"Huh, did you not hear me?" She asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh I heard you, I just didn't give a shit." I responded as if I was on autopilot.
I could practically hear Toshi praying that I stopped. If anything I think I could see him starting to sweat as he sat next to me.
"Please, Morita there is a perfectly good open seat in front of his." The teacher said as his voice shook with nerves.
Teach, you should have stayed out of it. Because now that look in her eyes is twice as intense now. I think we're at the point where I should be counting down the seconds until she tries to throw me out of the chair.
"So you're saying it's fine if I sit in front of him?" She asked as her scowl turned into grin.
"Y-yes, please feel free to take a seat in front of Sosuke."
"Hm, Sosuke? Then please excuse me."
She turned around and smoothed down her skirt to take a seat. And she absolutely kept her word about sitting in front of me. Sitting directly in front of me on top of my desk.
"Oh, what's that look for? Teach, said it was perfectly fine for me to sit in front of you." She taunted over her shoulder at me.
Don't get me wrong, I was a little surprised but I was mostly impressed. Even Dazai didn't give me this much trouble when we first met. But as a professional instigator I was having the time of my life.
"No, no, I totally get it. If I was you I wouldn't want to sit in any of these desks either. I'd feel so weird trying to blend in when everyone else is so much better than me." I said dismissively as I waved my hand.
Yes, there's that look. Do it, I dare you to do it. Cause a scene and I win this special event with flying colors.
"Enough." Toshi shouted, slamming his hand on his desk as he stood up. "Class has started and I expect the two of you to behave. Especially you Haruma. Didn't you make a promise to Dazai?"
And now that look in her eyes is gone. All wide eyed with surprise and confusion. She looked like she was about to punch me if Toshi didn't step in. It would have been just like when I met Dazai all over again.
"Tsk, you're no fun. Student Council President, Takamura Toshi." I name dropped as I slouched back in my seat.
"Ew, why'd you use my full name and title like that?"
"So you two are Dazai's friends..? Hmph, I guess class might be a bit more interesting than I thought." She hopped off of my desk and took a seat in the open on in front of me. "I guess I'll be in your care, Haruma~." She said my first name mockingly.
I looked over at Toshi who was still giving me a look as he sat back down. "Don't you dare hit her." His eyes read.
"You heard how she said my name." Toshi read my eyes.
Toshi let out a sigh as he crossed his arms over his chest. "If you behave I'll give you some of my lunch." His eyes read.
"Why the hell am I being treated like a child?" I shouted at him with my eyes. Before letting out a huff and looking away from him. Actively throwing a tantrum like the child he was treating me like.
It took a while before the teacher ended up starting up class and beginning the lesson. But afterwards things were mostly standard. Nothing was different about classes and Tomori didn't bother me during the lessons which was an added bonus. Even if I kept hearing snide remarks and got weird looks from Morita Hoshi.
During lunch I ditched my group and went up to the roof. Hating that I was missing out on my reward for my good behavior.
"So just how much of this did you do?" I asked as I leaned against the railing.
Silence…
"Hey! I'm talking to you Tomori!"
"Oh wow, you're actually starting a conversation with me. Did you hit your head or something?" He asked as he jumped onto the railing to face me.
"Don't make me push you off of the building and answer my question. How much of this is your fault? Would she have transferred in if it wasn't for you?"
"Yes and no. A majority of her delinquent group members live in this area so she always thought about coming here. So it was already a possibility for her to have come here on her own. But I did twist a few things so that she would ultimately make the decision to do it now."
I let out a sigh. "You're unbearable. To think you're not just meddling with my life but with others too is unreasonable."
"Hey, I simply sped up the natural flow of events for this one. It's not like actively transported people into your life. Or changed their memories to think they were friends with you or had a relationship with you." He explained with a shrug.
"You know, it's terrifying if you can do all of that."
I took a moment to run through possible scenarios in my head. He easily could have brought people from my past into this. Which would have been a major red flag and a concern for me. He could have brought her into all of this.
"Hey, Tomori."
"What's up?"
"Can you promise me just one thing? Just don't bring in anyone from my past into this… If you bring in any one of them you'd absolutely fail your mission."
"I can't promise that." He said as he turned away from me to look out at the view. "But I can at least try not to… For the sake of my mission."
Well it wasn't the response I needed to hear. But it was an answer I could live with for the moment. As long as all of these forced encounters were with new girls I should be fine. Even if his answer told me another piece of information my brain couldn't let go.
Tomori wasn't the only one capable of pulling the strings to control the flow of my life.