CHAPTER 13
The news spread through the university faster than any lecture announcement.
Izumi and Hotaru had broken up.
No one knew exactly why.
Some said she cried in front of the dorm building. Others said Izumi had already moved on before the relationship even ended. By lunchtime, the entire campus had turned it into entertainment.
"Did you hear?"
"They lasted what—three months?"
"I thought she was the lucky one dating the Prince."
Kiyomi heard it while standing in line at the cafeteria.
He didn't react.
He just kept staring at the vending machine as if the drinks inside required careful study.
Hotaru… single again.
The girl Izumi stole from him.
And then discarded.
(A new gossip… on Monday? Totally never happened before…)
Even later, when he finally had a quiet corner in the library, students' whispers followed him. The chatter bounced off the high ceilings, echoing between the bookshelves like persistent insects.
(What really happened?)
Kiyomi forced his gaze back to his book.
(Focus. Midterm next week!)
Then, suddenly, three students slid into the seats beside him, laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened. But the moment one of them noticed Kiyomi, their conversation paused.
"Arata-san?"
Kiyomi looked up. A boy was smiling politely.
"Nakamura-san, Matsumoto-san, Ishikawa-san," he said, bowing lightly to each of them.
The three returned the gesture.
"Did you hear? Hotaru's been dumped… Know anything about it?" Ishikawa asked.
"Really?" Kiyomi's voice held neutral curiosity, hiding the churn in his chest.
"What? You're surprised too?" Matsumoto prodded.
"Sorry… I didn't know," Kiyomi said instinctively.
"You're weird, man… how did you even get to date someone like her?"
The library chatter slowly faded as Kiyomi's thoughts drifted back to the first week of the semester.
The campus had been noisy then—a swirl of banners and club booths, laughter drifting through the open paths, colors everywhere. Petals from the cherry blossoms floated through the air, carried by the spring wind.
Kiyomi had been wandering near the central quad, clutching a pamphlet for a club he wasn't even sure he wanted to join.
"Lost?" a sharp voice called out.
He turned.
A girl with dark long hair and sweet smile—Hotaru stood a few steps away, her grin bright and easy, eyes sparkling with playful curiosity.
"Ah… uh… I'm just… looking…" Kiyomi stammered, his gaze darting everywhere except at her face.
(She's so cute…)
Hotaru watched his nervous reaction for a second before her grin softened into a giggle.
"Let's find our class together!" she said, pumping a small fist into the air like she'd just declared a mission.
"But I was looking for a club—"
Kiyomi didn't even finish the sentence before she grabbed his hand and started dragging him across campus.
He remembered that warmth clearly now—the sudden pull, the easy confidence in the way she moved as if the world simply followed her pace.
Three days later, she asked him out.
"Kiyomi-kun, I like you because you're sweet and cute…"
Even now, thinking back on it, the memory felt strange.
During their week-long relationship, Kiyomi had never really had a voice. He hadn't asked for anything, hadn't argued about anything either. He simply followed wherever Hotaru wanted to go—like a quiet shadow at her side, paying for things she wanted. Even though he wasn't wealthy.
No complaints. No demands.
Just quiet compliance.
He had simply… been there.
"So?" Ishikawa asked. "You still didn't answer."
Kiyomi blinked.
The library slowly came back into focus around him.
"It just… happened," he answered quietly.
"Do you think I can date her?" one of them asked jokingly.
Kiyomi didn't reply. He simply let out a small chuckle.
(Focus… study!)
After finishing his studying and sitting through another class, he headed toward the clubroom.
When he opened the door, he found Takumi already there, reclined in his favorite chair with his eyes glued to his phone. The blue light reflected in his glasses while a wide, goofy grin stretched across his face.
"Kiki-kun! You're finally here!" Takumi waved him over excitedly. "Come sit!"
"Where's Miyu?" Kiyomi asked as he walked over and dropped into the seat beside him.
"He'll be here soon," Takumi replied without looking away from the screen. Then he lifted the phone. "Look at this!"
Kiyomi leaned closer. The screen showed the recording of Cerb-3ros' performance from May 15th. Takumi's eyes were completely locked onto one of them.
Kiyomi watched his expression for a moment… then suddenly giggled.
"What?" Takumi turned toward him, confused. "Is there something funny on my face?"
"Nothing~" Kiyomi said, still giggling.
"Stop it!" Takumi laughed, lightly tapping Kiyomi's chest. "Wanna hear something crazy?"
"What?"
"During the handshake event, Sakura-chan called my name!" Takumi declared proudly.
"Mhm… so?"
"How crazy is that? An idol knows my name!"
(Of course I know your name, Takkun~)
"Kiki, do you think I might be famous?"
"Huh?"
"Maybe Sakura-chan is secretly a stalker and likes me."
