I was standing by the hallway window, trying to let the fresh air cool my flushed face. My speech had taken more out of me than I'd like to admit.

My cheeks still burned slightly from the nerves of addressing the entire class. I'd never spoken in front of so many people, and it left me with a lingering sense of anxiety that I could have messed up somewhere.

Just as I was beginning to relax, a voice interrupted my solitude. Much to my dismay, it was a person I had hoped wouldn't come over.

"Horikita-san, you should've told me if you needed any help! I would have stepped in without hesitation," Kushida said, her voice sweetly concerned, her eyes misty. She looked genuinely touched.

"I think Hirata-kun and I had it handled," I replied, aiming to put some distance between us. But Kushida wasn't exactly one for respecting personal space. She was almost uncomfortably close, her large, intense eyes making me feel cornered like I owed her something.

"I care about the class too, you know? If you're planning anything to help everyone get along better, please don't hesitate to tell me. I'll do everything I can to support you." Her insistence felt overwhelming.

"Do you want me to be honest with you, Kushida-san?" I said, taking a breath to prepare myself.

In the first place, I was an honest person in my life.

"Eh, is there something you'd like to tell me?" she asked, her expression open yet curious like she truly wanted to hear my opinion.

I weighed my options carefully, feeling conflicted. Part of me thought I might regret this, but the thought of her hanging around all semester was worse.

"I'm not fond of your company, to be honest. I'd appreciate it if you avoided talking to me when possible. You make me feel uncomfortable, and I'd prefer if you could respect that," I said firmly, letting the words hang in the air. "I don't care if that makes me seem rude or self-centered. Just... please, keep your distance."

Kushida froze, her cheerful expression faltering. Something seemed to flash in her eyes, a brief glimmer of something cold—though I could have imagined it.

"So you really dislike me that much?" she whispered, looking for a moment like a hurt puppy. But even then, I couldn't shake the feeling that the person standing before me wasn't as sincere as she appeared.

Just then, a message notification popped up with a mischievous tone.

+ 1 WIS!

It felt oddly foreboding, like a hint that I had somehow leveled up in understanding the unsettling person in front of me.

"Well then, I'll see you in class, Kushida-san. I hope you'll consider my words," I said, preparing to walk back to my seat. But just as I turned, I felt a firm grip on my wrist.

"Wait."

Kushida held onto me, her tone flat and at odds with her smiling face. The grip was surprisingly strong, just tight enough to sting. I glanced down, noticing the pale pressure mark her fingers left on my skin—a little too forceful to be accidental.

Before I could pull my hand free, Hirata's voice cut through the tension like a lifeline.

"Oh, there you two are! Kushida-san, Horikita-san, the break's almost over. I wanted to talk about uniting the class—uh," he paused, glancing at our locked hands, his expression turning embarrassed. "Am I… interrupting something?"

Kushida released me instantly, laughing with a casualness that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, nothing at all! We were just having a friendly chat," she chimed, waving off his concern.

Meanwhile, I quickly slipped away, letting the lingering discomfort push me back into the safety of the classroom.

"Are you alright? You look a bit pale," Ayanokouji said, his attention shifting from the window to me.

"I'm fine, just needed some fresh air."

"Didn't peg you as the type to make speeches," he noted, likely referring to my earlier address to the class in that firm Horikita-like tone.

"You don't know many things about me," I replied with a faint smile, feigning mystery in an attempt to shake off the unease from earlier.

He paused, his gaze assessing. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

"Yes, it's fine." Realizing my tone had turned sharp, I softened. "Sorry. Why do you ask?"

He shrugged, "Well, we're classmates—and friends, I guess. Looking out for each other is natural, isn't it?"

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly at his straightforwardness. "Friends, huh?" Our time at the park came to my mind.

Ayanokouji's expression remained unreadable. "It's just… what friends do, I think."

For a moment, his words stayed with me, grounding me in a strange sense of calm. It was as if his neutral demeanor cut through my discomfort. He was infecting me with this nonchalant behavior.

I sometimes wish I could be as unaware as he is. To not carry around this constant knowledge about school hierarchies or special exams. Just to enjoy my time here like any other normal student, instead of being weighed down by everything that comes with being Horikita.

I glanced at Ayanokouji, recalling our first meeting. Back then, I'd brushed him off as nothing more than a typical background character. Someone who'd fade into the scenery without leaving a mark before I remembered how he always was with Horikita during special exams.

Yet, here I was, not the usual composed Horikita, but just myself, sitting next to him, exchanging words that felt oddly grounding. It was strange to realize how he'd shifted from someone so easily overlooked in class to someone whose quiet presence had a subtle, calming effect.

Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow as if catching onto my thoughts. "Something on your mind?"

"Nothing," I replied, stifling a small smile.

"Honestly... Kushida-san frightens me." The words finally slipped out, feeling heavier than I expected. It's unsettling, to admit something like this, but the thought of bottling it up is worse.

Ayanokouji's brow furrows ever so slightly. "Kushida?" he asks, sounding confused about what could make me feel this way.

"Yeah," I nod, choosing my words carefully. "I don't think she shows her true self. There's... something about her that just doesn't sit right with me. She's all smiles, but it feels too polished like there's more beneath it that I can't see. I'm not saying she's a bad person or anything, but… I'd rather keep my distance."

