The sports festival has been a week late, but the boisterous echoes are still felt in the air. No matter where I go—corridors, stairs, even the schoolyard—there are always whispers that follow my steps.

          "Sumire-san and Sakura-san back then... I swear, it's so cool!"
          "Even sports teachers are praised, right? Their timing was perfect."
          "If there was a professional photographer, it would have been in the magazine."

I took a deep breath. Really, shouldn't everyone be tired of talking about festivals? There are weekly exams coming soon, there are clubs that have already started preparing for cultural exhibitions, there are also the usual rumors about who has a crush on whom. But for some reason, the topic of "two school queens running together" has persisted longer than expected.

I stepped into the classroom slowly. The first lesson hour had not yet started, the room was already half full. Some students were busy chatting enthusiastically, others were looking down at notebooks. And by the window—as usual—there was a silver-haired figure that contrasted too much with the morning light.

Sakura Airi.
          He sat in his chair quietly, as if it had indeed belonged to him in the beginning. The seat that was once empty next to me is now unimaginable to be occupied by someone else.

As soon as my eyes caught her, she immediately turned her head. A faint smile appeared on his face, light but sharp as always." Good morning, Akari."

I sighed softly, placing the bag on the table. “… Morning."

She chuckled slightly, as if already used to my cold answers. "It's still the same cold, yes."

I opened a notebook, writing down anything to fill in the blank pages. That's been my habit for a long time: pretending to be busy so I don't have to respond to something I don't really want to hear. Unfortunately, pretending to be busy never really works if the opponent is Sakura.

Since the day of the festival, the gossip about us has changed its tone. In the past, people only compared: who was prettier, who was more popular, who was more "school queen." Now... People began to speculate about "compatibility." It was as if our success in the relay was proof that behind the rivalry, there was something more complicated.

And that's a lot more exhausting than just being the center of attention.

"Eh, eh, do you see? Sakura-san sits again next to Sumire-san."
          "Oh my gosh, it's like a rivalry drama that slowly turns into romance."
          "If this was a manga, I'd read it every week, seriously."

I tapped the tip of the pencil on the table. The little voice was quite soothing, even if it was only for me.

Morning lessons go slowly. The math teacher wrote the problems on the board, while I was busy taking notes neatly. But my focus is not entirely on those numbers. Every now and then, I could feel a gaze from the side. It wasn't an ordinary gaze—more like a deliberate wait for my reaction.

“… What?" I murmured finally, turning my head to glance.

Sakura smiled. "No, I just saw the way you write. As always, it's very neat."

I blinked for a moment, then hurriedly lowered my head again. “… Just focus on your own notes."

He chuckled a little. "I am indeed focused. The focus is on you."

I was silent. Those words made the crowded classroom feel too cramped.

When the recess bell rang, I immediately closed my book. Unfortunately, before he had time to stand, cheerful voices had already arrived.
          "Akari! You heard the latest gossip, didn't you?"

Haruna Tachibana, my best friend since junior high school, immediately stormed in with a glowing face. I held my breath. “… What more gossip this time?"

"He said, everyone agrees that our relay couple yesterday will be remembered for a very long time. Some even suggested, the two of you are suitable to be school festival ambassadors!"

I closed my eyes for a moment. "I didn't even know there was such a term."

Sakura, who was sitting casually next to me, instead greeted him with a big smile. "Festival ambassador? Sounds interesting."

"That's right, right?!" Haruna shines brighter. "If you two perform together at the next event, I'm sure this school will become more famous."

I massaged my temples. “… Haruna, please don't add gossip."

He just laughed. "I just said what I heard."

I glanced at Sakura. He still looked relaxed, as if really enjoying all of this. Even when people were busy whispering, he never looked distracted. Instead, I was the one who always felt that my chest was tight every time I was the center of conversation.

That's how the days after the festival were. Sakura's gossip, gaze, and smile that somehow felt hard to ignore.

I once hoped that, after everything was over, my school life would return to normal. But I guess I'm too naïve. It was precisely after the festival that everyone found a new reason to notice me—or rather, to pay attention to "us."

It was as if there were no more Sumire Akari and Sakura Airi as individuals. There are only couples with nicknames that are getting weirder every day. "Two queens of school," "festival gold team," "rivalry duet."

And I... It is getting harder to breathe.

The next lesson hour is classic Japanese. The teacher walked in with a thick book in hand, beginning a long explanation that sounded more like a lullaby spell. Most of the students lowered their heads, some seriously took notes, some openly yawned.

