Next Day—
Reikou was lying on his bed peacefully because today was the weekend—no need to wake up early for school. Today felt so peaceful and friendly, and this was the first weekend as well—
Suddenly, he got a notification—
Ding!
He got up and checked his phone. He saw—
"What is this… YOYO TEAM?"
An online group made by Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi Shenzuki created a group named YOYO TEAM.
He saw everyone in it—Ryuuto, Shiori, Yueko, Kiyoshi, and… Meiyu too?! They all were added to this YOYO TEAM.
"Huh… Meiyu is also in this group?" Reikou whispered. He was happy but confused at the same time.
YOYO TEAM GROUP CHAT
Kiyoshi: Yo! Everyone! I'm Kiyoshi!
I made this group so that we can stay in touch everywhere!
We can talk, play, discuss, and enjoy!
[He sent one photo with that creepy toothy smile.]
Ryuuto: Ya! This is a great idea!
Shiori: For real!
Yucko: Yeah! Good… but was sending that photo necessary, Kiyoshi?
["HEEE—HEEE—HEEE!" Kiyoshi sent another photo.]
Ryuuto: Hahaha!
"This is real fun."
"Our bond is developing for sure."
Reikou smiled and closed his eyes—
"HELLO! SORRY FOR THE LATE RESPONSE."
He sent a message to the YOYO TEAM GROUP.
He placed his phone on the table again, and suddenly, the doorbell rang—
DING DONG!
"COMING!"
He got up and went to open the door. When he opened it, he was shocked to see the person in front of him—
He froze there, his heart beating fast, his legs and hands feeling heavy. His eyes couldn't believe it… The person standing in front of him was—
Meiyu.
Meiyu Sazanami.
"Me-Meiyu… you?" Reikou asked.
"When someone comes, you should invite them in instead of standing at the entrance and talking like a fool," she replied with her usual cool expression.
"Ohh—Sorry!"
He bowed his head and welcomed her.
"Please, come in."
She stepped inside and sat quietly and politely on the sofa. She had a bag in her hand, which she placed beside her.
"What would you like to drink—tea, coffee, cold drink, or water?" Reikou asked like a professional waiter.
"No thanks," she replied without expression.
"Ahh—no problem."
"But at least—"
"Reikou."
She interrupted before he could finish his sentence.
"I didn't come here for time pass," she said.
"So what?" Reikou asked.
"Wait—how do you even know my location?! Did you track me or chase me, huh?!" Reikou asked dramatically like a detective.
"You… Shut up!"
SMACK!
She hit him with the bag she brought.
Reikou fell down, face and hands on the ground, legs in the air—just like a scorpion position.
"I got your location from the YOYO TEAM GROUP," she explained.
"Ooohh! I get it."
"So you came here just to hit me like this?" Reikou whispered, rubbing his chin like a genius.
"YOU—JUST—KEEP—QUIET!"
She said loudly—
For a moment, the room was silent.
Then—
"Tha-Thank you, Reikou."
Meiyu whispered, her cheeks turning red as she looked away. She picked up the bag she brought and handed it to Reikou.
"This is for you."
"And… mm… and…"
"Thanks… once again for saving me yesterday," Meiyu whispered as she handed him the bag, her face turned toward the back wall, her cheeks getting even pinker.
Reikou stared at her in shock, frozen in place. He was confused and surprised—Meiyu said "thanks" and even brought something for him?!
"Why are you staring at me like you've never seen a girl before?" Meiyu said, making a weird face and blinking like she had just seen something shocking.
"Ahh—sorry for that," Reikou replied, rubbing the back of his head.
"Uhmm… by the way, thanks for this present."
"Most welcome," she said with a slight smile.
"What's inside it?!" Reikou asked curiously.
"Fruits," she answered.
"What—fruits?! Ahh…"
"I thought it was something sweet, maybe cake or pastry," Reikou mumbled his thoughts.
"Okay, bye," Meiyu said without responding to his comment.
She opened the door and left.
"Hey—wait! I was just kidding!"
