"Oh, you want to talk about jokes?" Shido suddenly stood up, a vengeful look in his eyes. "If we're telling secrets, let's talk about why I was in a bad mood this morning! Tamiko, do you want to know what Hori was doing in Kento's room?"
Hori's soul almost left her body. "SHIDO! WE HAD A DEAL!"
"Deals are for people who don't get laughed at!" Shido yelled. He turned to Tamiko and the Grandma, who was now leaning over the counter with a cup of tea, listening carefully. "I walked into the room, and Hori had Kento pinned to the bed! She had his shirt pulled all the way up to his neck! In broad daylight!"
"WHAAAT?!" Grandma yelled, her tea spoon falling into her cup with a splash. "In my day, we at least waited until after tea for such scandals!"
"It wasn't like that!" Hori screamed, her face turning so red it looked like it might explode. "He said his side hurt! I was being a nurse! I was checking for a stomach ache!"
"By stripping him?!" Shido countered, laughing like a villain.
Tamiko stood between them, looking from Shido to Hori. She let out a long, calm sigh. She looked like a mother trying to handle two noisy toddlers.
'These two are my best friends,' Tamiko thought, 'but sometimes I wonder if they left their brains at home with Kento.'
"Both of you, be quiet," Tamiko said firmly. Her voice was calm, but it had that "scary" power that made Shido and Hori instantly shut their mouths.
She looked at Hori. "Hori, don't pull up boys' shirts. It's embarrassing."
Then she looked at Shido. "And Shido, don't make fun of Hori's family. And definitely don't run in the mud."
"Yes, ma'am..." they both mumbled at the same time, looking at the floor.
Grandma started cackling loudly, hitting the counter with her hand. "Ho ho! Look at them! They look like two dogs who got caught eating the trash! Here, eat your riceballs and go to school before you start a third world war in my shop!"
Tamiko handed them each a warm riceball wrapped in fresh seaweed. She looked at Shido and gave him a small, secret wink. "Try to stay clean for at least five minutes, okay?"
Shido felt his heart melt again. "I'll try my best, Tamiko."
Hori stuffed a whole riceball in her mouth to keep from screaming in frustration. "Let's just go. My brain hurts."
The three of them stepped out of the riceball shop into the gray, rainy morning together, the bell above the door ringing softly behind them.
The rain was light but steady, making the street shine like glass. All three of them held clear umbrellas, but none of them looked very good anymore. Shido's umbrella was scratched, bent, and muddy from his dramatic fall earlier.
Hori's umbrella had dirty marks too because she had thrown it away without thinking when she rushed to help him. Only Tamiko's umbrella was still perfectly clean, clear, and neat.
Tamiko stopped walking and stared at the umbrellas with a worried little frown. "Oh no… look at your umbrellas. They're so dirty you can barely see through them. Why don't we go back inside for just a moment? I can wash them quickly."
"No, no, it's okay," Hori said gently, shaking her head. "We're already a bit late. If we go back now, we might miss the train."
"Yeah," Shido added, trying to wipe the umbrella with his sleeve and somehow making it worse. "It's fine. This just adds character. Now it looks like I survived a battle."
Tamiko hesitated, then looked at Hori's umbrella and at her own clean one. She slowly held hers out. "Hori… please take mine instead. I don't mind using the dirty one."
Hori smiled at her warmly. "You're really kind, Tamiko. But I made mine dirty, so I should be the one to use it. Also, if Shido sees a clean umbrella, he'll steal it."
"I will not steal it," Shido said seriously. "I will politely borrow it forever."
They started walking toward the station, their umbrellas moving up and down together in the rain. Tamiko kept glancing at the empty space beside them where Kento usually walked. "So… why is Kento really not here today? He never skips school."
Shido shrugged. "He's finally become one with his bed. The pillow has accepted him as its chosen one."
Hori sighed. "He didn't look well. He had pain in his side. He was really uncomfortable."
Tamiko looked worried. "Is it serious?"
