As June arrived, summer's presence became unmistakable. The swimming pool at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School began opening to students outside of scheduled classes, and with the rumored summer island vacation approaching, many first-year students started entertaining the idea of buying new swimsuits.
Though the school had issued standard swimsuits for swimming class, the desire to stand out and look good was only natural at this age. Even in Class 1-D, which had remained at zero class points for two consecutive months, students could often be heard chatting about swimsuits during breaks, with some planning to scrape together what little private points they had left to buy a brand-new one.
The other three classes, which were much better off in points, were no different.
Karuizawa Kei of Class 1-B had just returned from the drama club's competition. On her first day back, she was quickly surrounded by her usual group of close female friends.
As a second-lap player, Kei had already exposed the truth about personal and class points on the very first day of school—something the school had intended to conceal during the first month. Combined with her fame as a rising actress, she had effectively taken control of Class 1-B from day one.
Of course, this also had something to do with Class B's inherently calm and moderate nature. The students weren't as arrogant and headstrong as those in Class A, nor were they as unruly as Class C.
Kei had once thought that B Class's mood was due to Ichinose Honami's personality. But after actually joining the class, she realized the students were genuinely kind—no, they were downright affectionate.
From Kei's perspective, such an overly peaceful, honey-sweet environment doomed B Class's chances of ever making it to Class A. These students valued the class itself more than any dream of promotion. It was like they were publicly displaying their biggest weakness.
But when kindness and sincerity are seen as weaknesses, perhaps it's the system itself that should be called into question.
"I'm so jealous you get to go off-campus every month, Kei."
Said Amikura Mako, a high-ponytailed girl, her tone thick with envy.
"If your club won awards every time like Kei's, I'm sure the school would love it too, Mako," teased Andou Sayo, a short-haired girl.
"Besides, I saw it in the news—Kei even won Best Actress this time, right?"
The surrounding girls gasped in awe. To shine on stage—that was a dream no girl their age could easily resist.
"Just lucky, that's all. Ryo didn't qualify this time, or else he would've taken it again like always."
Kei smiled, recalling how Ryo spent the entire performance sitting inside a chair without a single line—his face never even appearing once. The memory made her chuckle.
"That was Kitagawa-kun from Class D, right?"
"I saw him once in the hallway—he really is super handsome."
"Right? That's why he's ranked #1 on our year's most handsome boys list."
As soon as Ryo's name came up, the girls' voices rose several decibels, chirping like a flock of excited birds.
Just as Kei was about to chime in and join the chorus of praise, her phone rang—Ryo was calling. She stood up quickly, apologizing:
"Sorry, I need to take this."
"If it's Kitagawa-kun, we don't mind if it takes until class starts!"
Amid cheerful teasing, Kei smiled and stepped out of the classroom.
Once she was gone, one of the girls leaned in.
"Actually, I just saw this article this morning."
She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and showed them a page:
"BREAKING: Famous Stage Actors Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei Spotted Returning to Hotel Together Late at Night—Close and Intimate, Suspected of Dating!"
Below the clickbait headline were a few grainy photos—just barely recognizable silhouettes of a boy and a girl, the boy's head leaning on the girl's shoulder, seemingly whispering something.
"So... what's Kei's relationship with Kitagawa-kun from Class D? Are they really dating?"
The girl began reading the top comments aloud:
"Huh? They're not already together?"
"Wait, I thought they were together."
"Ugh, stop baiting me into buying Asahi's tickets again. Classic PR move. When's the next show?"
"Now I wanna rewatch their Youth Forbidden Game performance."
"Youth Forbidden Game? I liked Macbeth better... such good chemistry."
"Agreed. Macbeth was god-tier. That's when I truly accepted Kei as Ryo's official leading lady."
"'Suspected of dating'? Just tell us when they're getting married already."
"Too late. The marriage office has been notified."
...
The moment the topic turned to romance, the excitement among the girls ramped up again. But most of them didn't fully understand the deeper comments—after all, before meeting Kei, their knowledge of the theater world was basically zero.
"Heh heh heh..."
At that moment, Kanzaki Ryuji, the usually quiet vice class rep, suddenly chuckled, earning surprised looks from several girls.
Until now, Kanzaki had always projected a serious, stoic image—taciturn and disciplined. Most of the time, he was the type who rarely expressed emotions.
"I won't hide it. I've been watching theater since I was little, so I can explain."
As the only heir to Kanzaki Heavy Industries, Ryuji had received strict elite education from a young age—not only in academics, physical training, and combat, but also in arts like theater and music.
Seeing the eager faces around him, he didn't hold back:
"Actually, Kitagawa debuted before Karuizawa. But from her very first stage performance, she's only ever had Kitagawa as her male lead."
"He's a near-legendary genius in the field. Troupe leaders, directors, actors, audiences—everyone who's seen him perform has sung his praises. For a long time, Kei was criticized as being unworthy of standing beside him—that she should be replaced with someone more talented."
"But Kitagawa publicly declared he would never replace Kei. And her acting improved rapidly. Eventually, her stunning performance in Macbeth silenced all doubters."
Everyone loves a romantic story full of ups and downs. The girls in Class B were no exception. Compared to Kei's story, their own high school crushes felt boring.
"So... are they really... together?"
"Absolutely!"
Ryuji exclaimed with conviction. He even pulled out a notebook from his bag and flipped to a page:
"According to an interview with the Asahi troupe leader, their first collaboration happened when they were twelve—during Kei's troupe audition. The play was The Little Mermaid. That marked the beginning of their relationship. Sadly, no footage from that symbolic performance exists."
