The list posted on the classroom board evaporated weeks of tension in a single second. When Sayori pushed through the crowd and looked at the top of the sheet, she couldn't believe her eyes.
Project: Adaptive Systems in Modern Society
Group: Sayori, Kunon, Sakura
Score: 98/100
"Ninety-eight?!" Sakura's scream echoed down the hallway. A few heads poked out from neighboring classrooms, but Sakura didn't care. "Sayori, do you hear that? With this grade, we aren't just passing; we're making history!"
Kyoko joined them with her usual composure, taking a sip of her juice while scanning the list. "Handa-sensei rarely gives a score that close to perfect. I guess Kunon's case studies and Sayori's structural order impressed even him. Congratulations. It was a flawless job."
Sayori leaned her back against the wall, letting out a long breath. "We wouldn't have even come close without Kunon's resources. That boy... he has a truly strange database in his head."
"Enough seriousness!" Sakura clapped her hands. A mischievous glint danced in her eyes. "We have to celebrate. Karaoke tonight! No objections—I've already made the reservation in my head."
Kyoko smiled faintly. "Karaoke? A good excuse to risk my vocal cords."
Sayori's gaze drifted to the back corner of the classroom, where Kunon was packing his bag. He was alone, as always. His headphones were on, cutting himself off from the world as if this massive success had nothing to do with him. Sayori felt an unidentifiable pang in her chest. After the "pudding truce" and their synergy on the project, leaving him behind felt like a betrayal.
"We should invite him too," Sayori said. Her voice was hesitant but firm.
Sakura's face instantly fell. "Who? Kunon? Sayori, you must be joking. How can we have fun next to that block of ice? I don't want him looking at me like my voice is 'statistically terrible' every time I hit a wrong note. I can't act stupid around him; he makes me too nervous."
Kyoko nodded in agreement. "Sakura's right, Sayori. Let's keep it just us girls tonight. Kunon doesn't seem to enjoy social settings. Forcing him would only make things awkward."
Sayori wanted to argue, but she stayed quiet. She didn't want to ruin Sakura's energy. Still, the thought of Kunon having no one to talk to besides her bothered her.
As the girls made their plans after school, Sayori decided to at least inform her roommate out of politeness. Kunon was at his locker, sliding a few books into his bag. Sayori approached him.
"Kunon," she said softly.
Kunon lowered his headphones to his neck, his expressionless but deep gaze focusing on her. "Yes?"
"The girls and I are going out tonight to celebrate. We're going to karaoke. I just wanted to let you know... I might be late. You don't need to lock the room."
Just as Kunon opened his mouth to reply, the clicking of high heels echoed from the other end of the corridor. These weren't the steps of a student; they sounded like someone in authority. It was Akane—the principal's daughter and one of the most charismatic figures on the student council.
Sayori expected Akane to walk past, but she stopped right in front of them. With a flawless uniform and a subtle smile, she looked directly at Kunon.
"Kunon? Were you leaving?" Akane asked. Her voice was so soft and familiar that Sayori blinked in disbelief.
Sayori looked from Kunon to Akane, her mind racing. How could the principal's daughter speak to the school's most mysterious "loner" with such ease?
"Just about," Kunon replied. The extreme distance in his voice seemed to soften slightly for Akane.
Akane noticed Sayori then. "Oh, Kunon, is this your friend?"
Sayori felt herself tense under Akane's piercing but polite gaze. Kunon paused briefly, then looked at Sayori. "Yes. This is my roommate, Sayori."
Akane smiled and extended her hand. "So you're Sayori. I heard about your success on the project. Congratulations. I'm Akane."
Sayori shook her hand, but her brain was still trying to solve the connection. "Thanks... Nice to meet you."
Kunon turned back to Akane. "I have some things to do tonight as well. I'll be back late."
He gave Sayori a quick glance, as if to say, Thanks for the heads-up. As Akane and Kunon started walking down the hall together, Sayori stood there, frozen. She had thought Kunon was alone. She thought he didn't talk to anyone. But this relaxed demeanor with the school's highest-profile student... the boy had more layers than she had imagined.
A few hours later, Sakura's voice was blasting under the neon lights of the karaoke room. She was swinging the microphone like a sword, losing herself in the chorus of a pop song.
"Love is a gamble, and the house always wins!" Sakura shouted, missing the notes entirely.
Kyoko popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth and smirked. "At least she's being out of tune in sync with the rhythm. That's an achievement."
Sayori forced a laugh. Her mind was still stuck on that scene in the hallway. As soon as the song ended, Sakura slumped down beside them, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Sayori! Your turn! Come on, belt out one of your sad ballads so we can feel something."
"I'm... not really in the mood, Sakura," Sayori said, stirring her drink.
"Oh, come on! The project is done, the grades are in. Even that ice cube Kunon isn't here. Relax!"
Sayori took a deep breath and leaned toward Sakura and Kyoko. "Girls, do you know what happened after school today?"
Sakura's curiosity radar pinged instantly. "What? Did Kunon freeze someone again?"
"No. Akane... the principal's daughter. She came up to Kunon. They seemed really close. It was like they'd known each other for a long time."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Sakura dropped her microphone onto the table. "What?! The principal's daughter? Akane? That girl is like the queen of the school; she doesn't just chat with anyone. What could she possibly want with Kunon?"
Kyoko's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Remember those gaps in Kunon's transfer file, Sayori? Maybe those gaps have something to do with the principal. Maybe Kunon is here under some kind of 'special protection'."
Sakura crossed her arms, a hint of jealousy on her face. "Wow... So the Ice King is a member of a secret society. And here we were, feeling sorry for him and buying him pudding. The guy is hanging out with royalty!"
"Don't be jealous, Sakura," Kyoko teased. "You might still have a chance if you hide your toast better than Akane."
"Shut up, Kyoko!" Sakura threw a pillow at her.
Laughs and jokes followed throughout the night, but Sayori's restless curiosity wouldn't fade. Kunon saying he'd be "back late"... had he gone somewhere with Akane? What was the bond between them?
As they walked back to the dorms in the dark, Sakura was still spinning theories. "I bet they're childhood sweethearts. Kunon had a big accident, lost his memory, and now Akane is trying to win him back..."
"Sakura, you need to stop watching dramas," Sayori said, laughing.