"There's no way I'm allowing this!" Igarashi exclaimed.

"We don't exactly have a say. Their lives are on the line." Despite his kind smile, Upperclassman Issei's tone was anything but. "I can totally behave as a composed individual until midnight. Think of it as acting. Wait until the scene I can finally strangle Narumi in fate's place."

Banri fumed. "You presumptuous brat. . . ! I don't care how noble the cause is, get your slimy hands off my Kisa."

Hachi whipped his head back and forth. "Wait, wait. Does this mean Rumi and Shiina are dating? They're not dating?"

Igarashi, Banri and Upperclassman Issei were in sync.

"Over my dead body!"

Not even before the final bell could chime, Naru and I were cornered. Kiharu and Tsumugi were especially relentless, but even Igarashi and Hachi had words to get in. Soon enough, Banri and Upperclassman Issei had joined the fray.

As expected, none were pleased by my explanation.

"Oh my gosh, this is so cute!" Kiharu squealed.

Tsumugi leaped up and down. "I thought stuff like this only happened in fiction! I can hear the wedding bells now!"

Correction: none but my romance-obsessed girl friends were pleased.

"It is what it is," Naru replied, squarely. "We're tied by this jinx. If you could, please don't distract us. What happened earlier, or something worse, will manifest."

"That. . . was terrifying," Kiharu noted, her excitement disappearing in remembrance. "I really thought we were going to die."

"I saw my life flashing before my eyes," Tsumugi agreed. "To think Narumi and Shiina were inadvertently causing that. . ."

"You said you almost got crushed too, right?" Upperclassman Issei inquired.

I nodded. "Naru pushed me out of the way in time."

Deadpanned, Banri poked Naru's forehead. "Huh? This crybaby? Playing hero?"

Cutely shutting his eyelids, Naru winced. "Ow."

"Wait. . ." Hachi drawled. "The reason the world almost ended in class is because Rumi and Shiina weren't on the same page mentally, right? How'd you fix that? You said you had to do romantic gestures. . . Did you do one?"

An automatic blush claimed my face.

Naru flinched, reddening also. "Th-that was. . . There's a perfectly reasonable e-explanation. . . Y-yes! Kisaragi and I were forced by gravity itself. It was an act of pure obligation, considering the circumstance." His tough act evaporated into bashful whimpers. "H-hugging is easy. A matter of will. I c-could do it with my eyes closed."

The murderous vibes Banri, Igarashi and Upperclassman Issei exuded stole the oxygen from the air itself.

Igarashi wrenched his collar, eyes flat. "Narumi. Let's just say you lived a good life and have your head roll right in front of us."

"They shared a romantic embrace out in the open?" Kiharu's suggestive whisper inclined my mortification.

"So bold. So sexy," Tsumugi agreed.

Stifling my shyness, I swatted Igarashi's arm and motioned my upperclassmen back.

"Leave Naru alone!"

Not expecting my outburst, everyone winced.

"It's all my fault. I got myself into this situation yet Naru's going this far for me. He's risking his life for me! Don't antagonize him!" My bottom lip quivered. "If we mess up, not only us, I'll put everyone at risk. I'm the one you should be angry at. I'm the one who should suffer the consequences. And yet. . . And yet. . ."

They were at a loss for words. It'd taken me a hot second to realize I'd allowed myself to give in to my emotions. Fortunately, Igarashi stood down, an empathetic frown shaping his face.

Hachi poked my cheeks, insinuating I smile. "Well, there's no use focusing on the negatives." With his simple declaration, the mood lifted. "I don't want to lose Shiina, no matter what. In that respect, Rumi is doing us a huge favour. We have to cheer him on!"

"Hachi. . ." I mumbled.

"Shiina, let's go out for ice cream tomorrow." His lips stretched back further. "The day after that we can eat strawberry cake. I know a store that sells super delicious ones! Oh, and after that we can buy these amazing milkshakes—"

"How much of a glutton are you?" Banri silenced him with a short shove to the shoulder. Pursing his mouth, he forced my gaze to his. "I can take you to all those places instead. Anywhere you want, if you need company."

"You promised to cheer me on at my next audition," Upperclassman Issei added with a soft chuckle. "I'm sad to admit it but if I don't have you there, Kisaragi, I won't be able to give a proper performance."

"Don't forget about our band either," Igarashi brusquely muttered. "How else will we be the next craze in Japan without you?"

Kiharu snorted. "What these dorks said."

"We all need you, Shiina," Tsumugi tittered, "so let's see tomorrow together."

Awe blurred my eyesight.

Why. . . was I giving up prematurely? Subconsciously giving into negative thoughts. I was going to see them tomorrow. And the day after that.

Before I'd realized it, interacting with them all had become the norm. Back when my daily life was filled with nothing but loneliness, I never would've imagined a future like this. But now I had them. I'd confront this fortune head-on and win. No matter what.

