When Hikaru saw the short-haired girl waiting at his dorm room door, he couldn't help but feel a wave of exasperation. He had expected Kushida to react after seeing him seek out Suzune earlier today—but he hadn't imagined she'd go so far as to stake out his room in broad daylight.

  If anyone else saw this, rumors would spread like wildfire. And Hikaru's carefully crafted time ma pn was still in its early stages; he couldn't let it get derailed this easily.

  So, without hesitation, Hikaru invited Kushida into his room. After she slipped ih quick, agitated steps, he calmly closed the door behihen, walking over to his mini-fridge, he retrieved two s of peach-fvored soda—a new favorite of his, perfect for the warm, humid days of May.

  Returning to the room, he found Kushida sitting stiffly on the edge of his bed, arms crossed. She seemed disined to sit on the floor around the table, as if asserting her presence by taking the higher ground.

  "Kushida-san, here—peach soda," Hikaru offered casually, extending the chilled toward her with an easy smile.

  "..."

  Kushida's sharp purple eyes met his, but she didn't sh out immediately. After a moment of hesitation, she reached out and accepted the soda. The ess of the seemed to calm her anger, if only slightly.

  "So, Kushida-san," Hikaru said as he cracked open his own soda and leaned ba his chair. "You waited by my door. I'm guessing you have something on your mind?"

  "What exactly is your retionship with Horikita?" she asked, her voice devoid of its usual warmth.

  Hikaru arched an eyebrow. "Didn't I already ahat st time?"

  He took a slow sip, watg her carefully. Her expression remained icy. The tension in her shoulders was obvious, and her lips were pressed into a tight line.

  "We're acquaintances, of course," he said, setting his drink down. "Unless you think there's some other possibility?"

  "I want the truth." Kushida's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "From the café where I saw you two together to you actively seeking her out today… If she's just a cssmate, why would you go that far?"

  "Hmm… I suppose we're a little closer than just acquaintances," Hikaru admitted, carefully her rea.

  Kushida's eyes narrowed dangerously.

  "But we're definitely not friends," he added with a self-depreg chuckle. "Horikita told me that herself. Apparently, it's pretty hard to earn that title."

  "...Is that so?" she muttered.

  Hikaru could practically hear the gears turning in her mind. So predictable. Seeing him with Suzune had clearly rattled her. Her jealousy was obvious—not because she liked him, but because Suzune was involved.

  Kushida was afraid of what Suzune might learn.

  "And didn't I already say I was helping you get closer to Horikita?" Hikaru tilted his head slightly. "Yet you still haven't mao befriend her, have you?"

  "..."

  "And that reminds me… I've got a question for you."

  As Hikaru spoke, he stood up and casually moved to sit beside her on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, bringing them closer than social vention allowed for acquaintances—especially when the girl iion was known for carefully maintaining her boundaries.

  Kushida's eyes flicked toward him, and Hikaru noticed the subtle tremble in her shoulders. Her breathing shifted ever so slightly, too.

  Iing.

  For all her maniputive charm, Kushida didn't seem entirely ued by close proximity.

  "What kind of question?" she asked warily.

  Hikaru let his gaze soften just enough to feign curiosity. "Well, it's just something I've been w. You and I only got to know each other because I was helping you get closer to Horikita. That was the starting point, right?"

  Kushida nodded cautiously.

  "So why does seeieract with Horikita bother you this much?"

  He shifted slightly so that his shoulder brushed against hers. "If you trust me like you cim, this shouldn't be an issue. But instead, here you are, interrogati my door."

  Kushida's throat bobbed as she swallowed. "I… It's just…"

  "And that night, at the karaoke pce…" Hikaru's voice dropped to a near whisper. "I heard you. Heard how angry you were."

  Kushida froze. The memory of that night—the night she'd lost trol aed her hatred for Suzune—was clearly still fresh for her.

  "What are y to say?" she demahough her tone cked its initial aggression.

  "Well, here's my guess," Hikaru said with an amused smile. "You've tried hard to get along with Horikita, but she's stubborn and hard to crack. So that frustration's been building inside you. And when you saw me spending time with her—getting closer to her—you felt… what? Jealous? Angry? Maybe both?"

  Kushida's jaw tightened.

  "So you came here to get answers," Hikaru finished. "Did I get it right?"

  The girl beside him exhaled slowly. He could feel the tension leaving her shoulders. She didn't correct him, even though his analysis—while close—wasirely accurate.

  After several long seds, she forced a smile onto her fad gave a light shrug. "Looks like I 't hide anything from you, huh? That's pretty much it. I guess I was just… frustrated."

  "I get it," Hikaru said with practiced sympathy. "Horikita's ly the frie person, is she?"

  "No," Kushida agreed softly. "She's… difficult."

  That's one way to put it.

  Kushida shifted slightly, turning to face Hikaru more directly. Her arm brushed against his as she did. The sweetness of her perfume drifted into the air between them, light and intoxig.

  "So… what were you two talking about today?" she asked, voice softening as she leaned in.

  Hikaru feigned a thoughtful look. "Oh, nothing much. Just the uping midterm exams."

  "Really?"

  "Yeah. I figured that since Horikita's a top student, she might have some useful study teiques."

  Kushida's eyes glimmered with something unreadable.

  "Well, if it's about the midterms, then I share something iing with you," she said, adopting her usual, cheerful tone. "Our css has e up with a pretty clever pn."

  Hikaru raised an eyebrow. "Really? A pn for the exams?"

  Kushida smiled cryptically. "That's right. But before I tell you… I want to make a deal."

  "A deal?" Hikaru echoed, intrigued. "Go on."

  "You stay away from Horikita," Kushida said, her tone suddenly turning ice-cold again. "pletely."

  Hikaru blihe shift in her demeanor was so abrupt it might have been ical if it weren't for the genuine mali her eyes.

  Ah. So this is what it's about.

  "So," he said slowly, "you're me exam intel in exge for me cutting ties with Horikita?"

  "Exactly."

  "And if I refuse?"

  Kushida's smile didn't waver. "Then I guess you'll have to find out the hard way."

  Hikaru chuckled under his breath.

  So she's finally making a move.

  She thought she was being clever. Maniputive. But she didn't realize that she'd walked straight into his trap.

  Who's the prey here, Kushida?

  "Alright," he said, giving her a zy grin. "I'm listening."

  Let me py with you.

  ~~~

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