Suzune adjusted the grip on the paper bag she was carrying, filled with freshly cooked food, and sighed softly as she approached the familiar narrow street leading to Seijirou's home.
She knew that guy too well. He probably hadn't even left his bed yet, maybe still buried under his blanket with that same uninterested look on his face, completely ignoring the fact that it was already past nine in the morning.
If she didn't bring food, he'd probably just skip breakfast again or survive on instant noodles, something he called a "meal."
Typical Seijirou.
Her steps were light, her pace unhurried as she hummed.
The weather was calm today, a soft breeze brushing against her hair as she smiled faintly to herself.
Her thoughts then drifted back to yesterday, remembering the way Touka had nervously followed her through the shopping district.
Every time Suzune suggested trying on new clothes, Touka would stammer, blush, and look like she wanted to run away.
Suzune found it adorable, so much that she couldn't resist teasing her a few times.
The poor girl almost short-circuited when Suzune picked matching accessories for the two of them.
"Seriously, that girl's too cute," Suzune muttered under her breath, her tone a mix of fondness and amusement.
Touka's reactions were so pure that it made Suzune feel like an older sister rather than a friend.
As she turned the corner, Seijirou's house came into view, a large two-story home with a slightly overgrown yard and a metal gate that had seen better days.
Seijirou never really maintained his home. It is her along with Renji, Sakai, and Shou who would always maintain his house to make sure it doesn't rot and got eaten by termites and rust.
She walked toward it, humming softly, but stopped dead in her tracks the moment she saw two figures standing in front of the gate.
Her brows furrowed instantly.
The first girl had short, light pink hair that framed her face in messy curls, her posture confident and relaxed.
Her top button was undone slightly, showing off a figure that could only be described as dangerously voluptuous.
Her expression nervous, pacing back and forth while staring at the house, looking unsure and shocked.
The second girl stood beside her, completely opposite in aura.
She had long white hair that fell gracefully over her shoulders, her crimson eyes half-lidded, sharp and calm, observing everything with detached focus.
She was the very definition of a cool beauty, pale, elegant, and expressionless, like she existed in a different world from everyone else.
Suzune didn't need to be told who they were. She recognized them instantly.
Tachibana Rei and Himejima Haruka. Two of the most prominent students in Shinju High.
Rei, a ray of sunshine who was friends with everybody and would help students and teacher alike.
A typical model student whose only flaw was her closeness to her painfully mediocre childhood friend whose name Suzune couldn't even be bothered to remember.
Haruka, on the other hand, was the exact opposite, a stoic, almost untouchable girl with the kind of silent authority that made people step aside when she walked by.
Suzune blinked, staring at the two of them in disbelief.
What in the world were they doing here?
Rei and Haruka standing together was rare enough on its own. But standing in front of Seijirou's gate? That didn't make any sense.
She tightened her grip on the bag she was carrying, tilting her head slightly.
"...Are they lost?" she murmured under her breath.
It was the only logical explanation she could think of.
After all, Seijirou didn't exactly have a lot of female friends. It's even safe to say that aside from Suzune, he has none at all.
All the girls he knew were either relatives, subordinates, or girls he hooked up with.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took a cautious step forward. She couldn't just walk past them and knock like nothing was happening.
For all she knew, they could be going somewhere important.
Still, curiosity gnawed at her.
Maybe they are here for Seijirou and came to apologize for something.
Maybe they wanted to challenge him.
Or maybe they were part of whatever weird mess Seijirou had gotten himself into again.
Either way, Suzune wasn't about to just stand and watch.
She straightened her back, adjusted her clothes, and walked toward the gate, her expression composed yet sharp, ready to confront the two famous girls standing in front of Seijirou's house.
Suzune walked forward with her usual relaxed confidence, the corners of her lips curved in that trademark gyaru smile that made people either adore her or avoid her entirely.
Her steps were light, almost casual, as she approached the two standing figures by the gate.
Without hesitation, she reached out and tapped both of them on the shoulders from behind, her nails clicking lightly against their uniforms.
Rei let out a small startled yelp, spinning around so fast that her pink curls bounced.
Haruka, however, didn't even flinch. In one smooth motion, her hand snapped up, catching Suzune's wrist in midair as she twisted her hips slightly, ready to throw whoever had dared touch her.