"By the way, Shiina," Kiharu said. "Tsumugi and I already asked Miss Akagi ahead of time to use the cooking lab, but we'll leave you to it if you're still up for it. We don't want to get in the way and accidentally sidetrack you."

"Thank you. I'll do that then before I go home," I replied with a smile.

"Wait, is something happening?" Upperclassman Issei asked.

"Tomorrow's Valentine's Day, right?" I answered. "I wanted to make some chocolate."

A heavy silence swept the room.

All of them stiffened.

"Chocolate?" Banri stammered, unusually perky. "F-for who?"

It was probably best not to tell them. I wanted it to be a surprise. "Oh, but Naru. . ."

"It's fine," he replied. "I don't mind staying late."

"Thank you. I keep asking so many things of you today."

"Hold on, who are you giving chocolates to?" Igarashi asked again. "It's. . . not for a guy, right?"

"Er, kinda?"

"Is it one of us?" Banri asked.

"U-um. . ."

"It is?" Upperclassman Issei demanded.

"I want Shiina's chocolate! Please! Give it to me!" Hachi pleaded.

"Now, now, let's leave these lovebirds alone before their thoughts start to stray." Kiharu stepped in, shepherding them off.

"Good luck," Tsumugi told me, bidding me one last smile.

"I—"

"Wait—"

"But—"

"Now there's something more important—"

The door slammed after them, their indistinguishable shouts fading down the hall until silence engulfed us entirely.

Balling my fist, I swivelled left.

"Naru. Um, thank you again for doing this for me. I'm the one who got myself into this mess, and you're going so far for my sake. Up until recently, I know you've hated me for all I've done to you too."

I dropped my head in a formal bow.

Naru's response was belated. "I don't hate you."

Eyelids fluttering, I jerked my neck up. "You. . . don't?"

Once more, I caught faint colour staining his complexion. His eyes flickered straight ahead, then me. "I never did."

"B-but. . . you're always avoiding me, and insulting me, and treating me coldly. I hurt you, so I don't blame you if you want nothing to do with me."

A pause. "I said I. . . don't. The reason I avoid you is because. . . you are. . . different."

"Different?"

The manner he shifted his weight was indicative of his struggle to elaborate. Then, as if throwing all caution to the wind, he locked eyes with mine.

"Girls in general. . . are confusing, though I can ignore them because they never actually confront me. But, you're the opposite. You'll glare at me, or insult me. Then other times you'll say something unpredictable or even smile. Since I can't understand you and don't know how to act around you, I end up. . . losing my cool. That's why I avoided you."

Truthfully, I couldn't blame him for not being able to get a grasp on me. I was the definition of impulsive. The girls who were always fussing over him did keep their distance. I don't think a single one genuinely went out of their way to approach him. Still, if that was the reason, and it wasn't because he hated me. . .

"I'm sorry," I said. "That's my personality in a nutshell. I'm spontaneous. However, I sincerely do want to push everything behind us. I planned to say this earlier when we were transporting boxes where I kinda messed up, so let me try again now. Naru, I want to start over as friends."

"Fr-friends?" He jumped. "W-with m-me?"

"We. . . can't?"

He fidgeted. Shyly, he murmured, "I mean, that's not. . . It's just, I've. . . never had any."

At a loss for words, my mouth flapped for a good while. "What about Hachi? Everyone in the BB?"

"Hachiko. . . is a busybody," he replied. "He bombards everyone equally. Since we're both class reps and apart of the Beautician Boyz—not to mention the same age—we just happen to interact often. We've never talked or hung out outside of that."

I. . . kind of understood what he meant. I appreciated Hachi's kindness greatly. Back when I needed it most, he saved me a lot with his smiles and acts of goodwill. But, it wasn't selective. Because I knew he treated everyone as warmly, that he saw me as none but one of the masses, I buried the hope that we were 'friends' quite early. Naru, although together most often, must've had similar sentiments.

"The others in the BB. . ." Naru drawled onward, pouting, "don't like me much. They're constantly making fun of me."

. . .The poor guy. I'd bore witness to that upon multiple occasions.

My smile widened. I kind of assumed the total opposite about him. But, he felt like an outsider in his own way, too. "Then, as of today, we're friends."

Dramatic stars enveloped his eyes.

I tittered. "Also, I've been thinking about what Leon told us. Although he said we have to act like a couple, I don't think that's necessary. The criteria is that we have to be thinking about each other on top of being physically close. Therefore, as newfound friends, that's more than enough."

"You. . . think so?"

"Of course! Plus it's a lot less nerve-wracking."

A breath of relief left my mouth. I placed my hand over my chest.

"I'm so relieved, though. That I was able to patch things up with you. I was worried we'd go the rest of our lives on bad terms."

"Does. . . that bother you?"

"A whole lot," I admitted. "Living knowing somebody hates you is pretty hard. I wouldn't be able to handle it. Isn't it the same for you?"

Unspeakable gravity claimed Naru's face, enough to make me flinch. "Whether it's hard, or I can handle it or not. . . doesn't matter," he mumbled. "I have to live anyway."

