Chapter 79: Life guide

My cousin, Kurosawa Miyu, had burst into my life like a whirlwind, then disappeared just as quickly, leaving a trail of unanswered questions in her wake. She’d said she was in Japan on business, but she wouldn’t reveal the details, no matter how much I’d pestered her, my cheeks puffed out in mock frustration. She’d become much more secretive than I remembered. ‘She wasn’t like this before…’

But life went on. Monday arrived, a day I used to dread, but now, the prospect of seeing Aya made it almost… bearable. ‘Aya…’ I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time, my fingers brushing against the promise ring on my left hand, a nervous flutter in my stomach as I left the house.

I met Aya and Mizuki at our usual meeting spot, our morning walk to school filled with lighthearted banter. As we entered the school grounds, I noticed a crowd gathered around the central bulletin board. ‘Ah… it’s that time…’

Takamari Academy publicly posted exam rankings and grades. It had been two weeks since midterms, so it was time for the results. I felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought of my grades being displayed for everyone to see.

“Wow… Yukikawa-san again.”

“Kurosawa-san did really well too, for a transfer student.”

“Yukikawa-san is… a goddess.”

“And Asakura-san too…!”

“Those midterms were brutal, weren’t they?”

“And the third-place ranking? Those three are in a league of their own.”

As we approached the bulletin board, the crowd parted, as if by magic, creating a path for us. ‘This is… embarrassing…’

This was Takamari Academy: a school for high achievers and children of prestigious families. And those at the top of the academic hierarchy were treated with a certain… reverence. We reached the bulletin board, a mix of awe and respect in the gazes directed at us, and I saw the rankings.

1. Yukikawa Aya – 895 points.

2. Asakura Mizuki – 873 points.

3. Kurosawa Rina – 865 points.

4. Fujimoto Kenichi – 820 points.

“Ah…” So close… Mizuki had gotten one more question right than she’d thought, and I’d gotten one wrong. I was still satisfied with my score, being so close to Mizuki’s. If I’d beaten her… it might have created tension between us. I glanced at her, but she just grinned, seemingly unfazed.

“Hee hee, Rina, so close~!”

“I-It’s fine! I’m not disappointed!”

“Still, Rina-tan, you’re a scary opponent. I’ll have to work harder next time. I might lose my spot next to Aya-ring~” she teased, nudging my shoulder playfully.

While she seemed nonchalant about the rankings, remembering Mizuki’s serious, competitive side made me feel relieved. Aya, watching us, smiled gently. “You both did well. Let’s do our best again next time, all three of us.”

Mizuki gave a thumbs-up. “You bet~! We’re the Trinity, after all!”

We laughed and headed to our classroom.

****

The familiar sounds of the classroom: the rhythmic scratching of pens and pencils against paper, the click of mechanical pencils, the teacher writing on the chalkboard.

And… as the first class began, I stared straight ahead, my gaze fixed firmly on the teacher, but I could feel Aya’s eyes on me, a constant presence at the edge of my awareness. ‘Aya, what…?!’

I didn’t dare turn around, but I could see her in my peripheral vision, a knowing smile on her lips.

‘Focus… focus…’ I tried to ignore her, but it was impossible. And whenever the teacher turned to face the class, Aya’s gaze would flick back to the front, her movements so subtle, so perfectly timed, it was almost… a game.

‘Aya… you’re playing with me, aren’t you?’

Her playful teasing made my heart race, distracting me from the lesson, and then… “Our third-rank student, Kurosawa-san, what’s the answer to this question?” The math teacher’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. I’d been so focused on Aya, I’d missed part of the lesson.

‘W-What? Where…?’ I frantically searched my textbook, and Aya, pretending to drop her eraser, leaned closer, her finger lightly touching the relevant section in my textbook.

“…!” Ah… that… I focused, then answered, my voice slightly shaky, “N-Number 2… I think.”

“Correct, Kurosawa-san. Please pay more attention next time.” The teacher smiled and continued with the lesson, but my mind was blank, Aya’s face, watching me with that knowing smile, the only thing I could see.

‘Aya… are you doing this on purpose?!’

