I found myself in a small and cozy dessert shop, the atmosphere warm, with soft lights enhancing the vintage decor of the place. The table I shared with Honami was adorned with a small vase of fresh flowers, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweetness of pastries filled the air.
It was one of those moments that had become quite frequent. Lately, Honami had been inviting me out quite often, which didn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I enjoyed these outings very much. Although, now that I thought about it... could this be called a date? I had never had outings like these before, at least not of this kind. They were always in groups, which automatically disqualified them as dates. But in this case, it was just Honami and me.
I glanced at Honami while enjoying a small piece of chocolate cake. The expression of happiness and delight on her face was so genuine that it made me smile. The cake looked quite appetizing, and I couldn't help but notice how she savored each bite. I got lost in the scene until suddenly, Honami noticed that I was watching her. She returned my gaze, and without losing her smile, she cut a small piece of her cake and lifted it toward me with the fork.
"Here, Kayden. Open your mouth," she said with a smile so bright that it was impossible not to feel joy seeing her.
I nodded slightly, opening my mouth as she brought the cake closer and fed me. The taste was sweet, smooth, an explosion of chocolate that quickly conquered my palate.
"It's delicious," I said sincerely, enjoying the flavor as I nodded.
"Isn't it? This is my favorite," Honami replied with a little excitement in her voice. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and we continued chatting about trivial yet entertaining things.
The afternoon went on, and the atmosphere between us became increasingly relaxed. However, my attention was briefly diverted when I noticed some girls sitting at a table not too far from ours. Their stares were intense, fixed on us, or rather, on me. It was as if they didn't look away for even a second. Even when I made eye contact with one of them, she didn't flinch; she continued watching us without saying a word.
They were older than us, that was evident. They weren't first-year students like Honami and me but rather second-year students. The strange behavior of some second-year students towards me was nothing new, but for some time, those stares had become more frequent, more insistent. Whenever I went somewhere, I felt those gazes behind me.
The reason was quite obvious: Nagumo. He practically controlled most of the students in his year, with a few exceptions. He was a natural leader, and those under his command followed him without question. Apparently, this new habit of watching me was part of his tactics to intimidate me or perhaps to demonstrate his influence. Maybe he was trying to use social pressure to make me feel uncomfortable, but to be honest, that kind of pressure didn't work on me.
"Kayden, who are you looking at?" Honami's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She had noticed where I was directing my attention, and when her eyes met those of the girls, something changed in her.
"Kayden, were you looking at those girls?" she repeated, but this time her tone had changed. Her gaze had dimmed slightly, and a hint of coldness seeped into her voice. This side of Honami still surprised me, even though I had seen it before. It only appeared when she sensed that there was another girl involved with me in some way. Outside of that, she was always the sweet and kind Honami I knew. It was a rare but undeniable change.
I smiled slightly at her reaction, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
"Looking at other girls? Of course not," I said with a cheeky grin. "How could I look at another girl when I have you right in front of me?"
The blush that appeared on Honami's cheeks was almost instantaneous, a rosy hue that beautifully contrasted with her fair skin. For a moment, her cold demeanor crumbled, and she was back to being the Honami I knew. This girl wasn't used to receiving compliments, and not because no one wanted to give them, but because it seemed many didn't dare. Especially the boys.
"Y-You idiot..." she murmured, averting her gaze as she tried to hide her embarrassment with a small nervous laugh.
Our conversation continued, returning to normal, although I could still feel some stares on us from the second-year girls' table. However, I didn't pay much attention to it. After all, Nagumo could try whatever he wanted. That pressure wouldn't work on me, not today, not ever.
...
The afternoon had ended, and after saying goodbye to Honami, I felt the need to be alone. I needed to think about what I would do now that Nagumo was moving more actively. I had an idea swirling in my head, but I needed the right pieces to execute it. Fortunately, whenever I went out, there was a group of four second-year boys from Class C who seemed to have only one mission: to observe me. Wherever I went, they were there, following me at a respectful distance. However, far from bothering me, this was convenient for me.
