Chereads / Rivals in the spotlight / Chapter 3 - Volume 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 3 - Volume 1 Chapter 2

With the end of auditions came another twist in fate as the academy decided to shuffle students into new dorms, hoping to foster new connections. Kaito found himself standing in front of his new dormitory door, his heart thumping with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

The door swung open, revealing a room filled with half-unpacked boxes and scattered belongings. A figure stood by the window, its back turned, as the soft afternoon light filtered through the curtains.

"Hey, I'm your new roommate," Kaito announced casually, stepping into the room. As the figure turned around, Kaito's nonchalant expression turned into a horrified one.

"Emi?!" Kaito's voice cracked, his eyes widening as he took in the sight before him. Emi, in the midst of changing into her academy uniform, froze like a deer caught in headlights.

"Kaito?!" Emi's voice rose an octave, her face turning a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. With a gasp, she scrambled to cover herself, grabbing the nearest blanket and wrapping it around her like a shield.

"Uh, I... I'm so sorry!" Kaito stammered, quickly turning his back to give Emi privacy. His heart raced as embarrassment flooded his senses, and he muttered under his breath, "I should have knocked."

After a few moments of awkward silence, Emi's voice trembled from behind the blanket. "You can... you can turn around now."

Kaito hesitated before slowly turning back to face Emi, who was now covered in the blanket from head to toe. Both of them stood there, face to face, the air heavy with a mixture of awkwardness and embarrassment.

Finally, Emi's voice broke the tension, but not in the way Kaito expected. "Aaaaahhhhhhh! Pervert!!!"

Her scream was so loud that Kaito stumbled back in shock, his eyes wide with alarm. "Wh-what?! No, no, it's not what it looks like! I swear!"

Emi's eyes were fiery as she pointed an accusatory finger at Kaito. "You saw me changing! You pervert!"

Kaito's panic was palpable as he waved his hands frantically in front of him. "No, Emi, I didn't mean to! I walked in and... and I didn't realize you were changing!"

Emi's voice dripped with sarcasm as she huffed, "Oh, you didn't realize? So you just thought you'd come waltzing in while I'm half-naked?"

Kaito's face turned a deep shade of red as he fumbled for words. "I-I didn't... I'm so sorry, Emi. I truly didn't mean to invade your privacy."

Emi's glare softened slightly as she realized the genuine panic on Kaito's face. With a dramatic sigh, she let the blanket drop a bit, revealing her face as she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I believe you. Just... give me a moment to compose myself."

Kaito nodded frantically, his voice filled with relief. "Of course! Take all the time you need. I'll just... stand over here and look at the wall."

Emi took a deep breath and emerged from her makeshift blanket cocoon, her face still flushed. "Okay, I think I'm decent now."

Kaito turned back to face her, a sheepish smile on his face. "I'm really sorry, Emi. I can't believe this is how we're meeting as roommates."

Emi's lips twitched into a half-smile, the tension finally starting to ease. "Yeah, well, I can't say I expected this either."

As they shared an awkward chuckle, their eyes met, and realization dawned on both of them simultaneously. "Wait, you're my roommate?"

Kaito's eyebrows shot up in surprise, mirroring Emi's incredulous expression. "You're my roommate?"

Their mutual disbelief transformed into a flurry of questions and exclamations as they tried to process the unlikely scenario. "But how? Why? I mean, what are the odds?"

Emi's voice was laced with disbelief as she shook her head. "This can't be real. Did they mix up the assignments?"

Kaito scratched his head, his voice full of bewilderment. "I can't believe I'm sharing a room with you. we're practically rivals"

Emi's laughter bubbled up, the absurdity of the situation breaking through the tension. "I know, right? It's like a bad sitcom plot."

As their laughter subsided, Kaito's eyes twinkled mischievously. "So, should we complain to the teacher and demand a room change?"

Emi raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, absolutely. I can't imagine being stuck with you as a roommate."

They exchanged amused glances, the initial shock giving way to a shared sense of camaraderie. "Well, I guess we're stuck with each other, whether we like it or not."

With a dramatic sigh, Emi flopped onto one of the unpacked boxes. "I can't believe I have to endure your presence every single day."

Kaito grinned, his tone full of mock offense. "Hey, the feeling's mutual. But maybe we can make this work somehow."

Emi chuckled, a genuine smile on her face. "Yeah, maybe..."

Just as they were starting to get comfortable with the idea, Kaito's phone buzzed on a nearby box, indicating an incoming call. He glanced at the caller ID, his eyes widening in realization.

Kaito's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the caller ID—it was the academy's administration office. He answered the call with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.

"Hello?" Kaito's voice was a blend of curiosity and caution.

"Good afternoon, Kaito," the voice on the other end was calm and composed, belonging to none other than the academy's head teacher. "I heard that you and Emi Nakamura have been questioning your new dormitory assignment."

How the hell do they now that? are there camera's in here or something?

Kaito exchanged a glance with Emi, who looked equally surprised. "Uh, yes, that's correct. We were just wondering if there might have been a mix-up."

The head teacher's chuckle was gentle, carrying an air of wisdom. "I understand your concerns, but I'm afraid the dormitory assignments have been finalized. Due to various circumstances and the need for fostering new connections, changes are not possible at this time."

Kaito's heart sank, and he shot a sympathetic glance at Emi. It seemed their hopes of escaping this awkward situation were dashed.

"Is there anything else I can assist you with?" the head teacher inquired.

Kaito's shoulders slumped in resignation, and he exchanged a defeated look with Emi. "No, that's alright. Thank you for clarifying."

"Very well. I hope you both make the best of this situation and find ways to cooperate as roommates," the head teacher advised before bidding them goodbye.

As Kaito ended the call and returned to Emi's side, she couldn't help but ask, "What did they say?"

Kaito let out a resigned sigh, his tone tinged with disappointment. "They said the dormitory assignments are final and can't be changed. We're stuck with this arrangement