Chapter Text
For once, Aki woke up in a bed that wasn't moving. He lay there for a few minutes, allowing the reality of his situation to seep into his consciousness: his bed was standing still. It was not drifting through space on an intergalactic voyage, nor was it vibrating gently with the thrumming of a ship’s engine. It was his own bed, not one in a hotel that would belong to some other celebrity tomorrow. He wasn't even grabbing a quick nap backstage before his next concert. In fact, wonder of wonders, there wasn't going to be a concert in the foreseeable future. For a few glorious weeks, at least, he was free to be a normal - well, relatively normal - human being.
He glanced at his alarm clock. Five minutes before he needed to get up, but really, who wanted to lie abed on a morning like this? He slid carefully out of bed, trying not to wake his brother, and padded over to the window to take a peek through the curtains.
What a beautiful sight.
There, just across the street, in all its deceptively humble glory, was the Kurotama. To any other resident of Binan, it was probably nothing special: just one of several bathhouses that took advantage of Binan's supply of natural hot springs. Dozens of people walked past it every day without giving it a thought, beyond perhaps considering if they would like to step in for a soak. But to Aki and Haru, it was the promised land, the goal they had been striving towards for the last ten years. Now, with the sun rising over it and turning its modest wood frame to gilt, it was an enchanted palace, more beautiful than anything Aki had seen in a lifetime of traversing the universe. Even now, he imagined he could see faint stirrings of motion behind the windows as the Hakone brothers got up and began their day.
Which meant that Aki should probably be getting about his day too. He returned to the bedside, turned off the alarm, and shook his brother gently.
"Hey, Haru."
"Mmm?"
"Come on, Haru, wake up."
"Don't wanna..."
"Yes, you do. Remember? We're on Earth now. We're going to see Gora today."
That worked. Haru's eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright. "Oh, yeah!"
Aki laughed. "That's better. Good morning, sleepyhead."
Haru stretched. "G'mornin'. How long have you been up?"
"Not long. Come on. We don't want to be late for our first day of school."
The two of them hurried through their morning chores in a state of dreamlike anticipation. It had been years since they had been to a proper school, and truth be told, their previous experiences hadn't been all that much fun. Today, though, they were certain that everything was going to be different. After all, they were going to be ordinary Earth humans, going to an ordinary Earth school, not the only human students attending an academy that served several dozen different species from a variety of local planets. If they stood out at all, it would be because they were new - and, Aki hoped, because they had made a good impression on their fellow students.
Once they were both dressed and fed - and wasn't it a wonderful luxury to eat the foods of their childhood instead of hoping whatever planet they were on had something they could stomach? - they stepped somewhat tentatively out the front door and into the streets of Binan. A few students were already making the trek up the tall staircase leading to Binan High. One or two of them waved good morning as they passed.
Well, Aki thought, here we go. Showtime!
He and his brother wandered out into the street and took their first few steps towards the school. A few steps was all they managed before something burst out of the Kurotama and flung itself at them.
"Good morning!" Yumoto shouted, pulling both of them into an enthusiastic hug. "Hey, are you going to school now? Do you want to walk with me? I can show you the way!"
"We can see the way," said Haru. "It's right at the top of the hill."
"Yeah, but you still need to find your classroom and stuff," said Yumoto.
The door to the Kurotama opened again, with more restraint this time, and Gora stepped out with his arms full of bundles.
"Good morning, you two!" he called out. "I'm glad I caught you."
Both of them turned towards him as flowers would towards the sun, their faces suffused with smiles. After so many years with barely a glimpse of their beloved Gora, any sight of him was a treasure.
"Good morning," Aki murmured, suddenly shy.
Haru, more practical, said, "What have you got there?"
"Well, I thought that since today is your first day of school," said Gora, "I wanted to make a special lunch for you. Here you go."
Into their hands he placed two bundles, one wrapped in a red napkin and the other in a blue one. The third bundle, wrapped in red and white checks, was passed to Yumoto.
"Wow, thanks!" said Haru. He peeled back enough of the napkin to have a peek inside. "It looks amazing."
