Miyabi Ito suspected something was going on with Yamada and Miyamura.
Ito had learned over the last couple of months to ignore Miyamura's sexual nature and his advances towards Yamada, despite the pangs of jealousy that it struck in her. It was obvious that Yamada didn't appreciate nor reciprocate his advances, and that only did so much to appease her. While that was true, lately both Miyamura and Yamada have been acting...odd. At least Miyamura toned down his all-too-close touches; recently, he started settling for more casual touches on the shoulder or holding Yamada's hand, or loose one-arm hugs.
While the actions were a lot less bold and she knew she should be glad for that, Ito found herself riddled with jealousy, but often just... disheartened by the implications of it. It just seemed more intimate, especially coupled with the fact that Yamada would just settle for an almost enamored eye-roll whenever Miyamura had the urge to be all lovey-dovey, but never drew back in disgust, or appeared uncomfortable.
She assumed that Shiraishi was her number one rival or Nene or one of the other female witches, but never Miyamura.
Of course, they could be just buddies, with Yamada becoming used to how affectionate Miyamura was, or maybe even friends with benefits. It was natural for boys of his age to want someone who could satisfy his primal needs, and not all that unusual for it to be Miyamura, frankly.
Or perhaps, she was knee-deep into denial, willing to do anything to persuade herself that Yamada was not taken, that even she still had an opportunity.
Urara Shiraishi felt...odd the first time she saw Miyamura and Yamada in the Student Council classroom. It wasn't an unusual position for two friends to be in, with Yamada sitting on the table, his legs hanging off; Miyamura sitting very closely on a separate chair. They were conversing, eyes solely focusing on each other, exchanging soft smiles and equally gentle words. They didn't even notice her in the hallway, despite the fact that she had been standing there, in shock for several minutes.
It was more of a realization that anything, that what she felt buried in her stomach was not jealousy, but instead, envy.
For how can she be jealous when she never had Yamada in the first place?
It did not take long for her to verify it, probably because Yamada was the one to approach her first. Telling her that he liked someone else; he didn't specify who, but being asocial for so long only sharpened her perception abilities, and she was convinced that it could only be one particular boy.
She felt awful. Even more so when Yamada told her that he did like her, when he first met her, but what he only felt for her was simply attraction, not the blissful, but occasionally heart-aching unnameable emotion he felt for another person.
It was the knowledge that she could've had him, that he could've been hers, that fueled her tears. Her mother thankfully did not ask about her red-rimmed eyes when she came back, simply filling up a hot bath for her, and with all the hot water around her, she could pretend that the water falling from her eyes was sweat, and not salty, bitter tears.
She did not resent Miyamura. Despite his slothful and constantly perverted nature, she knows about his kindness towards his sister, his charisma that got him the title of the Student Council President, his unbelievably hard-working nature that contrasted the lazy front that he puts up; intelligence, and his obvious adoration for Yamada.
She could see it, from the split-second glances to the absolutely besotted looks that he sent the teal-haired boy.
She smiled, remembering the shy blush that flitted across Yamada's face when he told her that he liked someone else.
Her heart felt a bit lighter from the thought that neither boy would let each other go without a fight.
Odagiri Nene was absolutely livid.
How dare Shiraishi, her rival in love, give up Yamada oh so suddenly?! How dare she, one of the only witches that actually had a chance, let go of the boy who so many of their affections centered on?
Those were the thoughts that raced through her mind as she approached Shiraishi in the bathroom, harshly grabbing her forearm as the other girl winced. "What the hell, Shiraishi?! You like Yamada but you suddenly give up on him? Why?!" She exclaimed, watching Shiraishi's expression of surprise melt into a frown. The girl jerked her arm back. "What are you talking about, Odagiri-san? He rejected me, what more do you want?" Shiraishi said, in a rare moment of frustration and confusion. "What? Why? He likes you..." Nene mumbled in shock, thinking about how Yamada was recently. Sure, she had noticed his newfound friendship with Miyamura, which confused her, but Yamada was a boy full of contradictions, everything about him surprised her.