I try to keep up, the pen moving on the paper consistently. However, again, the gaze from the side pierced me.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" I whispered softly without looking up.

Sakura chuckled softly, her voice was enough for me to hear. "Because your serious face is attractive. You look prettier when you're focused, you know?"

I immediately hardened my grip on the pen. “… Don't talk about unimportant things during class hours."

"Not important?" He pretended to be surprised, his eyes shining mischievously. "For me, this is important."

I closed my eyes for a while, trying to refrain from being provoked. If I had responded further, I knew the class would be even more rowdy.

But the brief conversation was enough to make my face hot—though I managed to hide it by lowering my head deeper into the notebook.
          I usually eat in class with Haruna, sometimes accompanied by Rina from the literature club. However, this time, the atmosphere was much more boisterous.

"Uh, uh, if Sumire-san and Sakura-san participate in a cultural competition, do you think they'll perform together?" If so, it will be the next big thing for the school district." I'm sure if they were to come together, it would be a great place to live."

I could hear everything despite trying to focus on lunch. Haruna, as usual, looked happy to hear all that.

"Look, right, Akari? Everyone is supporting you both." He nudged my shoulder with his chopsticks. "If I were you, I would be very honored."

I sighed. “… I don't need that kind of support."

"But in reality you can, right?" another voice chimed in.

I turned my head slowly. Sakura was already sitting next to me, opening her own lunch box. I don't know since when he appeared, but no one dared to drive him away.

"Why do you have to eat here too?" I asked, trying to sound flat.

"Because sitting next to you is better than eating alone." The answer was too relaxed, as if it was the most natural answer in the world.

I turned my head quickly, but Haruna was already almost cheering with joy. "Oh my gosh, this is really like my favorite shojo manga scene! The two main characters have lunch together in class!"

I covered my face with my hands, feeling completely defeated.

Sakura just chuckled, then turned her head towards me. "You're always cold, but I like the way you try to ignore me. That even made me more curious."

I put the chopsticks down a little hard. “… Sakura, don't get too close!"

She leaned her chin against the palm, looking at me with her piercing violet eyes. "It's too late. I've been too close since the day of the festival."

Those words—light but meaningful—made me unable to reply.

After school, I chose to go home early. Haruna has a student council meeting, while Sakura is out of nowhere. The path to the station felt quieter than usual. I walked slowly, enjoying the gentle afternoon breeze. For the first time that day, I felt like I could breathe a sigh of relief.

However, of course, that peace did not last long.
          "Akari!"

I stopped. The all-too-familiar voice made me turn my head reluctantly. Sakura ran a little over, her silver hair fluttering in the twilight sun. He looked too flashy, even on ordinary streets like this.

“… Why are you following me?" I asked briefly.

"Because I want to go home together." He smiled, as if the answer made sense.

I stared straight ahead, continuing my steps. “… I never said it was okay."

"But you didn't say you shouldn't either."

I gritted my teeth slowly. This girl... always twist logic easily.

We walked side by side for a while, only accompanied by the sound of shoes touching the asphalt. Surprisingly, even though I felt annoyed, I didn't drive him away.

"Want to know something?" Sakura suddenly said, her tone light.

I glanced at my head. “… What else?"

"After the festival, I'm more and more convinced that you're not just a rival to me." He paused for a moment, then added with a faint smile. "You're so much more interesting than I imagined."

I was silent. Those words slowed my pace without me noticing.

“… You really like to play with words, huh."

Sakura chuckled. "Who said I was messing around?"

I didn't answer. Just quickening my pace, hoping he couldn't read the expression on my face that was starting to heat up.

However, deep down, I knew one thing: No matter how hard I tried to keep my distance, Sakura Airi always found a way to get closer.

And I... It was getting harder and harder to deny that his presence was starting to shake my once-quiet day.

That night, I sat at my study desk, staring at the textbook that was open. The pen in my hand doesn't move.

My mind kept coming back to his words.
"You're not just a rival."" You're so much more interesting than I imagined."

I bit my lip slowly. Why can simple words feel so heavy?

I closed the book hard, then laid my head on the table. The room light illuminated my unraveled blonde hair.

"I just want to live a quiet life..." I whispered slowly.

But for some reason, the shadow of silver hair and violet smile kept appearing in my head. And the more I tried to brush it off, the more clearly the shadow stuck in my mind. The days after the festival should be ordinary. But for me, it was the beginning of something much more complicated. Something that, although I reject, is still close to a definite step. Sakura Airi. "Rivals that are getting more and more difficult I just call "rivals."