"I think I remembered all your favorites," said Gora. "You two have a good day at school. Tell me all about it when you get back."
He hugged each of the three of them in turn, and stood waving goodbye as they started the long trek up the stairs. Aki smiled, gently cradling his bento box in one arm and swinging his school bag with the other. That, he felt, was the perfect start to a new day.
And there will be lots more like it, he promised himself. He gazed happily at the building he could just see at the top of the hill, coming closer with every step. He really was leaving his old life behind, and good riddance. From now on, things were going to be a lot better.
"Those two are new."
Akoya turned his head to follow a pair of boys as they ambled through the school's front yard. Kinshiro glanced up from the papers he'd been reading to watch. He frowned slightly.
"Those are not standard school uniforms," he said disapprovingly.
"I know who they are," said Arima, who had a knack for always knowing everything. "Their names are Beppu Akihiko and Beppu Haruhiko - twin brothers. They just transferred here from... well, I don't know, exactly, but I get the impression it was somewhere quite far away."
"Far enough away that they don't believe in school uniforms, apparently," Kinshiro grumbled.
"It isn't their fault," said Arima. "From what I gathered, the company that supplies our uniforms didn't have any their size in stock, it being the middle of the year, so they made do with adapting uniforms from another school. They have special permission from the principal to wear these until next term."
"Uniforms ought to be uniform," said Kinshiro, unwilling to let go of the idea. "That's what makes them uniforms."
"I think they look quite nice," said Akoya. "I do like to see someone who knows what colors suit them best. Admittedly, black does go with everything, but that doesn't make it necessarily the best choice..."
Arima patted Kinshiro on the shoulder. "There's no doing anything about it now. They can't wear uniforms that don't exist. At least they aren't wearing jeans."
Kinshiro was forced to admit that this was a point. They might not be wearing the right uniforms, but at least these Beppu people looked clean and well-groomed, and that was more than he could say for some people who actually wore the school uniforms. His gaze strayed a moment to the school gates, where he could just see Atsushi drifting past with that Yufuin person at his side. It was incredible, really. Kinshiro had the feeling that even if you put Yufuin in a bespoke suit made by the finest tailor in the world, and then turned him over to a crew of stylists to put his hair in order, five minutes after you'd finished with him, he'd still manage to look like he had just rolled out of bed after sleeping in his clothes all night.
"Perhaps we should have a word with these Beppu brothers," he said. "Introduce ourselves."
"Let them know who's in charge, you mean," said Akoya slyly.
"It is the responsibility of the Student Council to make sure that new students know everything they need to begin their education here at Binan," said Kinshiro. "And part of what they need to know is that the Student Council is available for them to talk to."
"Same thing," said Akoya, but quietly, so Kinshiro let it pass.
The three of them made their way purposefully across the lawn to where the twins had stopped to chat with someone - or at least, Kinshiro made his way purposefully, while Arima and Akoya drifted along in his wake. He appreciated the fact that even if they didn't see the immediacy of the situation, they were still willing to present a united front. Kinshiro stopped within hailing distance and said, "Good morning. I don't believe I've seen you here before."
One of the two boys turned and flashed him a sunny smile. "Oh, no, we just started here today!"
The other one nodded. "We're very excited to begin our educational career here."
Kinshiro frowned. He had the feeling that these two were subtly poking fun at him. There was definitely something insincere about the set of their smiles and the glimmer in their eyes. He would have been ashamed to admit it, but there was something disconcerting about those two identical gazes.
"I see," he said. "How commendable."
The boy who had first spoken made a theatrical half-bow - not a proper Japanese politeness, but something with a performer’s flourish. "I am Akihiko. This is my brother Haruhiko. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kinshiro returned the gesture with a much more formal bow. "My name is Kusatsu Kinshiro. I'm the Student Council president here at Binan High. These two are Arima Ibushi and Gero Akoya, the vice-president and secretary-treasurer. If there is anything you need help with while you're adjusting to your new school, I hope you know that we are all available to talk to."
