As Naoki stared at Rika, she met his gaze, a flicker of amusement dancing in her deep violet eyes. Then, with a hand on her hip and a dramatic sigh, she echoed his question.
"Who I really am?" she said, cocking her head slightly. "The trouble. What else?"
Her tone hinted at more—like there was something else she wanted to say, but chose not to. Just that cheeky answer.
Naoki frowned, stepping a bit closer. "'The trouble'? Isn't that... a bit harsh?"
He started to circle around her, trying to make sense of her, observing her posture, her attitude, her expression—but before he could even process his next thought, her knuckles met his side in a quick, sharp pinch. Enough to sting. Enough to snap him back.
"Ow! What was that for?!" he yelped, jumping back slightly.
Rika grinned and stuck out her tongue. "What was what? You were the one checking me out like some creep."
Naoki staggered for a second, heat rushing to his face. "Y-you were the one who called me your type! What's the deal with that anyway?"
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the school…
Hibiki and Maki walked into the classroom and took their seats, the buzz from earlier still floating faintly through the halls.
"You think Naoki's gonna be okay on his own?" Hibiki asked, leaning back in his chair and glancing at the empty seat where Naoki usually sat.
Maki shrugged and looked around before resting her head on her desk, her voice casual. "Yeah. He's not a little kid. He can handle himself. Maybe he's just hanging with Ashido-senpai or something."
Hibiki raised an eyebrow, noticing the slight drop in her voice. "You seem a little down… Wanna go somewhere after school? Get your mind off stuff?"
Maki sat up quickly, almost startled, and looked away. "I—I'm sorry, Hibiki. I need to help at home. I can't today."
"Oh. Okay, sure." Hibiki tried to smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get it. Your family's business must be keeping you busy. But hey—if you ever need to talk, or just wanna laugh at dumb stuff, I'm here. I'll cheer you up."
Maki smiled weakly, nodding. "Thanks, Hibiki."
Naoki looked at her, the cigarette still in her hand bothering him.
"Girls shouldn't smoke," he said, not trying to sound harsh, just honest.
Rika turned her head, one brow raised with a look of pure indifference.
"Why do you care?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Naoki crossed his arms under his chest, then glanced away and swallowed hard.
"No—I mean, it's just… smoking is bad, isn't it?"
Rika looked at him with a bored expression, not even blinking.
"It's not lit," she said simply.
"Please?" Naoki added, unsure why he even bothered.
"It's not lit, so I'm not smoking," she repeated, sounding a bit annoyed now as she put the cigarette back into its pack and slipped it into her pocket.
She turned on her heel with a sigh. "Tsk… just a few more hours so I can go home," she muttered, walking off and disappearing around the corner.
Naoki stepped forward to follow, but when he looked past the edge of the wall, she was already heading into the building again.
Meanwhile in class, Ashido sat in her seat, staring blankly ahead as her teeth clenched slightly in frustration. Kei noticed and approached her desk.
"Is everything alright, Ashido?" he asked.
Ashido sighed deeply, brushing a hand through her bangs.
"No… What is Naoki doing…? Of all people, it's Rika that got his attention."
Kei sat beside her, looking a little surprised.
"Naoki—that's your little brother, right? I remember you mentioned him. Quiet kid, keeps to himself. What's wrong with wanting to try something different for once?"
Ashido didn't answer right away. She looked toward the window, her fingers tightening slightly around her pencil.
"I just don't want him getting involved in something he's not ready for."
The moment shattered as the classroom door creaked open and Rika Aoyama casually stepped in, hands in her pockets, her usual smirk playing at her lips. The atmosphere shifted immediately—eyes turned, whispers followed. And at the front of the room, Ashido's hand twitched over her desk as if it took every bit of willpower not to stand up and confront her on the spot.
Kei, ever calm and observant, reached out and gently placed a hand on Ashido's arm before she could act.
"Don't. Not here," he whispered.
Ashido gritted her teeth but stayed seated, her jaw tight with restrained frustration.
Rika walked across the room without a care, dropped into her seat near the window, and laid her head on the desk with a sigh, arms folded beneath it. No one dared to bother her—this was routine. Let Aoyama do her thing, and hope she doesn't get in your way.
Outside, in the hallway, Maki and Hibiki spotted Naoki returning from wherever he'd gone.
"Yo, Naoki!" Hibiki called out, waving with his usual easygoing grin.
"Hey, guys," Naoki replied, lifting his hand slightly in return as he rejoined them.
The next class began. The teacher's voice droned in the background as students half-listened, some doodled, others whispered or napped. Naoki sat at his desk, pen in hand, but his thoughts drifted far from the chalkboard.
He wasn't thinking about Rika this time. His mind lingered on Ashido's words. On what he'd told himself just days ago—about how he wanted to pass through high school unnoticed. To just exist like a background character, get decent grades, go home, repeat. No drama. No attention. Just peace.