"He likes someone else," Shiraishi spoke quietly, sensing the other girl's contemplating state. She felt a bit sorry for her, she had to admit. Nene was a nice enough girl if a bit too prideful, and she had a habit to get too self-absorbed. She doubted she noticed Miyamura and Yamada's relationship at this point.
But it all went downhill the moment Miyamura Leona's wrath was unleashed.
"Onee-chan, I'm back!" Toranosuke greeted his sister as he took off his shoes and went inside. A faint "Okairi!" came from her room, and he went into his room to change. Loosening his tie, he let it drop to the floor and his blazer also came off, and it just so happened that at that moment, Leona burst into his room. Jumping up in fright, he scrambled to get something on him but her eyes zoomed in on his chest, multiple expressions flashing across her face.
Toranosuke felt strength seep away from his knees, as a blush blossomed on his face. "O-Onee-chan... calm d-down..."
"Tora, what is that?"
"W-What's what?" The seething girl marched purposefully over, rubbing at his neck. rubbing his neck. Toranosuke yelped, startled, and stumbled backward.
"Nothing! I-It's nothing! Leona s-stop!"
"Aha! Yeah, that's what I thought." Leona declared, pulling her concealer covered hand away to reveal the fading pink mark on her brother's neck.
Toranosuke whined in humiliation, face going red. "How did you even notice that?"
At that, Leona's expression turned smug. "What you think I don't have my fair share of experience covering hickeys? You think you can lie to me? Think the fuck again. I have years of practice in using make-up, whereas you have none, and it shows." Leona rolled her eyes, as if to say 'pathetic men', before narrowing her eyes again. "So you're going out with weird boys now? Where'd you even get the concealer? Don't tell me the other guy had it? Who is it?"
"Onee-chan..."
"Don't tell me it's that Kurosaki guy?" Her brother was as good as a liar as he was at hiding hickeys. "Heeh, so it's Yamada-kun." Seeing that blush burst into her brother's face, Leona knew she had hit the jackpot. "Okay, cool."
Tora widened his eyes. Cool? That didn't sound like his sister, at all. "W-what do you mean?" She chuckled, "I'm not going to do anything, Tora. What did you think I'd do?"
"Castrate Ryu with your scissors." He said bluntly, not noticing the twitch on Leona's forehead. "Haha, I'm really not going to do anything, so feel free to bring him over next time! I'm sure mom and dad would love to meet him!" She teased, watching as that red color returned to her brother's face.
"LEONA, stop!"
Tora sighed for the third time today. Ryu blinked. "Miyamura, are you okay? You've been sighing a lot today." Tora chuckled nervously, willing some of his confident persona to seep into him. "Haha, worried about me, dar-ling~?" Ryu scowled as redness seeped into his cheeks. "No, you idiot. I'm sorry I asked!" he muttered. Tora chuckled sincerely as Ryu's cute personality rejuvenated him. Ryu widened his eyes, giving a light shrug. What the heck.
"I don't know what's bothering you, but feel better soon, okay?" Tora felt a tingle run up his spine, as a featherlight kiss graced his cheek. The embarrassment was too much for Ryu, apparently, as he disappeared out of the room. Feeling the room get hotter by the second, the bright sunlight burning on his face, yet Tora could not get over his shock, the feel of Ryu's lips still lingering on his cheek.
It wasn't even their first kiss, they had made out, Ryu gave him hickeys, but Tora was still taken-aback by even the simplest acts of affection from Ryu.
Perhaps it was because he had subconsciously gotten used to the idea that his love for Yamada Ryu was unrequited. Until the moment Ryu had caught him in a moment of weakness and kissed him.
Just a regular kiss, with no ulterior motives.
Tora didn't understand what that kiss meant. At least not at first. But he knew how it made him feel, and that was all that was important.
Tora didn't know how long they'd last, and their relationship probably hurt more than anything else. After all, he had stolen Yamada Ryu from all the numerous witches that had fallen in love with him.
But Toranosuke Miyamura was never a weak or easily dishearted person, and he knew that Yamada Ryu was his. And he wasn't giving him up any time soon.