"We'll keep you in mind," said Aki airily.
"But I think we can manage by ourselves," said Haruhiko. "It's just a school. It's not like there's anything special about it."
Kinshiro's lips pursed. He considered that Binan was in fact very special, as schools went. He felt that these two Johnny-come-latelies should have more respect.
"I'm sure we'll encounter each other at some point, nevertheless," he said.
"We do tend to get about a bit," said Arima cheerfully. There was very little in the way of rudeness that could get under his skin. "Were you thinking of joining any clubs?"
Akihiko tilted his head. "Would you recommend it?"
"It does tend to help," said Arima. "It will give you a place to start making friends."
"We aren't too worried about that," said Haru.
Of course you aren't, Kinshiro thought. Arrogant brats. He disliked them already. Did they think going to school was some sort of game?
"But we'll look into it," said Akihiko. "It might be amusing... if we can find one that we like. What sorts have you got?"
"All the usual things," said Akoya. "Various sports - archery, baseball, fencing, soccer... I know the volleyball club is desperate for new members. Then we have some cultural things like drama and poetry and English conversation..." He smirked. "Or if you're looking for something out of the usual, there's always the Earth Defense Club."
Kinshiro scowled. "Don't tell them that."
Haruhiko raised an eyebrow. "What precisely is an Earth Defense Club?"
"Just a joke," said Arima. "It isn't a real club, just a few students who enjoy loitering after school in a disused storage room."
"I see," said Akihiko. "Well, we'll certainly have a look around and see what appeals to us."
"I hope you find something you like," said Arima pleasantly.
"We'll manage," said Haruhiko. "We're good at looking after ourselves."
At that moment, the first bell rang, and the group broke up as everyone began heading for their classrooms.
"I don't like them," Kinshiro complained to Arima, as they fell into step together.
"There is something a bit odd about them," Arima agreed.
Kinshiro looked up with interest. There wasn't much that could impress Arima. He tended to accept everyone's little foibles as just part of the wonderful panoply of life, and not let them worry him too much. For him to register anything about these two, and to feel strongly enough about it to actually say so, was odd and a little worrying.
A small disturbance in the area of Kinshiro's front jacket pocket drew his attention. A twitching nose and spread of whiskers had just peeked out into the air.
"There is something peculiar about them," said Zundar, his voice muffled by the pocket. "They don't smell like proper Earth humans, but they don't smell non-human either."
"Interesting," Kinshiro murmured. He felt vindicated. He'd known there was something off about those two the moment he set eyes on them.
"I think we should all keep a very close eye on them," said Zundar. "They could end up being problems for us... or they could become useful allies. I will follow them discreetly and try to find out more."
"Thank you, Zundar," Kinshiro murmured. "You always know the right thing to do."
Privately, however, Kinshiro felt that it would be a good thing if Zundar decided that these two were trouble and had to go. Ideally he would discover that they were up to no good, preferably in some fashion that would lead to them being expelled from school. There was no place, Kinshiro felt, in Binan high for people who refused to follow its conventions.
Perhaps, he thought, if they are too much trouble, they might be owed a visit from the Caerula Adamas.
"Everyone, please pay attention," said the teacher.
There was a general subsidence of noise in the classroom - not quite silence, but at least a grudging pretense at paying attention. Ryuu leaned back in his seat and hid his phone under the desk, where he could still read it without drawing the wrath of the teacher. Next to him, he saw Io doing much the same thing with his tablet. Ryuu smiled. His legions of female admirers might grow impatient with him if he didn't answer their texts right away, but that was nothing compared to the rigorous demands of the stock market.
The teacher went on, "I have a surprise for you all today! We're getting two new transfer students. I hope you'll make them feel welcome."
This prompted a buzz of interest from among the students. New people were always a source of entertainment. Ryuu frowned slightly. He was one of the most popular students in class, and he didn't care much for the idea of newcomers wandering in and stealing his spotlight.
