Chapter 30

Saionji Keita’s Perspective

“Saionji-kun, can you deliver these handouts to Miyahara-kun’s house?”

“Ahh, got it—”

Ugh, what a pain. Kazuya’s house is in the complete opposite direction from mine. It’s so far… I really don’t want to do this.

Oh, wait. I just had a brilliant idea.

“Ah—Sorry, Sensei. I actually don’t know where Kazuya’s house is.”

That was, of course, a lie. I’ve been to Kazuya’s house plenty of times.

“Is that so…? That’s a problem…”

“Hey, that girl, Kobayashi Misaki from the next class—she knows where Kazuya’s house is.”

“Really? Thanks for the info!”

“No problem~”

Damn, I’m a genius. Right now, I bet the Princess is at Kazuya’s house. If those two just happened to run into each other… Hah, just imagining it makes me grin.

Kazuya suffered so much because of you. Now, it’s your turn to suffer, Kobayashi Misaki.

Kobayashi Misaki’s Perspective

“Kobayashi-san, do you have a moment?”

Just as I was about to leave the classroom after school, Kazuya’s homeroom teacher called out to me.

I had a bad feeling about this. Every time a teacher calls me like this, it’s always because they want me to do something annoying.

“Can you deliver these to Miyahara-kun? He’s out sick with a cold.”

What was handed to me were a few handouts. I was about to refuse immediately, saying “It’s impossible,” but the teacher’s next words cut off my escape.

“I heard you’re the only one who knows where Miyahara-kun’s house is. I’m counting on you.”

It’s not like I “know” exactly… I just dated him for a little while.

Kazuya told me the way once, but in the end, I never actually went inside his room…

“…!!”

Just as that thought crossed my mind, yesterday’s scene flashed through my head.

I never even stepped foot inside his room… and yet, I saw Shirasaki-san entering his house. That moment…

“Um… You’ll go to Miyahara-kun’s house, right…?”

“Y-Yes!”

The teacher’s voice snapped me back to reality, and before I knew it, I had agreed.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

“…Got it.”

Ugh. The worst. But whatever… I guess I have no choice.

A few minutes after leaving school, I arrived at Kazuya’s apartment complex.

Going all the way up to his unit was too much of a hassle, so I figured I’d just drop the handouts in the mailbox. He’d notice them eventually.

Just as I reached out to slip the papers into the entrance mailbox—

“What are you doing?”

A voice from behind made my heart leap. I spun around and saw Shirasaki-san standing there, holding a shopping bag.

“Uh, ah, um…”

My words got stuck in my throat. Running into her here… was the absolute worst.

“Do you need something?”

Her voice was calm, almost indifferent. But somehow, that made me even more nervous.

“…Can you give this to Kazuya?”

My trembling hands extended the handouts toward her. Shirasaki-san gave a small nod and accepted them.

“Thank you. I’ll make sure he gets them.”

Without hesitation, she took the papers and turned toward the elevator.

“Wait!”

Before I realized it, I had called out to stop her.

My own voice startled me—it came out stronger than I expected. Shirasaki-san turned back to face me, her gaze steady, as if she was searching for something. Those calm, composed eyes only made my anxiety worse.

“…Is there something else?”

“What do you… think of Kazuya?”

Before I knew it, the words had slipped out. And the moment they did, I regretted it. This wasn’t something I had any right to ask.

But still… I needed to know.

Shirasaki-san narrowed her eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled.

“Isn’t it obvious? I love him.”

Those words pierced straight through my chest.

“Why…?”

My voice trembled. My emotions were overflowing—I couldn’t hold them back.

“Why would you fall for someone as plain as Kazuya?! You’re the Princess… No, you’re Shirasaki-san! You could have any guy you wanted!”

I hadn’t meant to sound so harsh. But I couldn’t make sense of my feelings, and they just came pouring out.

But Shirasaki-san didn’t waver. If anything, she just blinked in mild surprise before calmly looking at me again. That only made her seem even more composed.

“I have no reason to explain myself to someone who abandoned Kazuya-kun.”

With those words, she turned to leave.

Her voice was quiet, yet filled with an unshakable strength.

“…!”

Frustration. Humiliation. I wanted to say something back, but no words came out. Shirasaki-san’s cold, unwavering demeanor left me completely speechless.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“W-What…?”

She suddenly stopped in her tracks.

What now…? Was she really not done yet?

“From now on, stay away from Kazuya-kun.”

With a soft, yet chilling smile, she stepped inside the apartment complex. That smile wasn’t kindness—it was a declaration. A final farewell.