(No… I am not a stalker!)
"I think Sakura-chan was just being considerate…" Kiyomi replied calmly.
"I'm just saying." Takumi leaned back with a smug expression.
Kiyomi simply giggled along with Takumi's endless rambling.
(Sure… sure… Takkun.)
"By the way," Takumi suddenly added, narrowing his eyes slightly, "why was your perfume fruity?"
"Huh?"
"You smelled like Sakura-chan."
Kiyomi froze. He had no answer ready.
But before the silence could stretch any further—
The clubroom door burst open. Miyu stepped inside with his usual dramatic energy.
"Good afternoon, my people!"
Someone followed behind him.
Kiyomi blinked.
The girl looked… extremely familiar.
"Renge-chan?" Kiyomi and Takumi blurted out at the same time.
"You're an idol?" Takumi asked instantly, his excitement exploding before anyone else could speak.
He jumped to his feet and rushed toward her.
"No, I'm not her—" the girl tried to explain, raising her hands slightly.
But Takumi was already too excited to listen.
Kiyomi quickly stood and squeezed between them despite his smaller frame, gently pushing Takumi back.
"She's not—" Miyu said.
"I'm his twin sister, actually," the girl clarified quickly. "My name is Rin."
(I didn't know Renge had a sister… let alone one who goes to our university…)
Takumi blinked several times, processing the information.
"…Twin?"
Rin nodded.
The tension dissolved almost immediately.
Before long, the four of them were sitting together in the clubroom, chatting about their favorite idols and performances as if nothing unusual had happened.
By the end of the afternoon, the Midorikawa Idol Club had gained another member.
"Okay, see you tomorrow, everyone…" Kiyomi said as he stood.
"Wait, let's walk to the station together," Takumi replied.
The two left the building side by side, but just as they were about to pass through the campus gate, someone called Takumi's name from behind.
"I'll be right back!" he said quickly before jogging inside.
It didn't seem like it would take long, so Kiyomi stayed outside the gate to wait.
By that time, the campus had already grown quiet. Only a few students lingered in the distance, and the road beyond the entrance saw barely any cars pass.
Then a familiar figure approached.
"Hey, Kiyomi…" the boy greeted, his voice smooth, carrying the charm of a prince layered over something far more predatory.
"Izumi-kun…" Kiyomi replied softly.
Instead of fear, a strange thrill ran through him. His legs tensed, small muscles tightening as his pulse quickened.
(Izumi-kun~)
Izumi stepped closer.
Then he leaned in and inhaled slowly near Kiyomi's neck.
His breath brushed against the skin there.
A small sound escaped Kiyomi's throat before he could stop it. The squeak was higher than he intended. Embarrassed, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand.
Izumi leaned back, a quiet chuckle escaping him.
"Is there something you're hiding?"
Kiyomi shook his head quickly.
"No? Really? Nothing at all?" Izumi pressed.
Kiyomi said nothing. He simply held his breath.
(What's going on?)
Izumi pulled out his phone. A video began playing on the screen. He lifted the phone close to Kiyomi's face.
"Right, Sakura-chan?"
Kiyomi's body immediately went rigid.
Sweat gathered at his temples. Panic flickered across his expression—
Yet beneath it, his heart pounded with a strange excitement.
(He knows!)
"I—I don't know what you're talking about…"
Izumi stepped closer again.
This time, he leaned in and pressed a slow kiss against Kiyomi's neck. The sensation of Izumi's lips against his skin sent a violent jolt through Kiyomi's nervous system.
"Stop…" Kiyomi whispered.
The protest was fragile, almost dissolving in the air between them. His hands trembled as he pushed weakly against Izumi's chest.
Izumi didn't move. He pulled back only slightly, just enough to study Kiyomi's face. His eyes were dark and sharp, fixed on Kiyomi's wide, panicked pupils.
For a moment, he looked like someone who had finally captured a rare butterfly—deciding whether to let it go… or pin it down forever.
"What do you want?" Kiyomi managed to choke out.
Izumi didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he murmured something under his breath, his thumb slowly tracing the line of Kiyomi's jaw. The smirk on his lips widened—
"Hey! Get away from him!"
Heavy footsteps pounded against the pavement.
Takumi came charging back through the gate, his face flushed with protective anger.
The moment Izumi noticed him approaching, he stepped away as if the moment had never happened.
"Are you okay?" Takumi asked immediately, turning to Kiyomi first.
He looked ready to chase after Izumi—
But Kiyomi grabbed his hand. The sudden grip stopped him.
Takumi glanced at him, understanding flashing across his face. He didn't pursue.
Instead, he studied Kiyomi more carefully.
"Your face is red," he said.
Kiyomi didn't answer.
(What would have happened… if we were somewhere more private…)
The thought alone made his heart race even faster.