The classroom door swung open, and two boys strolled in with the air of people who already knew they owned the place. The murmuring in the class became even louder as everyone took in the sight of the newcomers. They were twins, which was interesting by itself. They were also strikingly attractive, with their glossy moonlight-colored hair and sharp, intelligent features. They were wearing uniforms that were pale blue, matching their hair, rather than the standard black, which was also interesting. Ryuu found himself wishing enviously that he'd been allowed to choose the uniform he liked. He was willing to bet that the color was no coincidence. These two did not have the air of people things just happened to. They had the stance and stride of people who made what they wanted to happen, happen, and woe betide anyone who got in their way. They radiated charisma.
Ryuu turned his head slightly and found that Akoya, on the other side of the room, had turned to look towards him. Normally the two of them were rivals, but in that moment, the two of them were perfectly in accord. In that shared glance, they were both saying, I may loathe you and everything about you, but just now we're up against a bigger enemy. Ryuu knew that Akoya couldn't possibly enjoy having competition for his place as prettiest boy in class, any more than Ryuu was going to enjoy having these two around, muscling in on his popularity and possibly stealing the local girls.
Star quality, that's what they've got, he found himself thinking enviously. I'm going to have my work cut out for me.
The newcomers surveyed the classroom with lofty disinterest, rather like a pair of noblemen looking out at the mob gathered in their courtyard.
The teacher seemed either uninterested or completely unaware of the sudden shifting of energy levels in his classroom. Ryuu felt mildly disapproving. A good teacher ought to know how to keep control of his class, and from the moment these two had stepped into the room, all the power had gone to them. If they said right now that everyone should get up and go into town for some shopping, or up on the roof to watch clouds, or into the auditorium to start building a set worthy of whatever show these two were ready to put on, it would happen in an instant. They had that kind of magnetism, and the poor teacher wouldn't be able to do a thing about it.
"Why don't you introduce yourselves?" he was saying to the newcomers.
One of the twins nodded. "Of course. I'm Beppu Akihiko, the elder twin."
The other nodded. "I'm Beppu Haruhiko."
"You can call us Aki and Haru," Aki added, with the air of one doing a favor.
"We've been living abroad for the past ten years," said Haru, "and we're very glad to be back in Japan again. We're looking forward to enjoying our time in Binan."
Aki flashed a smile that was suddenly all sunshine. "I'm sure we'll all be good friends."
Faker, Ryuu thought. One thing was for sure - he wasn't planning on being friends with these two.
"That's wonderful," said the teacher, beaming benignly. "Now, let me see... why don't you two take those seats there?"
He gestured to a couple of unoccupied seats near the back. Akoya stiffened slightly. He usually sat in the back of the room, which Ryuu had always found unusual in a person who seemed to crave attention so badly. Perhaps it was his way of setting himself apart, making himself an observer of the classroom rather than someone who belonged to it. Whatever his reasons, he didn't look happy about sharing his domain with these two newcomers.
"Actually," said Aki, "I think we'd prefer to sit near the front."
Immediately, one of the students in the front row said, "I can move."
He bounded to his feet like someone had jabbed a needle in his backside, hastily gathered up his things, and trekked to the back of the room. There was a brief traffic jam as others scrambled to follow suit. Ryuu noted the way the boys all cast eager glances to the Beppu twins, watching for signs of their approval. It took a moment to get everyone sorted out, with the teacher telling them that not everyone needed to get up and move, there was no need for anyone to move when there were already perfectly good seats available. No one listened to him.
It's starting already, Ryuu thought. He sighed. He wondered how long it would be before these two hit the local social scene, such as it was in a small town like Binan. He hoped they had some all-consuming interest that would keep them too busy to notice the women of the town, or Ryuu was looking at a serious crimp in his social life.
It's really not fair, he thought, as he watched the two of them accept two of the recently vacated seats and settle in next to each other. Front row, center, Ryuu couldn't help but notice. He supposed they should all be glad that the Beppus hadn't decided they would like to teach the class today. The teacher regarded his newly re-organized classroom with a look of mild disfavor.
"All right," he said, "are we all settled in now? Good. In that case, take out your books and turn to page two hundred and thirteen. Today we're going to discuss..."