"Don't take it the wrong way!"
Reikou tried to explain, but she was already gone.
Reikou rolled on the ground like a newborn baby, then kneeled to look outside, but she had already disappeared.
He quickly got up, closed the door, and rushed outside—but again, he wasn't fast enough to catch up with Meiyu.
"Hey—wait up!"
Reikou shouted from behind.
Meiyu heard him and turned around.
"Huh? Meiyu… Hey, wait!"
Huff… Huff…
"So—so—sorry!"
"I was just joking!"
"Sorry if it hurt you," Reikou said, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"No, it's okay," she replied politely and mannered.
She started walking again, but Reikou followed her.
Huh?
Meiyu noticed from the corner of her eye that Reikou was still coming.
"Are you chasing me?!" Meiyu asked.
"No—no!" Reikou shook his head quickly.
"Then what is it?!"
"Ahh—actually…"
"I… want to ask you something," Reikou whispered.
"Can I?"
"Yeah, sure."
Reikou walked up beside Meiyu.
The moment was bright—the sun shining, birds flying, a soft breeze flowing, tree leaves waving as if saying hello to them. The sound of water waves came from the side, making it feel like a dream.
"I heard that you have some rules."
Reikou asked hesitantly.
"Yeah… so what?" Meiyu replied coolly.
"How many?"
"Eight rules."
"OHH—SO YUEKO WAS RIGHT," Reikou inner thought.
"Can you tell me what those rules are?"
He asked again, but this time, Meiyu didn't respond. She kept walking forward.
"Hey—you didn't answer me."
They were walking together now, not even realizing it.
"Why do you want to know?" Meiyu asked.
"Because I'm curious… why do you have rules? What's the reason behind them?"
"And honestly… I want to break them."
This time, Reikou said it boldly, without hesitation.
Meiyu's eyes widened—clearly shocked.
"What—you want to break my rules?! But why?!"
"Because—because…"
[BECAUSE I FALL DEEPLY INTO YOUR EYES—YOUR SOUL—EVERY TIME I SEE YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF FEELING THIS IS, BUT… BUT—] reikou start thought in mind.
"Where were you—lost?"
"Tell me, why do you want to break it?" Meiyu's voice startled Reikou from his thoughts.
Reikou came back from his thoughts—
"Huh—Ah—Ph—"
"Nothing," he whispered and put his head down.
"What—nothing, you say? Say it—say it!"
Meiyu reacted like she was angry at him—
"Because I want to reach into your heart," Reikou said by mistake. Then he realized and quickly covered his mouth with his hands, his eyes widening in shock.
On the other side, Meiyu reacted like she didn't hear what he said, but she actually did—her face was turning pink.
"You foolish," she said and started walking again.
"Where are you going? You didn't tell me," Reikou whispered.
When his voice reached Meiyu's ears, she stopped—
"What will you do by knowing it?"
"You still can't break it," she replied, her eyes closed.
"Huh? Are you challenging me?" Reikou said with a faint, confident smile on his face.
"Just try and see," Reikou—
"Find it, if you can. Break it," Meiyu said.
"But that's impossible—"
"Challenge accepted," Reikou—
"As you wish," Meiyu—
"Let's see who wins," Reikou said and raised his hand for a handshake.
"Okay, let's see who wins," she said and also gave her hand.
And now, they both shook hands… In their eyes, the fire of competition burned brightly.
After this, they started walking on their own paths—the path home.
"I said it with confidence, but—"
"How can I win?"
"I don't even know the rules."
"So—how can I…?"
Reikou walked on his way home, keeping both hands behind his head as he fell into deep thought—
Meanwhile, on the other side—
"Huh—"
"That fool thinks he can break my rules."
"But—"
"If he—"
"No, that's not possible."
"From now on, I need to be more cautious."
Meiyu also fell deep into her thoughts—
Now, the real challenge has started.
Let's see what happens next—
Who will win?
The battle of wits—
The battle of proving oneself—
The battle of victory or defeat—