The moonlight was pale and cold, casting a silvery sheen across the quiet street.
Momo leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. The suffocating tightness from just moments ago was slowly receding, and it felt as though she'd been given a second life.
Two people exited the izakaya nearby. One of them seemed to glance in their direction.
Momo's face flushed crimson in an instant, and she quickly turned her head away.
Fortunately, the pair didn't come closer, instead heading down the opposite end of the street.
She tugged at her clothes, smoothed out her hair, and stood there awkwardly, not knowing where to look.
The president stood just in front of her, but Momo had no idea what to say.
"I… I'll head back now…"
That was all she could manage before turning and fleeing the scene in a panic.
Nobu watched her retreating figure, let out a quiet chuckle, and raised a hand to wipe the corner of his lips.
[Affection Level: 83]
...
The Next Day
First-Year Class A, Shin'ō Academy.
"Morning, Momo."
"Morning."
She responded absently to her classmate's greeting.
Sitting alone at her desk, Momo stared blankly out the window.
"Momo?"
Rukia tapped her on the shoulder.
Only then did Momo turn her head. "Rukia, you're here…"
"What's with you? You didn't even respond when I said hello."
"I… it's nothing. Just lost in thought."
Rukia sat beside her, eyeing her curiously.
Even after class started, Momo remained completely spaced out. Rukia couldn't help noticing—she's definitely acting weird… I've seen this before.
"Momo, your mind's been a thousand miles away all morning. What's going on?"
"It's nothing, really."
"…Right."
Another class came and went, and Momo was still in the same daze, lost in her own world. Every now and then, she'd even blush.
"Let's go, Momo. Time for lunch."
"Huh? Oh—okay!"
Only then did she realize class was over. She quickly gathered her books and stood up.
In the academy cafeteria, Rukia, Momo, Renji, and Kira sat together.
"What's up with her?" Kira asked, glancing at Momo, who sat off to the side, completely disengaged from the conversation.
"Feels like she's lost it," said Abarai Renji.
Momo did hear that one. She glared at him. "You're the one who's lost it!"
"Ah, there we go—she's back," Renji said.
Momo raised a fist at him threateningly.
But after just a few bites of food, she was back to daydreaming.
"Are we training during afternoon break?" Renji asked.
"Not me. I'm heading to the student council," Kira replied.
"What about you, Rukia?"
Rukia shook her head softly.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Renji grumbled. "If none of you go, I can't use the swordsmanship hall."
He wasn't a member of the student council.
Kira considered for a moment. "I'll go with you first, then head to the council."
Renji immediately began shoveling rice into his mouth. "Awesome. Hurry up and eat, then!"
Kira sighed. "Five more minutes won't kill us."
But Renji didn't seem to hear him and kept wolfing down his food. Kira muttered under his breath, "Lunatic."
Renji finished eating in record time and urged Kira to pick up the pace.
The two boys left the cafeteria first.
"We're heading out!"
"Okay."
Rukia glanced at Momo's tray—it looked almost untouched.
After lunch, Rukia didn't go to the student council either. Instead, she joined Momo beneath the sakura tree by the teaching hall for a bit of shade and rest.
She brought along a book—not part of the academy curriculum, but a detailed text on Hadō she'd borrowed from the Kuchiki household.
Kira had asked to borrow it once too, but Rukia had told him she'd lend it to him once she was finished.
Around them, students gathered in small groups, chatting and enjoying the breeze.
Though Rukia was holding the book, her attention was elsewhere. She turned to Momo and called softly, "Momo?"
"…"
Rukia gave her shoulder a shake. "Momo!"
"Huh?"
"Are you sick?"
"No… I'm fine."
Momo felt a little guilty under Rukia's gaze. "Sorry. I've just been thinking about something."
"You've been thinking all morning."
Momo blushed. "It's nothing important."
"…"
After a while, Momo turned to the book-reading Rukia. She hesitated, then spoke up.
"Rukia… there's something I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
"It's… about the president," Momo said carefully.
Rukia's hands paused. She closed the book slowly.
"Momo, actually—I wanted to talk to you about something too."
Momo blinked, a little surprised by Rukia's tone and the way she stared directly at her. "Then you go first."
Rukia took a deep breath. "I've thought about this for a long time, and I feel like it's something that needs to be said. Momo… I know what you're thinking, but Renji and I—we're just childhood friends. Nothing more. So please, don't keep trying to pair us up."
She paused, her tone softening. "I really don't like it. It just makes things awkward between me and Renji."
Momo stared at her in a daze. Something clicked. Her gaze trembled slightly.
"Why… are you suddenly telling me this?"
Rukia looked away and down at the closed book resting on her lap.
"Because… I like someone."
"…"
Momo sat there quietly for a long moment. Then she slowly turned her head away. The two of them sat side by side in silence.
"…Don't tell me… we like the same person?"
"…"
Rukia's eyebrows twitched. Her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
"Momo… you were the one who said it first. But when you told me, I already… You must've sensed it too, didn't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have asked me that back then. So I didn't want to lie to you. Aside from Renji, you're the closest friend I have."
The midday sun was no longer scorching. A soft breeze rustled the leaves above, scattering pink petals all around them.
Momo said, "So when you told me not to match you and Renji anymore… it's because you want to pursue the president, too?"
"…"
Momo gave a crooked smile—though it was hard to tell whether it was from amusement or something else.
At last, she said, "I'm sorry, Rukia. I won't push you and Renji together anymore."
Then she stood up gently and left Rukia with her back.
Rukia felt a sharp tug in her chest. She sat frozen, expression distant and unsure.
Did I… do something wrong?
That thought slipped into her mind.
Momo was her closest female friend—always kind to her.
But she quickly shook her head.
No. I didn't do anything wrong. I wasn't betraying her feelings.
Hadn't Momo already figured out how she felt about the president?
And yet she still tried to match her with Renji. What did that mean?
Even as she tried to rationalize it, Rukia still couldn't shake the sudden urge to cry.