Suzune's instincts flared instantly. Her other hand moved on reflex, blocking Haruka's motion just before she could complete the counter.
For a second, the air between them turned heavy, their eyes locked, both realizing that the other wasn't just some ordinary girl.
Suzune raised a brow and smirked slightly. "Whoa. You really do know how to fight, huh?"
Haruka blinked once, her expression still unreadable. She released Suzune's wrist and straightened her posture. "You shouldn't approach people from behind like that. It's dangerous."
"Fair enough," Suzune replied, rubbing her wrist and laughing softly. "Guess I should've said hi first."
Rei blinked in confusion before recognition hit her. Her eyes widened slightly. "Wait... aren't you—"
"Kurokawa Suzune," Haruka finished for her in her calm, measured tone. "Most popular gyaru in school, the only girl in Kageyama Seijirou's group."
Rei blinked, nervousness immediately filled her body.
Suzune crossed her arms and tilted her head, smiling with mock sweetness. "Guess my reputation precedes me."
Not really. She knew how bad her reputation in school is. As the only girl in a group of male delinquents, lots of nasty rumors already spread about her.
Honestly, she couldn't care less about it.
"Ah...I..we..ah.." Rei stuttered, her mouth couldn't keep up with what she wanted to say.
So she can only look and ask for help from her companion.
Haruka, however, merely observed Suzune, her crimson eyes analyzing her from head to toe. There was no hostility anymore, only quiet curiosity.
"So," Suzune began casually, resting one hand on her hip, "what are you two doing in front of Seijirou's house? You lost or something?"
Rei blinked and turned to glance at the tall two-story home behind the gate. Her mouth opened slightly in awe as she took in its size.
She spun around dramatically to face Suzune again, her eyes sparkling in awe and envy.
So this really is Kageyama-kun's house. It's way too big and luxurious. He really is as rich as the rumors say.
Her house might even be as big as one if the room here.
She couldn't help but feel down. God was really unfair. Not only was Kageyama smart and talented, he also blessed with rich parents.
Suzune couldn't help but chuckle at Rei's reaction. "Yeah, well, don't let the size fool you. He's not as classy as his house looks."
Haruka, who had been quietly scanning the property, finally spoke in her even, soft tone. "Having such a large house is inefficient. The gates are rusting. The lawn hasn't been trimmed in weeks. The fence needs repainting. If he had a smaller home, he could maintain it properly."
Suzune turned to her, half laughing, half exasperated. "Himejima-chan, you're seriously judging the guy's maintenance habits?"
"It's an observation," Haruka replied simply, as if it were obvious.
Suzune smiled wryly at their exchange. "Yeah, forgive him for that. He's not really the 'domestic' type."
Then she looked back at the two and repeated, "So, what brings you here again?"
Rei scratched her cheek nervously, her voice dropping to a sheepish tone. "Uh, well... actually, we're in the same group project as Kageyama-kun, and he said we could meet him here today. We came early to talk about it."
Haruka nodded once, confirming her words without adding anything else.
Suzune blinked, then let out a small, knowing sigh.
"Of course. That sounds like something he'd forget to mention." She shifted the paper bag in her hands and smiled again. "He's probably still asleep. He never wakes up on time."
Rei laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, that sounds like him too. Always looking half-asleep in class."
Suzune reached into her pocket and pulled out a small silver key. The two girls looked surprised as she walked to the gate and unlocked it effortlessly.
The metal creaked as it swung open.
"Come on," Suzune said as she stepped aside and gestured for them to enter. "You can wait for him inside. I'll go wake him up. Just... don't expect him to be polite first thing in the morning."
Rei couldn't help but wonder. "Wow, you really have the keys to his place? You two must be close."
Suzune shrugged with a lazy smirk. "Let's just say I'm the only one brave enough to deal with his mood before breakfast."
Haruka followed silently, her crimson eyes scanning the interior beyond the gate, her expression unchanging.
Rei stepped in after her, still murmuring in disbelief at the size of the place.
And as Suzune closed the gate behind them, she couldn't help but think how strange this morning was already turning out to be.
Seijirou was not going to like this surprise.