(?????)
Shiro returned to his seat covered in fresh wounds. Now, there was absolutely no way he could sleep. He had been completely branded as a pervert.
Those two bastards had really gone all out on him! And why did they keep attacking his back so viciously?!
Even if they covered up the truth, it wouldn't change the fact that he had gone to help a lady in need!
"So, what do we do now?"
Iori asked as he sat back down. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but the chill at his back seemed to have deepened…
"If you want to know, why not just ask Kotegawa?"
Kohei suggested. If it was Chisa, she would definitely know something, right?
"That's not going to work. If we show up looking like this, she's just going to look down on us again. Not to mention, we've got someone here who went on about wanting to marry her sister and then came back covered in scratch marks like a scumbag."
"Hey! That's—"
Shiro was at a loss for words. He had no idea how to refute that because… well, it was technically true.
He really did want to marry Nanaka-nee. A Yamato Nadeshiko-type wife was absolutely top-tier, okay? With her running the family tea shop, everything would be perfect!
Except… Nanaka-nee turned out to be way different from what he expected. Since when did she gain this ultimate little sister complex?!
As he was thinking about it, he stole a glance toward Chisa, wondering just what kind of charm—
Crack!
The moment he saw her, it was like he had been struck by lightning!
What the hell did he just witness?!
That naturally aloof Chisa… was smiling! And it was such a sweet, radiant smile!
Damn it, I think I finally understand why Nanaka-nee became such a siscon!
But… this is way too weird! What's going on?! Is the world about to end in the next second?!
"What's wrong, Kamishiro?"
Noticing that Shiro had frozen up, Iori and Kohei turned around as well. The instant they saw Chisa, they had the exact same thought as him—
The world was about to end!
"Did you guys… notice? Just now, in that instant, the chill in the air got even stronger."
Shiro shuddered, feeling like he was moments away from being buried alive.
And that guy holding a "Guide to Beating Someone Half to Death" book was way too terrifying!
"Kotegawa definitely knows something!"
Kohei said with a look of horror. Chisa acting so out of character was proof enough that something was seriously wrong.
Iori didn't hesitate. He stood up and marched straight over to Chisa. If he didn't figure out what was going on, he wouldn't be able to die in peace!
"Hey, Chisa, can I borrow you for a moment?"
Iori asked, already mentally prepared for her to ignore him like he was garbage.
However—
"Eh? What's up, Iori~?"
Not only did Chisa not give him her usual disdainful stare, but she even flashed him an incredibly sweet smile!
Kohei and Shiro stared blankly at the scene before them. If they hadn't just pinched each other to make sure they were awake, they would have thought they were dreaming!
Iori was stunned too. Feeling the ever-growing chill behind him, he stammered, "Uh… I… I just wanted to ask you something…"
"Right now? Sure! But if it's just a chat, we can always talk at home too~"
Screeeeech!
The sound of sharp objects scraping against desks rang out behind them!
The three of them paled in terror. This was getting way too creepy!
"Tell me, Chisa! What the hell is going on?!"
Unable to hold back anymore, Iori grabbed Chisa's shoulders and demanded an answer.
"I dunno~"
"Like hell you don't!"
Shiro, still in shock, quietly took out his phone. If they couldn't get an answer from Chisa, then there was only one thing to do—ask the all-knowing online forums!
And then…
He didn't even need to search.
Right at the top of the trending posts was exactly what he was looking for.
Shiro and Kohei stared at their phone screens, their expressions turning more and more bizarre.
The post contained a set of photos—pictures of Chisa at the awards ceremony. But for some reason, that bastard Kitahara was also in them.
And the headline read—
"'Dick Joke' Comedy Champion and Beauty Pageant Winner… Are They a Couple?!"
"..."
"What the hell happened while we were passed out?"
The trending post had completely blown up, and the comment section had turned into a discussion board for the Top Ten Torture Methods and A Hundred Ways to Bury a Corpse After Death!
Shiro even spotted a comment that included a ritual to summon Iori's soul for eternal torment!
After reading through everything, he and Kohei silently took a step away from Iori, their gazes filled with pity.
"Today might be the last day we see him alive."
"Thinking about it that way… it's kind of sad. We should bring him more oolong tea in the future… He loves that stuff!"
Tears welled up at the corners of their eyes. Though their time together hadn't been long, they would always remember Iori!!!
Meanwhile, Iori was still desperately clinging to Chisa, demanding answers.
Suddenly—
Thud!
A throwing knife embedded itself into the wall near him!
Iori turned pale, his face contorting into a demonic mask of horror!
Shiro plucked the note that was stabbed onto the wall.
"Break up with Kotegawa Chisa immediately! Or else you're dead, kid!"
"So… when exactly did this happen?"
Shiro looked at Iori with deadly seriousness. Even he didn't have a girlfriend yet! How the hell did that bastard Kitahara Iori manage to get one before him?!
"W-What do you mean 'when'?! We—"
"It started before the school festival~"
Before Iori could even finish his sentence, Chisa's sweet voice cut in.
"..."
"Then what about this note? Are you really going to break up with Chisa?"
"I don't really know what's going on, but for my own safety, I should probably—"
"Thank you, Iori! You're willing to risk your life for me!"
That sweet voice interrupted him yet again.
Now, every single person in the classroom was staring at them.
Well, mainly at Iori…
"WHAT?! What the hell are you scheming?!"
"Don't be so loud~ You're disturbing the people around us~"
"Screw the people around us! That's the least of my problems right now!"
Iori was freaking out. This wasn't about disrupting the classroom anymore, this was about whether he could even leave the classroom alive!
Shiro and Kohei silently took a step back. Now that they fully understood the situation, there was absolutely no way they were going to stay with that idiot Kitahara any longer!
"Well, uh… Kohei and I have urgent matters to attend to, so we'll be going now. Wishing you all the best, Kitahara!"
!!!
If Iori still didn't realize that everyone was out to get him, then he might as well go jump in a river and drown himself!
"Wait! You two—!"
Iori immediately threw his arms around both of their necks, putting his full body weight onto them!
Faced with his shameless tactic, Shiro and Kohei exchanged a glance.
In the next second—
They both pulled in opposite directions, stretching Iori's body as if they were quartering him!
"Don't just talk to us so casually! People might think we actually know you!"
"Yeah, let go, you comedy-faced pervert!"
"We're more than just acquaintances, damn it! We're a group that could make a professional debut together!"
Iori's face twisted with determination. No matter how much pain he felt from being torn apart, he refused to let go of these two bastards!
"There's no way I'm letting you two just walk away that easily!"
Iori shouted, "Speaking of which—Kamishiro, what exactly have you been doing in your room every night with Hamaoka Azusa from the Oumi girls' college? And Kohei, I heard that Aina-chan from the girls' college is actually dating you!"
Screeeeech!
The sound of sharp objects scraping against desks rang out once more!
This time, Shiro and Kohei saw it clearly; those beasts, completely consumed by jealousy, had eyes filled with murderous intent!
"You bastard, do you even realize what you've done?!"
With savage expressions, they both wrapped their arms tightly around Iori's neck! This guy was pure evil!
"Now we're in this together!"
"Yeah, you're absolutely right!"
"I swear, I actually want to stab my own teammate right now!"
The three of them were once again lumped together as a team.
Now… there was only one person who could save them!
All three of them instinctively turned toward Chisa—
But… she was gone.
All that was left was a note that read:
"Went to get lunch."
That bastard had run away!!