With the Paper Shuffle over, peaceful days have continued.

With Class A right in front of us, many in Horikita’s Class B have been restless, but the people in Sakayanagi’s Class A are even more obvious about it.

They avoid us in the hallways, and in the café you can feel their resentful stares.

It also looks like Hashimoto and Kamuro are moving around a lot, so it’s clear Class A is on high alert against us.

But it’s not like there’s a special exam right now.

We can just ignore it and live normally.

Today I’m going shopping after school with some girls from my group.

Thanks to the large amount of class points we earned, I have a bit of spending room now.

Back in the first semester, I couldn’t even think about casually shopping, so I’m really grateful.

By the way, Kiyotaka went to check out club activities with Miyake and Sudō.

It’s nice that he’s made some good friends.

Kei said Hirata was busy with soccer club.

I wonder if Kiyotaka will check out the soccer club too.

“You two are so lucky, having handsome and reliable boyfriends.”

“I want a boyfriend too! Christmas is coming up!”

Nene and Maya said that to us.

Until recently they were calling each other by last names, but since Kei is called by her first name, it’d be weird not to do the same for them.

“That’s why I told you, Kiyotaka’s a great catch.”

“I mean yeah now I think so too, but right after enrollment Ayanokōji was slacking off like crazy! How did you even notice, Chiaki!?”

Maya asked with half admiration and half jealousy.

Honestly, I only noticed by chance too.

I just got lucky.

“That’s so true. Kei snagged Hirata right away too, but Chiaki’s instincts are insane.”

“I like guys with high specs. I just had a feeling about Kiyotaka.”

I can’t explain the exchange between Kiyotaka and the former student council president.

That could cause unnecessary rumors.

“Well, where did you first notice his ability?”

“Probably during the pool class. I saw him talking to Horikita and his body was really toned. I thought maybe he did martial arts.”

That’s a lie.

Back then I hadn’t noticed anything about him.

I just reused something I heard from Onodera.

“From that early!? Amazing… I should observe people more.”

“You never know where you’ll find a good guy.”

“Maybe none left in our class though…”

“What about Miyake?”

“He looks kind of scary though.”

We chatted lively like that.

These kinds of conversations are the most fun.

“What about other classes?”

“Harder in this school, but now that we’re Class B, maybe more chances.”

Some people still look down on former Class D students.

“What about upperclassmen?”

“Like Horikita’s brother or Nagumo, they’re cool.”

That’d be a high hurdle though.

We walked around Keyaki Mall, looking at clothes and accessories.

With Christmas decorations and lights, it felt different than usual.

“You’re spending Christmas with Ayanokōji, right?”

“Yeah. You too with Hirata?”

“Of course.”

“So jealous. I bet a lot of girls wish they were dating them.”

“…That means you two should be careful.”

“What do you mean?”

“Other girls might try to get you expelled to make them single.”

“That’s scary…”

Love and jealousy can cause anything.

It’s troublesome.

“Well, I’m not getting expelled easily. My boyfriend will protect me.”

“You really trust him.”

I smiled and made a peace sign.

Then my phone rang.

It was Kiyotaka.

That’s unusual.

A call, not a message.

I had a bad feeling and answered immediately.

* * *

“Sudō.”

“Yeah.”

He passed the ball sharply.

I caught it, stepped forward and jumped, slamming it into the hoop.

“Whoa, a dunk!?”

“You’re a beginner, right?”

“I’m better at dunking than normal shots. I’m confident in my jumping ability.”

“You’re already a monster. Join the basketball club.”

“No way, don’t join!”

The seniors kept pushing.

Unlike the calm archery club, they’re intense.

I finished and left.

“Ayanokōji, I’ve been looking for you.”

Chabashira-sensei approached, slightly out of breath.

That was unusual.

“Come with me. We need to talk.”

“Did I do something?”

“No… your father is here.”

I frowned.

Not because I was shaken, but to show I didn’t like it.

“I understand your situation. I’ll support you as much as I can.”

“That’s not like you.”

She glared at me.

Probably worried about class performance.

We went to the reception room.

Inside were the principal and my father.

“Sign this withdrawal form.”

My father, Ayanokōji Atsuomi, placed it on the table.

He tried to pressure me, mentioning punishment given to Matsuo and his suicide.

But I refused.

After a while, Sakayanagi’s father, the chairman, intervened and Atsuomi left.

I left as well.

I still hate that man.

Afterward, I called Chiaki.

“Chiaki, can we meet?”

“Did something happen?”

“Not really. I just wanted to see you.”

She came to my room quickly.

“What happened?”

“My father came. He told me to drop out.”

“And you?”

“I refused.”

After a short silence, she hugged me.

“You must’ve had it hard.”

She held my head to her chest and gently stroked it.

Her eyes were moist.

“I’m fine. He doesn’t matter to me.”

“But you still wanted to see me.”

Maybe she’s right.

I hugged her back.

“Thank you, Chiaki.”

“I want to support you too.”

After a while, I let go.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

I leaned closer.

She understood and offered her lips.

We kissed.

But this time, I didn’t want it to end there.

“…”

She was surprised but didn’t resist.

We shared a longer kiss.

“Kiyotaka…”

“Chiaki.”

We looked into each other’s eyes, fingers intertwined.

That was enough to understand each other.

* * *

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Kiyotaka.”

The next morning, Chiaki smiled in my arms.