The living room fell into sudden silence, the strange atmosphere making both girls on the sofa acutely uncomfortable.
"What's going on with you two?" Nobu asked with a smile.
Hinamori kept her head lowered, unwilling to meet his eyes. "It's nothing."
"Kaichō…"
Rukia was about to speak, but Hinamori's grip on her hand tightened abruptly, holding back the words that had been at the tip of her tongue.
Nobu looked at the two of them again. "You want to say something?"
Rukia glanced at the downcast girl beside her, drew in a breath, and finally spoke. "There's something I want to ask you, Kaichō."
A visible flicker of panic passed over Hinamori's face.
Rukia felt the pressure of Hinamori's hand suddenly slacken, like she'd completely lost her composure.
So she squeezed her hand in return, turned to Nobu, and said, "Kaichō… you know we both like you, don't you?"
"…"
Silence again. Hinamori slowly raised her head.
Nobu nodded lightly. "I know."
"Then, Kaichō…" Rukia took a deep breath. "Which one of us do you like?"
The words left her like a release, but her body was taut with tension, her eyes locked on him.
"…"
The room was so quiet a pin could be heard.
Slanting evening light spilled through the window, casting the three shadows tangled together on the floor.
Under their gaze, Nobu said, "Both."
The answer stunned them both. Hinamori shot to her feet, staring at him, but no words came out.
Rukia felt a flash of irritation. "Kaichō, please take this seriously."
She had gathered all her courage to ask this question in this moment, and she did not want this kind of smoothing-over, this deflection.
She didn't want him worrying about her and Hinamori's relationship, didn't want him to weigh anyone's feelings, she just wanted a clear, direct answer.
When Nobu's eyes turned toward her, she felt her heart tremble, and at the same time, Hinamori's grip on her hand tightened unconsciously.
Rukia lowered her gaze and spoke slowly. "Kaichō, I know you've guessed what's going on between Momo and me. I know it's not a good thing, and I'm tired of it. With either of us, I want to be able to face each other openly. I just want an answer now… whatever the result, I'll accept it."
Whatever the result…
The words stabbed into Hinamori like a knife.
It was as if everything she'd done all this time had been for nothing.
Why had she agreed to keep things like this with Rukia?
She could have chosen differently from the start.
How could Rukia say something like "whatever the result" now?
Did their relationship mean so little?
Before Nobu could speak, Hinamori said first, "And by 'result,' do you mean ending things with me?"
Rukia froze. "That's not what I mean—"
"Then what do you mean?"
Rukia stared at her for a moment before saying, "I mean, no matter who Kaichō chooses… I'll accept it."
Hinamori's eyes reddened. "Then let me ask you—if Kaichō doesn't choose you, how will you see me?"
"…"
Rukia fell silent. What she had wanted to say was that even if he chose Momo, she'd still want to be friends.
But when it came to it… would it really be that easy?
Could she really do it?
And if it were the other way around—if he chose her, could she then say she wanted to go back to how things had been, without it sounding smug, like she was looking down from above?
She understood why Momo reacted this way.
When she'd spoken just now, she had indeed put their personal relationship second to Nobu's decision.
But she hated the way things were now.
They were supposed to be friends, yet whenever something about Kaichō came up, everything turned awkward and strained.
"Fair competition"—she hated it.
It forced suspicion into her thoughts.
When she looked up, Nobu was watching her too, and her heart skipped.
How did it get like this…
Why had they forced this on him?
And what would he think of it?
She didn't know how to end it.
Was she really going to have him choose between them?
And why should he even have to?
"Let me say something."
Finally, Nobu spoke.
Both girls fell quiet, turning their eyes away.
"You've both been drinking. You need to clear your heads and calm down." His voice was even.
"As for… that special arrangement between you—let's end it here."
At that, both of them turned to look at him.
That "special arrangement" was the so-called "fair competition."
Was he saying he'd already decided?
The tension in the air sharpened. What they both wanted most was to know his true feelings.
He sighed. "I didn't expect things to go this far. Maybe it's my fault. But saying all this now doesn't matter anymore…"
He paused, glanced at Hinamori, then at Rukia.
"I won't be in a romantic relationship with either of you."
"…"
"…"
"I hope you'll stay friends. And as for me—if you still think of me as your Kaichō, your senpai—treat me like you would any normal friend. If that feels awkward or you can't accept it… that would be a pity."
His face stayed calm as he spoke, leaving them sitting there stunned.
"It's getting late. You should both head back."
He stood and walked into the kitchen.
Only then did they glance at each other.
The sound of running water came again.
Hinamori rose without a word and left first.
Rukia remained for a moment, staring blankly at his back in the kitchen.
Is he… angry?
Her thoughts were hazy. She didn't know when she left—only that she couldn't stay there any longer.
It was halfway home before she realized.
Did I ruin it…?
A sour, uneasy feeling rose in her chest.
...
After they'd gone, he came out of the kitchen, looked at the messy living room, and with a small wave of reiatsu, the cluttered space became clean again in an instant.
What a bastard, he thought.
---
T/N: OHHH I THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THE I LVOE YOU BOTH STUFF BUT HE ENDED IT!@ OMG THE GUILT GOT TO HIM