The elevator doors slid open with a gentle chime. Yoichi stepped into the lobby, his reflection multiplied across the polished marble and gleaming glass surfaces. The brief truce from upstairs had expired the moment the elevator began its descent.
Nino followed him out, maintaining a distance between them. Neither spoke as they crossed the lobby, the sound of Nino's loafers clicking against the floor like a ticking clock.
Sunlight greeted them as they exited the building. Tokyo had awakened fully, the streets bustling with morning commuters in suits. Yoichi didn't wait for Nino, shoving his hands into the pockets of his uniform slacks and setting off with long strides.
Nino matched his pace, her posture ramrod straight. Her butterfly ribbons caught the morning light, seeming to vibrate with the indignation she radiated.
The silence stretched between them for nearly a full block before Nino broke it. She quickened her steps to draw even with Yoichi, her voice honey-sweet with an unmistakable venom beneath.
"So. What exactly did you and Ichika get up to yesterday? She came back in a very good mood."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Sounds like you should know more about your sisters happiness, not me."
Nino rolled her eyes dramatically. "Whatever." She flipped her long pink hair over her shoulder. "What class are you in?"
"2-A," he answered without missing a beat.
Nino stopped dead in her tracks, her face transforming into a mask of horror. Yoichi took a few more steps before glancing back, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face.
"Ugh. You have got to be kidding me," she groaned, a sound of pure, unadulterated disgust.
"Believe me, I'm not thrilled about it either." His storm-gray eyes narrowed slightly.
Of course, Yoichi thought bitterly. The universe has a sick and twisted sense of humor. The one sister I can't stand is going to be staring at the back of my head every day.
Nino crossed her arms over her chest, her manicured nails digging into her uniform sleeves. In MY class? In MY territory? This is a declaration of war.
She caught up to him with quick, angry steps. "Who put you in my class? Was it Father?"
"Who do you think?" Yoichi kept walking, his shoulders rigid under the crisp navy blazer. "He wants me to tutor you and your sisters. Can't do that if I'm in a different class."
A group of Kosei students passed them, several doing double-takes at Nino walking with an unfamiliar boy.
She noticed their stares and subtly increased the distance between herself and Yoichi.
"It doesn't make sense," she muttered. "Ichika and I are in different classes. Miku's in 2-C. You don't need to be in my class to tutor us."
Yoichi let out a sigh. "Just have to keep a B-average. That's all that matters."
"Oh, poor you. Having to put in a little effort for your half-a-million-yen handout. Life must be so hard."
This time, Yoichi stopped walking. He turned to face her fully, his storm-gray eyes cold as stone. This wasn't the controlled indifference he'd shown before—this was genuine anger directed at her.
"At least I have to work for it," he said. "It's not like some people who get all the perks just for being born into the right family."
The comment hit its mark perfectly. Nino's face flushed with anger, her butterfly ribbons trembling as she took a step toward him.
"You know nothing about us!" she hissed.
"I know enough."
"You think we've had it easy? You think everything's been handed to us?" Nino's voice trembled slightly. "You waltz into our home, acting like we're spoiled princesses, when you don't know the first thing about our lives or what we've been through."
Yoichi's expression didn't change. "I know your father pays for that penthouse. I know you've never had to work a day in your life. I know you've never had to choose between paying the electric bill or buying medicine."
His voice remained steady, but a vein pulsed at his temple. "So yeah, I think I know enough."
The revelation of his circumstances hung in the air between them. For a brief moment, Nino's expression faltered, a flash of something other than anger crossing her face. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"That doesn't give you the right to judge us," she said, her voice quieter but no less intense.
"Funny. You've been judging me since the moment I arrived."
Yoichi turned away and resumed walking. "At least I waited until I knew something about you."
They continued in thick, furious silence, the tension between them almost visible. The sidewalk grew more crowded as they approached the school district, the morning sun warming the back of Yoichi's neck.
Okay, Yoichi thought as he walked. Yotsuba is simple. Energetic, but harmless. Itsuki is a stick-in-the-mud, but she's predictable. Miku... Miku is interesting. A puzzle. And Ichika... he cut the thought off abruptly. But Nino? She's a self-absorbed, spoiled brat. The queen bee of a hive that only exists in her own head.
I can never see myself getting along with her.
Beside him, Nino kept pace, her thoughts equally harsh.
He's a disease. I can see it already. He's got Ichika acting all weird and flustered. He even got Miku to let him into her fortress. Yotsuba already thinks he's the coolest thing since sliced bread. They don't see how dangerous he is. I have to be the shield. It's my job. I will protect my sisters from him.
They turned a final corner, and Kosei Academy came into view. The campus sprawled before them—an imposing yet beautiful mix of old-world brick buildings and modern glass architecture. Morning sunlight gleamed off the clocktower, catching on the ornate weathervane that crowned it.
