"Hey, Futake. How about lunch together later?"

Riu was at a loss for words. Her mind went blank, spiralling into an abyss of confusion. Kazue was right in front of her, leaning casually on her desk, as though it was the most normal thing ever.

He seemed to be completely oblivious to all the piercing stares of the students directed towards them.

"What the— isn't that Kiyome from Class 1-C?"

"Woah, he approached Furuse like it's nothing!"

"Do they know each other somehow? It's such an... unexpected pair."

Riu pursed her lips, knowing full well this was bound to cause a ruckus. No one had dared to do approach her like this for almost a year. It was an unspoken rule: people didn't try to befriend the beautiful frost queen, unless they were brave enough to risk being impaled by her icy daggers. She wasn't there for interaction, and that was crystal clear to everyone. And so, the class watched in stunned silence as a seemingly foolish commoner waltzed right into her palace.

Blissfully unaware of the tension, Kazue glanced down at Riu's open textbooks on her desk. Seeing her handwriting, he couldn't help but snort. "Pffft, Furuki, your handwriting is terrible!"

Everyone remained quiet, the colour draining from their faces, while Kazue continued to make a fool of himself. What was worse that he kept calling her by some new name every time he opened his mouth. They knew he was stupid, but was he this much of an idiot?

After a prolonged silence, Kazue tilted his head curiously. "Eh? Furami? Are you okay? You don't look so good..."

Riu wanted to hide her face behind her book and scream.

I don't even know how to react!

"Kazue, since when did you become so friendly with Furuse-san?" someone finally spoke up, and it was no surprise that it was Kunou Shun, approaching with a smile playing on his lips.

Kazue raised his hand cheerfully. "We met after school yesterday!"

Shun tilted his head, strands of ebony hair falling over curious dark eyes. "But didn't you say you had a date yesterday?"

"Huh? A date—" Kazue suddenly recalled the lie he had told his friends to keep his afterschool job a secret. His relaxed smile quickly turned sheepish. "O-Oh, right! The date! Errr... I did go on it!"

Shun's dark eyes gleamed with mischief, though his puzzled facade remained. "Really? Then did you somehow bump into Furuse-san while you were out?"

"Y-Yeah...! E-Erm—" Kazue stammered, desperately searching for an explanation.

"It's not any of your business."

Every eye in the room snapped to Riu when those words resounded from her lips. She sat still, composed, and expressionless. Her elegant demeanour was frosty and curt, slicing through everyone's curiosity like a knife. To the students, it felt as though she was silently declaring, "Who do you peasants think you are, questioning who meets me and when?"

Little did they know, Riu's thoughts were far from that assumption.

Oh no... The words just slipped out! Why couldn't Kazue handle this himself? Now everyone's going to think I'm even more of a cold, prickly person!

Her mind raced with embarrassment, the heat rising to her cheeks despite her outwardly composed facade. Fortunately, Kunou Shun took it in stride, laughing it off. 

"Haha, you're right. Sorry for prying, Furuse-san. I was just wondering if there was some wild twist and you were the one Kazue went on a date with," he said, running a hand through his hair and casting a resigned smile at his friend. "But there's no way that's possible, right?"

Those words seemed to shift the entire classroom's mood. As Shun casually explained his thoughts, many of the students suddenly erupted into laughter, the tension breaking and a wave of amusement spreading through the room.

Riu glanced between her classmates' faces, bewildered.

"Hahaha, seriously, Shun? There's no way Kazue of all people has a chance with Furuse-san!" Chisaki exclaimed, placing a hand on Shun's shoulder and doubling over with laughter. "Isn't she, like, way out of his league?!"

Kazue leapt to his feet, his face flushed with frustration. "What?! You takin' the piss out of me, Morita?!"

His outburst only made Chisaki laugh harder, and she raised her colourful fingertips to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Haha, see? There's no way someone as refined as Seiho's princess would go for some hoodlum!"

"What the hell are you talking about?! I'm awesome!" Kazue shot back, turning to his raven-haired friend beside her. "Right, Shun?!"

Kunou Shun offered his usual charming smile and stepped closer. Placing a hand on top of Kazue's messy red hair, he ruffled it affectionately as if petting a dog. "Yes yes. You're a good boy, Kazue."

