The next day, Ishida Shouya walked into the classroom alone with his schoolbag—only to find his desk covered in graffiti and malicious chalk drawings in various colors.

"Snap!"

His forehead veins bulged as he slammed his palm onto the desk and roared:

"Who did this?! If you hate me, say it to my face! What's the point of this kind of cowardly trash?!"

A few students glanced up from their chatter, but their only response was mocking laughter and disinterested gazes.

Fuming, Shouya's eyes swept the room. He caught the smirking face of the Crew Cut Guy—someone he'd fought before—and charged forward, grabbing him by the collar.

"Was it you?!"

"Let go of me! Who even cares about you?" the Crew Cut Guy scoffed.

The smug response only fueled Shouya's fury. He jerked his hand free and threw a punch, landing it squarely on the guy's cheek. A chaotic scuffle broke out, knocking over desks and chairs as the two boys wrestled across the floor.

Eventually, Class Monitor Kawai Miki rushed over and tried to break it up.

Shouya gave the two one last seething glare before storming out to the washroom to fetch water, determined to clean his desk himself.

Kawai Miki sighed heavily. She'd been about to ask Shouya to clean up the mess, but judging by his mood, that was clearly out of the question. Instead, she mentally shifted the blame to him. If Mr. Takeuchi asked, she'd say Shouya was responsible.

Meanwhile, Akira and Shouko entered the classroom from the back door and stopped in their tracks at the sight before them.

The back row was a mess—books scattered on the floor, desks and chairs overturned, and one desk in particular covered in bright graffiti.

"That's… Shouya's seat, right?" Shouko leaned in close to Akira's ear and whispered, "Who do you think did it?"

Akira gently pushed her face away with a finger.

"Shouko, instead of wasting energy speculating, why not memorize a few more formulas?"

But Shouko wasn't letting up. Something in her stirred—a mischievous desire to tease him.

She narrowed her eyes and smirked.

"Akira… this wouldn't be jealousy, would it? Like on those drama shows?"

Akira ignored her and started laying his head on the desk to nap.

Feeling even more playful now, Shouko leaned in again, clearly enjoying the way she was getting under his skin.

Just then, a soft female voice interrupted her:

"Um, Miyamura, do you have a minute? I was stuck on this math problem all night. Could you help me with it?"

They both turned to see Kawai Miki standing beside them, holding an exercise book.

Akira immediately perked up. This was perfect timing.

"Sure, let me take a look."

Both girls blinked, stunned.

Shouko had been certain Akira would decline and push the task to her—like always. Kawai Miki was also surprised; usually, Akira never agreed to help directly.

Before Kawai could sit down beside him, Shouko quickly stepped in:

"No, no! Class Monitor, why don't you let me take a look instead? If I know how to solve it, I can explain it in more detail. Akira… is just a little shy with girls!"

Akira smirked behind his hand. She had spoken the entire sentence in one breath. If Kawai hadn't been standing there, he would've teased her right back:

"Are you jealous?"

Kawai Miki handed the book to Shouko, pointing out the question. Shouko glanced at it, and her confident expression faltered. She didn't know how to solve it.

She tried to work through it in her head but got nowhere.

Akira, watching her struggle, finally leaned over.

"Let me take a look. I'll explain it to both of you."

Before Kawai could take the seat next to him, Shouko immediately slid in beside him—claiming it before anyone else could.

Kawai moved to grab a spare chair, but both of them spoke in unison:

"Class Monitor, sit in front of Akira—the student there hasn't arrived yet."

Shouko added, "Miki, it's easier to follow from there!"

Akira glanced sideways at Shouko, amused. She met his eyes with a playful glare and a quiet "hmph."

Kawai hesitated, then nodded and pulled a chair in front of his desk. But as she watched their interaction, she couldn't shake the odd feeling that she was… intruding.

Akira spent about five minutes explaining the question in detail, giving similar examples and making the logic easy to follow.

Kawai Miki, stunned, realized this was the first time she'd heard Akira explain something in depth. His clarity, calm tone, and subtle humor were unexpectedly charming.

"He's nothing like what Shouko said about being too shy to talk to girls," she thought.

Even when he furrowed his brows or smiled faintly, it felt like he glowed.

Shouko, sitting beside him, was watching Kawai Miki out of the corner of her eye. When Akira finished explaining, she noticed Kawai had been staring at his face—clearly in a daze.

"Miki, Miki!" Shouko quickly interrupted. "Class is starting soon—you should get back to your seat, or Mr. Takeuchi might say something."

She didn't care if she sounded jealous. Honestly, she was.

"O-oh!" Kawai snapped out of it, startled by how long she'd been staring.

She thanked him, forgot her workbook, and practically ran back to her seat—her face flushing red the whole way.

Nearby students blinked, confused by her sudden flustered exit.

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POWER STONE!!!

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