The clubroom door shut behind Sena, leaving behind a silence that felt heavier than before. Reiji exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair.
*Annoying, huh?*
It wasn't like he was trying to get in between them. He had made it clear from the start—he liked Aoi. That hadn't changed.
So why did Sena act like he was some kind of threat?
—
The next day, Reiji arrived at school earlier than usual. The hallways were quieter, only a handful of students lingering before the first bell. He made his way to his desk and sat down, resting his chin on his hand.
Just as he was about to close his eyes for a bit, he felt someone's presence nearby.
Lifting his gaze, he found Sena standing next to his desk, arms crossed.
Her expression was unreadable, but her gaze was sharp.
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Sena didn't respond immediately. She looked around the classroom, making sure no one was close enough to hear.
Then, she leaned slightly toward him, her voice quiet but firm.
"I don't know what you're trying to do," she said, "but I'm warning you—don't get any closer to Aoi."
Reiji blinked, caught off guard by how direct she was.
His first instinct was to scoff, to brush it off like he always did. But there was something about her tone that made him pause.
"I wasn't planning to," he said, keeping his voice even.
Sena narrowed her eyes. "Then stop looking at her like that."
Reiji stared at her. "Like what?"
"Like you think you have a chance."
Her words were sharp, almost cruel, but there was something else beneath them. Something uncertain.
Reiji exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "I never said I had a chance."
"Good," Sena muttered. "Keep it that way."
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Reiji sitting there, watching her go.
—
Lunchtime came faster than expected. As usual, Reiji sat with Kaito, who was busy bragging about how Yuna had surprised him with homemade lunch.
"I swear, man, I hit the jackpot," Kaito grinned, holding up a rice ball like it was a trophy. "She even shaped it into a heart."
Reiji smirked. "How embarrassing for you."
Kaito laughed. "Hey, you're just jealous. Not everyone gets a cute girlfriend who does stuff like this."
Reiji rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that must be it."
As Kaito continued his enthusiastic rambling, Reiji's gaze drifted across the cafeteria.
His eyes landed on Aoi.
She was sitting with Sena, as expected, but she was smiling—completely unaware of the tension from earlier.
Meanwhile, Sena's expression was unreadable as she listened to Aoi talk.
Reiji exhaled, tearing his gaze away.
*This is annoying.*
—