"He's fine," Shido said quickly. "Probably just ate something bad."
"Shido," both girls said at once.
They reached the station, tapped through the gates, and walked down to the platform. People stood everywhere, umbrellas dripping onto the floor. A man sneezed loudly. Someone's phone started ringing with an annoying pop song. The train announcement echoed through the station.
"It feels strange," Tamiko said quietly. "Without Kento, it feels like our group is missing something."
"Yeah," Shido admitted. "There's nobody to complain about the weather or homework."
They waited for the train, standing close together. Hori watched the rain slide down the station windows. "We should tell Kashima and Shiyi," she said. "If we don't, they'll start making weird stories."
"True," Shido laughed. "Kashima will say he joined another club secretly. Shiyi will blame the school."
Tamiko nodded. "After school, let's go check on him. We can bring notes… and Grandma's riceballs."
"Notes?" Shido groaned. "Why not something useful, like snacks or a game?"
"We are bringing the notes," Tamiko said firmly.
"Yes, boss," Shido said, and both girls laughed.
The train arrived with a loud wind rush. They stepped inside, holding onto the railings as it started moving. The city passed by outside in gray blur, buildings and lights sliding past the windows. Even though they joked, all three of them were quietly thinking the same thing.
They missed him.
The morning at Kami High School felt calm and orderly. Unlike most schools in Tokyo that were built with simple concrete structures, Kami High stood out with its glass windows, white stone walls, and dark wooden details. The air smelled faintly of rain and perfume as students passed by in neat uniforms. Raindrops tapped against the windows, making the view outside slightly blurry.
The school was well known for its high standards and reputation. It wasn't just a place to attend classes — it was where many students hoped to build their future.
The students didn't wear typical uniforms. Instead of cheap fabric, their navy blazers were made of thick, high-quality wool that fit perfectly. The collars were lined with shimmering silver thread, and on their left chests, a metal badge with the school's eagle emblem sparkled. It was a sign of wealth and intelligence.
Inside one of the quiet classrooms, a boy sat on a desk near the back. He had golden-blonde hair that fell neatly over his forehead, and his skin was as clear as marble. He was looking out the window, his chin resting on his hand. This was Kashima Kanzaki.
Even without saying a word, he looked powerful. He was the top student in the country, once scoring a perfect 100 on a national exam that most adults couldn't pass. He was also the son of Seijurou Kanzaki, the head of the Kanzaki Group—a global company that built everything from high-tech robots to luxury cars.
Kashima looked down at his silver watch. 7:50 AM. There were still thirty minutes before the first bell. Around him, the classroom was filling up with the sounds of typical high school life.
"Did you see the new movie?" one student asked.
"I stayed up all night studying for English," another replied.
A group of girls whispered nearby, glancing at Kashima. "He looks like a prince today," one giggled.
"Kashima."
A voice called out to him. It was soft, like the ringing of a small silver bell, but it sounded a bit shaky. Kashima turned his head. In his vision, the world seemed to slow down.
A girl stood there. Her long, dark hair was soaking wet, sticking to her neck and cheeks. Her pink eyes were wide and bright, though her eyelashes were heavy with water drops. She was shivering, her small shoulders shaking, and her face was a mix of pale skin and bright red ears from the cold. Water dripped from her soaked blazer onto the floor—drip, drip, drip.
Kashima's blue eyes widened. For a moment, there was total silence. His sharp blue gaze met her soft pink eyes in a perfect parallel. He realized his heart was beating faster.
"Ayasaki!" he finally blurted out, standing up so fast his chair nearly tipped over.
He saw some girls in the back of the room whispering and pointing at her wet state. They hid small, mean smiles behind their hands as they looked at her messy hair and dripping clothes.
"Look at her," one girl giggled loudly enough for others to hear. "Did she swim to school today? She looks like a drowned rat."
"And her shirt is totally transparent," another whispered with a mean smirk. "Doesn't she have any shame coming into a prestigious school like this looking so sloppy? It's embarrassing."
