Ryuichi and Shizuna were going out in earnest. It wasnt something that the two had made public, but anybody could tell that from the atmosphere between the two that their relationship had progressed to something new. To begin with, the way Shizuna looked at Ryuichi was very maiden-like.
Ryuichi-kun.
Yeah?
Just wanted to call your name.
I see.
Exchanges like these, though not incessant, were a frequent occurrence. With that in mind, it was impossible to think there was nothing going on between them.
Well, guess I should say congrats, Ryuichi.
So youve officially made her your girlfriend. Thats great to hear, man.
Thanks.
Ryuichi meekly thanked Makoto and Kaname. He had expected them to tease and make fun of him in lots of ways, but contrary to his expectations, they honestly congratulated him. That being said, though, they seemed to have a lot of questions.
How did you confess to her?
Or were you confessed to?
Hed thought they were honestly congratulating them, but immediately they broke into grins as they questioned him. He chuckled at how this was very much like them, but he put his hand on their faces as they approached, since it was not something he could talk about as he pleased.
Gunu?!
Mugugu?!
Ryuichis muscular palm held their noses and curiosity at bay, revealing some pretty dumb faces. Makoto and Kaname, like Ryuichi, were delinquents, but their faces were well-defined, so their distorted faces were quite unusual in that they looked similar to pig faces.
Cmon, just tell us!
Its not like its that big of a deal!!
You guys are way too old for this!
It was a little annoying that they usually showed no interest in other peoples love lives, yet now they were being so curious and inquisitive.
Ryuichi told them that they should just go to the club and sleep with a girl they liked rather than worry about their friends love life, but they still would not give up.
Why are you two so persistent!
Incidentally, the three of them were being watched by their classmates as they joked around. These days, perhaps because of Ryuichis change, delinquents like Makoto and Kaname tended to be more accepted to some extent.
They were thought to be scary solely due to their appearance and atmosphere, but the students now felt more familiar with them because they had Shizuna by their side, and sometimes they would show faces they had never seen before when they were with Ryuichi.
Hahaha.
What a face, huh?
Thus commented their classmates around them, who were also staring at them amusedly. It seemed the princess who had become Ryuichis girlfriend couldnt stand to just watch from afar while they were making such a racket like this.
Whats going on, you two?
Shizuna came up to them. They immediately switched targets from Ryuichi to Shizuna, who had opened her mouth in a reasonably hushed voice, perhaps in consideration of her surroundings.
We were asking how you two confessed your feelings for each other.
But hes stubbornly refusing to tell us.
Thats not really something thats said in public, you know?
Seeing that Shizuna had taken his side, Ryuichi made a small guts pose. The two scratched their heads uncomfortably because unlike their joking mood, Shizuna had a serious expression on her face as if it was perfectly natural.
We were being total kids, huh.
Yep. Scratch that, we were being total brats.
Dont worry. Were all brats age-wise.
At the very least, they definitely werent good kids like other normal students. Although their scary delinquent-like atmosphere had lessened to some extent, they still indulged frequently in the citys nightlife and had relationships with women. That was why the phrase brats perfectly suited them.
A-Ah!
No, well, although he did feel something was wrong with the Shizuna in front of him, that wasnt to say that he
didnt
know her.
So youre the manga Shizuna, huh.
Hey Are you really okay?
This was the Shizuna from the manga, the Shizuna whose body and soul had been corrupted by Ryuichi. In order to suit his tastes more, not only had her mind changed but so too had her appearance to a more flamboyant one, seemingly throwing her innocent image to the curb completely.
Hey, Shizuna.
? Yeah?
Are you happy?
It was a question that had come out of the blue. Her eyes opened wide in amazement, perhaps wondering what he had abruptly asked her. She nodded her head and was about to reply to himwhen suddenly, he put his hand over her mouth.
He knew he didnt have to bother to hear what she was going to say to him, because he could keenly feel that the Shizuna in front of himwas not the Shizuna that he loved.
Youre you, another Shizuna thats also Shizuna.
Shishido-kun?
And I love Shizuna. But, well, at the very least its notyou.
And I love Shizuna. But, well, at the very least its not
you
.
He gave a wry smile as he said that, and Shizunas figure disappeared. Ryuichi felt a little uneasy now that hed been left alone in that space, but he had a feeling that he would soon awaken from this dream. As proof of that, he could hear his beloved girlfriends voice.
Ryuichi-kun Ryuichi-kun.
Wait for me. Ill be up and awake soon.
Now that he thought about it, he remembered that the last time he had a dream about his childhood, it was Shizuna whod pulled him out of the dream too. She mentioned that she would always be by his side, and apparently that applied not only in the real world but also in the dream world.
Geez, Shizunas just so amazing through and through.
Leaving that mutter behind, he opened his eyes and woke up.
?
Once he awoke, he could feel someone shaking his shoulder. It was of course Shizuna, who had called out to him in the first place, and she was looking at Ryuichi with troubled eyes as if she were gazing at a small child.
Ah, youre finally awake.
Was I asleep?
You were, and soundly at that, you know? The teacher even said theyd feel bad if they woke you up.
I messed up, huh.
Ill apologize if I eventually get the chance to, he thought. He looked at Shizuna, who was staring at him, and the flamboyant Shizuna appeared next to her like a ghost.
Ill apologize if I eventually get the chance to
, he thought. He looked at Shizuna, who was staring at him, and the flamboyant Shizuna appeared next to her like a ghost.
One Shizuna was staring at him with pure eyes, and the other was staring at him with flirtatious eyes for men. The more he thought about that difference, the more conspicuous it became, and Ryuichi turned his attention to the Shizuna in front of him as if to erase the other Shizuna.
Youre definitely best this way.
Huh?
Im saying youre wonderful as you are now.
Ah G-Geez!
Shizunas face turned bright red at his words, but she hit his chest happily.
By the way, he probably hadnt noticed yet as he had just woken up, but they were in the classroomwhich meant that their whole exchange was being watched, and Ryuichi had just personally provided his classmates with material to poke fun at him with.