The rest of the school day passed uneventfully, but the conversation with Sena lingered in Reiji's mind.
He wasn't the type to dwell on things, yet her words kept replaying—sharp, cutting, and undeniably possessive.
*"Stop looking at her like that."*
*"Like you think you have a chance."*
Reiji had always known Aoi was out of reach, but hearing it from Sena directly felt different.
It wasn't just a warning. It was a claim.
—
After school, Reiji made his way toward the clubroom, unsure of what kind of mood Sena would be in today.
He opened the door and found her already inside, flipping through her notebook as if nothing had happened.
She didn't look up when he entered.
Reiji took his seat, setting his bag down. The silence stretched between them, heavier than before.
Eventually, Sena spoke, her voice calm.
"you were looking at Aoi today as well."
Reiji glanced at her. "What?"
Sena's fingers paused on the page she was turning. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
she muttered. "Just don't get in our way."
Reiji exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "You say that like I'm trying to."
Sena finally looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Aren't you?"
Reiji met her gaze evenly. "I'm not stupid enough to think I can come between you two."
Something flickered in Sena's expression—something unreadable.
"Good," she said quietly.
The tension in the air remained, but neither of them pushed the conversation further.
—
Later that evening, Reiji sat in his room, staring at the ceiling.
His younger brother was asleep in the next room, and his older sister was downstairs, probably watching TV. The house was quiet.
He should've been doing homework, but his thoughts kept circling back to Sena.
Why did she care so much?
If she was that confident in her relationship with Aoi, then why did she feel the need to warn him?
Reiji exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
This was getting more complicated than he wanted it to be.
—