After going through the entire explanation again, Satoru felt his throat becoming dry. He coughed lightly and reached for a nearby bottle of water, wishing he had brought his own.
"So, did you get it this time?" he asked, his eyes meeting Janne's. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than expected.
They were sitting quite close, close enough that he could notice the slight furrow in her brow, the way her lips pressed together in concentration.
"Are you still confused?" Satoru waved his hand in front of her face, snapping her out of her trance.
Janne blinked rapidly, as if just realizing how close they were sitting. She quickly turned her head, blinking a few more times to cover her embarrassment.
"No… I mean, yes. I didn't quite get it... Could you go over it one more time?" Her voice was cool and detached, but Satoru sensed something off.
It wasn't that she didn't understand—her mind seemed to be elsewhere entirely.
"Sure, no problem," Satoru replied, assuming that he hadn't explained it clearly enough.
"I'll use a different method this time." He leaned in again, carefully breaking down the steps once more, making sure to explain each part with greater clarity.
Meanwhile, from her seat in the front row, Rosa had been glancing back intermittently.
She had initially turned around to chat with her friend in the row behind her, but her attention kept drifting towards Satoru and Janne.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, her usually cheerful demeanor subdued as she observed their interaction, a hint of curiosity and something else flickering in her gaze.
"Alright, that should cover it. Do you understand now?" Satoru asked after finishing his second explanation. He took a sip from Lewis's water bottle, feeling a bit more refreshed.
Janne nodded slightly. "Yeah, more or less," she replied, quickly taking back her textbook and turning away.
There was no "thank you" or acknowledgment of his help, but Satoru didn't mind.
He had grown accustomed to their peculiar dynamic.
If Janne were to suddenly express gratitude, it would indeed be out of character for her, and that would likely feel more unsettling than her usual blunt demeanor.
Their interactions had followed this pattern for over a year now.
When they were first assigned to the same class, Satoru had thought Janne was an enigma—a girl with an air of aloofness, as if everyone owed her a million dollars.
She walked around with a perpetual frown, as if weighed down by the world.
At first, Satoru assumed that they wouldn't have much to do with each other.
He wasn't the type to actively seek out friendships; he considered himself more like a piece of ice from the Arctic, cold and distant, while Janne seemed like a rock from the Antarctic, equally unapproachable.
The idea of them having any meaningful connection seemed laughable.
But fate, in its strange way, had other plans.
They ended up sitting next to each other, Satoru in the back row and Janne directly in front of him.
Their seating arrangement forced them into occasional interactions, and over time, these small exchanges accumulated into something resembling a reluctant familiarity.
In all fairness, Satoru found Janne to be decent company, in her own unique way.
She had a peculiar sense of justice that often manifested in unexpected ways—like how she would quietly remind him to pay attention in class or nudge him awake when he seemed particularly out of it.
Her harsh words belied a subtle concern that didn't go unnoticed by him.
However, Janne's reclusive nature meant she didn't make friends easily.
In fact, Satoru had never seen anyone else approach her for a casual chat.
She moved through her days like a solitary figure in a crowded room, an island unto herself.
Despite her prickly demeanor, Satoru couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie towards her, even if it was one she might never openly acknowledge.
"Satoru, want to go to the bathroom together?" Lewis stood up from his seat with a casual invitation.
"What's wrong with you?" Satoru frowned, looking at Lewis with a playful, mocking expression. He squinted his eyes, as if inspecting him for some hidden motive.
"Are you crazy? Just tell me if you're coming or not. If not, I'll go by myself." Lewis snapped back, clearly annoyed, as he had no idea Satoru was teasing him with a subtle insinuation about his sexuality.
"Alright, alright, I'll go," Satoru sighed. Lewis's impatience made Satoru realize he did have a slight urge to use the restroom.
Lewis was one of Satoru's close friends, a bond that had been forged back in middle school.
Their friendship was an odd one, formed out of unexpected compatibility.
Initially, Satoru found Lewis to be quite polite and approachable.
Lewis wasn't particularly striking in appearance—his skin was tanned, and he had a pair of bright, expressive eyes.