"Their first official debut together was Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which also marked their first on-stage couple role."
"Then came Oedipus Rex—even Horikita Manabu, the third-year student council president, was obsessed with that performance. Ryo's Oedipus left a deep impression. Kei played Oedipus's birth mother and, through fate, unknowingly married her own son. She had few lines, but her maternal allure was unforgettable."
"That same presence carried over to Macbeth, where she played Lady Macbeth. Her portrayal of dark, passionate love—for Ryo's Macbeth—was chillingly beautiful."
"They also co-starred in Hamlet, King Lear, Youth Forbidden Game, and many more..."
"So yes, they're definitely dating!"
He sounded so confident and passionate that even Mako and the others were stunned.
"Where can we watch their performances?" someone asked.
With a flourish, Ryuji scribbled down a long URL on paper:
"This is the most complete and highest-quality video archive available online."
"The extraction and password codes are both: K&K."
"K&K? Like... mafia code?"
Ryuji nearly choked, then quickly clarified:
"It stands for Kitagawa and Karuizawa—the initials of their romanized names."
"I ship it!"
"The best couple was right under our noses!"
"Time to farm more content!"
"We can make our own content! They're right here in person!"
Ryuji wiped the sweat from his forehead as the girls launched into full-blown CP lingo. He hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly.
"Mm-hmm. Got it. This weekend, right? Sure."
Just then, Kei returned from her call. She immediately sensed something was off—the way everyone looked at her had changed.
Ever perceptive, she picked up on it right away.
"Kei, want to go swimsuit shopping this weekend? I saw something perfect for you. I guarantee it'll help you win... um... first place in the next swim class relay."
Amikura Mako, trying to support her friend's romance, quickly corrected herself—realizing that publicly acknowledging Kei's relationship with a Class D student could have consequences under the school's point-based competition system.
"Sorry, Mako-chan. I already have plans this weekend."
"With Kitagawa-kun from Class D?"
Ryuji asked, visibly excited.
"Eh... with Horikita from Class D."
Kei tilted her head, honey-colored hair swaying gently with the motion.
-------------------------------------
She dreamt once more of the moments she had spent with Kitagawa Ryo.
There had been so many, each one vivid and worth savoring. Perhaps it was why Sakayanagi Arisu felt her sleep quality had improved recently.
She slowly opened her eyes, exhaling a warm breath.
Outside, the sun was beginning to set, casting its final golden rays through the window.
She was nestled in a quiet corner of the library. It seemed she had dozed off without meaning to.
[...Am I longing for him?]
Just like a girl caught in the throes of first love.
"Sakayanagi-san fell asleep again. But she looked so peaceful."
Across from her sat a girl named Matsushita Chiaki, who had just put down her book.
Ever since the first day of school, when Chiaki had inadvertently discovered Arisu's secret—that she was deliberately holding back and trying to fade into the background—she had found herself caught in Arisu's orbit.
"Ah, Chiaki-chan."
Still caught in the lingering emotions of her dream, Arisu stretched and yawned lazily, blinking one eye toward Chiaki.
Something from the dream resurfaced in her memory—something Chiaki had done. With a soft smile, Arisu asked,
"Chiaki-chan."
"Yes?"
"What do you think of me and Ryo together?"
"You mean Kitagawa-kun from our class?"
Chiaki couldn't quite figure out why Arisu had brought this up out of nowhere. She thought for a moment before answering carefully:
"I think... you and Kitagawa-kun are the kind of people who can lead Class D forward."
"Not in that way."
Arisu shook her head with lazy disapproval, then closed the book in her lap and pushed it toward Chiaki.
"Alice in Wonderland."
Chiaki blinked, surprised to find Arisu had been reading such a simple, thin children's book.
"Why is a raven like a writing desk? Do you know the answer to that riddle, Chiaki-chan?"
"I think it's 'I love you,' right? Because love doesn't need a reason—just like that riddle has no real answer."
"But that's not necessarily true~"
Arisu drew out her words playfully, her tone somehow even more charming.
"There's always a reason when you fall for someone. If you think there isn't, maybe you just haven't realized it yet."
Chiaki finally understood what Arisu meant. It was the first time she'd seen her like this—until now, Arisu had always seemed all-knowing and in control, like someone holding the entire game board in her hands.
But in this moment, she felt warmer. More approachable.
"So you really do like Kitagawa-kun?"
"Of course."
Arisu admitted it openly, then leaned forward to ask again:
"So, Chiaki-chan, what do you think of me and Ryo? Do we look good together?"
She sounded like a curious child, digging for a specific answer.
"..."
Chiaki couldn't give her one.
Why was Arisu asking her, of all people?
Did she just want a compliment?
Was it like those meaningless things people say to fill the silence or to match the mood?
It reminded Chiaki of the hollow comfort of drinking cold water on an empty stomach.
"If I'm being honest..."
"I always thought Horikita-san and Kitagawa-kun looked more like a couple."
Chiaki had braced herself to be scolded—or at least glared at—but instead, Arisu smiled gently.
"That's why I need you, Chiaki-chan."
She reached out her hand.
At first, Arisu had only seen Chiaki as a substitute for her own limited mobility.
But now, things were different. Arisu was healthy again.
"Help me."
[As the perfect wingman.]
That was the thought Arisu kept quietly in her heart.
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