred, to avoid having Koenji shove his victories in his face.

Kushida Kikyo was still basking in her imagined victory.

Shiomiya Yōha spoke up.

"You think I care?"

Kushida Kikyo froze.

"Also, I recorded everything you just said."

Shiomiya Yōha took out his phone and showed Kushida the recording screen.

Kushida Kikyo immediately tried to snatch the phone, but Shiomiya Yōha was faster and put it away.

"You...!" Kushida Kikyo fumed.

"This ends here," Shiomiya Yōha said coldly. "And I'm not the only one you should be watching out for!"

"What do you mean?" Kushida Kikyo demanded.

Shiomiya Yōha didn't answer. He only leaned close to her ear.

Kushida Kikyo tried to back away, but Shiomiya Yōha held her in place.

He lifted a lock of her hair and sniffed it.

"It was easier when your hair was long. Still, I don't mind it now!"

He let Kushida Kikyo go. She immediately stepped back, putting distance between them, and glared at him.

"What did you mean just now?! Who were you talking about?" Kushida Kikyo's face darkened.

Looking at her like that, Shiomiya Yōha smiled.

"I don't know~ I made it up."

"You know I love a bit of fun!"

Shiomiya Yōha shrugged and spread his hands.

Kushida Kikyo knew, of course, that he loved watching the fun unfold.

But he'd never be interested in something that wasn't real. That would be too boring.

There had to be someone!

Shiomiya Yōha ignored Kushida Kikyo's searching gaze and went straight to the rooftop door, only to find it locked.

Kushida Kikyo saw this and seemed to find new hope.

"I have the key. Tell me who it is, now!"

Shiomiya Yōha ignored her.

Bang—!

Shiomiya Yōha kicked the door open with a roundhouse kick!

"Kushida-san, our school life starts now~"

With that, he strode away, leaving Kushida Kikyo alone on the rooftop, utterly bewildered.

Was he always this strong?