The walk to Sato-sensei's house was draped in an awkward, heavy silence that felt like a physical weight on Aika's shoulders. The evening air was starting to cool, but Aika's face was still warm from the lingering embarrassment of her failed 'detective' stunt. Both Renji and Aika followed closely behind their teacher, their hands full with heavy grocery bags that strained their muscles.
Renji, as usual, looked like he was walking in a park, his expression as flat and unreadable as a blank sheet of paper. Aika, on the other hand, was struggling. Her fingers were digging into the plastic handles of the bags, and her mind was a whirlwind of irritation. She glanced sideways at him, her eyes narrowing as she took in his calm demeanor.
"So... what about your job?" Aika finally snapped, breaking the silence with a tone laced with a hint of mockery. "You've been out here for a while. Won't the bookstore manager be furious? Or do you think being a 'genius' gives you a free pass to skip work whenever you want?"
Renji didn't even turn his head. He kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, his voice as mechanical as a clock. "I'll explain it to them later. They won't be angry; they know I'm reliable. I've already finished most of my tasks for the day."
Aika let out a loud, dramatic scoff. "Of course, Mr. Perfect has everything under control," she muttered under her breath. She quickened her pace, her sneakers squeaking against the pavement, until she was walking right beside Sato-sensei, effectively leaving Renji a few paces behind.
Sato-sensei, who had been watching the two of them from the corner of her eye, let out a soft, mischievous giggle. "You know, Aika... I've always wondered. Renji is such a quiet, disciplined boy. He never looks for trouble, he follows the rules, and he barely talks unless it's necessary. So why are you so... well, obsessed with him?"
Aika's heart skipped a beat, but not in a good way. "Obsessed?! Ma'am, please! I have zero interest in guys who have the personality of a brick wall! It's not obsession; it's justice!"
Sato-sensei raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this. "Justice? That's a very strong word for a school rivalry, don't you think?"
"It's because of his attitude, Ma'am!" Aika continued, her voice rising in frustration. "I can't stand how he looks at everyone like they're just background noise. Looking at that stoic, 'I-don't-care' face of his makes my blood boil. Sometimes, I just want to shake him until he actually shows a real emotion! I know he's the top student, and I respect the hard work, but his arrogance is just... insufferable!"
Sato-sensei hummed thoughtfully, her gaze drifting toward the horizon where the sun was disappearing. "I see... how strange, Aika. You might actually be the only girl in this entire district who feels that way. From what I've heard in the teachers' lounge, half the girls in school are head over heels for him. They call him the 'Silent Prince.' They all want to date him, but he's so unapproachable that none of them have the guts to even say 'hello' outside of class."
Sensei leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a playful whisper that Renji couldn't hear. "Tell me the truth... have you really never felt a single spark? You were the undisputed Number 1 at your old school, and now you've met someone who's not just a rival, but a challenge. You're a teenage girl, Aika... surely there's a part of you that finds that mystery a little bit attractive? Come on, be honest with your favorite teacher!"
Aika's face practically ignited. The red hue spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. "Ma'am! For the last time, it's absolutely, 100% NOT like that! I wouldn't date him if he were the last person on Earth!" She huffed and stomped her feet, falling back into line to walk beside Renji again just to escape Sensei's prying eyes. Sato-sensei just laughed, a bright, bubbly sound that echoed through the quiet street.
Soon, they reached Sato-sensei's apartment complex. They climbed the stairs and waited as she fumbled with her keys. Once the door opened, the scent of lavender and old books drifted out.
"Since you both helped me so much, you aren't leaving without some tea and snacks," Sensei insisted, ushering them inside. "Sit down, make yourselves at home. I'll be back in a jiffy!"
Renji and Aika were left alone in the living room. Renji sat on a small sofa, his posture perfect, while Aika slumped onto the one directly across from him. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the distant sound of a kettle starting to whistle in the kitchen.
Aika felt like she was being prickled by a thousand needles. She shifted in her seat, adjusted her skirt, and cleared her throat, but Renji didn't budge. Suddenly, he reached out and picked up a thick, leather-bound math journal from the coffee table. Without saying a word, he opened it and held it up right in front of his face, completely blocking Aika from his view.
Aika glared at the cover of the book. "Is he serious right now? We're in a teacher's house, and he's still studying? Does his brain ever rest?" Her irritation grew until she couldn't contain it. She stared at him with narrowed eyes, trying to burn a hole through the paper with her gaze.
Renji slowly lowered the book, his dark eyes meeting hers. He let out a long, weary sigh, the kind someone gives when dealing with a persistent fly. "Look... Tachibana. If you have something on your mind, just say it. But please, stop staring at me like that. It's... distracting."
Aika snapped back, her chin held high. "Me? Staring at you? Don't flatter yourself! I was just wondering how someone can be so incredibly boring that they read math journals for fun!"
Renji gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "Fine. If that's what you want to believe." He went right back behind the book, leaving Aika fuming in silence.
Eventually, Sato-sensei returned with a tray of steaming green tea and some sweet mochi. They sat for a while, the atmosphere softening as Sensei talked about the upcoming school festival and the surprise test. As they prepared to leave, Sensei stood at the door, her expression turning a bit more serious but still kind. "Good luck to both of you for tomorrow's results. Regardless of who takes the top spot, remember that you both have incredible potential."
Outside, the world had turned into a canvas of dark blues and shadows. The streetlights flickered to life, casting long, dramatic shadows on the pavement. Renji was about to turn toward the path that led to his neighborhood, but he paused. He looked at Aika, his face partially obscured by the shadows.
"It's late," Renji said, his voice quiet. "The streets around here can be a bit confusing at night. If you want... I can walk you to your station, or even your house. It's on my way anyway."
Aika's heart did a strange little flip-flop, but her pride was faster. She jerked her head away, looking at a nearby street sign. "I don't need a bodyguard, especially not you! I know exactly where I am. Just go home and study or whatever it is you do!" She turned on her heel and marched away, her footsteps echoing loudly.
Renji watched her figure disappear around the corner, his expression unchanging. He let out one last tired sigh. "Okay... do whatever you want. I was just trying to be polite." He turned and walked into the darkness in the opposite direction.
But a few minutes later, as Aika walked alone under the glowing streetlights, her pace began to slow. The "anger" she felt was gone, replaced by a strange, tingling sensation in her chest. She placed a hand over her heart, feeling it thumping rhythmically—not from the walk, but from something else. Her face was blusshing, and a tiny, involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "What is wrong with me? Why did he have to be so... nice all of a sudden?" she whispered to the empty street.
Next Day (Result Day):
The atmosphere at school was electric. Aika sprinted through the gates, her breath coming in short gasps. Today was the day. The surprise test results were finally being posted. She sprinted toward the main bulletin board where a massive swarm of students had already gathered, buzzing like bees.
"Move! Excuse me! Let me through!" Aika used her elbows to weave through the crowd, her heart hammering against her ribs. She finally reached the front, her eyes darting to the top of the white paper.
The moment she saw the names and the numbers, the world seemed to stop. The noise of the crowd faded into a dull hum. Aika stood frozen, her jaw dropping in pure, unadulterated shock. Her eyes were locked on a single line of text, and for the first time in her life, she felt like she couldn't believe what she was seeing.