But now, it was only the second day, and already he had Hibiki—loud, curious, funny—and Maki, reliable and oddly grounding. It hadn't even been 48 hours and somehow, they felt… safe. Comfortable.
Naoki glanced at Hibiki beside him, who was writing something in his notebook. Or at least trying to. His notes were a barely readable mess of doodles and half-formed thoughts. Naoki smiled faintly and shook his head.
Then he stared down at his own notes, words blurring together as a quiet question echoed in his mind:
"Is change… a good thing?"
Naoki's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the lunch bell. He blinked, coming back to reality, just as Hibiki leaned over and gave his shoulder a friendly smack.
"Hey, Naoki… let's eat together!" Hibiki said with that same wide, easygoing grin that could rival the brightness of a summer sky.
Naoki lit up instantly. "Sure!" he replied, grabbing his bento with a spark of energy that surprised even him. The three of them made their way out of the classroom, weaving through the busy halls as Maki joined them on the way to the cafeteria.
But, as expected, the cafeteria was packed wall-to-wall. Every table, every corner, filled with students either already eating or searching for a spot. The chaos was loud, messy, and far from peaceful.
Hibiki simply smiled. "Come with me! I've got a good place."
Without giving them time to argue, he led the way—striding past the cafeteria, down another hallway. Both Naoki and Maki exchanged confused glances, expecting to be led behind the school building or maybe to a quiet bench outside.
But instead… Hibiki stopped in front of a door clearly marked "Off Limits – Authorized Personnel Only."
Maki's eyes widened, and she hissed in disbelief, "You can't be serious! That's off limits!" Her inner rule-enforcer kicked in immediately, the same one that made her the unspoken class rep of their little group.
Naoki, however, couldn't help but grin. Maybe it was the thrill, maybe it was Hibiki's energy rubbing off on him—but he looked at Maki and said, "Go for it, Hibiki!"
With a proud grin, Hibiki pushed open the door and stepped through. Naoki followed without hesitation.
A moment later, a soft gust of wind brushed against them as they stepped onto the rooftop. The world opened up above their heads—blue sky stretching wide, sunlight spilling across the rooftop's concrete, and the city just barely visible in the distance. It was quiet, peaceful, and the breeze carried the scent of the season.
Despite everything in her that screamed no, Maki stood at the doorway, watching them laugh in the sunlight… and then sighed. "You guys are such idiots," she muttered, stepping through the door to join them.
And somehow, despite breaking the rules, it felt right. Like maybe this was exactly where they were meant to be.
As Naoki, Hibiki, and Maki sat together on the rooftop, the lunch break felt like the perfect moment of calm. The three of them laughed, talking about plans after school, games they were into, and silly things that happened during class. The sun warmed their backs, and for a while, it felt like time slowed down just for them.
But the peace didn't last.
A low groan echoed from behind one of the rooftop vents, followed by the sluggish sound of footsteps. Emerging from behind the rooftop structure, rubbing her eyes and clearly still caught somewhere between sleep and waking, was none other than Aoyama Rika.
Her hair was messy, her expression irritated from being woken up, and the fact she was even up there at all left them stunned.
"…The hell are you guys doing here?" she grumbled, her voice heavy with sleep. Then her gaze landed on Naoki. "Hey, Naoki."
Naoki blinked, then gave her a soft, almost awkward nod. "Hey, Aoyama."
Hibiki, meanwhile, stiffened under the weight of her presence. The delinquent. The infamous upperclassman. The chaos in a school uniform. Still, he offered a respectful, if nervous, greeting. "Hello, Aoyama-senpai!" he said, his voice pitched a little too high with forced enthusiasm.
Maki, on the other hand, didn't hide her annoyance. Her eyes narrowed instantly. "Rika…" she muttered under her breath like a warning. "What are you doing here?"
Rika raised a brow, clearly not threatened. Instead, she crossed her arms under her chest in a casual but calculated move, lifting her posture with confidence—and something else. "I could ask the same thing, first-years," she replied, her voice edged with amusement and challenge.
The gesture, the tone—it was all part of the image. Confident, mature, dangerous. It worked. Even Maki's assertive tone faltered for a second.
Naoki stood up, hoping to calm the tension rising between them. "Hey, come on," he started, trying to ease the sharp energy passing between the girls.
But it was no use.
Rika had fire in her words, and Maki's pride wasn't backing down either. Whatever history or unspoken tension they had—it was personal. And even if Naoki was trying to play the peacemaker, this clash wasn't over lunch or a rooftop hangout.
Rika tilted her head, watching Maki with a smirk that held no friendliness. "You still acting like you run things, huh?" Her tone was playful, but it had a sharpness underneath—a blade wrapped in a smile.
Maki's eyes narrowed even further. "At least I don't go around causing trouble for no reason."
