Chapter 3: Rumors and Rivalries

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The next morning arrived faster than Lily expected.

The rain from the night before had washed the city clean, leaving the streets cool and quiet as students made their way toward school. Lily walked through the gates with the same calm expression she always wore, hoping today would be more peaceful than yesterday.

Unfortunately, peace rarely lasted long at school.

The moment she stepped into the hallway, she felt eyes on her.

Students whispered to each other as she passed. Some tried to be subtle, but others stared openly.

Lily pretended not to notice.

But she had a feeling she already knew the reason.

Kai Mori.

She entered the classroom and headed straight for her seat by the window. As usual, she placed her bag down and sat quietly, opening her notebook.

For a few minutes, everything seemed normal.

Then the chair beside her moved.

Lily slowly turned her head.

Kai dropped into the seat like he belonged there, stretching his arms lazily.

“Morning, partner.”

She sighed softly.

“Do you ever get tired of talking?”

“Nope.”

He leaned back in his chair and glanced at her notebook.

“You’re studying already?”

“It’s called being responsible.”

Kai smirked.

“You make it sound so boring.”

Before Lily could respond, another voice suddenly cut through the room.

“Kai!”

A girl hurried over from the other side of the classroom.

Her long black hair swayed as she walked, and several students immediately looked in her direction.

Lily recognized her instantly.

Mina Sato.

She was one of the most popular girls in their grade. Friendly, confident, and always surrounded by friends.

Mina stopped beside Kai’s desk and smiled brightly.

“I’ve been looking for you,” she said.

Kai glanced up at her. “Morning.”

“You disappeared right after school yesterday,” Mina continued. “I was going to ask if you wanted to walk home together.”

Lily looked back at her notebook, pretending not to listen.

Kai shrugged slightly.

“It started raining.”

Mina noticed Lily sitting beside him and blinked in surprise.

“Oh… you’re sitting here now?”

Kai nodded.

“New seating arrangement.”

Mina’s eyes moved to Lily for a moment. Her smile remained, but it felt slightly different now.

“I see.”

Lily could feel the girl studying her.

The classroom suddenly felt much quieter.

Then Mina laughed softly.

“Well, that’s interesting.”

Kai tilted his head. “Why?”

Mina leaned lightly on his desk.

“Because Lily usually prefers sitting alone.”

Lily finally looked up.

“I still do.”

Kai chuckled beside her.

Mina’s smile widened slightly, though something sharp flickered in her eyes.

“Well,” she said lightly, “I guess you’ll have to get used to it.”

Before Lily could answer, the classroom door opened and the teacher walked in.

Students quickly returned to their seats.

Mina gave Kai one last smile before heading back to her desk.

The lesson began soon after, but Lily found it harder to focus today.

She could still feel Mina’s curious gaze occasionally drifting in her direction.

Kai, meanwhile, seemed completely relaxed.

Halfway through class, he leaned closer to Lily again.

“You made a new enemy today.”

Lily kept her eyes on the board.

“I already have one.”

Kai raised an eyebrow.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He smiled slightly.

“That hurts.”

Lily ignored him.

When the bell rang for lunch break, students immediately began chatting and moving around the classroom.

Kai stood up and stretched.

“Food time.”

Lily started packing her books.

She preferred eating lunch somewhere quiet.

Just as she was about to leave, Mina appeared again.

“Kai,” she said sweetly, “want to sit with us today?”

She gestured toward a table near the center of the classroom where several students were already gathered.

Kai glanced at Lily.

She noticed the look and frowned.

“Why are you looking at me?”

“Just wondering something,” he said.

“What?”

“If I go with them, will you miss me?”

Lily stared at him.

“Absolutely not.”

Kai laughed.

“Alright then.”

He grabbed his bag and walked toward Mina’s table.

Lily watched him for a second before shaking her head.

“Finally,” she muttered quietly.

Peace.

She left the classroom and headed toward the school courtyard. The rain had stopped, and the air outside felt fresh.

Lily sat on a bench under a tree and opened her lunch box.

For the first time that day, everything felt calm again.

Or so she thought.

A few minutes later, someone suddenly sat down beside her.

Lily turned her head slowly.

Kai.

She stared at him in disbelief.

“What are you doing here?”

He opened a drink bottle casually.

“Eating lunch.”

“I thought Mina invited you to sit with her.”

“She did.”

“Then why are you here?”

Kai looked at her.

“Because it’s quieter.”

Lily closed her lunch box.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Kai took a sip of his drink.

“People say that a lot.”

She shook her head in frustration.

“Why do you keep following me?”

“I’m not following you.”

“You literally just left your friends to sit here.”

Kai leaned back slightly and looked at the sky through the tree branches.

“Maybe I just prefer this spot.”

Lily crossed her arms.

“You enjoy annoying me.”

“A little.”

She sighed deeply.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The courtyard remained peaceful except for the soft sound of wind moving through the leaves.

Then Kai suddenly spoke again.

“You know something?”

Lily didn’t respond.

“You’re different from everyone else here.”

She glanced at him.

“How?”

“You don’t pretend.”

Lily frowned slightly.

“I don’t see the point.”

Kai smiled faintly.

“Exactly.”

Before she could reply, a voice suddenly called from across the courtyard.

“Kai!”

Both of them looked up.

Mina stood near the school entrance with two of her friends.

Her expression wasn’t as cheerful as before.

“Kai,” she repeated, “we were waiting for you.”

Kai stood up slowly.

“Guess I should go.”

Lily didn’t say anything.

As he started walking away, he paused and looked back at her.

“See you in class, partner.”

Then he left.

Lily watched him disappear toward the building.

For some reason, the courtyard suddenly felt quieter than before.

She picked up her lunch box again, staring down at it thoughtfully.

“This is getting annoying,” she murmured.

Because the more time she spent around Kai Mori…

The harder it became to ignore the strange feeling growing inside her heart.

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