Ryuu relaxed a little as everyday tedium began to reassert itself. The twins might be showstoppers, but nothing could resist the stultifying power of academia. He opened his book and pretended to be interested in social studies. He was mildly impressed to see that the twins were listening in with what looked like genuine attention. He would have expected them to adopt a "too cool for school" pose. Maybe he'd be lucky and they'd turn out to be a couple of eggheads who cared more about collecting A-pluses on everything to worry about socializing.
Because if they aren't, he thought, as he started taking notes, then we're going to have a problem.
The lunch hour arrived. As always, Kinshiro, Arima, and Akoya gathered in their own private little nook, shielded from the prying eyes of their classmates by a pair of folding screens. Arima had enhanced this privacy screen by bringing in a pair of potted plants - or perhaps he just liked the look of them. Who could ever tell with Arima? At any rate, it allowed them to discuss sensitive matters not meant for the general student population without anyone eavesdropping on them, while still maintaining the pretense that they were there to be talked to if anyone had the nerve to approach them during their lunch break.
Zundar nosed his way out of Kinshiro's pocket and plopped down onto the table. Kinshiro obligingly placed a soup bowl no one had used yet so that Zundar could curl up comfortably inside it.
"I have been investigating the newcomers," he announced, as he settled himself in the dish.
"I don't like them," Akoya announced. "No one told me they were going to be placed in my classroom. Bad enough I have to share it with that Zaou creature, but you should have seen the way they were strutting around as though they owned the place..."
"I did take the opportunity to observe them in the classroom," said Zundar. "I also visited the principal's office and stole a look at their student records."
"Did you discover something interesting?" Kinshiro asked, with a flicker of hope. If there was something sketchy about their records, he could mention it to the principal the next time they met and get the two of them tossed out on their ears. Technically, the principal had the final say in everything, and he'd been known to allow a pretty face and fair words to sway him, as had no doubt occurred in this case. Kinshiro could just see the Beppu twins explaining to him why they wanted to attend this school, and the principal being bowled over by their good looks and charisma. On the other hand, money could speak volumes, and Kinshiro's family donated handsomely to the school each year, as did Arima and Akoya's families. No one was going to say no to Kinshiro and his friends if there was something they presented a united front against.
"I discovered something... thought provoking," said Zundar. "Their records have a certain sense of incompleteness about them. I will need more time to investigate, but I have the idea that these boys may not be everything they say they are. I believe they are hiding something."
"We should find out," said Akoya at once.
Kinshiro almost smiled. You really don't like them, do you?
"Perhaps," said Zundar, "but we do not wish to become distracted. Our task here is for the Caerula Adamas to establish complete control of this school, and then of Binan. We will not achieve our goal if we allow ourselves to become sidetracked. On the other hand, it may be useful to know more about these boys if there is some chance that in the future they could present a hindrance to our plans. It may even be possible to win them over as our allies."
Akoya pouted. "I don't want them as allies. I want them gone."
"They are charismatic and intelligent," said Zundar. "Those are useful qualities. On the whole it would be better to have them working for us rather than against us. You may be able to charm them. If not, you may be able to use whatever secrets they are hiding against them."
Kinshiro nodded. He liked that idea better. He might not have been the world's greatest at dealing with people, but he knew very well that he, Arima, and Akoya had a good dynamic going. He didn't want to ruin it by dragging in two new and clearly intractable people. Far better to gain some leverage over them, so he could move them neatly out of the way instead of having to cooperate with them.
"I will take your advice," said Kinshiro. "What do you suggest we do in the meantime?"
Zundar's whiskers twitched as he considered his next words. "I will continue looking into these boys' history. However that turns out, I believe we should take this as a sign that we should step up our activities. It's time to move on to the main phase of our plan."
"Oh, goodie," said Akoya. "I've been looking forward to that."
"Indeed," said Zundar. "I'm glad to hear it."
Kinshiro smiled. In a way, he was almost glad these two strangers had come to shake things up, if it meant their plans would be proceeding. It was time for a new era to begin in Binan, the time of the Caerula Adamas.