Rika gave a light chuckle, brushing her hair over her shoulder lazily as she stepped a bit closer. "Oh? You sure about that? From what I remember, you used to have a thing for drama, too. Or did you forget?"
Hibiki blinked between them, frozen in place with his sandwich halfway to his mouth. "Wait, wait—hold on. You two know each other?"
Neither of them answered.
Naoki looked between them, tension thick in the air. "You two have… history?"
Maki turned away, arms crossed tightly. "That's none of your business."
Rika didn't seem to mind sharing though. "Let's just say me and little miss perfect here go way back." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And let's also say we've never exactly gotten along."
Maki stood. "Because you're a problem, Rika. You always were."
"And you're boring," Rika shot back, her grin widening as if she was enjoying this too much. "But maybe I'll give you a pass today, since I'm in a good mood."
Naoki raised his hands slightly. "Okay—how about we all just sit and eat lunch like normal people? No more fighting?"
Rika's eyes flicked to him. For a moment, something shifted in her expression—just for a second. Less cocky, more curious. "You're weird, you know that?"
Naoki blinked. "What?"
She shrugged and turned away, plopping down against the rooftop fence again. "You're not scared of me like the rest of them."
"Should I be?" he asked without thinking.
Rika laughed. Genuinely laughed. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just as messed up as I am."
Maki gave Naoki a glare, as if silently warning him not to fall for it.
Hibiki cleared his throat. "Sooo… should I finish my sandwich or run?"
Naoki just sighed. "Let's just… finish lunch."
And as awkward as it was, they all did. Tense, quiet, under the weight of old grudges and strange new bonds. But for better or worse—something was changing.
While the boys were enjoying their lunch, laughing between bites of rice and fried chicken, the atmosphere between the two girls couldn't have been more different. Tension crackled like static in the air. Rika sat back against the fence with her usual confidence, arms folded under her chest, making her posture seem even more dominant. That grin on her face wasn't just smug—it was a challenge.
Maki stood in front of her, hands planted firmly on her hips, her stance defiant. Her eyes locked on Rika's like she was facing down an old rival.
"What's your deal with Naoki?" Maki snapped, her voice low but fierce. "Seriously—what is it? You just want someone to do your homework? Or maybe someone to push around for fun like you always do? That's your style, isn't it?"
The smile on Rika's face slowly faded. What started as amusing was now irritating. Her jaw tightened slightly, and for a second, her eyes lost that usual glint of mischief.
"Nothing," she muttered. "You wouldn't get it anyway, Rurika."
The use of Maki's full name was deliberate, laced with sarcasm. Then, without waiting for a reply, Rika turned and walked away. The metal door creaked open and slammed shut behind her, echoing across the rooftop.
Naoki blinked, watching the door close, a weird feeling settling in his chest. Something about Rika's reaction—it didn't sit right with him. It wasn't the usual cocky or defiant Rika. That felt more... real.
Maki sat down heavily beside him and opened her lunchbox, stabbing into her food with a little too much force.
Naoki looked at her, troubled. "Maki... that was a bit much, don't you think? You should—"
"Naoki," Maki cut him off sharply. "Don't put your nose in girl things, okay? She's nothing but trouble. Stay away from her."
He flinched slightly at her tone and looked away. His eyes wandered back to the door Rika had just disappeared through.
"…But still," he whispered to himself, barely loud enough to hear over the wind.
Something about all of this just didn't feel right. And the more he thought about Rika's expression, the more that weird twist of guilt gnawed at him.
Ashido, Kei, Ren, and Himari sat together in the student council room, the soft hum of the school day muffled behind closed doors. A quiet lunch break had settled among them—bento boxes open, drinks halfway sipped, and the occasional click of chopsticks filling the silence. Ashido, though trying to appear casual, kept stealing glances at Ren from across the table.
Ren, on the other hand, was calmly enjoying his food, seemingly oblivious to Ashido's flustered energy. Every now and then, his eyes moved to Himari or Kei when they spoke, but not once did they linger on Ashido—not in the way she clearly wished they would.
"S-So... Suzuki-kun," Ashido finally spoke, her voice cracking just slightly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "any news? About anything, I mean?"
Kei and Himari both looked up at her, subtly exchanging knowing glances. Ren glanced up mid-bite, then calmly swallowed before answering.
"Not really," he said, his tone steady and relaxed. "It's been a bit hectic, honestly. With my little sister starting cram school and my shifts at the grocery store... things are tight. I need to start saving seriously now. I want to get my driver's license soon."
Kei leaned back in his chair with a grin. "You really want to drive, huh, Reny?"
Only Kei called Ren by that nickname—'Reny.' It was a little leftover from their childhood, a bond sealed through years of growing up together. Despite Ren's usual stoic demeanor, he didn't correct Kei. In fact, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Ashido looked down at her food, trying not to blush. She admired how calmly Ren carried himself, how focused and grounded he was even with so much on his plate. And yet... she wished he'd look her way just once.