Tap. Tap. Tap.

  Footsteps echoed through the empty hallway. One sounded like a model strutting down a runway. The other? Soft, but with faint cracking sounds.

  “So~”“Why were you interrogating the first year?”(Ayuri poked, sizzlingly.)

  Ahem.“I wasn’t interrogating. It was just a question.”(He brushes her finger away.)

  “You felt it too…”“…didn’t you?”

  For once, Ayuri dropped the teasing. She got serious. Honestly, who knew she could actually be serious about something?

  “Yes…”“That Firsty—something about her doesn’t feel right.”

  (She paused.)

  “Her character and personality…”

  “…is so adorable!”

  Why did I even bother? She’s the human embodiment of a fireball. Why did I expect her to be serious?

  “Really…”“That’s all you’ve got to say?”

  Heh. Heh.

  “Just kidding. I know what you meant.”“But she is adorable though.”

  “Sure…”

  “Come on, Mr. Ice Prince—”“Admit it. She’s cute. You wouldn’t have saved her if she wasn’t.”

  Now we wait…

  He’s so fun to tease. I love him.—I mean, like.I like him. Yep.

  “Pretty sure you meant the first one,”—the disembodied voice chimed in from the void.

  Nope. Who are you to say what I meant?

  “Whatever you say, girlboss.”

  Cough.

  “I didn’t save her because she was cute.”“I was just doing the right thing.”

  (She twirled her hair.)

  “Sure you were~”“Doing the right thing~ How convenient that doing the right thing makes you act like a prince.”

  Ughhh.She’s so annoying. Why do I even bother with her.Like—can I just not?

  “Sorry…”“That ain’t written in the script.”“Besides, you know damn well you can’t ignore her.”

  I swear, when I find you I’m gonna—

  Pause.

  “Wow…”“This is supposed to be appropriate for all ages.”“For the most part, at least.”

  Unpause.

  “But that feeling… what was it?”“Her personality was normal—maybe too normal. Adorable, but too adorable.”“Something about her just feels… out of pce.”

  “Should we tell the others?”

  (Rukimi stared off into the distance.)

  “…No.”“They won’t believe us unless they feel it for themselves.”“Besides, I’ve got a bone to pick with Ryo first.”

  Heh. Heh.

  “Always holding a grudge~”“Well, good luck~”

  “Oh yeah, who’s gonna face that Tokeru guy?”

  “We’ll figure that out when we get there.”

  Tap. Tap. Tap.

  Pause.

  “That’s the end of this short little chapter.”“Let’s head to the next one.”

  “Will the main group find good seats? Or will they fail and sit in the nosebleeds?”“Find out next time on Dra—”

  (Gets hit by a chair)(Oi, wrong line.)

  “…You could’ve told me more subtly.”

  Unpause.