Seijirou’s footsteps echoed down the nearly empty hallway, his pace steady and his expression bored.
But then, he stopped abruptly, pivoting on his heel.
His sharp glare fell directly on the timid figure trailing a few steps behind.
Fujiwara Touka froze in place, caught like a deer in headlights.
Seijirou pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice heavy with irritation.
"You really plan on following me? What, are you not scared I’ll do something to you?" His tone wasn’t teasing, it wasn’t playful; it was sharp, blunt, like a knife cutting straight to the point.
Touka’s eyes widened for a second, but then she quickly shook her head.
Her hands clutched the strap of her bag tighter, and her voice, though trembling, carried a quiet firmness. "I-I’m not afraid. I don’t think... Kageyama-kun is that kind of person."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Seijirou blinked once, then twice, before dragging his palm down his face in exasperation.
What the hell is wrong with these heroines? he thought, shaking his head.
They’re all out of their goddamn minds. First Rei, now this one.
He lowered his hand with a sigh and muttered, "Whatever. Do what you want."
He turned back around, walking on without waiting for her answer. If she wanted to follow him into the lion’s den, then let her.
As they moved through the hallway together, whispers began to rise like insects buzzing in the background.
Students glanced in their direction, their eyes widening, their voices hushed but not nearly quiet enough.
"Hey, who’s that girl? What’s she doing with Kageyama?"
"Poor girl... she must have gotten caught up somehow."
"She’s done for. Once Kageyama gets his hands on you, it’s over."
Some pointed openly, others whispered behind their hands, pity dripping from their tones as they watched Touka.
But the girl herself... she didn’t even flinch.
She walked silently, steps steady, gaze fixed ahead. If she noticed the pitying stares or the rumors circling around her, she didn’t show it.
Seijirou glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his brow furrowing. She didn’t even twitch. Yet earlier, she was fidgeting under my gaze, and now she doesn’t care that the whole damn hallway is staring?
He clicked his tongue, his thoughts sour.
These girls make no sense.
Finally, they reached their destination: the secluded, abandoned storage room that had long been claimed as his gang’s unofficial hangout spot.
From the outside, it looked exactly like what it was—dusty windows, peeling paint, and a rusty old door hanging loosely on its hinges.
It screamed decay and abandonment.
But when Seijirou pushed the door open and stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
The interior had been cleaned and maintained by his group long ago.
A couple of old tables had been patched up and repurposed, cushions and mats were scattered around, and even a small electric kettle sat in the corner.
It wasn’t luxurious, but compared to the outside, it looked almost homey.
Inside, Suzune, Renji, Sakai, and Shou were already sitting around, eating convenience store food and talking.
The moment Seijirou entered, all eyes turned toward him.
"Yo, Boss!" Renji grinned, raising his sandwich in greeting.
"Bout time you showed up," Sakai added, his mouth still half-full of bread.
Suzune gave her usual soft wave, smiling. "Seijirou, there you are."
Even Shou, still looking as sleepy as ever, lazily raised two fingers in greeting before going back to chewing.
Seijirou gave them a short nod, stepping fully inside. But before the door closed, Touka hesitated at the threshold. Her eyes widened the moment she took in the interior.
She had expected a filthy, musty dump, but instead, it was surprisingly neat and almost... comfortable.
She stepped inside tentatively, her shoes echoing faintly against the floor.
That’s when everyone noticed her.
Four pairs of eyes immediately turned toward the unfamiliar girl standing awkwardly behind Seijirou.
Touka froze under their collective gaze, her hands tightening on her bag straps as her body fidgeted nervously.
She bowed her head slightly, muttering a barely audible, "S-sorry for intruding...’
Suzune arched an eyebrow, exchanging a look with Seijirou, but didn’t comment right away.
Renji leaned back, smirking, clearly amused at the situation. "Well, well... Boss, you finally brought a girl here? Didn’t think I’d live to see the day."
Sakai let out a laugh, elbowing Renji. "Oi, oi, don’t tell me you finally broke your celibacy streak, Seijirou? This gloomy one’s your type?"
Touka’s cheeks reddened instantly, and she lowered her head further, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Suzune, however, only smiled faintly, her eyes glancing at Seijirou as if to say so much for being untouchable.
Seijirou ignored their teasing, but his eyes lingered on Touka, his expression unreadable.
Strange, he thought. She couldn’t even handle me staring at her earlier, yet she stood unfazed when the whole damn school whispered about her in the hallway.
But now, with just four people staring, she looks like she’s about to faint. What the hell is with this girl?
Seijirou shut the door behind Touka with a dull thud, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he strode further inside.
The girl trailed after him like a lost kitten, shoulders hunched, every step hesitant.
"Oi," Renji spoke up again, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his grin widening. "Boss, you just gonna leave us hangin’? Who’s the chick?"
Touka immediately waved her hands in panic, stammering. "I-I’m not... um... I’m just...!"
Seijirou exhaled loudly through his nose, cutting her off. "Relax. They’re not gonna eat you."
His tone was dry, but it carried just enough authority to make his group back off with their jokes.
He gestured lazily toward her. "This is Fujiwara Touka. She decided to tag along."
"Fujiwara...?" Suzune tilted her head, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Ah, you’re that gloomy library girl. No wonder you looked familiar."
She smiled warmly, perhaps a little too warmly, and patted the spot beside her. "Don’t be nervous. We don’t bite. You can sit here if you’d like."
Touka blinked, surprised by Suzune’s gentle tone, and after a moment’s hesitation, shuffled over and sat stiffly at Suzune’s side.
She clutched her bookbag to her lap like a shield.
Renji whistled low under his breath, clearly entertained. "So the perfect honor student ends up in this den? Didn’t think I’d live long enough to see that."
Sakai chuckled, tearing open another snack. "Careful, Fujiwara-san. Stick with us too long, and you’ll ruin that clean reputation of yours."
Touka fidgeted, her lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out. She glanced at Seijirou, almost as if asking for help, but he only shrugged, dropping down onto a cushion across from Suzune and pulling a bottle of tea from his bag.
"Don’t mind those two idiots," he muttered. "They talk too much."
Renji feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "Oi, oi, Boss, how cruel. I was just trying to be friendly."
Touka shook her head quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-it’s fine... really."
Shou, who had been half-asleep until now, suddenly cracked an eye open and studied her silently for a few seconds.
Then, with his usual deadpan drawl, he said, "She’s weird. But not bad weird."
Then he promptly went back to chewing his bread, as if the matter were settled.
The room went quiet for a beat, then Suzune laughed softly, the sound light and easy. "There you have it. That’s Shou’s way of saying you’re welcome here."
Touka’s eyes widened slightly, and for the first time since she stepped inside, a tiny smile tugged at her lips. "T-thank you..."
Seijirou leaned back against the wall, sipping his tea.
Watching her, he couldn’t help but think again. She took whispers from the whole school without flinching, but now she’s trembling just because of four people staring.
This girl really is... strange.
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed.
Well, whatever. If she can handle it, then let her stay. It’s her funeral.