The math class, punctuated by the teacher calling on students to answer questions, passed quickly. As soon as the bell rang, I buried my face in my arms.

‘Ugh… Aya…’ Since our confessions during the field trip, she’d become bolder, more openly affectionate, even during class. Her playful teasing made my cheeks burn. And then…

“Hmm~” Mizuki’s voice, a playful murmur. She poked my side gently, her voice teasing.

“You two are being awfully bold during class~”

“W-What? No! It’s not like that…!” I quickly sat up, shaking my head, and Mizuki grinned.

“Hee hee, careful, you two might get in trouble~”

“It’s not like that… Aya was just… helping me with a question…” My excuse sounded weak, unconvincing, even to my own ears. Aya, who’d been quietly organizing her textbooks, looked up, a gentle smile on her face.

“That’s right. I was just helping her.”

“Aww, Aya-ring, the ever-so-chivalrous knight, rescuing her damsel in distress. How sweet~” Mizuki said, grinning, her eyebrows practically disappearing into her hairline as she turned to me. “And Rina-tan~? Why is your face so red~?”

“N-No reason…!” I buried my face in my arms again, mortified, and Aya said, her voice soft and teasing,

“I like seeing Rina flustered.”

“Ugh…” I groaned, my face burning even hotter. Aya, she was being so… openly affectionate… unlike the Aya in the novel… something had changed.

“Well, well~ young love~ how sweet~” Mizuki giggled, her eyes darting between us.

“Mizuki! Shush!” I hissed, but she just grinned.

“Hmm~ should I~?”

I didn’t want the other classmates to know…! Defeated by Aya and Mizuki’s boldness, I buried my face in my arms again, wanting to disappear.

****

Lunchtime. As we were waiting for our turn at the cafeteria, the classroom door suddenly swung open, and one of the students on duty called out, “Kurosawa, Yukikawa, the homeroom teacher wants to see you in the faculty office!”

Aya and I exchanged a look. ‘What is it?’ Then we both turned to Mizuki, who hadn’t been called.

“Mizuki… why didn’t they call you? Do you know what’s going on?”

“Nope, no idea,” she replied, her eyes wide with genuine surprise. Why just Aya and me? Did Aya know something?

I slowly stood up, my heart pounding nervously, and walked beside Aya towards the faculty office.

****

The faculty office buzzed with lunchtime chatter. We found Ito-sensei at his desk, shuffling some papers.

“Let’s go to the counseling room, shall we?” he said, his words sending a shiver of apprehension down my spine.

‘The counseling room…?’ What was this about? I followed Aya and Ito-sensei to the small room next to the faculty office. He sat down, then sighed.

“There have been… rumors about you two being… overly close lately.”

“…Yes?” I froze, and even Aya seemed flustered. Ito-sensei continued, a slight smile playing on his lips.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but… while the school is open-minded in some ways, it’s also quite conservative. Rumors about you two… being more than friends… it could be problematic, especially with your student council positions. I know you’re friends and you work together, but… please be more discreet.”

Aya’s expression quickly returned to its usual calm composure.

“We understand. We’ll be more careful,” she replied.

I just nodded silently, unable to speak. His tone was gentle, almost… fatherly. But his words… they left a bitter taste in my mouth. He smiled. “I’m sure you’ll both do the right thing. You’re model students, after all.”

“…Yes,” I mumbled, standing up.

****

As soon as we left the faculty office, Aya turned to me, her voice low. “I’m sorry, Rina.”

I looked at her, surprised. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Aya…”

But she just sighed, her gaze fixed on the floor. “No… it’s my fault.”

Seeing her like this, so… subdued… made my chest ache, and I quickly took her hand in mine. She looked up, startled.

“No, Aya, it’s not your fault! We didn’t do anything wrong! There’s nothing wrong with… liking someone… who cares about forbidden love anymore?” I said, my voice a little too loud, a little too passionate, and then, realizing what I’d said, I cringed inwardly.

Had I gone too far?

Aya looked at me, her eyes wide for a moment, then she nodded slowly. “…You’re right.” Her usual confidence, her quiet strength, seemed to return with my words, and seeing her like this, so strong and sure, gave me courage.

No matter what anyone said, I would be with her.