And once we show the world what we're really capable of, no one is going to care about a couple of trouble-making boys.
Ryuu slid into a chair across from En and Atsushi.
"Wait until you hear what my day has been like," he declared.
Atsushi looked sympathetic. "Are the teachers being hard on you again? You know I'd help you with your studies if you asked."
"It isn't the teachers today," Io explained. "Ryuu is just put out because he suddenly has rivals for his popularity."
"I don't mind having rivals that much," said Ryuu, somewhat untruthfully. "You're popular, and I like you."
Io colored slightly, and Ryuu couldn't help grinning. That was his Io. He really did have no idea how much other people looked up to him. It was kind of sweet, really.
"I'm not that popular," said Io. "I'm not good with people."
"Yeah, yeah," said Ryuu, waving a dismissive hand.
En leaned forward, intrigued in spite of himself. "So if that's not the problem, what is it?"
"We've got these new guys in our class," said Ryuu. "Transfer students. A couple of twins. They've basically taken over the classroom. Everybody's swooning over them."
Atsushi perked up a little. "Twins? That must be Aki and Haru."
"You know them?" Ryuu asked, surprised. Atsushi was a nice guy and easy to get along with, but he wasn't exactly what Ryuu would call social. Mostly he seemed to be content to hang around with En or spend his free time reading quietly. It was unusual for Atsushi to know someone that Ryuu didn't.
"We met them yesterday," said En. "Just, you know, randomly bumped into them."
"Outside the Kurotama," Atsushi elaborated. "They just moved to Binan. They're Mr. Hakone's soulmates, so they came here to be closer to him."
"Oh!" said Ryuu.
Io laughed. "Listen to him. He's relieved that they won't be stealing his girlfriends."
"Well, yeah," said Ryuu, defensively. "I don't want anyone muscling in on my territory."
"I don't see what difference it makes," said En. "Odds are good that you'll get soulmated to somebody too someday, so why stress about all the people who aren't meant for you?"
Ryuu made a face. The truth was, the idea of a soulmate bond frightened him more than he cared to admit. He didn't like the idea of being tied down to anyone, no matter how ideal they might be for him. If it was going to happen to him someday, he wanted to have as much fun as he could first, before he had to settle down to the monotony of spending his life with just one person.
"Maybe you'll understand when it happens to you," said Ryuu.
"I sympathize," said Io, patting Ryuu on the shoulder. "I can't say I'm looking forward to it either. It seems like it would be time-consuming."
Ryuu mustered up a grin. "Money is life, huh?"
Io nodded. "Precisely. I don't have time to go bothering with soulmates. I barely have enough time for myself."
"You have time for me," Ryuu pointed out.
Io colored again. "Yes, well... you’re never a waste of time, Ryuu. You know that."
"Well, I don't think you have anything to worry about from these two," said En. "I didn't talk to them for very long, but from what I saw? They're totally head over heels for the guy. I don't think they're going to be trying to steal any of your girlfriends."
Ryuu nodded. "Good to know."
Atsushi stood up.
"I'm going to refill my drink," he said abruptly, and walked away. En grimaced.
"Oops," he said.
Io and Ryuu both looked at him quizzically.
"Did I say something wrong?" Ryuu asked.
En shook his head. "Nah, this one's on me. It's just that the whole subject of soulmates is kind of a tricky one with Atsushi."
"How come?" Ryuu asked.
En ran a hand through his hair, gazing up at the ceiling for guidance.
"I dunno if I should tell you this," he said, "but what the hell. It was going to come up sooner or later. You see Kusatsu over there?" He gestured with a fork towards the Student Council's private nook.
"Kinda hard to miss him," Ryuu agreed.
"Well, he and Atsushi bonded when they were really young," said En. "They used to be inseparable, from what I hear. But, uh... well, something happened. I don't know what it was, but somehow or other... they snapped."
Ryuu and Io winced in unison.
"Ouch," said Ryuu.