"Heh!" Surprisingly, Kazue didn't get more riled up. Instead, he closed his eyes and beamed, clearly pleased by the praise. He looked just like a puppy getting a pat from its owner.

"Good boy, my ass!" Itou chimed in with a laugh, joining the scene and draping an arm over Kazue's shoulders. "This brat's just full of himself!"

"What?! You're one to talk, idiot Itou!"

As the friendly banter swirled around her, Riu sat at the heart of it all, utterly dumbfounded. The usual icy walls she maintained seemed to have been invaded, and although the laughter wasn't directed at her, she felt herself being drawn into the comedic scene unfolding around Kiyome Kazue.

It wasn't mocking or condescending. Instead, the atmosphere was unexpectedly warm and lively. Riu watched as Kazue playfully snapped at his friends, yet everyone was clearly enjoying themselves, creating an inviting, vibrant energy.

A few more classmates joined the conversation, adding their own playful remarks.

"Hey, don't you think Kiyome is like the group's pet dog?"

"Haha, I see what you mean! He's so quick to please!"

"Yeah, I used to think he looked a bit intimidating, but Kiyome's actually pretty cute!"

"Maybe that's why he has no problem approaching Furuse."

Somehow, everyone had embraced the idea that Kiyome Kazue was like a dog in a human's body. To them, his inviting the class princess to lunch was perfectly natural. He saw her as just another person, completely unfazed by her status, wealth, or the fact that she seemed so out of reach.

As Kazue was playfully teased by his friends, Riu sat there awkwardly, silent and unsure. She felt a sense of relief that no one was pressing them with questions for now, since everyone was caught up in the fun. Yet, her intuition told her that something was beginning to change.

Ever since he appeared before her in that panda suit, disrupting the cycle of her monotonous school life, Riu felt her world open up a little more. It was exhilarating, yet simultaneously terrifying.

"Anyway, stop distracting me! I didn't come here for you guys!" Kazue snapped, then plopped back into the seat in front of Riu. "I came here for Furuse!"

Riu hesitated as those scarlet eyes locked onto hers. Seeing him fully under the light was unexpectedly overwhelming. His peachy-white skin had a subtle sun-kissed glow, his smooth lips parted in a pearly-white smile. His slanted eyes were wide and almost childlike. He was a curious mix of rugged handsomeness and innocent boyishness, leaving her momentarily spellbound.

As he leaned forward, resting his elbow on the desk, messy red strands of hair tumbled over his arched brows.

Riu held her breath, taken aback by how close he was.

"Sorry about that, Futami!" Kazue chuckled, his voice warm and casual. "Anyway, as I asked before, are you up for lunch with me?"

For a moment, Riu stared at him, her expression blank. Then, a slight furrow appeared between her brows as she sighed, closing her eyes in mild irritation. "It's Furuse. And, respectfully, no thank you."

"Ehh? But why? I even made you a surprise and everything..." He frowned like a disappointed child. "C'mon, just this once? Pretty please?"

"No."

"Pretty pretty please?"

"I already told you no."

"Why?"

He really is such a kid!

Riu faced Kazue with a strained expression, her emotions a tangled web. For as long as she could remember, she had always eaten her meals alone. Whether at school or at home, the presence of others turned food into ash in her mouth, making her feel nauseous and robbing her of any appetite.

Over time, she had resigned herself to this reality. Eating had become a mere necessity, a way to stay alive. She endured the family dinners, laden with etiquette and expectations, and the few meals with so-called friends during her youth. The only moments food didn't make her stomach churn were when she ate alone.

How could she possibly explain this to him?

Kazue was so different from her—straightforward, honest, and perhaps a bit stubborn. His openness intrigued her, drawing her closer. Though she wouldn't admit it, she felt a flicker of happiness when he called her a friend.

But that also terrified her. Sharing a meal with someone was agonising, and the thought of doing so with Kazue, who ignited a small spark in the darkness of her heart, was almost unbearable. She didn't want the food to taste bad around him, too.

Kazue studied her face, catching a glimpse of sorrow and apprehension in her eyes. It was clear his invitation troubled Riu. He didn't want to push her too hard, yet the desire to share lunchtime with her was strong. So, he came up with a compromise.

"How about this," he suggested with a radiant smile, "You join me while I eat. You don't have to have lunch or anything. Just keep me company."