Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Next Time, Don’t Peek Around Corners!

When she arrived at the classroom, the wall clock above the blackboard had just struck 7:50.  

Not many students were present yet—most would trickle in just before morning roll call, cutting it as close as possible.  

But today, the yakuza princess had broken from her usual habits and arrived unusually early.  

Ayase Aoi had taken extra care with her appearance, her hair intricately styled into an elegant updo adorned with a large, eye-catching black ribbon.  

Seated by the window in the third row, she quietly flipped through the pages of a new textbook. The morning sun streamed in through the glass, casting a spotlight on her fair skin like a stage effect. A gentle breeze tousled the ends of her hair, lending her the serene aura of a literary maiden.  

Yet the moment Shimizu Sakuya passed by, this picturesque scene was shattered—by Ayase Aoi herself.  

Ayase Aoi’s sharp eyes had locked onto her target long before Sakuya even stepped into the classroom.  

With a swift motion, she snapped her book shut, propping her cheek on one hand as she watched Sakuya with keen interest.  

Her gaze burned with competitive fire, like a warrior charging into battle, ready to fight the enemy to the death.  

Where does this relentless drive to win even come from?  

Sakuya tilted her head, puzzled. Was she still upset over yesterday?  

Just because I teased her a little?  

She couldn’t quite grasp Ayase Aoi’s thoughts, nor did she have the energy to dwell on them.  

The sandwich had left her throat parched—she desperately needed a drink.  

So, after setting her bag down on her desk, Sakuya turned and left the classroom, heading for the vending machines downstairs.  

Sliding in the bills, pressing the buttons, and with two loud clunks, the machine dispensed a chilled bottle of plum juice and a cola.  

As she bent down to retrieve them, Sakuya couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. If only they had beer—or even just pineapple ale.  

That way, she could’ve brought some for Aoi, too. The girl loved alcoholic drinks, and treating her to a few might’ve helped bridge the gap between them.  

Next to the vending machine hung a large sign: “No Underage Drinking!”  

Staring at it, Sakuya suddenly remembered—Aoi’s still a minor.  

Minors can’t drink.  

She really was getting lost in the overlapping narratives of multiple endings.  

Giving her head a light smack to snap out of it, Sakuya grabbed the two bottles and turned to leave—only to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.  

Hm? Who’s that?  

Silky black hair swaying with each graceful step, a dark school blazer, a navy-blue pleated skirt, polished loafers, and sheer stockings accentuating the slender curves of her legs.  

Her entire aesthetic was built around an unremarkable palette of black, which only served to highlight her porcelain-like skin even more.  

Her golden, vertical pupils shimmered like molten lava, the perfect finishing touch to this monochrome masterpiece—adding an enigmatic, mesmerizing allure to the beautiful girl.  

The name of this figure was unmistakable: Fujiwara Yuki, the key player Sakuya hadn’t yet encountered in this route.  

Though Yuki looked stunning in her school uniform, personally, Sakuya preferred the version of her that became a politician—dressed in sharp, figure-hugging office skirts.  

There was a commanding, domineering charm to that look.  

But right now, Yuki wasn’t alone. Two other girls trailed behind her. Where are they headed?  

Curious, Sakuya followed at a distance, observing from around a corner.  

Ah, the classic corner ambush.  

From her hiding spot, Sakuya watched as the two girls chatted with Yuki for a moment before presenting her with an exquisitely wrapped gift box—something that looked expensive.  

Yuki accepted it with a soft, practiced smile, every bit the refined yamato nadeshiko—the epitome of grace and poise.  

After a brief exchange, the two girls skipped away, visibly delighted.  

Yuki remained in place, her gentle smile unwavering—until their figures vanished from sight.  

Then, in an instant, it fell.  

Every trace of warmth, kindness, or softness disappeared, leaving behind only the unapproachable “princess of the high castle.” Her upturned eyes, framed by those striking golden irises, now held nothing but icy detachment.  

Without hesitation, Yuki strode to the nearest trash can and unceremoniously dumped the gift inside.  

She didn’t even bother opening it.  

Having witnessed the entire scene, Sakuya wasn’t the least bit surprised by Yuki’s stark contrast in behavior.  

This was simply who Fujiwara Yuki was—a purebred “teenage politician,” someone who prioritized her own interests above all else.  

(Of course, “politician” here didn’t mean she’d actually entered office—just that every action she took was calculated for personal gain, as though she were manipulating a grand chessboard.)  

The Fujiwara family had been a powerhouse in politics for nearly a millennium. The art of control, of bending others to their will, was a talent encoded in their DNA.  

Raised in that environment, Yuki had naturally developed a utilitarian, two-faced personality.  

Yet, ironically—she was adorable when it came to romance.  

For all her sharp-tongued, unyielding demeanor, she was actually terrible at hiding her feelings—a tsundere who folded embarrassingly fast.  

As long as you didn’t push her too far, she rarely escalated into the kind of terrifying Sadist that made people tremble.  

Still, throwing away gifts like that is pretty harsh.  

But right now, Sakuya and Yuki were complete strangers.  

Butting in would only backfire. It’d be better to focus on making a strong first impression during lunch.  

With a shrug, Sakuya decided to pretend she’d seen nothing and return to class.  

Then—a soft hand landed on her shoulder.  

“Did you see that?”  

The voice was elegant, composed—every bit the refined young lady.  

Oh no.  

Busted.  

Caught red-handed peeping. This is troublesome.  

Resigned, Sakuya turned to face her.  

Yuki’s smile was identical to the one she’d worn earlier—lips slightly upturned, eyes curved, brows relaxed.  

But no matter how you looked at it, there wasn’t a shred of warmth in those clear golden depths.  

“Huh? See what?” Sakuya blinked, feigning ignorance.  

Yuki seemed pleased with this response. She nodded, then leaned in close—close enough for her breath to brush Sakuya’s ear as she whispered.

“Good. Sometimes… it’s better to pretend you didn’t see anything.”  

“Have we met today?” Sakuya tilted her head, playing the clueless innocent.  

“Your cleverness is quite charming.”  

Yuki patted her shoulder approvingly before stepping past her with effortless grace. “Well then—goodbye forever.”  

Clutching the drinks, Sakuya exhaled heavily as she watched Yuki walk away.  

Ugh. These kids are so difficult.  

And now I have to eat lunch with her? This is going to be awkward.  

But from another perspective—maybe this wasn’t entirely bad.  

Seeing her true nature upfront meant Sakuya could skip the pretenses and dive straight into winning her over.  

So… maybe this was just another way to solve the puzzle?