Chapter 32

The morning I finally recover from my cold and head to school for the first time in a while. My body feels fine now, but a different kind of unease lingers in my mind.

Sure enough, as I approach the classroom, I start overhearing rumors about me.

“Miyahara-kun was absent with Princess, apparently.”

“For real? Why would they both be absent together?”

“Could it be… she was taking care of him…?”

Do they never get tired of talking about Rinka?

With a sigh, I push the chatter aside and step into the classroom. Acting as if nothing happened, I take my seat and open the textbook I brought. The test is only a few days away—I need to study as much as possible. Just as I’m about to focus, Keita drags a chair over and plops down beside me.

“Hey, Kazuya. So? How was it? Having Princess nurse you back to health? She must’ve fed you porridge, right? Or maybe… you two even slept in the same bed—”

“Huh!? What the hell are you saying!?”

My voice shoots up in panic, drawing brief glances from our classmates. Keita, completely unfazed, just keeps grinning.

“…It was normal.”

I give a half-hearted response and try to return my attention to the textbook, but Keita isn’t letting this go.

“Oh, normal, huh? And yet, you were alone with Princess. How exactly is that normal?”

Just as I struggle to come up with a response, I hear the sound of quiet footsteps approaching. When I look up, I see Rinka standing there.

“I’m returning this.”

She gently places my apartment key on my desk before heading back to her seat.

“…Ah, yeah.”

Keita stares at the key, eyes widening in shock. I can feel his gaze shift to me, and a bad feeling washes over me.

“Y-Y-You… W-Why is Princess giving you back your key? D-Don’t tell me—”

“She’s been staying at my place.”

Tired of the hassle, I just say it outright. As expected, Keita nearly collapses onto his desk in sheer astonishment.

“A-Are you serious!? Whoa, that’s totally newlywed life! If Princess is holding onto your key, that’s practically the same as living together!”

“It’s not like that!”

I hurriedly deny it, but Keita’s grin doesn’t budge. In fact, I can feel the other students eavesdropping now.

“Man, I’m jealous, Kazuya. I bet Princess even cooks for you, right? And when you get home, she’s all like, ‘Welcome back’ and—”

“I told you to stop!”

Heat rushes to my face as I try to keep my voice down.

“Whoa, getting that flustered just makes it more suspicious, you know?”

Laughing like he’s enjoying every second of this, Keita gives my shoulder a light pat.

“It’s not suspicious! She’s just… helping me study, that’s all!”

I scramble for an excuse, but Keita’s smirk only deepens.

“Hmm, just helping you study, huh? And that somehow involves giving her your house key? If that’s a regular thing for you, Kazuya, you must be living an incredible life.”

“…Ugh.”

I can’t come up with a decent rebuttal, which only makes Keita chuckle even more.

“Well, just saying—having Princess live with you means you’ve seriously made it. You better appreciate it.”

“O-Of course I do…”

I mumble in response, my gaze dropping to my desk. The truth is, I really am grateful. No—if anything, I feel too grateful.

That’s exactly why I’ve decided—I need to become a man worthy of Rinka.

“Hey.”

Keita suddenly speaks in a serious tone, peering at me.

“W-What…?”

“You know, she’s being watched by way more people than you realize. Kazuya, you have to rank high on the finals. Show everyone that you’re a man worthy of Shirasaki Rinka—the school’s number one princess.”

“…I know.”

The usual playful atmosphere fades, and his words weigh heavily on my chest.

Rinka… and even Keita—they’re both supporting me this much. I really have some great friends.

“As long as you get it.”

Keita shrugs with a sly grin, slipping back into his usual tone.

“Well, that aside, if this whole newlywed life thing keeps going, give me some tips, would you? I’d love to have someone tutor me too.”

“Like hell I will!”

…I’m starting to rethink calling him a good friend.

Smacking Keita’s shoulder in retaliation, I forcibly end the conversation. He bursts out laughing again, but his earlier words linger in my mind.