Chika didn't go back to class immediately. He stayed on the roof for another ten minutes, leaning his forehead against the cool metal of the fence and waiting for his pulse to stop sounding like a drum in his ears.
What the hell was that? he thought, his face still burning. "I am far too curious"? Who even says that? When he finally worked up the nerve to walk back into the building, the hallways were empty. He was late. Again.
Normally, he wouldn't care, but the thought of Ishi sitting in there, probably counting the seconds, made him walk a little faster.
He slid the classroom door open as quietly as possible so he could sneak in. The teacher didn't even look up from the chalkboard, but someone else did.
Ishi was sitting at his desk, his back perfectly straight as usual. But as Chika walked toward his own seat, Ishi watched him. He didn't pretend to be busy. He watched Chika with a steady, unblinking gaze that made Chika nearly stumble over his own feet and get caught.
'Seriously, will you quit staring?' Chika silently gritted his teeth.
He sat down and tried to focus on his notebook, but he could feel it. Ishi wasn't even hiding it anymore.
Every time Chika leaned back, or tapped his pen, or let out a bored sigh, he'd glance over and find Ishi looking at him. Not with a glare, and not with a smirk, but with that intense, focused stare that made Chika feel like he was under a microscope.
And very soon, more people would notice this new... Development.
I can't do this, Chika thought, his stomach doing that annoying flip again. I'm a total fool for thinking it would be over after the roof.
And so, as soon as the bell rang for the end of class, Chika practically sprinted out the door, desperate to get some air and get away from Ishi's gaze.
He headed for the back of the school, near the equipment shed where he usually went to skip the afternoon assembly.
He slumped against the wall, sliding down until he was sitting on the ground. He closed his eyes, finally letting out a long breath.
"Crazy," he muttered to himself. "The guy is actually crazy."
"Who is crazy?"
Chika's eyes snapped open. Ishi was standing right there, his bag slung over his shoulder, looking down at him.
"Gah! What is wrong with you?" Chika barked, scrambling to his feet. "Are you stalking me now? Is this part of your 'curiosity'? And how the hell did you get here so fast?"
Ishi didn't look bothered by the outburst. He just pushed his glasses up his nose.
"I noticed you were leaving in the wrong direction. The assembly is in the gym."
"I don't go to assemblies," Chika snapped, trying to brush the dust off his pants to hide his shaking hands. "Go away, Ishi. Go be a good student."
"I told you," Ishi said, stepping closer. "Until the variables are balanced, I cannot return to my previous routine. And currently, you are the most unstable variable I have."
Chika felt his back hit the shed wall. "I'm not a variable! I'm a person! And you're being weird!"
Ishi stopped just a few inches away. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, pocket-sized notebook. He opened it to the first page and held it up.
In neat, perfect handwriting, it said: Subject Observation: Chika Nuronami.
Below that, a single line was written: Reaction to physical proximity: Heart rate increase (visualized by neck pulse), skin flushing, avoidance behavior.
Chika stared at the paper, then at Ishi's calm face. "You... you're taking notes? You've gotta be kidding me!"
"It's the only way to be objective," Ishi said simply. "Now, I need to test if the reaction is consistent."
Before Chika could ask what he meant, Ishi reached out and placed a hand flat against Chika's chest, right over his heart.
Chika froze. His heart didn't just increase; it felt like it was going to burst through his ribs.
"Consistent," Ishi whispered, looking at Chika's wide eyes.
Chika's breath hitched. He stared down at the hand pressed against his chest, then back up at Ishi's face. The guy wasn't even blushing anymore; he looked like he was conducting a chemistry experiment.
"Get—get your hand off me!" Chika finally choked out, swatting Ishi's hand away. "You can't just go around touching people to 'test' them! That's not how people work!"
Ishi didn't look offended. He just opened his little notebook and scribbled something else down. "Subject exhibits high levels of agitation when touched unexpectedly. Noted."
"Stop noting things!" Chika yelled, though he kept his voice down so they wouldn't get caught behind the shed. "I'm going home. I'm done with this. I'm done with you."
He turned and started power-walking toward the school gates, his face still hot. He didn't look back, convinced that Ishi would stay behind to finish his stupid notes. But as he reached the sidewalk, he heard the steady thump-thump of school shoes behind him.
Ishi was following him. He wasn't even trying to hide it. He was just walking two paces behind, keeping his eyes fixed on Chika.
"What now?" Chika groaned, stopping in his tracks. "The school day is over, Ishi. Go home and study or whatever you do."
"I am studying," Ishi said plainly, closing the distance between them. "I've determined that observing you in a controlled environment like the classroom isn't enough. I need to see how you react in a natural setting."
Chika rolled his eyes, turning to walk again. "My 'natural setting' is me going home to eat and sleep. It's boring. You'll hate it."
"I doubt that," Ishi muttered. "Now, shall we go?"
"Go where?"
"Let us walk together."
Chika felt like he was going to pull his hair out. Nothing he said was getting through to Ishi. Well, they never got through to Ishi in the first place but it was even worse now.
It seemed there was something off with Ishi Kuroyami's head.
Chika gulped.
What was this? Some kind of date?
"Aren't you coming?" Ishi asked, and Chika quickly picked up the pace.
"I already warned ya," he declared.
They walked in silence for a few blocks. Chika tried to ignore the presence behind him, but he was hyper-aware of every step Ishi took.
When they reached a narrow part of the sidewalk blocked by some overgrown bushes, Chika stepped to the side to let an elderly lady pass.
As he did, Ishi suddenly reached out and took Chika's hand.
It wasn't a romantic hand-hold. Ishi just laced their fingers together and kept walking, his expression as neutral as a stone.
Chika nearly tripped over a crack in the pavement. "What are you doing?! People are looking!"
"Analyzing the transfer of heat," Ishi replied, his thumb giving a tiny twitch against Chika's knuckles. "And checking for tremors. You're shaking again, Chika. Why?"
"Because you're holding my hand in the middle of the street!" Chika hissed, trying to pull away.
But Ishi held on tight. He didn't let go until they reached the corner. He then pulled out the notebook again, holding it with his free hand while still keeping Chika's hand captive.
"New data," Ishi whispered to himself. "Prolonged contact leads to increased perspiration and erratic breathing. Subject's pace slowed by 15%."
Chika felt like he was going to explode. He was a delinquent. He was supposed to be the one making people nervous, not the one being dragged around like a lost puppy by a guy with a pocket protector.
"You're a menace," Chika said, but his voice lacked any real heat. "A total, absolute menace."
"I am thorough," Ishi corrected. He finally let go of Chika's hand, but then he did something even worse.
He reached up and tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind Chika's ear, his cold fingers lingering on the sensitive skin there.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning, Chika. I'll be waiting by the gate. I want to see your 'morning baseline' state."
Before Chika could even process the feeling of Ishi's fingers on his ear, the model student turned and walked away toward the train station, leaving Chika standing on the sidewalk, completely dazed.
Morning baseline? Chika thought, his heart still racing. He's gonna kill me. This guy is actually gonna be the death of me.