NOVEL WEB Chapter 12: Similar.
After dealing with the aftermath of Sudo's antics, Yuto returned to his dorm room and collapsed onto his bed, a contented smile gracing his lips as he scrolled through his phone.
"I finally bought myself panda-themed pajamas!" he exclaimed happily to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction at his latest purchase.
Just as he was reveling in his newfound joy, his phone began to ring. Yuto glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow at the caller ID. "Oh? Why is Two-Face calling me?" he mused aloud.
Before he could even answer, Kushida's voice came through the line. "Come to the spot from last time," she said urgently before abruptly ending the call.
Yuto let out a groan of frustration, flopping back onto his bed. "I don't wanna walk!"
Upon reaching the familiar spot where Kushida had previously made absurd claims about Ayanokoji, Yuto found the two of them sitting on a nearby chair, overlooking the sea. He couldn't help but address the elephant in the room.
"Aren't you traumatized just staying here?" Yuto asked, casting a concerned glance at Ayanokoji.
Ayanokoji let out a weary sigh, his expression still the same. "Can't say I'm not," he admitted with a even voice.
Kushida, however, showed extreme displeasure at their conversation. "Can you both shut up?" she interjected with annoyance, her frustration evident.
Without needing to be asked twice, Yuto complied. He walked over to the railings separating him from the sea and leaned against them, putting his right leg onto the sturdy metal fence. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the entrancing expanse of water before him, wearing a stoic expression that belied the turmoil of thoughts swirling within him.
As the tension between them simmered, Yuto finally broke the silence with a direct question to Kushida. "What is it that you want from this gentleman?" he inquired, his voice steady despite the underlying intensity of his words.
Kushida's expression darkened as she issued a warning. "Just remember that, if you both don't comply, I will sabotage the class," she threatened, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. With a sense of determination, she continued, "I am going to expel Horikita—"
But before she could finish her sentence, a deafening screech of metal rent the air. Kushida's attention was instantly drawn to the source of the noise, her eyes widening in shock as she saw Yuto standing at the edge of the sea, a section of railing missing. It was as if the abyssal sea had devoured it whole.
Yuto slowly turned around to face Kushida, his azure eyes now tinged with a hint of purple. "Hey, Kikyo.." he said in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, his tone grave and foreboding.
Kushida was frozen in place, her shock and fear palpable as she stared back at Yuto, realizing that she had underestimated the depths of darkness lurking within him. Ayanokoji was also at unease, even he couldn't predict what was going to happen next.
"I will turn a blind eye to what you just said, as we are similar," he began, his voice low and intense. "However, if you even THINK about expelling Suzune again, forget sabotaging the class. Even talking to your friends will be a luxury for you."
Kushida's throat went dry as she swallowed hard, her fear palpable in the air. Despite her attempts to remain composed, she couldn't help but nod in acquiescence. Deep down, she knew she wasn't planning on listening to Yuto, and she was confident in her own intelligence to outmaneuver him. But in that moment, faced with Yuto's chilling demeanor and unwavering gaze, it was instinctual for her to nod in agreement, unable to ignore the weight of his threat.
Yuto nodded, his demeanor shifting abruptly as he did a complete 180 from the dark, menacing persona he had just displayed. With a grin and a twinkle in his eye, he returned to his usual, lighthearted tone.
"As long as you understand!" he exclaimed with a chuckle.
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As Yuto trudged to school in the early morning light, he couldn't stifle a yawn, feeling the weight of fatigue settling upon him. His gaze scanned the bustling crowd ahead, his thoughts drifting back to the events of the previous day.
'Yesterday was the third time Rei came out in the past 3 months...'
Suddenly he heard a cheerful voice behind him, "Oyyy, Kazuki-San!" Yuto turned around to see Ichinose waving and running towards him. He smilied wondering how she always is in a happy mood.
All the sudden, Ichinose tripped while being inches away from Yuto. Reacting quickly, Yuto reached out and caught her before she could fall, but in the process, his hand inadvertently landed on her chest. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he stammered out an apology, trying to explain himself. "I swear! I didn't mean it! I was trying to catch you-"
"I understand Kazuki-san, It's fine really!" Ichinose cut him. Yuto nodded and as he began to walk with her to school. Yuto and Ichinose of course heard a lot of whisphers in their short walk.
"Wowww! Are they dating? It won't be a suprise as they both look like models!"
"I'm so jealous of that Kazuki bastard! His walking with THE Honami Ichinose!"
"Kyaaa! Kazuki-kun and Ichinose-san look so cute together!"
"Honami-chan really scored this time didn't she! Kazuki-kun looks so hot!"
Yuto glanced at Ichinose, who was waving cheerfully at the passing crowd. Leaning in closer to her, he whispered, "You can hear those absurd rumors, right?"
Ichinose turned to Yuto with a slight pout, her expression reflecting a mix of frustration and amusement. "Of course I can! I didn't realize that we would stand out so much!" she whispered back, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Nodding in agreement, Yuto quickened his pace, with Ichinose following suit. As they finally managed to escape the curious gazes of the crowd, Yuto couldn't help but chuckle. "Next time we walk together, we should wear masks and sunglasses!" he joked.
Ichinose laughed in response, the tension from earlier dissipating in the shared moment of lightheartedness. Soon, they exchanged their goodbyes, and as Yuto walked away, Ichinose couldn't help but feel a rush of heat creeping into her cheeks. "I could feel his muscles!" she thought, her face flushing at the memory of their brief physical contact.
As Yuto walked away, a wave of sadness washed over him. "My first touch was not Suzune," he lamented silently, his shoulders drooping with the weight of disappointment as he was in the verge of fake tears!
[A/N: Double chapter upload if we have 60+ power stones by tomorrow]