Nino's posture shifted subtly as she looked at the school. Her chin lifted, her shoulders relaxed. This was her territory. Her lips curved into a small, satisfied smile as she watched other students greet her with waves and respectful nods.
Yoichi took in the spectacle with weary resignation. His gaze lingered on the massive red-brick main building, mentally mapping escape routes and quiet corners where he might find solitude.
They stopped at the main gate, the intricate metal archway bearing the school's crest and Latin motto:
"Scena et Scientia."
"Ah, Nakano-san!" A sexy tanned girl with the school uniform said, smiling brightly at Nino. Her eyes darted curiously to Yoichi.
[Honjō Image]
"Honjō-san, good morning," Nino replied, her entire demeanor transforming. Gone was the hostile girl from moments before, replaced by a charming social butterfly.
"We missed you at Karaoke yesterday," Honjō said, still eyeing Yoichi with obvious interest.
"Family matters," Nino explained vaguely. She glanced at Yoichi, a saccharine sweet, threatening smile spreading across her face. "Hinjō-san, this is Tanigawa Yoichi. He's... staying with us for a while. Father's orders."
The implication was clear—he wasn't family, just an unwanted houseguest.
"Tanigawa-kun will be joining my class," Nino continued. "I'm sure everyone will make him feel welcome."
Welcome to my world, country mouse.
Honjō's eyes widened slightly. "Oh! How interesting. Where are you from, Tanigawa-kun?"
"Osaka," Yoichi answered simply, not elaborating.
"How exotic," Honjō giggled, though Osaka was hardly exotic by any standard. "Well, welcome to Kosei! You're so lucky to have Nakano-san showing you around. She knows absolutely everyone."
The bell rang across the campus, sending students hurrying toward the buildings.
"I should go," Nino said, already turning toward the main building. "Tanigawa-kun, go check into the main office or something."
She walked away with Honjō, their heads already bent together in whispered conversation. Yoichi watched them go, noting how other students parted around Nino like water around a stone.
So this is how it's going to be, he thought, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. He took in the massive school buildings, the manicured grounds, the students in their pristine uniforms. Everything about this place screamed money and privilege.
His hand slipped into his pocket, fingers finding the business card Ichigo Saitou had given him yesterday.
The talent scout from Strawberry Productions.
The second bell rang. Yoichi took a deep breath and walked through the gates of Kosei Academy. If this was war, he'd fight it on his terms. Nino Nakano might rule this little kingdom, but Yoichi had survived worse battlefields than this.
===
Nino swept into classroom 2-A greeting classmates with smiles and quick hellos. She made her way to her desk by the window, dropping her designer bag on the hook and smoothing her skirt as she sat down.
"Nino-chan!" A group of girls immediately clustered around her desk. "Who was that boy you were walking with?"
Nino waved a dismissive hand. "Nobody important. Just someone staying with us temporarily."
"He's so tall," one girl sighed dreamily. "And that cold look in his eyes..."
"Trust me, it's not that appealing," Nino countered, opening her notebook with unnecessary force.
The classroom door slid open again, and the chatter diminished as Yoichi entered. His height made him stand out immediately, towering over most of the other boys.
The uniform fit him perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and athletic build—a stark contrast to the softer, more polished appearance of the other male students.
His storm-gray eyes scanned the room methodically before landing on the only empty desk. It was directly behind Nino's.
You've got to be kidding me, they both thought simultaneously.
Yoichi made his way to the desk, ignoring the whispers and stares that followed him. He sat down, the chair creaking slightly under his weight.
Nino felt his presence behind her. She kept her back straight, refusing to turn around or acknowledge him.
"Class, settle down," their teacher, Tachibana-Sensei called as she entered. "We have a new student joining us today. Tanigawa-kun, please stand and introduce yourself."
[Hina Tachibana Image]
Yoichi rose. "Tanigawa Yoichi. Transferred from Osaka." He sat back down without elaboration.
"Um, thank you for that... concise introduction. We're happy to have you at Kosei Academy. I'm sure your classmates will help you adjust."
Nino felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned slightly, meeting Yoichi's cold gaze.
"Got a pencil I can borrow?" he asked quietly.
She stared at him for a moment, then reached into her bag and extracted her ugliest, most chewed-up pencil. She handed it to him without a word.
His lips curved into a knowing smirk as he accepted it. "Thanks, roomie."
Nino turned back to face the front, her cheeks burning with irritation. She could feel the curious stares of her classmates, already wondering about her connection to the mysterious new student.
The teacher began the lesson, but Nino couldn't focus. All she could think about was the presence behind her—this intruder who had infiltrated not just her home, but now her classroom, her social sphere, her entire carefully constructed life.
This isn't over, she promised silently. Not by a long shot.
Behind her, Yoichi opened his new notebook to the first blank page. At the top, he wrote a single sentence:
Survive until graduation.