For a moment, I wonder if he'll press further or even try to defend her, but before my question can be answered, the bell rings, calling everyone back to class. I exhale quietly, not entirely sure if I've made things easier or more complicated by sharing this.

As I turn back to the whiteboard, a new sense of unease dawns on me.

Skip.

Skip.

Skip.

As I watched Karuizawa excitedly spend her Private Points despite my warnings, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. I needed to say something.

It was honestly a coincidence we met like this. I needed to buy my new pajamas.

"Karuizawa-san, good to see you, can we talk for a second?" I approached her, hoping to catch her attention without sounding too meddlesome.

She looked up, wide-eyed, "H-Horikita-san? Sure! What's up?"

"I've noticed you've been using your points quite a bit lately. Have you thought about my words?"

Karuizawa pouted slightly, but then her expression softened. She looked totally different alone than with her girl army.

Cute even, I would say.

"But it's so fun to buy stuff! Why would I save? I'm sure everything will be alright. I do my best to be on time for class and all..."

I took a deep breath, "I understand that, but remember what we said in class? It's important to have an objective set. If you keep spending, you might regret it later, especially if something comes up that you need points for."

She hesitated, biting her lip as she considered my words. "I guess I don't want to be caught off guard… but it's hard to resist!"

"Think of it as a strategy. Save a little here and there. You can still treat yourself without emptying your account of points."

Karuizawa nodded slowly, finally relenting. "Alright, I guess, you make a good point. I'll try to be a bit more careful."

"Great." I say pleased, "We're in this together, after all."

PING!

[You gained 10 Favorability Points with Karuizawa Kei.]

Just as I felt a wave of relief wash over me, she peered at me with interest. "By the way, what are you doing here?"

"I was just looking for some new pajamas," I admitted.

Karuizawa's eyes lit up, a competitive glint in them. "Ooh, a challenge! Let's go shopping together! You need my expert eye for fashion!"

"But it's just pajamas...?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could formulate an excuse, she grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the clothing section. "Come on! I won't take no for an answer!"

"Wait! I can do this myself!" I exclaimed, trying to wiggle free, but it was too late. Karuizawa was on a mission, and I was along for the ride, hoping I could keep up with her whirlwind enthusiasm.

"You're really pretty, almost as pretty as me! So let's not waste any time!" Karuizawa exclaimed, dragging me toward the fitting room. Seriously, since when was she this strong!?

I silently cried over my fate, caught between her enthusiasm and my reluctance.

Ultimately, my short trip to Keyaki Mall turned into an hour-long ordeal where Karuizawa insisted I try on an array of outfits. I would have preferred to spend my time grinding my Luck stats, but the risk of Karuizawa discovering my quiet escape was too great to ignore.

As we stood in front of the mirror, Karuizawa adjusted the dress I had reluctantly tried on. "You know," she said with a sly grin, "I didn't forget how you interrupted my conversation with Yosuke-kun. I figured I'd get a little revenge by dragging you along on this shopping spree."

I rolled my eyes, but a small part of me was starting to appreciate her playful nature. "Is this your idea of revenge?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

She giggled, "Well, I didn't expect to have this much fun, but it's not so bad, right? I mean, look at you! You'd make a great model!"

Caught off guard, I couldn't help but blush slightly. Despite myself, I felt a flicker of enjoyment as we continued to experiment with different outfits, her enthusiasm contagious in its own way.

"Maybe you should start interrupting my conversations more often," She teased, glancing at me. The grin on her face suggested that this unexpected company might not be so terrible after all.

"I will consult you about class then."

PING!

[You gained 10 Favorability Points with Karuizawa Kei.]

"Only if it leads to more shopping adventures," Karuizawa replied with a wink, and I couldn't help but smile back, feeling the initial tension between us start to dissolve.

As we parted ways, the atmosphere was surprisingly light, leaving me feeling oddly content despite the whirlwind of the day. Exhausted, I flopped onto my bed, ignoring the rumble in my stomach that reminded me I hadn't eaten.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification, pulling me from my fatigue. I glanced at the screen, puzzled; I hadn't shared my number with anyone yet. It turned out to be a group chat filled with messages.

Horikita-san joined us!? — Satou.

Seriously, u joking? I didn't expect that from her. — Shinohara.

I realized, with a mix of surprise and disbelief, that I had been tricked. Karuizawa had secretly obtained my number.

My phone emitted an annoying ringtone, pulling me from my thoughts.

What now?

"Horikita-san!" Mii-chan's familiar voice chimed through the device.

"Hello? Mii-chan? How did you get my number?"

"Eh? Everyone in the chat has your number! When I saw you were there, I just had to call! It's great to see you there, though I didn't expect Karuizawa-san to add you of all people."

"Well, I didn't see that coming either. Karuizawa-san is sneakier than she looks," I replied, recounting the events of the day to Mii-chan.

"Who would have thought Horikita-san could be outsmarted like that?"

"Don't make fun of me."

"Hehehe~"

We chatted for a while, and before long, I said goodbye as Mii-chan wished me a good night. Sighing, I pondered whether the original Horikita also had to deal with such antics.

I fell asleep soon after, the events of the day fading into dreams, wondering if I would wake up in that place.