His constant smile made him seem approachable and friendly, which made Satoru warm up to him quite easily.
But as they spent more time together, Lewis began to drop his polite facade, revealing his true, more mischievous self.
He stopped pretending to be someone he wasn't, and that only made their friendship stronger.
As they walked down the hallway towards the bathroom, Lewis suddenly piped up, "Hey, Satoru, there's a welcoming party the day after tomorrow!"
The welcoming party was an annual event held at the grand auditorium of DxD University, which could accommodate thousands.
It was a big deal, a celebration full of pomp and circumstance.
"Oh, I almost forgot about that… But honestly, what does that have to do with us?" Satoru replied nonchalantly.
Although they were expected to attend, it was mainly to sit through speeches and watch performances—nothing too engaging.
"Are you kidding? There will be so many new freshmen girls!" Lewis's voice was practically buzzing with excitement, his imagination already running wild with possibilities.
Satoru waved a dismissive hand. "Not interested..."
Lewis shot him a sarcastic look, "Ah, you're hopeless. Unteachable! A block of wood that can't be carved!" His tone was mockingly dramatic.
"If you've got so much energy to spare, why not use it to study more? Otherwise, you might not even be visible in the classroom rankings," Satoru retorted with a smirk, throwing cold water on Lewis's enthusiasm.
Lewis was, after all, near the bottom of their class in terms of academic performance.
Lewis pouted, "Changing the subject again. You're no fun."
Despite their banter, the mention of the welcoming party brought Rosa to Satoru's mind.
She had entered DxD University with the highest exam score among the freshmen, a feat that had left an impression on him.
At last year's welcoming party, Rosa had been the one to give the speech on behalf of the new students.
He recalled how Rosa had captivated everyone's attention the moment she stepped on stage.
Her fair skin, long legs, and a graceful, elegant demeanor drew every eye. She embodied a blend of beauty and intelligence that was hard to ignore.
She had a kind of gentle sophistication that added to her allure.
But Satoru wasn't like everyone else—he didn't get swept up in the admiration.
He had watched her closely back then, not out of infatuation, but out of respect.
They had taken the same entrance exam, and he knew firsthand how challenging it was. Rosa's near-perfect score was something he couldn't help but admire.
It wasn't just her appearance that caught his attention; it was her talent and the quiet confidence she exuded.
...
Ring, ring, ring—
The shrill sound of the school bell pierced the air, signaling the end of a long day filled with endless classes and lectures.
For Satoru, who had spent much of the day dozing off, the bell was a welcome reprieve.
Now, with the weight of the day lifted, he felt surprisingly energetic and refreshed, as if his impromptu naps had charged him up.
"I hope I don't see you looking like a slug again tomorrow," Janne remarked sharply as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Her words were intended to encourage Satoru to get a proper night's sleep, but as usual, her delivery was laced with her typical biting sarcasm.
"Alright... I'll do my best," Satoru replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
He couldn't help but notice that Janne seemed to be in a hurry today.
Normally, she would take her time packing up, often finishing after him, but today she was quick to leave, her movements brisk and purposeful.
Satoru and Lewis made their way to the school gate, where they were about to part ways.
"Bye, Satoru." Lewis waved as he turned to head home.
"Yeah, see you," Satoru replied, watching as his friend disappeared into the crowd.
But instead of heading towards his own home, Satoru turned in the opposite direction, making his way towards the bustling student street.
His footsteps were light, blending seamlessly into the lively after-school atmosphere, where groups of students chatted animatedly and the air was filled with the aromas of street food.
Unbeknownst to Satoru, a slender figure emerged from behind a large tree near the school gate.
The person moved with a quiet grace, careful to keep her distance as she began to follow Satoru through the throng of students.
The figure was cautious and deliberate, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the flickering streetlights, ensuring she remained unseen.
It was as if the moment had been perfectly timed—the way the figure appeared right after Satoru started walking away, slipping out from behind the tree just as the crowd began to thin out.
She maintained a silent pursuit, her gaze fixed firmly on Satoru's back, curiosity evident in their every step.