Chest tight, my nails dug into my palm. "Naru. . . ?"

A low rumble erupted.

I batted my eyelashes.

Strawberry red, he swerved my way.

"Th-that's not—"

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

"No! I-I am not! My. . . digestion is bad. Yeah, that's it."

Another deafening rumble.

I snorted. His stubbornness reminded me of myself.

"I made an extra lunch today that I didn't eat." Since I hadn't gotten the chance to visit Kamakiri, I planned to eat it once I got home, but. . . Fiddling for my bag, I retrieved the clothed lunch and set it on the desk. "You can have it."

"I-I can't!"

"I insist. You've done a lot for me today. Plus, we're friends. I don't mind."

"B-but. . ."

I nudged it closer. "I'll be seriously hurt if you turn me down. Dejected, in fact. I'll cry for months."

His mouth wobbled. Hitching his chin, he feigned aloof. "I-I wouldn't want that so I guess I have no choice."

Tee-heeing, I assisted in unfurling the lunch, seeing as we each had one disposable hand. I was already quite proud of today's lunch but watching how vividly he perked at the sight alone was enough to swell my heart like a balloon.

"I hope you like it," I said.

His chopsticks trembled as he brought it to the rice. At first, I likened it to nervousness. However, when his grip completely missed or the rice tumbled out multiple times, a lightbulb went off in my head.

"Are you right-handed?"

"Using my left hand isn't a problem." As soon as he said that, his chopsticks fumbled another portion. His clumsy hold, and the way he squinted in concentration, were telltale of his fib. "You were kind enough to share this with me. The least I can do is eat— I will eat this."

. . .He couldn't even lift it.

My eyebrows creased.

His right hand was currently bound to my left, so there was hardly a chance for him to make use of it. Even then, he didn't bother telling me as much to brainstorm a potential solution. Why was he obstinate in the weirdest ways?

Ignoring it as yet another attribute of Jin Narumi, I snagged the chopsticks from his fingers. He sat, stock-still, as I scooped a decent amount with ease. Then, I extended it to his mouth.

"Here," I offered. "I'll be your right hand in the meantime."

Naru solidified like a statue. "Th-that's—"

"You can't use your left hand, right? More like, if you try to use it under these circumstances, we'll be here forever. This is strictly to prevent that." I teased it at his mouth. "C'mon. Say 'ah.'"

His feigned bull-headed demeanour melted with the arrival of his ear-staining blush. "You're doing this on. . . purpose."

"Whatever do you mean? I am simply helping my oh-so-very-hungry companion eat."

Gnawing his lower lip, his entire face gleamed red.

Okay, maybe it was on purpose. I enjoyed poking fun at those I considered close but Naru was a special case.

He was simply so adorable I couldn't help myself.

At one point, I considered his standoffishness off-putting. Like Tsumugi once mentioned, he was picture perfect, and with his status of 'Ice Prince' that sent his fangirls hysterical, I was always intimidated whenever I saw him. Yet, upon learning that beneath that he was anything but, I'd low-key begun to soften up toward him. It was because of the sides of him I met, I wanted to properly erase our enmity; start fresh.

The fact that he showed me these sides of himself. . . maybe meant he felt similarly, too.

"O-on second thought, this is a bad idea," Naru rambled after I fed him a few bites. His complexion remained ablaze. "Are you not hungry?"

I lightly hummed. "I'll be fine. I brought some snacks that I can munch on later if push comes to shove. Besides," I beamed, "watching you eat so happily is enough to make me full."

Steam poured from his head. "U—um. . . !"

"More importantly, is it good? I've been working on my cooking a lot recently. Lately, I've even started feeling overconfident."

"I— er— I— yes."

I grinned with my entire heart. "I'm so glad. Here, try this next. And tell me your honest thoughts. Oh, you accidentally dropped some rice on your lip. Let me get it. . ."

At first, I was a bit uneasy about this whole predicament. Having Naru nearby, dragging him into this scary situation. But, after all, I was a teeny bit glad he was the one fate dragged into this and placed by my side.

____________

I'm so soft for boys like Naru. Clumsy, blushy, sensitive, cute. More so if they're aloof toward the general public and the total opposite around the MC—

Not to mention everyone's jealousy—

As you can see I'm having fun with these chapters, lol.

Any whooo, since I had some free time and I'm too lazy to actually draw my beloved characters, I used an app called Lily Diary to make these:

Kiharu, Shiina, Tsumugi

Banri, Issei, Narumi, Hachiko

Kamakiri, Koshiba, Igarashi

Rin

Lol Rin,,, There wasn't any room to put him with the others (plus I tried to keep them in easy-to-tell-apart groups). Oh well. I think it's fitting considering he's been absent for practically the entire book (save for the occasional calls/messages XD).

I wonder if you can tell them apart even without the names, ha ha. Sadly I couldn't incorporate the height differences so just ignore that detail.

Tell me what you think of them if you'd like! And also the chapter!

Vote & Comment! <3