He'd heard of snapping before. Soulmates were common enough - nearly everybody had at least one, and sometimes more. Most of the time, the bonds matured into lifelong romantic relationships or deep friendships. Sometimes, though, something would go wrong, and two people would go off each other so comprehensively that nothing could bring them back together again. When that happened, the soulmate bond broke, and they would no longer be able to write to each other. This was known as "snapping", the worst thing that could happen to a soulmated pair.
"Yeah," said En. "Atsushi tries to pretend he's okay with it, but you can tell he never got over it. Who knows how Kusatsu feels about it? But try not to talk too much about soulmates around Atsushi, because he gets twitchy when you do."
"Understood," said Io.
"Got it," Ryuu agreed. "Man, that really sucks. Poor Atsushi. I mean, he deserves better than that jerk, but..."
"I think he used to be nicer, back in the day," said En. "I remember him when we were all in middle school together, before things went south with Atsushi. He always just seemed like this kind of quiet, shy kid, not stuck up like he is now. Wish I knew what set him off, but Atsushi doesn't know and Kusatsu won't tell me."
"A problem," Io agreed.
"Hmm," said Ryuu.
It figures, he thought. Poor Atsushi. He seemed like the type who would actually enjoy being in a secure relationship, so of course something like this would have to happen to him. He wondered what the problem had been. Atsushi was nice to the point of being a bit of a pushover; it was hard to imagine what he might have done to make Kusatsu angry enough to never want to be with him again, but clearly something had happened. He wondered if there was any way he could find out. He doubted it. It wasn't like Kusatsu was likely to unbend enough to talk to a troublemaker like Ryuu. He wouldn't even give him the time of day, much less spill out his innermost secrets. He never talked to anybody except his two cronies.
Ryuu watched as Akoya sauntered across the cafeteria, returning moments later with a tray of small cakes. Normally that sort of thing irritated Ryuu. Why should those three get special menu items that no one else ever got to eat? Now he simply watched speculatively as Akoya took advantage of a passing cluster of students as an excuse to make a slight detour that brought him near the Defense Club’s table.
"Hello, Naruko," he said, with a great show of casualness, as though he'd only happened to notice him in passing. "Are you enjoying your lunch?"
"Yes, thank you. And you?"
"Very much so," Akoya agreed. "The cooks have made some lovely petit fours today. Would you like to try some? There are plenty to spare."
"You don't see him offering any to us," En muttered. Akoya either didn't hear him or paid him no attention.
"Why, yes, thank you," said Io. "I'd like that very much."
He solemnly accepted the treat. Akoya sauntered away again, looking pleased with himself.
"I think he likes you," said En, grinning at Io.
"We've always gotten along tolerably well," said Io. He divided up his haul of sweets and offered half of it to Ryuu.
"Nah, it's yours," said Ryuu. He wasn't about to go accepting gifts from Akoya, even by proxy. "He really does like you, though. You don't see him going around offering other people free cake."
Io shrugged and bit into the cake. "Well, that's his prerogative, I suppose. It isn't as though I go out of my way to make him like me. I mean, I try to be pleasant to him..."
"You just have a winning personality," En quipped. "Either that or he's interested in your bank account."
"Either one is possible," said Io philosophically. "Anyway, I'm not prepared to tag along with him if it meant giving up my time with the rest of you." He spoke as though he meant the Earth Defense Club in general, but Ryuu was pleased to see Io catching his eye and smiling as he spoke. "My time is valuable, and I have only so much to spare for socializing. Frankly, I'm not at all certain his friends are my type of people."
En laughed. "What, you don't think there'd be a profit in hanging out with the rich snobs?"
"There might be," said Io evenly, "but talking to boring rich people is work. I prefer to do something enjoyable with my free time."
The two of them continued to banter. Ryuu tuned them out. He was watching Atsushi, who was still standing on the far side of the cafeteria. He'd gotten his fresh drink, but he wasn't returning to the table just yet. He was loitering in a corner, gazing across the room at where Kinshiro sat and ignored him.
Hmm. Someone needs to do something about this, Ryuu thought. And I think I know how we need to do it...