Chapter 45

The next morning.

When Yuki arrived at school a little earlier than usual and passed through the school gate, she noticed a girl and a boy arguing ahead of her.

"Good morning, Rion! I'll carry your bag for you!"

"Stop it, I said!"

The boy with a bowl cut kept bowing and approached with an unusually energetic voice. As the other students passed by, pretending not to notice, Yuki, finding it curious, looked over. Unfortunately, her eyes met those of the girl. Upon closer inspection, it was Rion, the seat breaker from the next desk. Realizing she couldn't be extorted, Rion quickly fled.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Rion chased after her with surprising speed. Yuki tried to escape but was eventually cornered near the wall around the school building. Rion approached slowly, crossed her arms, and stood in front of her.

"Are you sure you're Nari Togoshi?"

"This month is tough, so please let me off."

"…What do you mean?"

It didn't seem like Rion was chasing her for money. Yuki didn't want to be made to run or jump around in the morning.

"Actually, it's perfect. I have something to talk to you about."

Her tone suggested it was a convenient coincidence, but it clearly wasn't. Rion took out her phone from her bag, operated it briefly, and then showed the screen.

"What's this? You two seem quite close."

"This is... a photo taken during a residual image punch?"

"...What's that? Trying to play dumb? This is you and Yui."

"Hmm...?"

The screen showed a photo of a boy and a girl in school uniforms facing each other on a convenience store street. The photo was blurry, making it hard to identify herself.

"How do you have a photo of me and Yui?"

"This... is a tip I received from someone."

"From who?"

"Doesn't matter. More importantly, are you and Yui... dating?"

"No way."

There was no need to mention that she was only a fake girlfriend in front of her sister. Yuki replied bluntly, and Rion, who had been looking nervous, relaxed and sighed in relief.

"So you're not dating. Then what's going on here?"

"I think we just happened to go home together, but I don't know when."

"Just happened? I bet you took advantage of being her seat partner and forced Yui to go with you."

It seemed Yuki was being misunderstood. From Rion's tone, it appeared she didn't know about the seat breaker. Perhaps she should confirm.

"Did you confess to Yui?"

"Huh? Confess to what!?"

Even the seat breaker didn't seem to go as far as making a girl confess. However, it wasn't impossible in the future, so she needed to be cautious.

"If you confess, you'll definitely be rejected, so don't bother."

"Of course! What a ridiculous idea for girls to... "

Rion seemed flustered but then realized something.

"I see... So, Togoshi, you want to confess but are afraid of being rejected... You've let it slip. Oh, you like Yui, haven't you? How embarrassing!"

She pointed at Yuki's face and taunted her like a child. She had made up her mind and was desperate.

"No, it's not like that..."

"Hmph, don't play dumb. What should I do? Should I tell Yui?"

"Even if you do, she'll definitely reject me, so I'm not worried about being embarrassed."

However, if that happened, she would be defeated by the seat breaker, which would be problematic. It would only make Yui more arrogant.

(Probably a messenger from the seat breaker...)

"Hmm? You're surprisingly level-headed. I thought you looked good together."

"Really?"

"Lie. That was a lie. Just so you know, Yui is very popular. She doesn't even notice you."

"I know that."

"But Yui is kind... which means you've misunderstood her kindness and are getting carried away."

"Kindness...?"

"Unless you want to embarrass yourself, tell Yui, 'I have lots of other friends. I enjoy hanging out with guys more right now.'"

"Why?"

"You're a burden to her. Dealing with someone like you is a hassle."

"Burden...?"

"...Why are you looking at my face? Anyway, do as I say. I'll give you a Quo card."

Rion rummaged through her bag and pulled out a card, offering it to Yuki. Yuki got a 500-yen card. A lucky break.

Yuki took the card and returned to the classroom, where Yui immediately spoke to her as soon as she sat down.

"Good morning. How's your studying going?"

Glancing at Yui, who was smiling as usual, Yuki decided to ignore her, given the 500-yen card.

"Hey, you're ignoring me?"

"More ignoring."

"Are you a bug?"

A bug was perched on the window frame. Yuki took out her phone and started fiddling with it.

"Stop ignoring me."

Yui finally threw an eraser, but then stopped and started fiddling with her phone. Yuki's phone vibrated with a message from Yui.

'Don't bug me.'

'Yui is a clingy person, huh?'

'Huh?'

'Gonna hit me?'

'I'm just being nice to you.'

'No need to be nice.'

'Oh, I see. If pushing doesn't work, try pulling?'

'But I'm not pushing.'

'Yeah, you're right.'

Yui glared at her, but Yuki ignored her.

'But this is like... couples secretly chatting. (Smirk)'

'My fingers get tired.'

'You always break up quickly.'

'Just focus on studying.'

'Really, it's a boomerang. If you work hard, you might have a chance to control Yui.'

'Hand.'

'Don't get ahead of yourself.'

'Stockings, huh?'

'I figured that out last night. You're going to wear it on your head, right?'

Yui glared at her phone, and finally, she seemed to reach her limit.

"Why aren't you talking?"

"I have lots of other friends. I enjoy hanging out with guys more right now."

"Liar."

She was denied, but she had earned 500 yen.

"What's with that forced response? Was it a punishment game with someone like Suga or something?"

"No, it's not that. That person... I forgot their name, but the one with long hair..."

She looked up, then out the window.

"Oh."

Suddenly, the window opened, and the person she had just mentioned appeared.

"Hey."

She beckoned Yuki to the balcony. Yuki, unsure what to do, looked at her, but Yui was stunned by the sudden event. Reluctantly, Yuki went to the balcony, where Rion approached her aggressively.

"You were about to say someone's name, right? And you forgot it?"

"I wasn't told not to say names..."

"What's wrong with you? Can't you figure it out? Do you need to be told everything like a robot?"

"Those who can't use a robot properly are also incompetent..."

"What? You said it! And you're not following orders properly!"

"My energy is low. Please insert a Quo card."

"You're a real clunker of a robot with terrible fuel efficiency!"

Yuki was pushed against the wall, and Rion pointed at her face, lecturing her. The wind blew, and Yuki was distracted by the pleasant scent of Rion's long hair, but then she heard a strange sound.

"Zzz..."

Yui was peering out the window, looking puzzled. Rion, noticing Yui, quickly stepped back.

"Old man?"

"No. ...You two seem quite close."

"Where? Where? This guy...!"

"Rion, you're surprisingly... interesting. Interesting."

"No, it's not...!"

Rion's face turned red, and she tried to respond but was at a loss for words.

"Ah, she's running away."

Rion suddenly turned and ran off the balcony. It was questionable whether she was a real discipline committee member; she would definitely be scolded if a teacher saw her.

"...Rion is a bit strange, isn't she?"

"A bit? More than a bit."

"Coming from you, that's quite a statement."

It was reasonable to think she had been driven crazy by Yui. To turn a well-behaved student into a madman... the seat breaker was formidable.

"Is it Yui's fault?"

"...What do you mean?"

The culprit herself was pretending to be innocent. The seat breaker who had surrendered to the seat killer. A troublesome existence. The victim's salvation... no, purification. Before the big task, the small tasks must be completed...

"Still, Rion... Hmm, hmm..."

"What?"

"You don't know how much trouble I've had."

"With what?"

"Yuki, you're surprisingly sociable..."

"Compliments won't get you anything."

"I know."

"Ah, I'll treat you to chicken nuggets on the way home. I had some extra income."

"Great."

But there was no need to rush. Yuki thought to herself.