Before the gossip could spread any further, he reached out and grabbed her hand. Her skin was ice-cold. Without a word, he pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway to protect her from their eyes.
They walked quickly through the crowd of students until they reached a quiet spot near the girls' washroom. Kashima leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. The girl, Shiyi Ayasaki, stood in front of him, holding her wet blazer in her hands.
Kashima looked at her and immediately looked away, his face turning red. Because she had no sweater on, her thin white school shirt was wet and almost see-through. He could see the shape of her clothing underneath. 'She's going to catch a cold... and why is she so careless?' he thought, his mind racing.
"Is... something wrong, Kashima?" Shiyi asked softly.
He quickly pulled a clean, dry handkerchief from his pocket and pushed it into her hand. "Wipe your hair and face. You're a mess."
"Oh, I have one, it's fine—" Shiyi started, pulling a soggy, wet cloth from her pocket. She looked at it and realized it was useless.
"Don't use that. It's like wiping your face with a puddle," Kashima said.
"Thank you," she whispered, taking his handkerchief.
As she began to dry her face, Kashima did something bold. He slipped off his own dry, warm blazer and draped it over her shoulders. Shiyi froze, looking up at him. The blazer was big on her, completely covering her wet shirt and reaching down to her thighs.
"Keep it on," Kashima said sternly. "People are looking. It's better to cover yourself."
Shiyi looked around and realized he was right; she was attracting all the wrong attention. Some boys nearby were staring, their eyes roaming over her damp figure.
"Hey, Ayasaki! Did you forget how to use an umbrella?" one boy called out, leaning against a locker. He gave her a slow, dirty wink. "You should walk in the rain more often. It's a great look for you. Why don't you take off that blazer so we can see the rest?"
His friends laughed, and Shiyi flinched, feeling her face burn with shame.
Kashima stopped walking immediately. He didn't just stand in front of her—he turned around and walked straight up to the boy who had winked. Before the boy could react, Kashima reached out and grabbed him tightly by his collar, bunching the fabric in his fist. He pulled the boy close until they were eye-to-eye.
"You have a lot to say for someone with so much to lose," Kashima whispered, his voice dangerously low.
The boy tried to pull away, but Kashima's grip was like iron. "What... what are you talking about, Kanzaki?"
"I'm talking about your 'busy' weekends," Kashima said with a cold, cruel smile. "I wonder how your strict parents would react if I sent them the list of all the different girls you've been dating behind their backs? Or better yet, the photos of you skipping cram school to hang out at the bars downtown? One word from me, and your comfortable life ends today."
The boy's face went from red to a ghostly white. He began to tremble. "You... you wouldn't."
"Try me," Kashima said. He gave the boy a hard, disgusted push that sent him stumbling back against the lockers with a loud thud. "If you ever look at her or speak her name again, I won't just tell them—I'll make sure you never have a 'weekend' again. Get out of my sight."
The boy and his friends didn't even look back. they scrambled away as fast as their legs could carry them, completely humiliated.
Kashima turned back to Shiyi. His breathing was a bit heavy, and his blue eyes were still sharp with anger. But when he looked at her, he forced himself to calm down. He adjusted his blazer on her shoulders, making sure she was fully covered.
"Let's go," he said quietly. "We're wasting time on trash."
As they walked through the hallway, Kashima thought, 'She really is too kind for her own good. She probably did something for someone else again.' He cleared his throat. "Back in the classroom... you called my name. Did you need something?"
Shiyi remembered and looked up. "Yes! I... I wanted to ask if I could borrow your umbrella."
"Why? You're already wet," Kashima asked, then immediately bit his tongue. 'That was rude, she'll think I'm making fun of her!' He quickly added, "I mean... what happened to yours?"
"There was only one umbrella at home, so I gave it to my brother so he wouldn't get wet," Shiyi explained. "But then I found out he forgot his lunchbox! I had to run to Kami Junior High next door to give it to him. But the rain is still so heavy... I need to go back over there because I forgot to give him his water bottle, too. If I go again without an umbrella, I'll be even worse."
