I walked into class hoping for a normal day.
That was my first mistake.
Because standing at the front of the room, next to the teacher, was the exact girl I was hoping to never see again.
She smiled.
Waved.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Airi Yukishiro. I transferred here because I wanted to be closer to someone special."
Thirty heads turned toward me.
So did the teacher.
So did Riko.
So did Yuna, who was sitting in my seat again, chewing on my eraser like a psychopath.
I raised my hand like a man heading to the electric chair.
"I can stand today."
Ten Minutes Later
I sat next to Yuna.Riko sat behind me.Airi sat on my other side.
I was in hell.
Yuna leaned close. "So… you met the stalker, huh?"
"She's not—well—okay yes—maybe?"
Riko poked my back with her pencil. "You know she had a file on you in middle school, right? A real file. Photos. Schedules. Blood type."
"Wait, how do you know that?!"
"She showed me once."
YOU'VE BEEN SITTING ON THIS FOR YEARS?!
Airi smiled at both of them.
"Riko. Yuna. You look cute today. Too bad your personalities don't match your faces."
I heard Riko crack her knuckles.
Yuna took off her earrings like it was about to be a street fight.
I slid my desk a full meter away from all three of them.
Lunchtime – The Food War Begins
I usually eat in peace.
Not today.
Airi placed a bento in front of me. It was shaped like my face.
Yuna dropped a convenience store rice ball on top of it like she was declaring war.
Then Riko, flustered and red-faced, slapped a box onto the desk.
"I made this! It's not much, so you better eat it all!"
I blinked. "Wait—you made this for me?"
She crossed her arms. "N-No! I made it for myself! But if you die from their food, I'll feel bad. So... eat mine first."
"...Thanks?"
I looked down at the three meals.
Then I looked up at the three girls.
They were all watching.
I slowly reached toward Riko's box—
And Airi's smile dropped two centimeters.
That was the scariest two centimeters I've ever seen in my life.
After School
I thought it was over.
Then I opened my locker.
And found a photo inside.
Of me.
Sleeping.
Again.
With a note:
"I saw you drooling last night. You should sleep with your mouth closed next time. – ♥ Airi"