I walked toward one of the benches that overlooked the sea. I didn't usually frequent this place, but from now on, it would be my refuge. I needed those who were following me not to notice any unusual behavior, and this place was ideal for that. I remembered that it was right here where Ibuki and I had that little training fight. More importantly, this spot was a great blind spot: there were no cameras, no watchful eyes except for the four boys at a distance. And that suited me perfectly.
I sat quietly, watching the sunset. The sky, tinted with shades of orange and red, was an impressive sight that took me back to a distant memory, of a girl with light blonde hair whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
Flashback
"Kay, Kay, look at the beautiful sky!" she said excitedly, pointing at the horizon painted with warm colors.
I was looking too, but not with the same eyes. For me, the spectacle had a scientific explanation, but for her, the sky was simply fascinating.
"Yes, it looks incredible. It turns that color because of a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering," I said almost automatically.
"There goes Kay the know-it-all again!" she laughed softly while looking at me with those bright, curious eyes.
"It's basic; it's no big deal. Anyone knows that…"
"Well, we haven't learned anything like that in elementary school yet!" she interrupted. "You always say things I don't understand, just like Mom and Dad."
I smiled at her complaint. I realized that while it was something simple for me, she was still too young to grasp what I was explaining.
"You'll understand when you're older," I told her, affectionately ruffling her hair.
"Don't treat me like a kid!" she protested, pouting slightly.
"You're younger than me," I replied teasingly.
"Only by a year!" she yelled, frustrated.
I couldn't help but laugh. Her anger, far from being intimidating, was adorable, and it gave me a warm feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. That girl, with her strong character and persistence, always managed to make me smile.
End of flashback
That memory filled me with a strange nostalgia. I wondered what she was doing now. Was she still the same determined and curious girl? I hoped so. She was smart, with a bright future ahead. With a little luck, maybe next year we would meet again at this same school. I couldn't help but smile at the idea of seeing her again, observing how much she would have changed. She always had a strong spirit, and I had no doubt that wherever she was, she was still leaving her mark.
I glanced back, and there they were, those four students from Class C, watching me from a distance as always. They hadn't moved an inch since I sat down, but they continued to observe attentively. It was almost comical, like they were constant shadows in my life. However, this played completely in my favor. Their presence indicated that Nagumo was dedicating all his attention to watching me, and that false sense of control was exactly what I wanted him to feel.
I turned my gaze back to the horizon, where the sun was beginning to descend, painting the sky in intense shades of orange and red. "Nagumo," I thought, "no matter how many plans you make or how you try to intimidate me. Even if you think you control every move, your downfall has already begun."
I knew Nagumo was skilled at manipulating people, used to pulling the strings at will. But I wasn't like the others. While he played the strategist, I had already mapped out all possible routes on this board. Not all of them led to his immediate expulsion; that would be too soon. The definitive blow would come, but not now. This would just be one of many obstacles that would make him stagger, a warning of what was to come.
I slowly rose from the bench, letting the last rays of the sun illuminate my face for one more moment. The cool wind carried the sound of waves gently breaking against the shore. The four students from Class C followed my movements from a distance, attentive, but that didn't concern me. What they and Nagumo didn't know was that they were part of a much larger game. Each of them was exactly where I wanted them to be.
As I walked away from the spot, each step resonated with the confidence that what I had planned was taking shape. This blow wouldn't be to knock him down but to make him stagger, to make him doubt. And when Nagumo thought he still had time to recover, that's when I would crush him.
The calm before the storm.
The sun finally disappeared over the horizon, allowing darkness to take control. This battle wouldn't be won in a single move. It was a long game where every strike counted. Nagumo wouldn't know yet, but this little twist would only be the prelude to something much bigger.
Soon, very soon, his confidence would become his greatest weakness. And when he least expected it, I would hit him where it hurt the most. But not now. This was just the beginning.