Kashima sighed, his heart softening. "I'm coming with you."
"No, you don't have to!"
"I'm going," Kashima insisted. "After we see your brother, we are going straight to the nurse's office. You're wearing my blazer, but your shirt is still damp. You need to change into something dry before you get a fever."
Shiyi's face turned a deep shade of pink. She looked down at the floor, feeling the warmth of his jacket. "Okay... thank you."
Kashima noticed her blush and felt his own face heat up. "Don't feel uncomfortable," he said, looking straight ahead. "It's just the most logical way to handle the situation."
The hallways of Kami High were alive with the sound of a thousand conversations. The morning air was cool and damp, and the sound of rain still drummed against the windows in the background.
"Did you finish the history essay?" a girl asked her friend as they walked past.
"No way, it was way too long!" the friend replied.
Students in their sharp navy uniforms moved like a slow-moving sea, heading toward their lockers and classrooms.
Kashima and Shiyi walked together through the crowd. Shiyi was wrapped tightly in Kashima's large, warm blazer, while Kashima carried her small, wet jacket in his hand.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing sound cut through the noise.
W-H-I-S-T-L-E!
"Hey, stop that! You're going to get us in trouble!" a female voice whispered urgently from somewhere in the crowd.
Thwack! "Ow! Watch it! I'm just giving credit where it's due," a boy's voice replied with a giggle.
Shiyi froze, her heart racing. 'Is someone else going to make fun of me? I don't think I can handle any more mean comments today,' she thought, looking down at the floor.
Kashima felt his blood boil. 'Again? Do these people have nothing better to do than bother her? I won't let them touch her with their words.' Kashima looked at Shiyi. Their eyes met—his sharp blue eyes were filled with fire, while her soft pink eyes were pleading. She shook her head slightly, her hand reaching out to grab his wrist. "Kashima, please... just ignore it," she whispered.
But Kashima couldn't ignore it. He turned around aggressively, his face dark with rage. "You'd better shut your mouth before I—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened.
Standing a few feet away was a tall, athletic boy with messy dark hair and a confident, mischievous grin. He wore his uniform a bit loosely, looking like a rebel who didn't care about the rules. This was Shido Kirishima, Kashima's best friend.
Beside him stood the elegant and beautiful Hori and the soft-spoken, kind Tamiko. Hori was currently gripping Shido's arm with a strength that looked painful, while Tamiko was holding his other hand, trying to pull him away.
Shido's smirk grew wider when he saw Kashima's face. "Before you what, Kashima? You look like you're ready to start a war." Shido's eyes moved down to Kashima's hand, which was holding the small, wet blazer. He started to laugh. "And since when did you shrink? That blazer looks a little small for a guy of your size, don't you think?"
Kashima tried to keep his face serious and unbothered, but his cheeks were turning pink. "It's not mine, Kirishima. Shiyi got wet, so I lent her mine. I am simply carrying hers so it doesn't drip on her."
"Oh, I see," Shido teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "So the 'Cold Prince' is now a personal coat-rack for his Vice-Treasurer? That's a big promotion!"
While the boys talked, Hori and Tamiko moved toward Shiyi. Hori looked at Shiyi's damp hair and then at the blazer on her shoulders.
"Shiyi! You're soaking wet! What happened?" Tamiko asked, looking worried.
Shiyi explained about the umbrella and her brother's lunchbox. Hori listened, then reached out and touched the fabric of the blazer Shiyi was wearing. She noticed the "Treasurer" badge and the high-quality stitching.
"Wait a minute," Hori said with a knowing smile. "This isn't your blazer, is it, Shiyi? This is definitely Kashima's."
Shiyi's face turned bright red. "It's... it's just because I was cold! It's nothing like that, Hori!"
Hori giggled. "I had a feeling. It looks good on you, though."
Tamiko blinked, looking confused. "Why are we smiling? Is a wet uniform a good thing?"
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